Laffite LM1: a French idea but an Italian realization for this 1000 hp hypercar!

Only 24 examples, one of which was exhibited at the Ultimate Supercar Garage show at Rétromobile Paris. This is the original Laffite LM1, with a name well known in France, but whose DNA is above all Italian!

Road racing experience

Bruno Laffite may be the nephew of Jacques Laffite (176 GP and 6 victories with Ligier in F1 between 1974 and 1986), but he also led his own career as a competitor, before taking on the challenge of creating his own sports car brand. His adventure began in the United States, with the Laffite Supercars brand, then, in 2023, a new entity appeared under the name of Laffite Automobili.

Bruno Laffite wants to build "road-legal racing cars" and has no intention of launching his brand in motorsport, with the ghost of his uncle's accident at Brands Hatch in 1986 still lurking in the memory. The idea is to rediscover the sensations of a racing car, but for "multi-purpose", everyday use. Does a daily driver with the look of a Le Mans hypercar make sense? In any case, it was driven around Monaco, a good test for handling.

Italian know-how

If the name sounds Italian, it's because the LM1 is designed and manufactured in Italy! On the other side of the Alps, "doors and hearts opened" to his project, which is now the culmination of more than ten years' effort. Italy is still a land of possibilities for those with a daring project on four wheels... So it's in Turin that the brand has established itself, surrounding itself with the best. The design is the work of Fabrizio and Giorgetto Giugiaro, recognized as some of the world's leading designers, who now head their independent studio GFG Style.

For the hull, Bruno Laffite also teamed up with Turin-based engineering firm LM Gianetti. Founded in 1966, the Piedmont-based company has built up an international reputation since the 1970s, working with official racing teams in the FI, WRC and GT championships. Their know-how in specific areas (hulls, roll bars, suspensions) was used in the design and development of the Lancia 037 and Delta HF rally cars, as well as the Alfa Romeo 155 DTM. In short, all champions! More recently, they worked on the Ford Focus WRC, Fiat Abarth 124 RGT and Scuderia Glickenhaus.

1000 hp and a Le Mans 24-hour atmosphere

Presented for the first time at the Miami 2023 Grand Prix, the LM is the first model in a range that will eventually expand to include a barchetta, halfway between the GT and the spirit of DTM sedans, and an Atrax 4×4 SUV. Initially conceived as an electric hypercar, the LM eventually became a hybrid, as demand for electric supercars is... anecdotal! Maserati can testify to this with the Folgore!

The car is powered by a 3.9-liter V8 Biturbo engine (e-fuel compatible), once again designed in Italy by Autotecnica, a renowned specialist that has collaborated with other manufacturers, such as Abarth on the F4, MAT with the New Stratos and also in WEC. Only the hybrid system is not Italian, but British, with a battery limited to 6 kWh. The aerodynamics combine the ground effect of the Venturi underbody with an F1-style DRS system on the removable rear wing, all of which can generate up to 1350 kilos of downforce.

Radical performance on paper

Combining the two energies, the 5.20-meter-long, two-meter-wide monster boasts 1,000 horsepower (750 thermal, 250 electric) and 725 Nm of torque at 8,000 rpm. With 1,300 kilos on the scales, it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 2.5 seconds. Top speed is estimated at 350 km/h. The LM1 is fitted with 20-inch Pirelli tires at the front (275/35 ZR20) and 21-inch tires at the rear (345/30 ZR21). As for braking, the LM1 is fitted with Brembo cast-iron discs (405 mm front (6 pistons) / 380 mm rear (4 pistons)), but an option is available for Brembo ceramic and carbon racing discs. Yes, as an option!

A hypercar with a GT spirit

In this cockpit-like interior, which oozes competition, a large touchscreen with Apple Car Play civilizes the beast a little. The whole is performance-oriented, with no frills, but made with quality materials. The 9.5-inch infotainment screen also features the two large baffles located between the two seats. Opening the hood even reveals a small 65-litre luggage compartment, cleverly positioned between the passenger cell and the engine compartment. Last but not least, a lifting system enables you to overcome the "favorite" obstacles of supercars, namely speed bumps.

With its Toyota GT-One look, the LM can't go unnoticed, at the crossroads of GT1s, LMPs and WEC hypercars. Here's a video made at the Top Marques 2025 show in Monaco, where the supercar was presented in a special "Monaco" livery designed in cooperation with His Serene Highness Albert himself!