Detroit Electric has released the final exterior design of its upcoming two-seater sports car, the SP:01. The company says it will be the world's fastest production electric sports car. The revised design features include a fastback rear, an added rear wing and reshaped air ducts.
Detroit Electric is not a name with which many people will be familiar, but it began selling cars in 1907 and was a leader in an early electric vehicle (EV) market during the early 1900s. After succumbing to the rise of the internal combustion engine, the company has now been reestablished in preparation for the newly reinvigorated EV market and, in March last year, gave notice of its planned first car in over seven decades. Prototypes of the SP:01 were subsequently unveiled and shown off the following month.
A number or alterations have been made to those initial prototypes. The scooped-out rear has been replaced with a tapering fastback body. This was designed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to analyze airflow, with a view to reducing turbulence for improved performance and stability.
The rear of the car has also seen the addition of a spoiler. Coupled with a new under-body diffuser, this is aimed at increasing downforce for better road-holding at higher speeds.
At the front, the SP:01's air inlet and outlet ducts set into the hood have been reshaped to improve its heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Elsewhere, a structural protective casing has been added to the car's battery packs. This is aimed at puncture prevention in the event of an accident, but also provides the vehicle with greater torsional rigidity.
Detroit Electric says the SP:01 will accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) in 3.7 seconds and will hit a top speed of 155 mph (249 km/h). The company is claiming a good 180 miles (288 km) on a single charge. It will be manufactured in the UK and will go on sale in Asia, EMEA and North America from early 2015.
The video below is an arty animation of the SP:01.
Source: Detroit Electric
How useful is this in the real world, where people spend most of their time riding in the city?
One word... or is it one model: Model S P85D!
Oh yes... I believe it can seat 7 also!
http://www.gizmag.com/tesla-model-p85d-driver-assist/34123/
I hope this car sells really well. It's great to see companies like this coming along and joining Tesla in the electric car market.
I tell you what - Tesla's cars and this one sure beat the ugly G.E. Volt in the style stakes (and probably everywhere else as well). There hasn't been a car as ugly as the Volt since the Edsel.