Rigore

## Rigore Automotive

Rigore Headquarters in Manhattan, New York, on 51 Astor Place

**Rigore** /'rɪgʊəreɪ'/ is an American multinational automaker based in New York that designs and builds luxury vehicles. Marketed among the top luxury brands in the United States.

Martin Rigore founded Rigore Engineering in 1950 to produce performance engines for racing purposes. The company was noted for using boxer engine layouts throughout their history. With the poor public perception to races as injuries became more common, Rigore officially changed into an automaker in 1964 with their first model, the Angeles. In spite of the 1973 worldwide financial downturn and the oil crisis, Rigore's sales continued to rise in the 1980's with vehicles that were more efficient than other American counterparts.

New products and model lines were introduced to the brand's portfolio and brought to the market and saw an increased productivity for the brand. The current product range of Lincoln consists of sedans, crossovers, and SUVs.

Rigore is also renowned for their motorsport influence, historically participating in rallying and touring car racing as well as having former status as a manufacturer of racing powertrains.

## History

### **Racing origins**

Rigore Engineering was formed in 1950 as a producer of racing engines by Martin Rigore. With a staff of 30 men working in a 28 m2 (300 sq ft) shop, they built and sold racing engines. Their first powerplants were utilized in the 1952 Corso di Fruinia rallies, powering companies such as Erin and Leviathan Motor Company. After the success of Rigore's engines at the Millie Miglia, their reputation as a motor brand steadily began to rise until the event was terminated in 1957.

### **First automobiles**

With Rigore having without a steady source of income for the brand, looming bankruptcy led to the development of the Angeles sports saloon in 1962. In 10 May 1964, RIgore Engineering incorporated themselves as Rigore Automotive, Inc. and with what little funds they had, began production of the Angeles. The car was officially launched in 1965. To the surprise of Martin Rigore, the model sold well, accumulating approximately 4000 units in the first year with critics praising the sedan's tight handling and quality engine. Soon after in 1967 with some additional funding, Rigore released the Mjölnir, their two-door supercar, followed by the short-lived Imperium "personal luxury sports car" of 1968. Both of these cars used the larger 244 cubic inch (4.0 liter) Flat-6 engine derived from their racing roots, modernized to produce upwards of 250 horsepower.

#### **Increased Market Share During Oil Crisis**

Following the initial success of the Angeles, a new second generation model was introduced in 1972. Available with an automatic transmission and more luxury amenities, this version of the car solidified Rigore's position in the sports-luxury market. For the American luxury car segment, the 1970s would prove tumultuous. Sales of Rigore vehicles fell in 1973 as a result of the fuel crisis. Despite this, the lineup expanded with the introduction of the four-door Anubis in 1976. The new model helped Rigore's sales remain comparable to before the oil crisis, with the company increasing their overall market share.

### **Reconstruction post-oil crisis**

After recovering from the fuel crisis, Rigore began to utilize new technologies such as turbocharging on the third generation Mjölnir in 1982. Introducing the MT-R personal nameplate, the Mjölnir MT-R had a twin-turbocharged 3.8 liter Flat-6 and a top speed of above 160 mph. This would be the final generation of the car before an 8-year hiatus. ABS was offered on all models from 1982 and became standard in 1986 on Angeles models and up. The very first Rigore SUV, the RA-RV (Rennen All-Road Vehicle) debuted in 1982, and pioneered a rudimentary AWD system that would soon become synonymous with Rennen vehicles. The first Rennen passenger car to employ the AWD system was the second-generation Angeles R, which was released in 1984. Not only was it the first AWD Rennen sedan, but it also had been the first Rennen with turbocharging.

Rennen continued to experience growth during the 1990s; the release of the Valhalla flagship sedan marked a shift in the image of Rennen as a luxury brand opposed to a motorsport brand, with outcry from loyal fans; however, Rennen insisted that they are true to their sporting heritage. A year later in 1991, the spiritual successor to the Imperium was released; the new Apophis Coupe, based on the chassis of the Anubis sedan, was designed to combine the luxuriousness of the higher-end Rennen models with the raw driving experience of their sports vehicles. In 1996, Rennen reaffirmed their past by releasing the 4th-generation Kusanagi. This model featured primitive torque-vectoring AWD, a twin-turbo 3.5 liter flat-6 shared with other Rennen models, and active aerodynamics. Its costly production meant that only 200 were made over it's 5-year lifespan.

By the year 2002, Rennen had established themselves as a fully-fledged performance luxury company; the initial release of the Taranis 3-row SUV would help to kindle a more diverse lineup. The 6th generation Rennen Angeles would become the best-selling Rennen of all time, with over a million units sold over the course of its 5-year lifespan.

### **Great recession and recovery**

In 2007, Rennen reported that they had been hit with the greatest annual cost in the company's history of $8.9 billion. It would be estimated to take over 4 years for the company to re-gain their profits.

During congressional hearings held in November 2008 at Washington D.C., and in a show of support, Rennen's Jonathan Conozak stated that "At Rennen, we hope to have enough liquidity. However, we must prepare ourselves for the declining economic situation at hand".