Update: ‘VW ID. sports car’ and ‘Yangwang U9’ updated.
With the mass-market automobile industry adopting electrification on a large scale, the electric sports car models are not far behind. TopElectricSUV has compiled a list of 36 expected new electric sports car models that enthusiasts can’t wait for. Some of these will arrive in the next 12-18 months, while the rest may require a few more years to hit the streets, waiting for batteries and motors to evolve for special applications.
Alfa Romeo Spider EV
Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos, the head of design of Alfa Romeo, has told CAR magazine (via Instagram) that at some point, the company would have to do a Spider and coupe.
Beginning in 2024, Alfa Romeo will start introducing EVs, and by 2026, it will launch only EVs. While the initial launches will be volume spinners (like the compact SUV, Giulia EV and Stelvio EV), access to the STLA platform gives Alfa the advantage of coming up with new body styles without significant investments or R&D in chassis technology.
The STLA Medium platform especially, which allows 87-104 kWh battery packs that provide a range of up to 700 km (435 miles as per Stellantis) and 125-330 kW electric drive modules, is a great foundation stone for Alfa to launch an electric sports car and bring back nameplates like the Spider or GTV.
Alpine electric sports car
An Alpine 110 electric successor jointly engineered, designed, and developed with Lotus Group is in the pipeline. In a new announcement in January 2022, Alpine referred to this model as “a new version of the A110.” The future Alpine sports car may not carry the familiar A110 name, but surely it will be 100% electric and arrive by 2026.
Alpine has developed an electric A110 as a tech demonstrator, called A110 E-Ternité. The company has installed a 60 kWh battery pack that consists of the same battery modules as the Megane E-Tech, although the battery casings are unique to the model. An electric motor internally called ‘6AM,’ mounted at the rear, produces 178 kW (239 hp) and 300 Nm (221 lb.-ft.) of torque. Alpine has used a specially developed dual-clutch transmission in the electric A110, one that can handle its powertrain’s high torque.
The Alpine A110 E-Ternité can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 4.5 seconds and achieve a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). Its WLTP range is 420 km (261 miles). After revealing the electric A110 in July 2022, Alpine displayed it at the Paris Motor Show in October 2022.
Aston Martin DB11/Vantage Electric successors
The Aston Martin DB11 successor and Vantage successor will be all-electric vehicles, reads an Automotive News Europe report citing Tobias Moers, ex-CEO, Aston Martin, filed in June 2021. Aston Martin has said that the radical shift will begin around 2025. Aston Martin EVs will offer a range of no less than 600 km (373 miles) and might use Mercedes-Benz Group’s AMG.EA platform for electric sports cars.
Aston Martin and Britishvolt are collaborating to develop the battery and cell technology to be used in high-performance cars. An R&D team consisting of employees from Aston Martin and Britishvolt will design, develop, and industrialize battery packs, including bespoke modules and a battery management system. Britishvolt is developing special cylindrical high-performance cells, and the joint R&D team will leverage this technology for the Aston Martin electric cars.
Audi Rnext (Audi R8 electric successor)
On September 12, 2022, based on information received from Audi sources, Autocar reported that an R8 successor is “underway.” As the word successor suggests, the British publication means a model with a new name, with R8 riding off into the sunset.
On October 12, 2022, Car And Driver published a report claiming ‘Audi Rnext‘ as the name of the R8 electric successor and 2029 as its release date. Volkswagen Group will include this model in Planning Round 72 in early 2023, as per the report.
The future will be fully electric. We intend to come up with some surprises again (after the original TT and R8) and we are working on sports car concepts that will probably (be) fully electric, however. And all I can say is we will surprise and thrill.
Oliver Hoffmann, BoM member responsible for Technical Development, Audi (Annual Media Conference 2022 on March 17, 2022)
While talking to CNET Roadshow in December 2021, Linda Kurz, Head of Product Marketing at Audi Sport, hinted that the successor to the iconic Audi R8 will be electric. Along with the R segment, 80% of the RS segment will also feature some sort of electrification by 2026, she added. This will be the aim of the Audi Sports division for the next decade, she concluded.
