Automotive

Vitesse AuDessus releases ultralight carbon fiber sports car wheels

Vitesse AuDessus releases ultralight carbon fiber sports car wheels
Vitesse AuDessus carbon fiber Porsche 918 wheel
Vitesse AuDessus carbon fiber Porsche 918 wheel
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Vitesse AuDessus' carbon fiber treatment seen on a Ferrari 458 Italia
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Vitesse AuDessus' carbon fiber treatment seen on a Ferrari 458 Italia
Vitesse AuDessus handcrafts carbon fiber interiors, exteriors, components and monocoques
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Vitesse AuDessus handcrafts carbon fiber interiors, exteriors, components and monocoques
The Vitesse AuDessus Ferrari 458 Italia flashes its carbon
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The Vitesse AuDessus Ferrari 458 Italia flashes its carbon
Vitesse AuDessus Lamborghini Aventador
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Vitesse AuDessus Lamborghini Aventador
Vitesse AuDessus clients can participate in the planning and creative process as much as they want
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Vitesse AuDessus clients can participate in the planning and creative process as much as they want
Vitesse AuDessus doesn't list any updated specs, simply saying that the lightness, rigidity and lowered center of gravity of its carbon fiber designs improve handling and acceleration
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Vitesse AuDessus doesn't list any updated specs, simply saying that the lightness, rigidity and lowered center of gravity of its carbon fiber designs improve handling and acceleration
Vitesse AuDessus dresses the LaFerrari with bare carbon
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Vitesse AuDessus dresses the LaFerrari with bare carbon
Vitesse AuDessus' carbon fiber-clothed Ferrari LaFerrari
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Vitesse AuDessus' carbon fiber-clothed Ferrari LaFerrari
Vitesse AuDessus LaFerrari
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Vitesse AuDessus LaFerrari
Vitesse AuDessus LaFerrari
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Vitesse AuDessus LaFerrari
Vitesse AuDessus LaFerrari
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Vitesse AuDessus LaFerrari
Vitesse AuDessus carbon fiber Lamborghini Aventador wheel
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Vitesse AuDessus carbon fiber Lamborghini Aventador wheel
Vitesse AuDessus carbon fiber Porsche 918 wheel
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Vitesse AuDessus carbon fiber Porsche 918 wheel
Vitesse AuDessus carbon fiber Ferrari 458 Italia wheel
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Vitesse AuDessus carbon fiber Ferrari 458 Italia wheel
View gallery - 14 images

Just a month after announcing its entry into the bespoke automotive aftermarket, Maryland-based carbon fiber atelier Vitesse AuDessus (that's "Superior Speed" in French) has introduced a new carbon fiber wheel. The hollow, single-piece wheel appears quite similar in design to the Aircore wheel that Koenigsegg uses on its Agera R and One:1 hypercars, only this wheel can lighten and liven everything from Lamborghinis, to McLarens, to Porsches, assuming the owner is willing to drop the price of an Audi A4 to get a set.

Vitesse AuDessus offers both bespoke and OEM-spec carbon fiber wheels. It says that it can handcraft wheels for every current Aston Martin, Bentley, BMW, Bugatti, Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes and Porsche model. Weights obviously vary depending upon the size and design of the individual wheel, but the company says that average wheel weight is 13.2 lb (6 kg).

"In certain cases, our wheels reduce unsprung weight by more than 50 percent," explains CEO Stefany Sanchez. "This dramatic reduction translates into increased acceleration, reduced stopping distance, improved steering and handling, improved grip, reduced road noise and vibrations and improved fuel economy."

When it reworked the ever-virile Agera R back in 2012, Koenigsegg introduced what it identified as the world's first single-piece, hollow carbon fiber wheels. It has since added the Aircore carbon fiber wheels to models like the One:1 megacar and Regera hybrid.

That's been all well and good for the Koenigsegg buyer, but it hasn't done much for drivers of other supercars looking for that extra carbon fiber boost. Vitesse AuDessus helps to fill the void, delivering a Koenigsegg-like carbon fiber wheel option for other sports and luxury cars.

The wheels aren't cheap though, starting at US$8,875 a piece for OEM-spec models and $10,125 for bespoke versions. The prices go up from there based on design, dimensions and performance requirements. So you're looking at $35,500+ for a set of four.

If that price sounds like too much to put into your six-figure supercar, you may prefer the CR-9 from Carbon Revolution. The Australian company, whose wheels grace the all-new Ford Mustang GT350R, sells its own single-piece carbon fiber wheels for a variety of sports cars with prices starting under $16,000 for a full set. A look through available CR-9s for Porsche, Lamborghini, Audi and others shows that they weigh a bit more at 15.5 lb (7 kg).

Vitesse AuDessus doesn't really see its prospective client as someone that would let a measly $20,000 get in the way of the perfect supercar, especially with nearly 10 lb (4.5 kg) at stake.

"Our clients have already selected the very best in their lives," Sanchez said when the company announced its launch in June. "So why should they accept a supercar or exotic vehicle that is no different than the one in their neighbor's private garage? Thus, the challenge we were presented with was, how do we make something that is already incredibly rare, sexy and exciting even rarer, even sexier and even more exciting? The answer? We adorn every inch of it in handcrafted carbon fiber."

Vitesse AuDessus' carbon fiber-clothed Ferrari LaFerrari
Vitesse AuDessus' carbon fiber-clothed Ferrari LaFerrari

Beyond its ultralight wheels, the new shop offers bespoke carbon fiber exteriors, interiors, components and monocoques for exotics like the Bugatti Veyron, LaFerrari and Porsche 918. You can see a bit of its handiwork in our photo gallery.

Source: Vitesse AuDessus

View gallery - 14 images
2 comments
2 comments
JoeB
What was this article about?? 11 photos of the rather ugly car and 3 photos of the amazing tire???
Dave GearHead
Realy smart move to sell OEM-spec carbon rims, thumbs up for that.