When it comes to supercars, few countries are as good as Italy. Names like Ferrari and Lamborghini set the standard for cars that are above average. International builders from Ford to Lexus have to tried to beat the Italians, with mixed success. Now, Slovenia is having a go. Tushek, maker of the Renovatio T500 (pictured), is planning a second model to take on the Lamborghini Aventador.
Company founder Aljosa Tushek said the new car, called the Forego T700, will compete with the Aventador on power and lightness. Tushek’s targets for the Forego are 700 horsepower and a curb weight of roughly 2,200 pounds. An Aventador has 691 hp and weighs a substantial 3,700 pounds.
It’s easy to boast about building a better car than Lamborghini, but it’s another thing to actually do it. Tushek’s quoted curb weight is impressive, but it is important to remember that Lamborghini used plenty of weight saving measures on the Aventador. The Lambo’s chassis is made almost entirely from carbon fiber, yet the car still weighs over 3,000 pounds. The Lamborghini does have all-wheel drive, but that’s still a big gap for Tushek to overcome.
The Forego T700 needs that lightness because it will have nearly the same power as the Aventador. If Tushek succeeds, the Slovenian supercar will be a monster. An Aventador can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds, and Lamborghini says it will do 217 mph. To beat that, the Forego will need to be capable of Warp 10.
Tushek has only made one other car so far. The Renovatio T500 packs a 4.2-liter Audi V8 (also used in the R8 and Gumpert Apollo), which produces 444 hp . The Renovatio can do 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds and hit a top speed of 193 mph. Performance-wise, it’s relatively close to the Italian benchmark.
Speed is only one factor though. Lamborghinis may look extreme on the outside, but they’re really just high performance softies. Lamborghini used to have a reputation for building cars that were difficult to drive, but it has cleaned up its reputation. The Gallardo and Aventador are tractable enough that owners don’t need a racing license to control them. Tushek has not been around as long, so it is unlikely that the Forego T700 will be as easy to drive.
Still, company founder Tushek says the Forego T700 is “designed as a compromise between everyday and track use.” It will also be much rarer than the Lamborghini, since only 30 examples will be built. Pricing will start at $324,000 when the Forego goes on sale this summer.
