The next step: new electric sports car Piëch GT successfully enters trial phase
• Confirmation of the technical concept – fully electric Piëch GT with WLTP range of 500 kilometers proves its worth in testing trials
• The Piëch GT can be charged to 80 percent capacity in eight minutes at any CCS2 fast charging station using the latest battery technology; fast charger specially developed by TGOOD enables charging in under five minutes
• Relocation of German affiliate’s development team from Munich to Memmingen
Following the stunning debut of the Piëch Mark Zero electric sports car concept at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, progress is being made on the production model under the project name Piëch GT. Battery cell development, which had originally commenced in China, has since been shifted geographically closer to Europe. At the same time, rapid battery charging and energy recovery remain a strong argument for the electric sports car. The all-electric Piëch GT can be charged to 80 percent capacity in eight minutes at any CCS2 fast charging station, while a fast charger specially developed by TGOOD enables charging in under five minutes.
The move to the new test center near Memmingen in southern Germany marked another milestone for the young Swiss company, enabling it to continue to efficiently drive forward development. As early as mid-2024, the new Piëch GT is to be launched on the market as the first vehicle in a product family of three variants, all of which, with their Piëch DNA, will transport typical sports car handling into the electric age.
Piëch Automotive AG is opening up a new chapter in the trial phase of its Piëch GT electric sports car project. “Despite the global COVID-19 pandemic, we have managed to overcome the resulting delays and keep our project fully on track. The financing rounds to date have been successful, and we can now confidently continue our journey towards market launch,” says Toni Piëch, co-founder and CEO of Piëch Automotive. With the reloca- tion of the German development department from Munich to Memmingen in August, the team around Klaus Schmidt (CEO/CTO of the German affiliate) now has the ideal conditions to continue its work. “We have a test track and the appropriate logistics at our disposal here, which will substantially advance the development of the Swiss sports car,” Schmidt is pleased to report.
Typical sports car handling
Rea Stark Rajcic, co-founder and CDO of Piëch Automotive, had clearly defined the positioning from the very beginning: “The new Piëch GT should convincingly transport the DNA of a classic sports car into the electric age.” To make this happen, one synchronous motor produces 150 kW at the front axle, while another two synchronous motors with 150 kW of power each provide additional thrust at the rear axle so that a sports car driving experi- ence is guaranteed.
The arrangement of the batteries (one part is housed in the center tunnel, the rest on the rear axle) permits a similar axle load distribution and handling that had previously been the exclusive preserve of pure sports cars with internal combustion engines. In contrast to the widely used underfloor arrangement, the package enables a low seating position typical of a sports car as well as precise handling with immediate feedback to the driver.
Design as in the show car
The design of a production model often differs greatly from the bold lines of the concept car. Not so with the Piëch GT. “We created a sports car with a timeless design, just like we would dream ourselves. And we spoke at length with car enthusiasts about what is missing on the market. The result was a modern classic that is not bound by any consumer cycles. Drivers of our sports car should enjoy every moment they spend behind the wheel,” says Rea Stark Rajcic, summarizing the vision of the Swiss electric sports car. The timeless design also highlights the long-term aspirations of the Swiss company. The new Piëch GT should always bring a smile to the prospective owners’ faces regardless of the prevailing fashion trends.
Trial phase going according to plan
Klaus Schmidt, chief developer at Piëch Engineering (Germany) GmbH, previously spent more than 30 years heading up BMW’s high-performance department at M GmbH. He brings with him a wealth of valuable experience that has had a very positive impact so far, both on the development and quality of the technical components and on the production of the first prototype, as initial tests have now shown. “The second prototype will be completed by next March, with a further series of prototypes to follow before the end of 2022. Based on the test results from these prototypes, another batch of prototypes will then be built in 2023. Piëch is exactly following the tried-and-tested testing cycles of German premium manufacturers here, with trials in heat and dust, in sub-zero temperatures with ice and snow, and on demanding roads and racetracks such as the Nürburgring Nordschleife, to be able to meet our target of starting series production in 2024,” says Klaus Schmidt, outlining the company’s ambitious targets.
In-house sales and external service partners
“The purchase of a Piëch GT must offer a genuine brand and product experience right from the start. That’s why we are relying on approximately 60 authentic in-house brand stores rather than a conventional franchise system,” says Jochen Rudat, explaining the sales strategy developed for Piëch Automotive AG.
“We plan to establish and offer the Piëch GT in the most important European markets as well as in the USA, China and other non-European markets. Only renowned companies with an outstanding and comprehensive service network will be considered as service partners,” says Jochen Rudat, once Elon Musk’s director for European business operations and now the most important man in Piëch’s sales department, adding: “Interested buyers will soon be able to reserve their own GT and get a head start even before sales begin.”
At a glance:
• All-electric GT with WLTP range of 500 kilometers
• CCS fast charging to 80 percent of the battery capacity in approximately eight minutes
• Development of battery cells with a charging time under five minutes at specially developed charging stations
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