Morocco's Laraki Automobiles has produced high-performance supercars like the Fulgura, Borac, and Epitome, culminating in the Sahara, a luxury hypercar commissioned by King Mohammed VI. These models, featuring powerful engines and sleek carbon-fiber designs, have gained international attention for their innovation and exclusivity. Before manufacturing its first electric car, by homegrown automobile company Neo Motors, Morocco had already been making strides in car manufacturing. We're talking supercars—the most expensive ones on the market, the ones owned by royalty and billionaire celebrities. In Casablanca, Moroccan high-performance sports car manufacturer Laraki Automobiles SA has emerged, challenging industry giants with its creations. The business was founded in the late 1990s by Abdeslam Laraki, a Moroccan designer and entrepreneur, with a forward-looking dream: building a Moroccan supercar. With experience in importing cars since the 1970s, the Laraki business started designing luxurious yachts and cars under the leadership of Abdeslam Laraki, the son, who studied automobile design in Switzerland. Morocco-made supercars The first creation from Laraki was the Fulgura, introduced in 2002. This sports car, unveiled as a concept at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show, is based on the chassis, frame, and mechanicals of a Lamborghini Diablo, a high-performance V12, rear mid-engined car. The Diablo driveline was swapped for a Mercedes-Benz V8 engine, paired with a cutting-edge sequential six-speed gearbox. This, along with the 600 bhp generated by the supercharged engine, ensures incredibly fast acceleration, according to car specialist websites. The car, crafted entirely from carbon fiber, features an exterior design with sleek and angular lines. Inside, we find a minimalist yet sophisticated dashboard with leather interiors. By 2005, Laraki unveiled its second creation: the Borac, first shown as a concept at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. The Borac is designed as a grand tourer with a front-engine setup and even has the option of two small rear seats. Unlike the Fulgura, it's not based on an existing design. It's powered by a Mercedes-Benz 6.0 L V12, but without turbocharging like the Fulgura. This gives it an estimated 540 hp, a top speed of 310 km/h (193 mph), and the ability to go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. But the cherry on top was Laraki's Epitome, «a masterpiece on wheels», exclaim car enthusiasts. Unveiled at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 2013, the car is equipped with a V8 engine from a Chevrolet Corvette Z06, which Laraki enhanced with twin turbochargers. Running on 91-octane gasoline, the car produces 1,200 horsepower. There's also a second fuel tank that can take 110-octane fuel, boosting the power to 1,750 horsepower. The body is made from carbon fiber, and the car weighs 1,270 kilograms. Priced at $2 million, the Epitome made headlines upon its release as the most expensive car on the market. In 2015, the car was purchased by USA-based Moroccan rapper French Montana, he proudly announced on his social media. A custom-made supercar for the King The car was so extra that the first model was further refined and updated. Laraki adopted the C7 Corvette as a base, calling the model Laraki Sahara, a creation that caught the attention of King Mohammed VI himself. It is believed that the Moroccan Sovereign purchased the only two units of the Laraki Sahara hypercar in existence. Each is priced at over $2.2 million, making it the most expensive African car in the world. The Laraki Sahara is just as impressive as the Epitome, «making 1,550 horsepower from its 7.0-liter turbocharged V8 tuned by Dallara», writes Luxury Launches. Its top speed is believed to reach 248 mph. The Sahara, commissioned by King Mohammed VI, was released in his signature color, a vivid sandy, gold shade that resembles the hues of the desert. The color was inspired by the Sahara Desert, hence the name, giving the car a luxurious and distinctive look with an elegant, earthy tone.
