Another Middle Eastern supercar emerges

Car culture in the Middle East is huge. Motorists know their cars, and love them, and we're slowly starting to see the region develop its own identity. Exhibit A is the Elibriea from Qatar-based Elibriea Automotive.

Revealed at the Qatar motor show, the broad-shouldered supercar is powered by a naturally-aspired GM V8 said to output around 800hp or 600kW. Power is transferred to the rear wheels via a six-speed sequential gearbox.

The Qatari car-maker has not yet divulged vital statistics, such as top speed or acceleration times, but says the mid-engined rear-drive coupe is based around a carbon-fibre monocoque chassis.

In other words, the two-seater super-coupe should be light and stiff.

Elibriea Automotive says it will start taking pre-orders for the new vehicle from March, with vehicles to be delivered later this year. But with a design that will polarise opinion, it remains to be seen whether this vehicle will just end up as vapourware.

The design was penned by 27-year-old Abdul Waha Ziaullah, the founder and owner of Elibriea Automotive, and appears to draw some inspiration from the angular designs favoured by Italian exotic car brand Lamborghini.

However, the design of the Qatari supercar appears somewhat overwrought, especially the rear-end with its unorthodox triangular deck-lid spoiler, which gives the car an aquatic quality.

It certainly doesn't have the simple elegance of the Middle East's first homegrown supercar, the Lebanon-based W Motors/Lykan Hyper Sport, nor the brutal edginess of Abu Dhabi's Zarooq sand racer.

It's a positive sign to see the Middle East develop its own image and car industry, but would you buy the Elibriea if you were super rich? Have your say in the comments below.