Monterey 2009: Tramontana R invades Pebble Beach

By Drew Phillips

You might think it would be hard to miss a car like the Tramontana R, but we almost did just that amidst the hustle and bustle of the events in Monterey this week. Only the unique front end and cockpit-like roof helped us spot the car from distance, and we immediately stopped what we were doing to go check out the car where it was on display near the Pebble Beach lodge.

In person, the Tramonta R is simply stunning. The exterior is pure functionality with wings, splitters, spoilers, intakes and diffusers all used to direct air flow where needed. All of the body panels are constructed from carbon fiber, as is the monocoque cockpit that houses dual inline seats. The performance specs are those befitting such an outrageous supercar: a twin-turbo V12 pushing out 720 horsepower, 6-speed sequential transmission, 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 202 mph.