An ex-McLaren designer is planning to take on Tesla with a home-grown electric sports car. A year ago
PistonHeads broke the story
that Jim Dowle was planning to create a new 200bhp Exige competitor within 18 months.
Now it seems the project is moving away from petrol-power and will now have a pair of electric motors producing 590lb ft of torque and the equivalent to 389bhp.
Four-wheel drive will ensure a predicted 0-60mph sprint of 2.9 seconds and a 130mph top speed, says Dowle. The range of the P1-E will be around 230 miles.
The car should weigh 1055kg, which is light considering it is an electric vehicle, and it will be powered by high-tech lithium ion batteries. All through the project Dowle has said that he plans to give the car fun handling and a lot of emphasis will be put on chassis development.
He said: ‘We decided it was time to create an affordable electric sports car that combined the advantages of conventionally-engined machines with those of electric ones, without the disadvantages of either – in short, a drivers’ car for the 21st century.’
His company, JJAD, hopes to have a running prototype this year and promises to undercut the Tesla considerably, with a projected price of £55,000. The car will be launched in 2012 and JJAD hopes to build 500 a year.
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