Aston Martin RapidE
Bye-bye V12, hello... electric motors?
RapidE takes inspiration from racy AMR
Anyway. As per the concept the RapidE has been developed with Williams Advanced Engineering and leads the low- and zero-emissions element of Palmer's 'Second Century Plan'.
"RapidE represents a sustainable future in which Aston Martin's values of seductive style and supreme performance don't merely co-exist alongside a new zero-emission powertrain, but are enhanced by it," says Palmer. "The internal combustion engine has been at the heart of Aston Martin for more than a century, and will continue to be for years to come. RapidE will showcase Aston Martin's vision, desire and capability to successfully embrace radical change, delivering a new breed of car that stays true to our ethos and delights our customers."
Silently slinking into view in 2019
Williams' technical director Paul McNamara seems confident they can deliver the necessaries though. "This project with Aston Martin will draw on the extensive battery and EV experience we have accumulated," he says, the firm also involved with the Vanda Dendrobium electric hypercar of course. "We are extremely pleased to be supporting this prestigious British company with their future electrification strategy."
Why the Rapide as a basis for launching Aston Martin into the electric age? Well, given the Tesla Model S has successfully launched the idea of a premium, performance electric vehicle on the market in something vaguely Rapide-like in shape the temptation must have been obvious. Likewise that Porsche will be entering the market with the Mission E before the end of the decade, this too a fast four-door coupe-saloon type machine.
Firstly, there were EU laws. Fleet emissions targets were introduced in 2012, and without a parent company to offer more eco-friendly cars to balance out the averages, it was up to Aston to reduce its CO2 figures across the model range. Basing a car on Toyota’s frugal iQ made sense.
Secondly, Aston wanted to attract a new group of customers to the brand, as well as offering existing owners something that was more suited to life in the city rather than speeding along the open road."
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/aston-martin/cygnet/9...
I always thought a rebadged 2016 Ford Fiesta would have been a better Aston Martin than the IQ. It even has the same grille.
Firstly, there were EU laws. Fleet emissions targets were introduced in 2012, and without a parent company to offer more eco-friendly cars to balance out the averages, it was up to Aston to reduce its CO2 figures across the model range. Basing a car on Toyota’s frugal iQ made sense.
Secondly, Aston wanted to attract a new group of customers to the brand, as well as offering existing owners something that was more suited to life in the city rather than speeding along the open road."
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/aston-martin/cygnet/9...
"I don't need the Cygnet to make my fleet [average] go down," he says. "We have reduced our fleet [emissions] average in the past three years by 27 per cent, we are meeting our European and American requirements for small manufacturers. We have different targets to large manufacturers.
I saw someone launching a new Tesla S from the lights yesterday and for a very fast £100k+ car it wasn't exactly an impressive spectacle (he was beaten by a bike too, which did sound good!)
Anyway, back on topic... AM looks fab. I'm hoping they've gone for the motor per wheel approach as per Hamster's day tripper. I'm guessing its the most effective performance approach being able to digitally control the power to each wheel independently.
And there ain't no room for front motors anyway, as every last nook and cranny of the very non-rectilinear space needs to be filled with batteries in order to satisfy the range at speed criteria on the project!
I can well imagine the orgasmic superlatives splooged forth here if such a thing did get mooted and dutifully reported via a thread.
Low tax!
Torque surge!
Leave a mapped 330D in its dust!
The only car you'd ever need!
Lovely
et cetera....
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