Most people would probably be distressed by the sight of their car plunging out of a skyscraper, but for Ralph Debbas, the man behind the Lykan HyperSport, it is a moment of pride. His company’s Lebanese-designed hypercar has made it to the big screen, and is featured in the latest installment of the “Fast and Furious” saga.
“It’s an honor for me and my team to be behind the first [Lebanese-designed] car to hit Hollywood – especially as it will be featured in one of the biggest blockbusters of the year,” Debbas, chairman and CEO of W Motors, told The Daily Star. His company is the first Arab developer of high-performance luxury sports cars based in the Middle East.
The Lykan HyperSport, the first super car to be produced in the region, is powered by a twin turbo flat-six 3.7-liter engine with 770 horsepower and a maximum speed of 385 km/ph. With a whopping price tag of $3.4 million, it is the third most expensive car ever made.
W Motors, launched in Beirut in 2012, has limited production of its cars to just seven units per design. The HyperSport has consequently been hailed as one of the most exclusive, luxurious and unique hypercars in the world.
Driven by star Vin Diesel, the car was first seen flying out of the side of one skyscraper and into another during a commercial trailer for the upcoming film “Furious 7,” which aired during the Super Bowl Feb. 1.
With the series’ affinity for outrageous stunts, satisfying the requirements of the production was a demanding task.
According to Debbas, in just eight weeks, W Motors built 10 cars for “Furious 7.” During filming, all 10 were destroyed. “They destroyed all of them, there is just one left in our warehouse in Dubai,” he said. “Even that one is damaged, but it is in better shape than the others.”
Debbas, who visited the film set in Atlanta and met with the cast, witnessed professional stuntmen using the Lykan in ways he never could have imagined.
“I watched the car being wrecked to pieces. It wasn’t easy to watch, but it was good to see that the car was so well constructed.”
The cast and crew of the film were also impressed with its durability.
“Having the car be praised by the cast and crew of ‘Fast and Furious’ is an achievement. This definitely raises the Lebanese flag up high,” Debbas added.
The car featured in the film is almost identical to the original. W Motors had to install a special engine for stunts, and the car in the movie is not equipped with all the luxurious finishes of the production car, which include diamond-encrusted LED headlights and an interactive holographic display system.
Debbas, who grew up watching every installation of the “Fast and Furious” series, was completely taken aback when the producers requested the inclusion of the Lykan in the latest film. “I was blown away when I heard. I never imagined it would happen,” he said. “I had to invite the producers to our production site in Italy to make sure that it was all real and not just a joke.”
“Furious 7” will be released in cinemas across Lebanon April 10.
