Car pictures of the week
We look at the highlights from our drive in Cyan Racing’s ultra-exclusive Volvo P1800 restomod, featured in issue 282
In issue 282 Adam Towler got behind the wheel of Cyan Racing’s reimagined Volvo P1800, a restomod from a perhaps unexpected source. Featuring the body of a classic ‘60s coupe, but the heart of a modern racer, we take a look at the fascinating retro supercar in this week’s car pictures gallery. To read the full story, purchase the latest issue online or in shops now.
The classic Volvo P1800 has always been quite the charmer, but racing outfit Cyan Racing has taken it to a rather different place. Formerly known as Polestar, which has since become Volvo’s posh EV spin-off, Cyan Racing is usually busy building track-only racers in normal times, but thanks to a lull due to COVID its engineers instead created this...
> Polestar 2 review – verdict, specs and prices
Just 50kg of original metal is left, with the remaining 850kg a combination of high-tech composites and parts taken straight from the firm’s touring cars. The bulk of its bodywork is now formed from carbonfibre to help increase rigidity and reduce weight; its suspension has also been swapped for track-derived items.
Power comes from Volvo’s turbocharged VEA four-cylinder engine usually fitted to competition cars, but in this application output is lifted to 414bhp and 336lb ft of torque for a sub-5sec 0-62mph time and a top speed of over 170mph. These figures are undoubtedly impressive, but are only exaggerated by its 900kg weight figure.
This specific example is finished in typical ‘Cyan blue’, but even without a bright colour scheme the P1800’s basic design is just as striking now as it was in period. While this example is a one-off at the moment, Cyan Racing has confirmed it is willing to build more if the demand is there. Those prospective buyers can choose to have elements tweaked depending on their preferences, from something built to look like an original, untouched P1800, right through to what we can see in this gallery.
Of course, what we all want to know is what a 414bhp P1800 restomod is like to drive, so be sure to pick up your copy of issue 282 in stores or online to find out. Alternatively, click here to have the next issue delivered straight to your door before it hits shelves.
> evo magazine latest issue – 282 on sale now
Car pictures of the week: archive
Below are some of our favourite images from previous editions of evo car pictures of the week. Click on the pictures for the full galleries.
Gallery 1
Click below to see all the images of our first car pictures of the week gallery, here featuring the indomitable Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, mk1 Volkswagen Golf GTI, Ford Shelby Mustang GT350 and the stunning Porsche 911 re-imagined by Singer.
Gallery 2
Here we dig further back into the evo archives where we pull out some iconic images of the Ford GT slightly out of context in the European Alps, a TVR Sagaris in central London, the Audi RS2 as well as one of our most iconic twin tests between the Ferrari 599 GTO and Lexus LF-A.
Gallery 3
The previous-generation Bentley Continental GT seemed to get better with age, a notion mirrored by the Jaguar E-type when in modern ‘lightweight’ form. Both of these British icons, as well as the Aston Martin Vantage GT12 feature in gallery three.
Gallery 4
Fans might have cried fowl when Ferrari decided to turbocharge the Ferrari 488, but it’s not like Ferrari don’t have a history with turbocharged V8 engines. Here the 488 co-stars alongside the stunning F40, while elsewhere in this gallery we take a Porsche Cayman GTS to Japan for a stunning mountain blast.
Gallery 5
Italian twelve-cylinder supercars seem to be the main agenda in the fourth evo car pictures of the week gallery, here featuring four V12 Lambos and the stunning 599 SA Aperta limited edition alongside its 550 Barchetta predecessor.
Gallery 6
GT3s and GT-Rs are just the beginning for gallery number six, with the Noble M600, Aston Martin One-77 and a couple of McLaren flagships filling out our most amazing gallery yet.
Gallery 7
A gallery of new and old, here the McLaren 720S cemented its place as a truly great supercar alongside a daring night shoot with an Audi R8 LMX, pitch a Nissan GT-R and Audi Quattro against each other on Welsh mountain roads and drive the original 'Hakosuka' GT-R.
Gallery 8
Ford's RS200 in a moody dark garage is just one of many amazing shoots in our 8th gallery, click on the image for the full gallery
Gallery 9
Click on the image below for our ninth car pictures of the week gallery, including this hardcore lot!
Gallery 10
Our tenth gallery turned it up another notch, including the wettest shoot in history (apparently).
Gallery 11
The best hardcore Ferrari supercars and more feature in our 11th car pictures of the week gallery.
