RE: Wiesmann taking Project Thunderball reservations
RE: Wiesmann taking Project Thunderball reservations
Monday 26th September 2022

Wiesmann taking Project Thunderball reservations

Deliveries of the 'world's first luxury electric roadster' due to begin next year


‘Everything that TVR isn’t’ was one of the first comments on the Project Thunderball reveal story back in April. Hard to disagree with that sentiment, especially as Wiesmann has moved seamlessly from unveiling to limited first drives to customer reservations, ahead of confirmation that the first deliveries of the electric roadster are due to begin next year. If TVR had moved with such well-oiled alacrity, we’d all have been driving one five years ago. 

Granted, securing a place on the customer reservation list is not quite the same as ordering one, and Wiesmann’s declaration that future deliveries are ‘on track’ for 2024 gives it a handily wide window to iron out any production kinks - but the manufacturer is confident enough at any rate to suggest that prices will start from 300,000 euros. Which is a bold statement of intent, even in the admittedly rarefied world of dedicated electric sports cars. 

Not that Wiesmann-badged models were ever cheap, of course. Or numerous. And as we noted back in the spring, Project Thunderball isn’t lacking in standout qualities. You’ll hunt in vain for a direct rival for its all-electric rear-drive 680hp roadster, especially one that comes built primarily from carbon fibre (to keep the kerbweight beneath two tonnes) and benefits from a 92kWh battery and 800-volt system architecture. 

Additionally, Wiesmann says it has already had an ‘overwhelming response from potential customers’ and its (British, by the way) CEO suggests that investment in the latest technology has already paid off. Conveniently, the firm already has a factory in Dülmen, Germany, said to be staffed with many of the people who worked there back in Wiesmann’s heyday. Assuming the existing customer shortlist becomes a long one in the coming weeks, they can expect to be kept busy for years to come. 


Author
Discussion

whp1983

Original Poster:

1,401 posts

169 months

Monday 26th September 2022
quotequote all
I like all of it except the price!

Bernard J. Lambert

8 posts

93 months

Monday 26th September 2022
quotequote all
I dislike most of it, including the price...

Mainly
- Whereas the first Wiesmann's had a very simple, classic and classy silhouette, with the time they added (unnecessary) design features that eventually make it odd, and really "fantastically made of plastic", I believe (a bit like Marcos did with the Mantula)
- What's the point of having 5 small auxiliary gauges on the console? What will these display on an EV car?
- What's the point of having paddles behind the wheel on an EV car? Manual regenerative brake level? On a car aimed to be premium - Luxury? Really?

B10

1,381 posts

297 months

Monday 26th September 2022
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Nearly 2 tonnes!!

Vee12V

1,411 posts

190 months

Monday 26th September 2022
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Made of CF but still nearly 2 tons? What a joke.

swisstoni

24,162 posts

309 months

Monday 26th September 2022
quotequote all
“Everything TVR isn’t”

I’d be a bit quiet about that until they actually deliver units for sale.

Silvanus

6,917 posts

53 months

Monday 26th September 2022
quotequote all
swisstoni said:
“Everything TVR isn’t”

I’d be a bit quiet about that until they actually deliver units for sale.
You mean if?

dinkel

27,836 posts

288 months

Monday 26th September 2022
quotequote all
I've spoken with a handful of EV one-off entrepreneurs in search of a market.
The high output will kill every future, as it did with the TVR future.

Without R&D big numbers will never produce a safe car.

Stick to a 250 ps / 450 Nm something and don't over do yourself. Please.
It's quite a work out if you step on it.

Water Fairy

6,644 posts

185 months

Monday 26th September 2022
quotequote all
Looks awful to me. Interior nice.

Darnoc95

517 posts

60 months

Monday 26th September 2022
quotequote all
Like the interior, like the side profile, like the rear. The front though has got a bit of the Morgan Aero 8 uglyitus! Pretty up the front end & it could be a future classic. I know its an EV but weve got to start liking some of them!

robsprocket

133 posts

208 months

Monday 26th September 2022
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[redacted]

VR6 Eug

832 posts

229 months

Monday 26th September 2022
quotequote all
Beautifully ugly but Im not interested in electricity propulsion, if a 6 cylinder or a V10 lurking in there, that would be exciting but at that price they won't be back in business for long, which is a pity.

Frimley111R

19,356 posts

264 months

Monday 26th September 2022
quotequote all
dinkel said:
I've spoken with a handful of EV one-off entrepreneurs in search of a market.
The high output will kill every future, as it did with the TVR future.

Without R&D big numbers will never produce a safe car.

Stick to a 250 ps / 450 Nm something and don't over do yourself. Please.
It's quite a work out if you step on it.
I barely understood a word of that...

jbforce10

509 posts

205 months

Monday 26th September 2022
quotequote all
12 posts and no complaints yet that there aren't physical HVAC controls. Is this a new record or has someone changed the old one?

swisstoni

24,162 posts

309 months

Monday 26th September 2022
quotequote all
jbforce10 said:
12 posts and no complaints yet that there aren't physical HVAC controls. Is this a new record or has someone changed the old one?
I think the current issue is whether it will ever exist.
Not how the a/c may work.

S600BSB

8,537 posts

136 months

Monday 26th September 2022
quotequote all
Beautiful machine.

Speedgirl

291 posts

197 months

Monday 26th September 2022
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Aaah Weismann cool
Looks just like their ICE cars but nicer finish, 50% more € und er elektrische.
I wonder what it drives like?
The old ones were a hoot, apparently.
Having a big BMW V8 and weighing 1300Kg helped.
Those were the days.

GTRene

22,708 posts

254 months

Monday 26th September 2022
quotequote all
I do like it and I guess they gonna use this basis also for some petrol engines later on, you will see, so then way lighter and serves more fans.

In the past they started to make a few RHD cars just before they went under, so so sad, they thought to big, wanted America (and RHD countries) and put a lot of money in that thought.

There is a nice RHD car for sale in Germany, I guess bought back from the UK, ultiem rare and still a very very good price considering, I believe only a handful are made in RHD maybe less, maybe 2 or 3? total

There were only 20 jubi versions and I think only 1 in RHD and its still 100k cheaper then the same sort in LHD and low km delivery 300km :-) like new, its still a bargain!

and do not forget its the 5.0 V10 screamer! its a masterfull machine.







if you have 200k euro (I guess you can buy it for 180-190k) you almost have to buy this in your collection and to drive it a few thousand a year,
then you have a great investment and big fun driving it, they are very special.

https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id...


dvs_dave

9,040 posts

255 months

Tuesday 27th September 2022
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Where have they lifted the EV gubbins from? 800 Volt architecture narrows it down a lot. So far only Porsche/Audi and Kia/Hyundai have the tech to market.

Bigbadom

3 posts

92 months

Tuesday 27th September 2022
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Jeez a RR Velar is only 1800KG! Roadster me AR£$

Harrypop

2,611 posts

152 months

Tuesday 27th September 2022
quotequote all
Bernard J. Lambert said:
......Whereas the first Wiesmann's had a very simple, classic and classy silhouette, with the time they added (unnecessary) design features that eventually make it odd......
I'd say it looks a damn sight better than their early efforts personally;

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209230...