In an interview with Autocar at the Audi R8 GT launch, Audi Sport Managing Director Sebastian Grams said launching an R8 successor is the company’s “biggest wish,” the British publication reported on January 20, 2023. However, for that wish to be fulfilled, it needs to sync with the electrification goals of its parent company, Grams indicated.
Bentley Mulsanne successor (Luxury GT)
Bentley is ready to redefine its legacy, from a brand that produces luxury behemoths to a brand that makes sleek and luxury grand tourers. The Mulsanne was an opulent barge on wheels, but its successor certainly won’t be that. On April 11, 2022, Autocar reported that a high-performance two-door luxury GT would carry Mulsanne’s genes. It would ride higher to accommodate the battery and become the brand’s flagship before 2030.
Adrian Hallmark, CEO of Bentley, told Autocar that the Mulsanne’s segment remains attractive to the brand, despite the luxury saloon’s demise in 2020. The Bentley Mulsanne successor will be purely electric and sit on one of Volkswagen Group’s dedicated EV platforms. Autocar says that the EV may use a platform co-developed with VW Group and Audi with major inputs from Bentley. Autocar could either be referring to the SSP platform or the PPE architecture.
BMW & McLaren electric sports cars
According to a report CAR published on July 13, 2022, BMW M is considering collaborating with McLaren for its pure electric supercar. Unlike the McLaren F1 project, there’s a plan for a BMW version as well, and both supercars would be all-electric models.
McLaren and BMW want to develop a new platform for their upcoming electric supercars, with a targeted base weight of 1,500 kg (3,307 lbs.). McLaren’s rethink of engineering and building a modern sports car has impressed BMW, a person in Bavaria aware of the developments told CAR. The source added that the British company has come up with a clever approach to integrating key components.
McLaren’s product roadmap suggests that its first EV, potentially a Super Series coupe with a 1,088 hp quad-motor powertrain, will debut in 2026. The McLaren-BMW co-developed EVs may arrive by 2028.
Alternatively, BMW Group might develop an electric sports car on its Neue Klasse Platform. In a report published by WhichCar Australia magazine on January 24, 2022, BMW Group’s CTO, Frank Weber, was quoted saying, “We have no trouble at all picturing a highly emotional model based on the New Class matrix.” This was the reply to the reporter asking him about the absence of a halo car in BMW’s lineup in the same vein as the iconic M1.
WhichCar’s sources claim that the flagship product on the Neue Klasse Platform might feature four electric motors (one at each wheel) and boast a charging time of just 5 minutes.
BMW electric sports car
In a presentation of the iX1, BMW teased many of its future electric models it plans to release by 2030, BimmerToday reported on September 27, 2022. The silhouette of one of these covered models indicated that it was a sports car, but it wasn’t clear if it was the aforementioned model rumored to be co-developed with McLaren or something else. Like a typical sports car, it had a low and wide body, many curves, and powerful circular wheel arches.
Electric Chevrolet Corvette
Mark Reuss, President, GM, has confirmed that an eco-friendly Chevrolet Corvette is in the making. In an interview on CNBC Squawk Box on April 25, 2022, he said that an electrified Corvette is coming in 2023. A pure electric Corvette will follow the partially electric (hybrid/plug-in hybrid) Corvette.
An electrified #Corvette will be available as early as next year and a fully electric version to follow. Stay tuned for more.
Chevrolet’s announcement on Twitter on April 25, 2022
While this is a hybrid version, the Electric Chevrolet Corvette appears to be in the works for a while as GM Design VP Mike Simcoe quoted to SAE International the GM’s Ultium platform can be used for future Chevy performance cars.
President Biden: “I’ve got a commitment from [GM CEO Mary Barra], when they make the first electric Corvette, I get to drive it… You think I’m kidding, I’m not kidding.” pic.twitter.com/sypl9G7a5U
— The Hill (@thehill) August 5, 2021
Instead of an Ultium-branded dedicated EV platform, GM may use a modified version of the Corvette C8’s platform for the Corvette EV. While speaking at the SAE Foundation annual awards in May 2022 (via YouTube), Reuss indicated that building an EV on the Corvette C8’s platform is possible. However, from a marketing perspective, releasing the flagship street-performance electric car on an old platform instead of a bespoke, Ultium-branded platform may appear a regressive move.
