The all new Concept_One EV we previewed ahead of this month's Frankfurt Motor Show has been revealed. The brainchild of 23-year-old Croatian automotive designer Mate Rimac, the Concept_One backs its sleek design with a cracking spec sheet - 1088 hp, 3,800 Nm of torque, 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in 2.8 seconds, a top speed of 190 mph (305 km/h) and a 370 mile range (600 km). If those figures translate to the limited-edition production model due in 2013, Concept_One will definitely have earned its "electric supercar" tag.
Like the original Audi e-tron concept shown in Frankfurt two years ago, the Concept_One takes advantage of four independent electric motors - one for each wheel. Apart from the massive torque numbers (the e-tron claimed an incredible 4,500 Nm), this enables torque to be precisely distributed to each wheel as required. Rimac says that its All Wheel Torque Vectoring set-up, which features front and rear sub-systems each containing two symmetrical motor-controller-reduction-gearbox units, can control each wheel at a rate of thousands of times each second.
Rimac's design and engineering team includes former Magna Steyr designer Adriano Mudri. Mudri is responsible for the carbon-fiber body while a team of former Pininfarina employees led by Goran Popović designed the "driver-focused" interior which includes serious lashings of leather from Vilner and a head-up-display.
According to the Rimac press release, a limited run of 88 units is in planning with deliveries starting in 2013, but at this stage there's no further details on where the car might be produced or how much it will cost. This is one to watch.
Concept_One Key Specs:
Power: 1088 hp
Torque: 3,800 Nm
Battery Capacity: 92 kWh
Range: 600 km
Acceleration 0-100 kph: 2.8 sec
Top Speed: 305 kph
Curb Weight of 1650 kg
Here's Rimac Automobili's video overview of the Concept_One:
