Ariel Motor Company has decided to take a different route this time with the HIPERCAR, a closed-body electric performance car to be built in limited numbers. The name ‘HIPERCAR’ is apparently an acronym for High Performance Carbon Reduction.
The Ariel HIPERCAR looks like something that came straight out of DC Comics with an aggressive bodykit and especially in this matt black finish. The body panels of this prototype are 3D-printed, but the customer cars are expected to have carbon fibre panels for a more premium look and feel. A generous usage of carbon fibre (for body) with aluminium front and rear subframes means, of course, you’d expect the weight to be under 1,000 kg (2205 lbs), but remember, this is an EV with an optional range extender. And as a result, the rear-wheel-drive model is estimated to weigh ~1,445 kg (3,186 lbs) while the all-wheel-drive model is estimated to weigh ~1,556 kg (3,430 lbs).
Inside the cockpit, you’re gonna get seating for two people as opposed to something like McMurtry Spéirling fan car which is also a batmobile-like contraption but seats only one. And as mentioned, this is a prototype, so don’t worry about the mess in the cockpit; I’m sure the finished car will have a much nicer, tidier interior.
Moving on to the juicy bits of the story then, the rear-wheel-drive variant is gonna pack two electric motors while the all-wheel-drive boasts one motor per wheel. The motors are sourced from UK-based Equipmake. The motors come with an integral inverter and a single-speed step-down gearbox. The RWD is estimated to offer combined figures of 440 kW (598 metric hp/590 bhp) and 900 Nm (664 lb-ft), while the AWD boasts 880 kW (1196 metric hp/1180 bhp) and 1,800 Nm (1,327 lb-ft). Each individual motor develops 220 kW (299 metric hp/295 bhp) and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) of torque, for anyone interested to know. A 0-60 mph (96.5 km/h) sprint in AWD is estimated to take 2.09 seconds.
An 800-volt, 62 kWh (56 kWh usable) lithium-ion battery pack comes from Cosworth, offering an estimated WLTP range of up to 241 km (150 miles). Of course, for those with range anxiety, a Cosworth 35 kW (47.5 metric hp) Cat Gen (Catalytic Generator) turbine range extender is optionally available.
Sources: Ariel, Autocar UK
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