The all-electric Corvette is expected to arrive at dealerships in 2025.
DeLorean Alpha5
The DeLorean Alpha5 is an electric grand tourer featuring huge gullwing doors, louvered back glass, an ultra-low 0.23 Cd value, and a minimalist interior. It measures 4,995 mm (196.7 in.) in length, 2,044 mm (80.5 in.) in width, and 1,370 mm (53.9 in.). The EV has a long wheelbase of 2,300 mm (90.6 in.).
The battery pack’s energy storage capacity will be over 100 kWh, enough to deliver a range of 300 miles. A 0-62 mph sprint will take three seconds and the top speed will be 155 mph. Mercedes-AMG GT and higher-end Porsche Taycan will be the performance benchmarks, as per a report from Autocar.
DeLorean plans to make 9,351 units of the Alpha5 and commence its deliveries in 2024. USD 2,500 is the deposit required for reserving the EV, but to make a reservation, customers need to purchase a lifetime membership of the Alphas Club, which costs USD 88.
Dodge Electric Muscle Car
The first Dodge electric muscle car will be the production version of the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept, and thus, a two-door coupe.
Dodge plans to offer the first electric muscle car in three power levels initially, with the top-end variant sporting an 800-volt ‘Banshee’ powertrain. Eventually, the company will offer nine power levels through its Direct Connection program. AWD drivetrain layout will be standard for all-weather capability. According to a MoparInsiders report, the Banshee powertrain will produce around 550 hp in the base variant and somewhere between 1,000 and 1,200 hp in the top-end configuration.
A ‘Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust’ will replicate the experience of a gas-powered Hellcat model’s exhaust note with a speaker-generated exhaust sound that can reach the same loudness level – 126 dB. The car’s battery pack could have a gross energy content of 101-118 kWh and deliver an EPA-est. range of up to approximately 300 miles in a basic variant.
Ferrari electric sports car
Ferrari has filed a patent application for a new electrified platform that indicates that the first Ferrari electric car coming in 2025 will be a sports car. The patent application (see on Auto Express) showed the floorpan and chassis, which offers space for two battery packs. Both packs lay fixed on dedicated floor sections, one in the rear of the car and the other, a wide and flat unit, beneath the passenger cell.
Ferrari revealed will design, handcraft, and assemble electric engines for EVs in Maranello, Italy. The company will integrate handcrafted battery modules consisting of Maranello-assembled battery cells into the chassis of the cars. It intends to develop the battery pack in-house because it helps a lot in the dynamics of the car.
The first of the many Ferrari electric car sports cars to come will offer unique features, racing-derived performance, and exceptional handling. Its biggest highlight could be solid-state battery technology.
Fisker Ronin
Fisker plans to unveil an electric convertible GT, which it is developing under a ‘Fisker Ronin‘ project at Fisker Magic Works in the UK, in August 2023. According to David King, the senior vice president of engineering at Fisker Magic Works, the Fisker sports car would have the spirit of “a proper British sports car.”
The Ronin will be designed for long road trips with family and not hardcore track racing. It will comfortably seat four adults and have decent space for their luggage. 600 miles and ~2 seconds are the range and 0-60 mph acceleration targets. The model will come with a tri-motor all-wheel-drive set-up—so expect blazing-fast acceleration, quick launch times, and great grip from its wheels. This model will flaunt unique doors that allow better entry and exit and feature a vegan interior.
Production of the Ronin is likely to start in H2 2024, and its base price could be under USD 200,000.
Ford Mustang EV sports car
The seventh-gen Ford Mustang hasn’t even entered production, yet rumors about the eighth-gen model are here. According to a report Autoweek published on August 17, 2022, the next-gen Mustang will be a pure-electric model based on the Mustang Mach-E’s platform, debuting around the middle of 2028. The fully electrified “Pony car” could be made at the Flat Rock (Michigan) plant. On August 26, 2022, Automotive News reported that the Mustang is expected to go all-electric around 2030.
GAC Aion Hyper SSR
On September 15, 2022, GAC Aion, GAC Group’s new energy brand, introduced an electric super called ‘Hyper SSR.’ GAC Aion Hyper SSR sports a twin-motor powertrain that produces 1,225 hp and 12,000 Nm (8,851 lb.-ft.) of wheel torque.
The Hyper SSR is available in two variants, a standard variant that accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 2.3 seconds and an ‘Ultimate’ variant that accomplishes the same in just 1.9 seconds. Flooring the accelerator pedal in the Ultimate variant will give the driver the feeling of 1.7G, comparable to an astronaut experiencing a rocket launch!
Bookings for the Hyper SSR are open in China, with pre-sale prices set at CNY 1,286,000 (USD 185,401) for the standard variant and CNY 1,688,000 (USD 243,357) for the Ultimate variant. The final prices could be slightly different, which we will know by October 2023, the month customer deliveries will commence.
Honda “flagship” electric sports car
Announcing Honda’s electrification strategy on April 12, 2022, CEO Toshihiro Mibe said that the company may launch two electric sports cars in the middle of the decade. One of them is a “flagship” model, possibly the successor to the NSX, and its teaser indicates similar proportions.
The NSX is “an innovation” platform and thus launched only when it’s time “to talk about our future,” Jon Ikeda, vice president and Acura brand officer, American Honda Motor Co., said during an interview with TheDetroitBureau.com in August 2022. The next time the NSX nameplate is revived, “it’s going to be electric,” Ikeda added, informally confirming that there will be a third-generation NSX and that it will be a pure electric sports car.
Ikeda said that if a third-gen NSX does see the light of the day, and he’s betting it will, though not confirming, “it’s going to be (pure) electric,” Nikkei Asia reported on September 21, 2022. The next-gen NSX electric sports car “won’t be just about straight lines,” Ikeda added.
Honda “specialty” electric sports car
The second Honda electric sports car’s teaser suggests that it could have the proportions of an FR sports car and target the masses the way Honda did with the Honda S2000. The company intends to launch this model in the middle of the decade.
According to a report Best Car Web published on November 2, 2022, the Honda “specialty” sports car will be a successor to the Honda Prelude. The classic sports coupe was sold in the U.S. for five generations between 1978 and 2001. Honda may ensure that the electric sports coupe is not only fun but also fairly practical for daily driving, giving it two rear seats and a decent level of luggage space.
Hyundai electric sports car
The Hyundai N Vision 74 is a retro-style sports coupe concept with a futuristic powertrain that combines battery-electric and fuel-cell electric systems. The hydrogen fuel cell hybrid working prototype could evolve into a production model in a few years.
The N Vision 74 has an 85 kW fuel-cell stack at the front. At the rear, there are two hydrogen tanks with a storage capacity of 4.2 kg, a 62 kWh battery pack, and two electric motors together generating over 500 kW (670 hp) and 900 Nm (664 lb.-ft.) of torque.
The N Vision 74 has a top speed of over 250 km/h (155 mph) and delivers a combined driving range of over 600 km (373 miles). Refueling its hydrogen tanks is a matter of five minutes. As for replenishing the battery pack, thanks to an 800-volt charging system, ultra-fast charging is possible.
Lamborghini four-door GT
A four-door car, irrespective of how quick and dynamic it is, can’t be perceived as a true sports car. However, Porsche markets its Taycan sports sedan as a sports car, and has gained the approval of car enthusiasts, and Lamborghini may follow in its footsteps when it launches its first EV.
When Autocar asked Lamborghini Chairman and CEO Stephan Winkelmann about the possibility of the company launching a Taycan rival in an interview, Winkelmann didn’t hesitate about the idea and showed positivity instead. A GT 2+2 “can be a new body style, a new design approach, but still very much a real Lamborghini,” the German manager said, the British publication reported on December 5, 2022. The brand boss added that such a model would surely have more ground clearance.
On May 18, 2021, Lamborghini revealed that it plans to launch its first EV in the second half of the decade and that this product will be its fourth model. Connecting that announcement with the Autocar interview, it seems Lamborghini’s first EV, the fourth model in its range, will be a Porsche Taycan rival.
Lexus LFA successor
The Lexus LFA successor will be no slouch when it goes on sale. The concept electric sports car was announced during Toyota’s BEV strategy event on December 14, 2021, by the President of Lexus, Koji Sato. The stylish and sophisticated electric sports car will boast a 0-100 km/h sprint time somewhere in the low 2-second region. The driving range will be more than 700 km (435 miles), with Lexus exploring the possibility of using solid-state batteries in the car to make it safe with extended range and durability.
