Renowned for its strength and durability, spider silk – but this time in a synthetic version based on alfalfa – has found another revolutionary application. It has been incorporated into the body of the Velozzi hypercar created by Robert Velozzi, renowned inventor, designer and head of Spidey Tek, and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory Lotus.
As part of this project, scientists identified proteins produced by spiders to spin six types of web. They then created synthetic genes that produce large quantities of these proteins and introduced them into genetically modified alfalfa. Spidey Tek already makes products based on spider silk – adhesives and medical devices. Spider silk has been blended with carbon fibre to create the body and monocoque chassis of the hypercar.
The hypercar will be really outstanding – a two-seater, two-door with a Formula 1 V-12 engine with an output of 1000 hp in conjunction with a six-speed manual gearbox. Its speed maximum is 370 km/h, and it will accelerate to 100 km/h in 2.7 seconds.
