A.D Tramontana: The Catalan Legend | Unknown Supercars

The Tramontana draws inspiration from Formula 1 and fighter jets, creating an unforgettable ultra-high-performance driving experience.

Spain is not exactly famous for its automobile industry, but that does not mean good cars don’t come from there. One such example is the Advanced Design Tramontana supercar made by highly skilled engineers from the Catalonia region. This is the story of the rather unknown Tramontana supercar, a one-of-a-kind exotic with outlandish looks and a hefty price tag.

About the Manufacturer

Advanced Design Tramontana is the creation of a visionary Spaniard by the name of Josep Rubau. Josep has a degree in industrial engineering from the Escuela Superior de Diseño Elisava in Barcelona. Later, he specialized in the field of vehicle designing while studying at the Royal College of Arts in London.

Since Volkswagen AG sponsors the Royal College, after completing the course, the brand quickly hired Josep. There, he worked on designing a superbike and the new VW Beetle Dune 4X4 model before setting up A.D. Tramontana in the early 2000s.

The company had the goal of creating one of the most unique, bespoke, and bonkers supercars. Tramontana also attempted to instill and showcase Catalonian culture through the craftsmanship and quality of the cars it makes. Furthermore, the firm manufactured all cars by hand and by the most skilled craftsmen in the automotive industry.

Meanwhile, the manufacturing process is a perfect combination of modern automated manufacturing and primitive techniques. For that reason, Tramontana boasts about producing no more than just 12 of these magnificent beasts annually.  The company’s headquarters are in the Palau de Santa Eulalia municipality region in the northern city of Girona in Spain.

Birth of the Tramontana

A.D. Tramontana launched its first supercar as a concept model at the 2005 Geneva International Motor Show, where it took the audience in awe and set the foundation for several other iterations to follow.

The first production model of the Tramontana featured at the 2007 Motor Show; dubbed the Tramontana C (base model), it also managed to create quite a stir among the public. The brand initially planned to build just 5 of these mean machines for the first year of production and gradually increase capacity in the coming years.

Two years down the line, the Spanish marque launched the Tramontana R Edition. This new car was launched in February of 2009 and debuted at Top Marques Monaco in April the same year. The R Edition featured various aesthetic and powertrain improvements over the previous model.

The Tramontana R Edition’s price started at €385,000 ($467,000). Then came the €420,000 ($510,000) Tramontana XTR variant in 2012; the most extreme Tramontana yet.

Outlandish and Polarizing Styling

Some think the Tramontana looks bizarre, some say it looks ugly, some like it, and some even compare its shape to a bug. To say the least, the Tramontana has polarizing looks.

The brand, however, claims that the designers have drawn inspiration from modern Formula One cars and fighter jets. Both are related by their commitment and vision to push the technological limits of what’s possible.

The relation to Formula One cars is clear by the naked body and semi-open wheels (with fenders). Moreover, the overall teardrop shape of the Tramontana is complemented by various aggressive features like the front splitter, massive air intakes on each side, and a rear wing. The air intakes are vital in keeping the monster that resides in the back of the car at optimum temperatures at all times.

It may not look like it in images, but the Tramontana is not, by any measure of the scale, small. Coming in at almost 5 meters in length, the supercar is also 2 meters wide and 1.3 meters high. Besides, it sits on 20-inch magnesium or carbon fiber wheels. Moreover, all body panels of the car are also from carbon fiber to save weight.

Each variant of the Tramontana features design improvements and modifications compared to its predecessor. For instance, the R edition was the first to have single-pylon carbon side mirrors and a fixed rear wing for additional downforce. Furthermore, the XTR model came with proper headlights and a roof snorkel for the engine.

Seating Like in a Fighter Jet

Coming to the interior, another bizarre thing is the seating arrangement. For buyers opting for the two-seat configuration, the seats are aligned one behind the other, just like in a fighter plane. Notably, the rear seat rests slightly higher than the driver. Due to this configuration, one may find the interior to be rather cramped, but the McLaren F1 style central driving position more than makes up for it.

The Spanish brand also offers a host of different customization options for the cabin materials. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination; for example, there is an option to have a diamond-encrusted interior for an additional €600,000 ($730,000). For the interior, buyers can choose from carbon fiber, a collection of the finest quality leathers and contemporary wood finished in ancient Japanese styling.

However, a substantial portion of the asking price for the Tramontana goes into the stuff that one does not frequently see. This supercar follows the vision of Josep Rubau of becoming the purest driving experience on the market. To that end, the Tramontana development team has enlisted the use of several expensive and exotic materials like carbon fiber, aluminum, magnesium, and silver, among others.

Two Potent Engine Options Under the Skin

If you think the Tramontana is all bark and no bite, you have got another thing coming. The supercar comes with two engine options of varying power output depending on the model. The base “C” model can be had with either a naturally aspirated 600 hp V10 powerplant or a bi-turbo 550 hp 5.5-liter V12. The V10 engine is from the Audi R8 while the V12 bi-turbo unit is from Mercedes; both options were ranking exceptionally high in terms of reliability and performance, making the Tramontana even more desirable.

The R edition of the Tramontana inherits both engines from the previous model with only one major change. The V12 bi-turbo unit now churns out 720 hp and 811 lb-ft of torque in full capacity mode. For the faint-hearted, there is a button that will have the engine switch back to producing a mere 550 hp. In its fastest setting, the R edition could sprint from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in just 3.6 seconds, while 0-200 km/h (0-124 mph) took 10.15 seconds.

Last but not least, the most extreme version, the XTR model, came with just one engine option; the 5.5-L Bi-turbo V12. Only this time, the unit produced a humongous 888 hp and maximum torque of 722 lb-ft. This made the XTR the scariest and fastest model in the Tramontana line-up.

All variants had power sent exclusively to the rear wheels via a 6-speed sequential gearbox. The transmission featured significant improvements in shift times and operability over different versions.

Feather-Light and Stiff Chassis

All Tramontana supercars have a carbon fiber monocoque. This allows the foundation of the car to have exceptional rigidity in addition to achieving the maximum possible weight saving. However, the Spanish company sourced the carbon tub from an Italian manufacturer.

Another material that provides structural rigidity is tubular steel. The metal is placed in a specific shape behind the passenger compartment to provide additional safety to the occupants in case of a rollover accident. As a result of the extensive use of lightweight materials, the Spanish supercar tips the scales at just over 1300 kg (2866 pounds), including all fluids.

Furthermore, the Tramontana supercar also features an independent double-wishbone type suspension with integrated pushrods. The independent nature of the system allows each wheel to move about without affecting the others; this allows for stable vehicle dynamics and improved handling. Moreover, the suspension system is also adjustable; meaning, the driver can raise or lower the car by up to 50 mm with the push of a button.

It is imperative to keep all that immense power in check at all times. For that purpose, the supercar features 380 mm carbon-ceramic disc brakes with 6-piston calipers on all four wheels. The braking system is capable of bringing the Tramontana from 100 km/h (62 mph) to a complete stop in 2.5 seconds. Other safety features include a clever ABS and 4-stage traction control.

Last Words

The Tramontana is not just another addition to the already long list of bespoke and ridiculously expensive supercars and hypercars on the market. This car offers a package that is truly unique with things such as the central driving position, fighter jet-inspired 1+1 cockpit, Formula One-inspired body shape, and an unbelievably powerful engine.

All this, on top of the endless possibilities for customization, makes the A.D. Tramontana Spain’s answer to Italy’s Pagani and Sweden’s Koenigsegg.

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