When Delage unveiled the D12, it didn’t simply launch a new hypercar, it cemented a name that once stood at the pinnacle of luxury, design and Grand Prix competition. More than a century after its founding, the legendary French brand has returned not as an act of nostalgia, but as a serious competitor in the modern hypercar conversation. That story – and the philosophy behind it – is central to the latest duPont REGISTRY Talks podcast, with Laurent Tapie, CEO of Delage.
Visually, the D12 looks less like a conventional road car and more like an idea straight from motorsports and aviation. With its ultra-low stance, flowing carbon fiber surfaces and jet fighter proportions, Delage describes the D12 as the closest road-legal experience to a Formula 1 car. That ambition is deeply personal for Tapie, who at the age of 21 won a competition that allowed him to drive a Formula 1 car in France – an experience he still describes as one of the best days of his life. “When I decided to launch a hypercar,” Tapie explains, “I wanted to recreate this incredible feeling, and this car delivers that experience.”
Underneath the sculpted bodywork lies a mid-mounted 7.6-liter V12, mated to electric assist, producing approximately 1,100 horsepower. A carbon fiber monocoque chassis, carbon fiber wheels designed to aid brake cooling, and advanced active aerodynamics – including six front flaps and rear aerodynamic elements – place the D12 firmly in the realm of engineering prowess. To help bring that vision to life, Tapie has assembled a team that includes 1997 Formula 1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve as test driver.
Yet the D12 only makes sense if you consider Delage’s extraordinary history. Founded in 1905 by Louis Delâge, the brand dominated early motorsport, winning everything from the Grand Prix des Voiturettes to the Indianapolis 500, eventually securing the World Manufacturers’ Championship in 1927. It later became synonymous with elegant luxury cars favored by royalty and elites, before disappearing completely.
In the podcast, Tapie explains why Delage waited decades for his return and refused to dilute the brand with shortcuts. The D12 is not a lifestyle exercise or a badge revival; it is a modern expression of Delage’s original DNA: haute luxury, intellectual engineering and true racing credibility.
Witness the full story behind one of the most intellectually compelling hypercars of our time and listen to duPont REGISTRY Talks with Laurent Tapie.
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