Spanish engineering company Applus+ Idiada has officially unveiled its Volar-e supercar prototype. The Volar-e is a two-seat coupe with a carbon-fiber body over a tubular chrome-moly steel chassis. Developed for the European Commission and apparently based on the Rimac Concept One, the all-electric Volar-e boasts 0-60mph in around 3.4 seconds, does the standing quarter-mile in 10.3 seconds, and reaches its top speed of 186 mph in only 12.1 sec.
To achieve its impressive performance figures, the car uses an electric four-wheel drive system that delivers a claimed 1,000 hp (760 kW) and 737 ft-lb (1,000 Nm) of torque. Its four electric motors are situated along the centerline of the car, rather than in the hubs and a rather small (38 kWh) lithium-iron-phosphate battery all with the aim of reducing unsprung mass and thus improving handling.
The Volar-e is comparable in size to its gasoline-powered brethren.
The car’s steering is power-assisted rack and pinion and the front and rear suspension consists of fully adjustable, pushrod operated double wishbones. The brakes are carbon-ceramic composite discs, with 100-0 km/h (62-0 mph) stopping distance of a bit over 30 m (98 ft). The car also uses regenerative braking to supplement its stored energy.
The Volar-e powertrain has four separate units, each driving one wheel via a power inverter, motor, and reduction gear. This Torque Vectoring system allows the Volar-e to be set for driving styles ranging from Eco to Racing.
The Volar-e is comparable in size to its gasoline-powered brethren. What it will not be is a gas guzzler. Despite the Rimac Concept One similarity, it could be one of the new cars marking the changing of the guard for electric supercars. Expect to see the car at the September Salon Prive’ in London.
Volar-e Gallery
Is the Volar-e the future of electric supercars?
