| New supercar | Spada CodaTronca |

It looks like Batman's next set of wheels, but the Spada CodaTronca is very real and now on sale. The V8-powered supercar is the work of Italian designer Paolo Spada and the plan is to produce 20 cars in 2008.

Power comes from a Corvette-sourced 7.0-litre V8 engine with 621bhp, which sees the CodaTronca from 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds and top out at a claimed 204mph. As the engine comes from the Corvette Z06, there is a hint that Spada may also consider taking its car to the race track to compete in GT3 endurance racing.

To help the CodaTronca appeal to buyers, Spada will offer the option of an E85 convertor kit, which will allow the car to run on cleaner bio-fuel. Spada has not released economy and emissions figures, but says the car will be one of the greenest supercars available as it is made from lightweight carbon fibre and has been styled to be as aerodynamic as possible.

The CodaTronca is set to cost more than £200,000, but the price is justified to some extent by the car's looks and rarity. It also has a hand-crafted interior that's just as amazing to sit in as the exterior is to look at. Spada also points to the detailing of the CodaTronca, such as the recessed rear lights that make the car more slippery through the air at high speeds.

Alisdair Suttie - 23 May 2008