Lexus has confirmed the Electrified Sport concept’s production, which will serve as the LFA successor, will feature many systems fully managed by software, including the One Motion Grip steer-by-wire system, a brake-by-wire system, DIRECT4 eAWD, and even a manual transmission. The Lexus electric sports car should be launched in the decade’s second half.
Lotus Type 135 (Lotus Esprit reprise)
The Lotus Type 135, due in 2026, would be the successor to the iconic Elise. Lotus will work with battery specialist Britishvolt to develop new battery technology for this EV.
The Type 135 would be based on the E-Sports platform designed under the Project LEVA (Lightweight Electric Vehicle Architecture) program. This platform is designed to retain the dynamic traits of the Lotus products while being 37% lighter than the equivalent structure used on the Emira. With this platform, the batteries could be stacked vertically behind the seats in the two-seat configuration or horizontally under the floor for the version with a longer wheelbase.
The E-Sport architecture can host single- and twin-motor powertrains with a power output ranging from 469 hp (345 kW) and 872 hp (641 kW). It will accommodate rear- and four-wheel-drive powertrains. The price of the Lotus electric sports car might be around GBP 80,000 (USD 96,206) to GBP 100,000 (USD 120,258).
Maserati GranTurismo Folgore Electric sports car
The Maserati GranTurismo Folgore is the brand’s first electric car. Bespoke design details like MC20-inspired headlamps, 20-inch aero wheels, a long bonnet, and large air intakes up front evoke the spirit of an Italian sports car.
The GranTurismo Folgore sports a rear-biased tri-motor powertrain that produces 560 kW (751 hp) and 1,350 Nm (996 lb.-ft.) of torque. The pure electric GranTurismo features inverters derived from Formula E racing, with a lightweight ‘multi-material architecture’ to improve handling.
The GranTurismo Folgore can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in just 2.7 seconds and achieve a top speed of 320 km/h (198 mph). An 83 kWh battery pack powers the motors and should return a WLTP range of over 450 km (280 miles). The EPA-est. range could be less than 250 miles.
Maserati will make its first EV in Turin and start deliveries in 2023.
Maserati MC20 Folgore
Maserati has confirmed that an all-electric MC20 is arriving by 2025, as part of the lineup of 6 ‘Folgore’ models. Maserati Vehicle Line Executive Federico Landini has told Auto Express that the MC20 Folgore will sport the GranTurismo Folgore’s tri-motor powertrain, which has a total installed power of over 1,200 CV (1,183 hp).
While the GranTurismo extracts 560 kW (751 hp) and 1,350 Nm (996 lb.-ft.) of torque from the tri-motor powertrain, the output figures of the version installed in the MC20 Folgore could be higher. That may necessitate an energy storage capacity higher than the GranTurismo Folgore’s 83 kWh, though.
The GranTurismo Folgore takes 2.7 seconds for a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint and its top speed is 320 km/h (198 mph). The MC20 Folgore, positioned in a higher segment, would obviously have to do better in both aspects. Its base price could be over USD 200,000.
Mazda MX-5-like EV
On November 22, 2022, Mazda conducted a conference to announce an updated medium-term plan, and towards the end of that event, it revealed a ‘Vision Study Model’ that seemed to be a concept previewing a Mazda MX-5 EV. By our reckoning, an emotional two-door coupe of this size from Mazda can’t be anything but an MX-5!
Mazda is taking a three-phase approach for electrification through 2030. In the first phase, the company will use multiple electrification technologies. In the second phase, it plans to launch dedicated EVs in China and release EVs globally. In the third phase, Mazda will conduct a full-fledged launch of electric cars, which is when an EV can evolve from this concept.
Mercedes AMG-GT Successor
Next on the list of our electric sports car models is the Mercedes AMG-GT successor that will be based on the AMG.EA platform, expected in 2025. Talking to WhichCar Australia at the IAA Mobility Expo in Munich, the new CTO of AMG, Jochen Hermann, revealed interesting details about the strategy that the AMG division would follow for the upcoming AMG-GT electric sports car. He mentions focusing on energy density as the KPI (Key Performance Indicator) in battery technology.
