The sheet has been lovingly lifted from the Rimac Automobili Concept One at the Frankfurt Motor Show and the first official images are now available. As the earlier teasers suggested, this electric supercar looks absolutely, well...super! It's hard to believe that a machine with performance that far outshines anything brought forward by established auto companies has been pulled off by a 23-year-old kid from Croatia.
But then, Mate Rimac is no ordinary guy. While in high school he invented a glove to replace the traditional keyboard and mouse computer interface. He also turned a '86 BMW 3 Series into a mad, drifting racer. These two creations ultimately led him to build a company whose signature car features state-of-the-art electronic controls and performance numbers that easily match the sleek and powerful looks of its carbon-fiber body and betters, on paper at least, just about everything else in production on the planet.
Here's a refresher on those numbers. Two sets of 12,000 rpm, 250 kW liquid-cooled motors with individual controllers and reduction gears offer up 1088 horsepower and 2800 nM (2803 lb-ft) of torque. The 1650-kg (3638-lb) Concept One promises standstill-to-60-miles-per-hour acceleration in 2.8 seconds on its seamless sprint to a computer-limited top speed of 305 km/h (190 mph). Its 600 kilometers (373 miles) of range is provided for by 92 kWhs of lithium phosphate batteries and charging can be achieved in twenty minutes given ample supply of electricity. Production will be limited to 88 units, with deliveries of road vehicles starting in 2013. The first two are sold.
While we expect it may be a while before we get to see footage of this sexy beast on the road (or track), the company has released a video detailing its components and performance. Hit the jump to check it out as well as the press release.
But then, Mate Rimac is no ordinary guy. While in high school he invented a glove to replace the traditional keyboard and mouse computer interface. He also turned a '86 BMW 3 Series into a mad, drifting racer. These two creations ultimately led him to build a company whose signature car features state-of-the-art electronic controls and performance numbers that easily match the sleek and powerful looks of its carbon-fiber body and betters, on paper at least, just about everything else in production on the planet.
Here's a refresher on those numbers. Two sets of 12,000 rpm, 250 kW liquid-cooled motors with individual controllers and reduction gears offer up 1088 horsepower and 2800 nM (2803 lb-ft) of torque. The 1650-kg (3638-lb) Concept One promises standstill-to-60-miles-per-hour acceleration in 2.8 seconds on its seamless sprint to a computer-limited top speed of 305 km/h (190 mph). Its 600 kilometers (373 miles) of range is provided for by 92 kWhs of lithium phosphate batteries and charging can be achieved in twenty minutes given ample supply of electricity. Production will be limited to 88 units, with deliveries of road vehicles starting in 2013. The first two are sold.
While we expect it may be a while before we get to see footage of this sexy beast on the road (or track), the company has released a video detailing its components and performance. Hit the jump to check it out as well as the press release.
PRESS RELEASE
The Concept_One world debuts at Frankfurt Motor Show
FRANKFURT, September 13th, 2011. – Rimac Automobili is unveiling the world's first electric supercar - the Concept_One.
The Concept_One is an exceptional supercar with a new propulsion concept. With a curb weight of 1650 kg, and 1088 HP, the Concept_One can reach 100 km/h from a standstill in 2.8 seconds and continue to accelerate to the limit of 305 km/h. 92kWh of energy in the Battery Modules delivers enough juice"for up to 600 km of range.
Rimac Automobili developed a unique powertrain which is divided into four sub-systems, each consisting of one motor, inverter and reduction gearbox. Each of those systems drives one wheel, working completely independent one from the other. It's called All Wheel Torque Vectoring and it allows a new approach to vehicle dynamics. Mate Rimac, the CEO of Rimac Automobili says: "I believe that the electric motor is a much better machine compared to the ICE, in almost all aspects, especially for a sports car."
The carbon-fibre body is designed by Adriano Mudri: „Exploring the labyrinth of creativity, it was obvious at an early stage that the design had to be simple and clear with a lot of sporty elegance to easily catch up with its competitors in this power & exclusivity class."
The interior is designed by a team of former Pininfarina employees, led by Mr. Goran Popović. After the Rimac Automobili engineering team finished the development and prototyping of the interior parts, the leather-specialist Vilner stepped-in. The result is a high-tech-supercar interior which can be both appealing and pleasant to interact with, at the same time. Special attention has been paid to the infotainment system and gadgets like head-up-displays and soft-close doors which had to match the propulsion technology in its advancement.
Rimac Automobili is a young company which develops and produces high performance electric vehicles, drive trains and battery system. This all began when the founder of Rimac Automobili, Mate Rimac, converted his old BMW to a race EV. He explored the technology by improving every part and began to team-up with experts from different fields in order to develop the next generation supercar. The old BMW is now officially homologated as a "Rimac Automobili e-M3"and is used as a test mule for battery technologies, battery management, propulsion systems and latest in-house developments. Describing their beginnings Mate Rimac points out: "Our first car evolved in a short period of time into a project that didn't give a final result - instead it was a start, the start of the world's first electric hyper car – the Concept _One". A group of 20 multi-talented engineers and designers settled in Croatia near Zagreb and are making something new and revolutionary. The production of the first model, the Concept_One, is limited to 88 units, starting with deliveries in 2013.
The Concept_One world debuts at Frankfurt Motor Show
FRANKFURT, September 13th, 2011. – Rimac Automobili is unveiling the world's first electric supercar - the Concept_One.
The Concept_One is an exceptional supercar with a new propulsion concept. With a curb weight of 1650 kg, and 1088 HP, the Concept_One can reach 100 km/h from a standstill in 2.8 seconds and continue to accelerate to the limit of 305 km/h. 92kWh of energy in the Battery Modules delivers enough juice"for up to 600 km of range.
Rimac Automobili developed a unique powertrain which is divided into four sub-systems, each consisting of one motor, inverter and reduction gearbox. Each of those systems drives one wheel, working completely independent one from the other. It's called All Wheel Torque Vectoring and it allows a new approach to vehicle dynamics. Mate Rimac, the CEO of Rimac Automobili says: "I believe that the electric motor is a much better machine compared to the ICE, in almost all aspects, especially for a sports car."
The carbon-fibre body is designed by Adriano Mudri: „Exploring the labyrinth of creativity, it was obvious at an early stage that the design had to be simple and clear with a lot of sporty elegance to easily catch up with its competitors in this power & exclusivity class."
The interior is designed by a team of former Pininfarina employees, led by Mr. Goran Popović. After the Rimac Automobili engineering team finished the development and prototyping of the interior parts, the leather-specialist Vilner stepped-in. The result is a high-tech-supercar interior which can be both appealing and pleasant to interact with, at the same time. Special attention has been paid to the infotainment system and gadgets like head-up-displays and soft-close doors which had to match the propulsion technology in its advancement.
Rimac Automobili is a young company which develops and produces high performance electric vehicles, drive trains and battery system. This all began when the founder of Rimac Automobili, Mate Rimac, converted his old BMW to a race EV. He explored the technology by improving every part and began to team-up with experts from different fields in order to develop the next generation supercar. The old BMW is now officially homologated as a "Rimac Automobili e-M3"and is used as a test mule for battery technologies, battery management, propulsion systems and latest in-house developments. Describing their beginnings Mate Rimac points out: "Our first car evolved in a short period of time into a project that didn't give a final result - instead it was a start, the start of the world's first electric hyper car – the Concept _One". A group of 20 multi-talented engineers and designers settled in Croatia near Zagreb and are making something new and revolutionary. The production of the first model, the Concept_One, is limited to 88 units, starting with deliveries in 2013.
Featured Gallery Rimac Automobili Concept One
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