Veritas has returned to the car market after an absence of more than 50 years with an all new 186mph roadster. The RSIII is powered by the BMW M5's V10, which is mounted in the front. With 500bhp at its disposal (and maximum torque of 406lb.ft developed at 3,700rpm), the rear-wheel drive RSIII is claimed to be capable of 0-62mph in four seconds. If this is not enough, buyers can upgrade the engine to a whopping 600bhp.

If you've never heard of Veritas then you are probably not alone. The company has done little for half a century and was initially famous back in the 1940s and early 1950s - building the first German Formula 1 car in 1951 among other things. Since being acquired by Vermot AG the brand has been revived and the RSIII has been in development for a number of years.

Although it is essentially a single-seater, the RSIII can be ordered in right-hand drive and comes fitted with a flip-up passenger seat. Vermot AG might have based the design on the original 1940s' cars, but the technology is most definitely 21st century. The roadster has been built using a carbon fibre body shell and this has kept the weight down to a mere 1,050kg.

The RSIII was unveiled to the public at the Salon Privé show and it would have no doubt raised an eyebrow or two with the Hurlingham Club locals. But it won't be cheap (or easy) to get hold of one. Prices start at £280,000 and the production run is limited to just 30 cars.

Daniel Powell - 27 Jul 2009