Hermann said that he is not a firm believer in building big battery packs into cars because, over time, the customers will recognize the adequate capacity and range required to operate in the everyday environment. But modern features like a 350 kW fast-charging capability are certainly desired. He confirms that AMG won’t compete in the driving range category. He believes that around 500 km driving range should be enough for AMG EV customers.
MG Cyberster (MGC EV)
The MG Cyberster will be a two-door, two-seater sports car based on the brand’s new dedicated EV platform called ‘Nebula.’ Trademark filings indicated that the final name of the new electric roadster in the UK and other European countries could be MGC EV.
MG will try to woo Audi TT and BMW Z4 customers with premium features from much more expensive cars, such as scissor doors, an F1-inspired steering yoke (most likely paired with a steer-by-wire system), a gaming computer-like triple-screen setup, and more. A high-performance electric propulsion system should deliver much quicker acceleration. For reference, the TT RS takes 3.9 seconds for a 0-62 mph sprint, while the Z4 M40i can accomplish the same in 4.5 seconds.
The MG Cyberster (MGC EV) will go on sale in the UK in mid to late 2024, DrivingElectric reported on September 1, 2022.
Nissan electric sports car
Nissan officials have said that a battery-powered electric sports car is “on the table.” Francois Bailly, Senior Vice President and Chief Planning Officer, Nissan (AMIEO region), has told Autocar that the company is considering launching a GT-R electric successor. COO Ashwani Gupta stated that an electric GT-R would arrive one day, Top Gear’s reported on May 5, 2022.
Bailly said he would love to have an electric sports car in the line-up, but Nissan needs to organize first. Gupta added that the Z and the GT-R—internally called the beauty and the beast—are the brand’s culture and hence very important to their identity.
NISMO CEO Takao Katagiri later told Autocar that Nissan will launch “a very exciting model” with a “combination” of hybrid and electric variants under the NISMO brand. The British publication calls the NISMO EV an indirect replacement for the GT-R.
Top Gear also reports that development work is in the pipeline in Japan, but collaborative work is taking place in Oxford, UK. Moreover, a working prototype is due in 2024, while the technology is expected to be ready by 2028. During the Formula E round in Monaco, Nissan Europe’s chief Guillaume Cartier told TG that the new technology would bring substantial performance gains—three times the range of current electric cars or the same range with one-third the weight, according to Top Gear.
Piëch GT
The Piëch GT will be an electric two-door GT due and arrive in mid-2024. It will have a single electric motor at the front and two motors at the rear to produce a combined power output of 603 hp with an estimated 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) time of under 3 seconds and a 0-124 mph (0-200 km/h) time of under 9 seconds.
Piëch Automotive is targeting a production of 1,200 units in the first year. The GT will have a 75 kWh battery good for 311 miles (500 km) of range. Any CCS2 charger will allow charging the battery from 0-80% in just 8 minutes, but the specially developed fast charger by TGOOD will reduce this time to under 5 minutes.
Piëch Automotive has roped in highly experienced executives from luxury and exotic automakers to strengthen and fast-track its operations. Tobias Moers (the aforementioned former CEO of Aston Martin and Mercedes-AMG), has joined the Swiss company as its Chief Technical Officer and Co-CEO. Manfred Fitzgerald, Lamborghini’s former Director of Brand and Design and Genesis’ former Executive Vice President and Global Head, is now its Chairman of the Executive Board and Co-CEO.
Porsche 718 Cayman Electric sports car
A pure-electric Porsche 718 series is arriving by the middle of the decade, Porsche and Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume confirmed on July 18, 2022. The setbacks in Volkswagen Group’s E3 1.2 software platform could delay the launch of Porsche 718 electric sports cars, though, Porsche disclosed in its prospectus for its IPO on September 19, 2022.
According to a report Autocar published on March 18, 2022, the Porsche Mission R unveiled at IAA 2021 is also a progress report of future production Porsche electric cars. The batteries which are the heaviest components in an EV, are placed behind the driver but ahead of the rear axle, thereby giving a similar weight distribution as a mid-engined sports car.
