U.K. Startup Taps Former McLaren F1 Designer to Refine Electric Supercar

Dendrobium Automotive Ltd. has hired legendary designer Peter Stevens to refine the company’s D-1 supercar concept, which was unveiled at the 2017 Geneva auto show.

Stevens has created road and race cars for BMW, Ford, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Lotus, McLaren, MG/Rover, Rivian Automotive, Subaru and Toyota. His credits include the McLaren F1 supercar, Jaguar XJR-15, Lotus Elan M100 and Esprit redesign, MG Z-series and Rover 75.

Stevens also served as a visiting professor at London’s Royal College of Art. Most recently, he has worked as and industry consultant.

Dendrobium says Stevens has helped improve the aerodynamics of the D-1, which has been renamed the D-1 XP-2. The original D-1 was conceived by Singapore’s Vanda Electrics and developed by Willams Advanced Technology. Built around a carbon-fiber tub, the car weighed 1,480 lbs and generated 1,800 hp.

Dendrobium, which took over the project last year, vows to produce the high-powered EV in the U.K. The company is headed by Nigel Gordon-Stewart, who previously was Lamborghini’s sales and marketing director.