Rubau Cars: Emphasizing the spirit of driving [w/Video]

May 16, 2025

#Featured #Rubau

Two decades after disrupting the hypercar scene with the outlandish Tramontana, Josep Rubau is back. Not just with another high-performance machine, but with a manifesto on wheels. This time, it’s under a new badge: Rubau Cars — and it's not just about numbers. It’s about feeling.

A Designer’s Journey

Josep Rubau isn’t new to the game. Born in Barcelona — a city dripping with creativity — he trained in industrial design before heading to London to study at the Royal College of Art, the cradle of automotive imagination. His thesis? A radical concept motorbike named Miura, no relation to the Lamborghini, but just as bold.

Then came Germany. Volkswagen’s Advanced Design Studio. Engineering precision, function, logic. And then: Tramontana — a 720-horsepower, street-legal tandem monster that looked like a fighter jet on wheels. A car that didn’t ask for attention; it demanded it.

In between, he also launched Red Shark Bikes — waterbikes sold in over 70 countries. He even pedaled one across the icy waters of Antarctica, just to prove a point. But wheels, not waves, were always the real calling.

The Rubau Car: A Tribute to Sensation

Now, Josep Rubau returns to his true love — the car. The Rubau Car is a tribute not just to Le Mans legends, but to something deeper: the spirit of driving.

Let’s get something straight: this isn’t your average showroom sculpture. This car deletes the central windshield. It removes the A-pillars. It exposes the engine’s core. Why? So you can feel again. Wind in your face. Engine in your ears. Tarmac in your bones.

Every detail is about connection. The driver sits in a race-like cockpit with a co-pilot position reminiscent of an old-school race mechanic. And if you’re feeling generous, the passenger can come along for the ride — thanks to a removable panel that opens the interior up.

Looks Back, Moves Forward

The design is subtle — not flashy. A nod to motorsport's golden years with modern precision. The aerodynamic dome behind the driver isn’t just pretty — it works. Side air intakes feed the naturally aspirated Flat-6 engine. Titanium exhausts, handmade and trumpet-shaped like a '50s racer, belt out a mechanical opera.

The German silver bodywork is elegant. Inside, it’s all hand-stitched leather from English cattle raised without fences. Because no one wants barbed wire in their bucket seat. The build quality is immaculate. Everything you touch, see, and hear is designed to keep you locked into the experience.

The Specs

- Engine: Naturally aspirated Flat-6

- Exhaust: Quad titanium pipes, visible welds, Le Mans-style soundtrack

- Gearbox: Dual-clutch automatic, lightning-quick shifts

- Weight: Reduced to enhance agility

- Center of Gravity: Lowered

- Stabilizer Bars: Installed for sharp cornering

- Cooling System: Redesigned for peak temperature control

- Downforce: Engineered into the rear diffuser and bodywork

This isn’t a car. It’s a road weapon with manners.

Limited to 19 Units – And for Good Reason

The number 19 isn’t random. It’s a nod to the 19 victories achieved by a certain German marque at Le Mans — and each Rubau Car will honor one of those wins. Each unit gets its own year, its own race stats, and a quote from the driver who made it happen.

This isn’t just limited production. It’s curated heritage on wheels.

A Family Affair

Rubau Cars isn’t just a one-man show. It’s a legacy. Josep’s son, Iu, is an engineer. His daughter, Júlia, handles business strategy. Together, with a crew of expert designers, engineers, and craftspeople, they’ve built more than a company — they’ve built a statement.

Final Impression

The Rubau Car doesn’t care about lap times. It doesn’t care about the Nürburgring leaderboard or how many USB ports it has. What it cares about is you, the driver. Your heartbeat. Your breath. Your grin as the wind slices past your visor and the engine snarls behind you.

In a world of soulless speed, Rubau Cars brings the soul back.

And yes — it only took 19 tries to get it just right.