Porsche developed the concept using a modified version of the 718 Cayman’s chassis. The 718 EV sports cars, however, will sit on a dedicated EV platform officially called ‘Porsche Sports Car Platform.’
Porsche Taycan tri-motor (facelift)
The Porsche Taycan, especially in its Turbo S iteration, is one of the most competent and capable high-performance models on the market. It’s powered by a 93.4 kWh battery pack, connected to dual electric motors for a combined output of 750 hp (560 kW) and 774 lb.-ft. (1.049 Nm) of torque. With an EPA-estimated 222 miles of range, the Turbo S can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 2.6 seconds.
Curiously, Porsche may also be working on a tri-motor version with over 1,000 hp to take on the Tesla Model S Plaid, according to an October 2022 report by Auto Express. If Porsche decides to release it, the tri-motor version will go on to become the flagship variant in the Taycan line-up while also being the fastest and most expensive Porsche.
Meanwhile, the German automaker is working on a comprehensive mid-cycle facelift as part of the upcoming 2024 Taycan model range. Cosmetic tweaks for its exterior, select feature upgrades, and added electric range across variants would keep it competitive in the segment. It is expected to reach U.S. dealers in late 2023.
Next-gen Porsche Taycan
One of the most successful Porsche launches in recent history, the Taycan, has given the brand a new direction and will protect its competitive position in the electric era. At the 2022 Capital Markets Day on July 18, 2022, the company revealed plans to launch a second-generation Taycan developed on the upcoming Scalable Systems Platform (SSP).
Before the next-gen Taycan, SSP will underpin the next-gen Panamera and a new electric SUV (codename: Porsche K1) that will slot above the Cayenne. There will be multiple versions of this EV-exclusive platform, and Porsche will use a ’Sport’ version for its models. The company has said it will lead the development of the SSP Sport. The next-gen Taycan is expected around 2028.
New Tesla Roadster
The second-gen Tesla Roadster, one of the most anticipated EV sports car models in this list, sits on a dedicated EV platform developed in-house. It has extraordinary specifications: three electric motors (one at the front and two at the rear) enabling torque vectoring, 0-60 mph in 1.9 seconds, wheel torque of 10,000 Nm (7,376 lb.-ft.), and an all-wheel drivetrain, and a top speed of at least 402 km/h (250 mph).
On January 15, 2023, Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen told Ride the Lightning podcast host Ryan McCaffrey that the next-gen Roadster will be better on every metric than it was first conceived. Rest assured, it would be speedier and more thrilling than the Model S Plaid, as Tesla has spent all this time to improve it.
The Tesla Roadster prototype sports a 200 kWh battery pack that supports supercharging at 350 kW DC charging and an unparalleled range of 620 miles (997 km) at highway speeds, which should be the longest range on a production EV if Tesla delivers the promised specifications. This will be possible with the Tesla 4680 battery cells with more power and range. There is an option of either a 2- or a 4-seat arrangement with a removable glass roof. It could eventually also feature the patented laser windshield wipers.
The new Tesla Roadster will likely be launched at the end of 2023, with prices starting at around USD 200,000.
Toyota MR2-like EV
While we have talked about the Lexus LFA successor being an electric sports car model, Toyota has indicated that it is also developing an electric sports car of its own. Displayed at Toyota’s BEV strategy announcement in December 2021, it is called the GR Sports EV concept. Toyota has been tight-lipped about the details of this EV, but the Sports EV could well be a bit ‘sensible’ version of the LFA successor, with heavy inputs from Gazoo Racing.
It could be argued that to keep the cost in check and design this EV for an everyday-friendly drive, it could feature a rear-wheel-drive setup. The orange concept design at the event indicates small dimensions suitable for a 2-seat version. Don’t expect the electric sports car anytime before the second half of this decade.
TVR Griffith Electric
As part of its official sponsorship of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, TVR has announced the launch of the TVR Griffith EV. The company has said that the Griffith electric will be a limited-edition electric sports car and arrive in 2024, and two further TVR EVs are to follow shortly after. The British sports car maker sponsored the Monaco E-Prix held in April 2022 and the London E-Prix that took place in July 2022. It is yet to announce details about the Griffith EV.
