Centaurus (Brazil) - AllCarIndex

Centaurus was a Brazilian automotive brand established in 1962, operating under the name Automoveisc Motores Centaurus SA, based in Campinas, Brazil. The company focused on the development of a unique sports car model known as the Ibc Centaurus.

The Ibc Centaurus was characterized by its unconventional design, featuring an aluminum body mounted on a wooden structure. It was a sporty open five-seater vehicle that stood out for its dual-engine configuration. The car was equipped with two horizontally opposed two-cylinder two-stroke engines, each with a displacement of 800cc. This innovative setup allowed the vehicle to operate with either one or both engines, providing flexibility in performance.

When both engines were engaged, the Centaurus was reported to achieve a top speed of 88 mph (140 km/h). In contrast, when operating with a single engine, the vehicle's maximum speed was limited to 63 mph (100 km/h). Despite its ambitious design and engineering, only one prototype of the Centaurus was ever produced, marking a brief chapter in the history of Brazilian automotive manufacturing.