Our columnist Ethan talks us through one of his favourite EV concepts of the moment…
By and large the story of most performance EVs at the moment, is one you probably haven’t heard of (bar the likes of Tesla). Up until the just-gone 2015 Frankfurt Motorshow, EV has been considered the middle step between internal combustion and a real final solution for our day-to-day transportation crisis. Even the showing at this year’s IAA was nothing but a register of interest on the part of manufacturers such as Porsche and Audi in electric drive. The ‘Mission E’ is years away from feasibility and is at best a study. Q6 E-Tron is a tech showcase mostly for aero trickery.
The EV market is, like this outlet, budding at best. But do not misconstrue immaturity for lack of promise or, moreover, underestimate a company because of its youth.
Enter Rimac Automobili. Est 2009, its achievements to date: an electrically motivated E30 “e-M3”, the power distribution unit on the Koenigsegg Regera, and this; the 1073bhp all-wheel-drive, 300 kilometre capable Concept One electric hypercar.
Capable of 0-62mph in a claimed 2.8 seconds and sporting the in-house developed all wheel torque vectoring system (RAWTV) via the independently acting electric motors powering each wheel, the Concept One serves as both a technical showcase and launchpad for Rimac today, and a glimpse into a possible future of the hypercar for tomorrow.
Where you might find Ferrari lauding its latest hypercar or XX series track monster at various F1 weekends, you’ll likely find Rimac and the Concept One hot on the heels of the Formula E race series. Interest in the car has been enormous and for good reason.
Rimac, although young, has impressive achievements to its name. It’s come up with a properly desirable attractive super sports car that combines the dimensions of a Lexus LFA and a Lamborghini Murcielago, with the facia of some unobtainable unbranded exotica from a Ridge Racer game. Obviously, being neither mid- or front- engined, the Concept One can dress how it likes, and in this case it absolutely captivates the gaze of all who behold it.
The engineering proof in this car is solid (with a little work needed), but the fact that it captures the imagination of your inner ten year old is the ideological victory above all others. For EV to rise to power, it won’t be easy through need or desperation. I don’t want to be advised that I really should buy an EV, I want to want, and desire it. Tesla nailed it with the Model S, but it;s not really a pin-up though, is it? There hasn’t really been an EV pin-up to date, until now.
If you feel so inclined and if you can track one down, it’ll be north of £700,000. Shame, because I want a Concept One, and you probably do too.
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