In today’s motorsport landscape, dominated by hybrid solutions and electrified powertrains, seeing the birth of a new naturally aspirated V12 may seem against the tide.
Yet, going against the tide, our team has decided to create one of the most interesting, ambitious and radical projects of recent years: Orion, a 6.8-liter V12 engine, light, compact, very high performance and built with quality and process standards closer to motorsport than to series production.
It is not a nostalgic tribute: it is a modern engine, with sophisticated and uncompromising design choices, conceived to maximize fluid dynamic efficiency, specific performance and arouse emotions.
Its true strength lies in being a bridge between two worlds: technologies and engineering solutions from the great era of Formula 1 have been re-engineered and adapted to create an engine that can be homologated according to Euro 6 standards, without sacrificing the character, responsiveness and sound of a racing V12.
A long and expensive job, but always made pleasant by the continuous support of our mentor: the engineer Claudio Lombardi, who, from the first steps of the project to its realization, was able to convey knowledge, professionalism and technical notions of great importance for the growth of our team and the realization of Orion.
We owe him a heartfelt “thank you” and gratitude for how, within this ambitious project, there is also all his infinite experience gained over years of Formula 1 and world rally championships.
The group that developed Orion did not look for shortcuts, the goal was to give the driver back a direct connection with the mechanics, with a linear and delay-free delivery. In this sense, the dynamic behavior of the engine will be closer to that of a racing engine rather than that of a modern road supercar. The combination of low inertia, variable timing and ECU management ensures an extremely fast response to throttle commands.
Unlike many modern units, where the flat torque curve is obtained with electronic interventions and supercharging, Orion achieves it simply by making the most of the laws of mechanics and fluid dynamics. As in a sophisticated musical instrument, each component that is part of the intake and exhaust systems is “tuned to the mechanics” in order to make the most of the propagation and reflection of the pressure waves inside them; from this fine work a high specific power and an unmistakable sound timbre are born, which recalls that of the legendary Formula 1 engines of the past.
In an industry racing towards electric and total electronic assistance, Orion represents a deliberate exception. Not because it ignores technological progress, but because it explores another kind of modernity: one that pushes mechanics to its limits.
It is an engine designed for those who want to relive the emotions of the glorious past of the Formula 1 V12s, for those who consider sound as an integral part of the driving experience and for those who consider technology not as an accessory, but as the beating heart of the project itself.
Orion V12 is not meant for mass production, but for an extremely select audience. Each unit is made to order, with a level of technical and stylistic customization comparable to that of the most exclusive racing programs. The intake system, ECU mapping, exhaust layout and even aesthetic finishes can be configured to perfectly adapt to the needs of builders or the most demanding customers.
Each Orion powertrain is therefore a unique piece, built with craftsmanship standards and engineering precision of the highest level, destined to become the beating heart of unrepeatable automotive projects.
Orion is a 65° V12 with a displacement of 6.8 liters, equipped with a dry sump lubrication system with an 8-stage pump. A configuration that allows the overall height of the block to be lowered and lubrication to be maintained efficiently even in the most critical dynamic conditions, as well as allowing the engine to be installed in a very low position, a key advantage for vehicle dynamics.
The distribution is a cascade of gears: an architecture notoriously used in F1 engines, extremely complex but effective, capable of guaranteeing precision and reliability even at the most extreme speeds. Each bank is equipped with a double overhead camshaft and four valves per cylinder made of titanium alloy, operated by finger rocker arms: an ideal solution in order to reduce the inertia of the components as much as possible, allowing extreme lift ramps.
The engine, complete with intake and exhaust, weighs less than 200 kg, a value that places it at the top in terms of structural efficiency per unit of this displacement and power.
Unlike other internal projects, for Orion it was decided not to take advantage of supercharging. Behind this choice there is the precise desire to perform sophisticated work that makes it possible to extract maximum power without the use of “shortcuts”. The entire intake system has been designed to exploit RAM and Helmholtz resonance effects, two physical phenomena that make it possible to increase the dynamic air pressure and improve cylinder filling, especially at high revs.
The variable timing on the intake and exhaust allows the torque curve to be widened and combustion to be optimised over a very wide range of revs, as well as being necessary for homologation purposes.
The result is not only power and responsiveness, but also compliance with the strictest environmental regulations: Orion can in fact be Euro6 homologated, an exceptional achievement for a naturally aspirated engine of such performance.
This certification, obtained through a meticulous study of the combustion chamber, ducts and after-treatment systems, makes the engine almost unique in the world, capable of combining low emissions and extreme performance.
Orion will therefore be available in two versions:
The first, Euro6 approved, will guarantee a maximum power of about 850hp at 8500rpm, with the limiter placed at 9200rpm.
Torque, above 750 Nm, will be available at 70% as early as 3000rpm.
For the track-day version, on the other hand, the result is a wide and usable delivery curve: over 70% of the maximum torque (800 Nm) will be available already at 3,500 rpm, while the power will be over 900 hp at 9,500 rpm, with a limiter at 10,200 rpm.
Numbers that, for a 6.8-liter naturally aspirated engine, place it among the most powerful units ever made for non-strictly racing uses.
In order to achieve this performance while keeping the unit compact and light, it was necessary to make extensive use of fine materials such as aluminum, titanium and carbon.
For example, both the base and sub-base are machined from solid, with surprising results in terms of lightness, strength and aesthetics. The entire intake system, also supported by billet aluminum, is entirely in carbon and totally customizable to the needs of the customer and the car on which it will be installed.
The forged connecting rods are optimized to reduce mass and therefore allow high rotation speeds. The pistons, ultra-light in aluminum alloy, are treated with an anti-friction ceramic coating that also improves thermal stability with a consequent increase in resistance to detonation. These choices allow the engine to operate at high compression ratios and with aggressive advance values, without having to resort to the conservative strategies typical of supercharged units.
Gear distribution, in addition to mechanical precision, eliminates components subject to degradation such as chains or belts, improving overall reliability. The eight-stage oil pump, a racing-derived solution, also contributes to the quality of the system in conditions of high lateral and longitudinal acceleration.