According to a report Auto Express published on July 29, 2022, the two EVs TVR plans to launch following the Griffith electric are an electric sedan and an electric SUV. After these high-volume models, it may launch a new electric sports car designed from the ground up, possibly inspired by the Sagaris. The British publication says that the company has hinted at these models with three teaser sketches, as per the report, although it hasn’t released those teasers.
VW ID. sports car
Volkswagen has been indicating a sports car launch for a decade with various concepts like VW GTI Roadster, VW XL Sport, and VW Golf GTE Sport. It may finally introduce a showroom-bound vehicle, as a pure-electric VW ID. model.
On February 20, 2023, Volkswagen Group said it is developing pulse inverters and thermal management systems internally. It’s possible to use the first in-house pulse inverter even in “sports cars with an output of over 500 kW (670 hp),” the company said, casually letting the world know it’s considering an electric sports car.
We’ll admit, though, given that Volkswagen Group made the announcement (not Volkswagen Passenger Cars) and 500+ kW (670+ hp) was the mentioned potential power level, the statement was probably a hint at the Audi Rnext, not a VW ID. sports car. However, there has been one other indication of an electric sports car with the VW logo in the past.
“We need to bring a sports car back for the nostalgia,” Volkswagen Group of America President and CEO Pablo Di Si told media at the 2022 LA Auto Show (November 17-27, 2022), Motor1.com reported on November 21, 2022. He confirmed that Volkswagen Passenger Cars is internally discussing a new sports car for the future portfolio. Volkswagen Passenger Cars CEO Thomas Schäfer said this model won’t be a proper sports car like a Porsche or a roadster. “We’re talking more in the tradition of the Golf GTI,” he added.
Can the VW ID. sports car be a hot hatchback like the Scirocco? Perhaps. Volkswagen is aware, however, that the market for two-door cars has declined significantly. In the next 2-3 years, we might get hints about the body style and design from a concept
Yangwang U9
On January 5, 2023, BYD unveiled the Yangwang U9 electric supercar. Riding on the ‘Yisifang’ platform, it features four electric motors – one for each wheel – allowing four-wheel torque vectoring. BYD is yet to release the exact specifications of the Yangwang U9, but the quad-motor setup is capable of over 1,100 hp (820 kW).
The all-electric supercar is reportedly capable of accelerating from 0-100 kph (0-62 mph) in less than 2 seconds, though its top speed is unknown. The U9’s exterior, sporting the ‘Gate of Time and Space’ design language, looks suitably aggressive and modern. It has been equipped with all-LED C-shaped headlights, full-width LED taillights, intricate vent designs, a front splitter, a central fin with integrated LEDs, and a vast rear diffuser—all befitting a supercar that will supposedly cost a ‘million-yuan’ (USD 144,169).
BYD hasn’t disclosed the official launch date for the Yangwang U9, but its first and most important market will be China. Road-testing of the Chinese electric sports car has commenced, Autohome reported on February 21, 2023, based on a spy picture of its alleged test mule floating on the web.
Wiesmann Project Thunderball
The Wiesmann Project Thunderball is a retro-style electric roadster with plenty of curves and smooth surfaces. Built on an aluminum spaceframe chassis, it measures 4,440 mm (174.8 in.) in length, 2,210 mm (87.0 in.) in width (incl. mirrors), and 1,285 mm (50.6 in.) in height and has a 2,595 mm (102.2 in.) wheelbase. Wiesmann offers a fully adjustable sports suspension with adjustable anti-roll bars in the car.
The Project Thunderball has an 83 kWh battery pack that operates at 800 volts and supplies energy to two rear-mounted motors, both powering the rear wheels. The motors generate 500 kW (670 hp) and 1,100 Nm (811 lb.-ft.) of torque. A 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) sprint takes just 2.9 seconds.
Expecting an energy consumption of 20.5 kWh/100 km (62 miles), Wiesmann is targeting a WLTP range of 500 km (311 miles). The maximum charging power is 22 kW (AC)/300 kW (DC). DC fast-charging from 10 to 80% SoC takes less than 30 minutes.
According to a report Car and Driver released on December 7, 2022, Wiesmann will launch the Project Thunderball in the U.S., but we don’t have a timeline yet. In Europe, prices start at EUR 300,000 (USD 317,717).
Featured Image Source: Fisker
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