Race Motors M55

## Info

### Electric Engine

Nitrium Z Motors Dual Racing Electric Motor, Single Wheel Driven, Lithium Battery

### Transmission

6-Speed DCT Semi-Automatic via Paddle Shifters

## Chronology

### Related

Race Motors F23 Concept

The **Race Motors M55** was a track oriented car manufactured by Race Motors from February 2022 to July 2023, being the first secondary model line since the Race Motors X20 in 2017. Originally created solely as a homologation special for International Touring Car Division 1, the car became a major fan favourite, and as such has stuck around for the 2023 model year.

A base price of $99,400 and later reduced to $90,750 in January 2023, the M55 serves as the budget option for Race Motors. Originally slated to have a production number of 37, the car also has the highest production figures of any Race Motors car, breaking the 2,500 figure in November of 2022, and ultimately ending production at 4731 cars in July of 2023. This original production figure was later used for the Race Motors M55 Ultima.

Being a Race Motors vehicle, the M55 spawned multiple variants, from the highly experimental testbed Race Motors Ultima M, to the Development Programme exclusive Race Motors M55 Ultima, and the now confirmed Race Motors M5 - Turbulent Tempest.

## Design and Development

In 2017, the car was originally planned as a high performance convertible sports car, dubbed the M-Series Concept Car by Race Motors, as a nonfunctional concept vehicle. This would later be shelved after the failure of the Race Motors X20, but later was looked back at in 2020.

Being built on an entirely new platform, the M55 possesses significantly different handling capabilities compared to the G20. It is built around low to mid speed cornering, and has a relatively sharp steering rack angle compared to most track cars, so the car is significantly more responsive at low speeds, while maintaining a decent grip profile at high speeds. Utilizing Race Motors' upgraded traction control system (later used in TD1), the car has relatively little wheelspin, further coupled with its high revving powerband, it is usually the choice for beginners.

Utilizing a detuned variant of the F62HS from the Race Motors G20, the car can reach 36 BPS in a claimed 2.4 seconds, while having a theoretical top speed of 128 BPS in 2022. The 2023 facelifted variant has updated figures of 36 BPS in under 2.5s, and a top speed that exceeds 125 BPS. Generating less engine power than the G20, it has a slightly more powerful, regenerative based hybrid system by Nitrium Z Motors.

## Variants

### Ultima M Concept

> See Race Motors Ultima M for full article
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After the introduction of the Race Motors X1G Evolution, Race Motors set out to further develop their hypercar. Taking an unmarked M55 chassis, the car was heavily modified to accept a large, 2.7 Litre Twincharged Flat-6, with a 4-Motor Hybrid system, along with extreme amounts of aerodynamics. The car was highly dangerous to drive, but it paved the way to the development of the furthermore successful Race Motors X1GR pair.

### M55 Ultima

> See Race Motors M55 Ultima for full article
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In Q2 2022, Race Motors unveiled the M55 Ultima, which is an upgraded, Development Programme exclusive variant of the M55, as opposed to a track version. The car uses a bored out, upgraded supercharged 2.8L Flat-6 tuned by Exceeding Limits, outputting a total of 900 HP with the hybrid system engaged. The car inherited the Hyperdrive Mode from the Race Motors G20 Track Edition, and used technology directly developed by the TD1 program. It dropped a significant amount of weight, improved aerodynamics, and was on the edge of losing road legality. Each one costed $872,500, the highest of any customer ownable Race Motors vehicle, and had a small production number of 37 cars. As a homage to the Race Motors G10 Xtreme Edition, the car was produced in the same factory, along with utilizing the same Shining Ultraviolet paintjob. Production ended on January 10th, 2023.

## Motorsports

### M55 TD1

> See Race Motors M55 TD1 for full article
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During late 2021, Track Division 1 (predecessor to International Touring Car Division 1) regulations were fully revealed and manufacturers rushed to join in on the new competition. The requirement for Race Motors to compete was a new car, so they designed the M55 alongside its racing variant. The car, being dubbed the M55 TD1, was revealed and carried a new engine and hybrid powertrain, being the F62H (which would later be developed into the S version for the road car), along with using a new aerodynamic profile, and a rotating wing. The car was uptuned to make 520 HP total due to regulations, and had a top speed with the wing at positive angle of around 115 BPS.

After the dissolution of Horizon Ultimate, and the introduction of Touring Division 1 regulations, the M55 was adapted to the new specification, being further uptuned to make 600 HP total, although it gained additional weight and its aerodynamics were slightly optimized to increase its top speed to 121 BPS, along with improving cornering abilities. The car contested the International Touring Car Division Inaugural Season, placing 5th in full standings. After a crash at the 2nd round, the car's design was updated to improve its stability for safety reasons, and resulted in an improvement at high speed cornering due to frontal aero optimizations.

In 2023, the car was further redesigned to comply with International Touring Car Division World Tour regulations, in its 3rd revision. The car is slated to retire after this season, due to its seniority as a Track Division 1 car, and racing beyond its original lifespan was accounted for. It loses its dynamic wing angle due to safety concerns, but instead uses an upgraded aerodynamic kit built off of the Race Motors G20 TD1.

## Reviews

In late 2021, and under NDA until 2022, the M55 was delivered to trusted reviewers globally. Most reviews generally welcomed Race Motors back into the production market after 4 long years, and favoured the agility of the car. Reviewers noted that it was one of the first fully green vehicles on the road, as it uses exclusively Ethanol Biofuel to power the car, along with an optional electric mode using only the electric motors. Reviewers criticized the short electric runtime, however, and compared it to the Unnamed Motors Sunset, the closest electric competitor at the time.

## Gallery

The Concept vehicle from 2017.The 2021 Track Division 1 Design.The 2022 Touring Division 1 Design.The 2023 Touring Division 1 Season 2 design.The Ultima M testbed concept.The customer M55 Ultima road car.