When Delage introduced the D12, he not only launched a new hypercar, but confirmed a name that was once at the forefront of luxury, design and Grand Prix competition. More than a century after its founding, the traditional French brand has returned not as an act of nostalgia, but as a serious competitor in the discussion about modern hypercars. This story – and the philosophy behind it – is the focus of the latest Daily Sparkz Talks podcast with Delage CEO Laurent Tapie.
Visually, the D12 looks less like a conventional road car and more like an idea straight from motorsports and aviation. With its extremely low stance, flowing carbon fiber surfaces and fighter jet proportions, Delage describes the D12 as the closest road-legal experience to a Formula 1 car. This ambition is deeply personal for Tapie, as when he was just 21 he 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,” explains Tapie, “I wanted to recreate that incredible feeling, and this car delivers that experience.”
Beneath the sculpted body is a 7.6-liter V12 mid-engine with electrical support that produces around 1,100 hp. A carbon monocoque chassis, carbon fiber wheels to aid brake cooling and advanced active aerodynamics – including six front flaps and rear aero elements – move the D12 into the world of technical boldness. To bring this vision to life, Tapie assembled a team that included 1997 Formula 1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve as test driver.
But the D12 only makes sense when 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 and ultimately securing the World Manufacturers’ Championship in 1927. It later became synonymous with elegant luxury cars favored by royalty and elites – before disappearing entirely.
In the podcast, Tapie explains why Delage waited decades to return and refused to dilute the brand with shortcuts. The D12 is not a lifestyle exercise or a badged revival; It is a modern expression of Delage’s original DNA: haute luxury, intellectual engineering and true racing credibility.
Experience the full story behind one of the most intellectually compelling hypercars of our time and tune in to the Daily Sparkz Talks with Laurent Tapie.
