Apex AP-0 Concept Is A Lightweight Electric Sports Car With 650 HP


Apex has officially unveiled the new AP-0 concept, following a slight delay related to the coronavirus.

Designed to preview a production model that will be launched in late 2022, the AP-0 is an electric sports car that is “race-inspired and road legal.”


Packed with personality, the AP-0 has a striking design that looks fast even when standing still. Since the car is electric, it eschews a traditional grille and instead features narrow slots which channel air through the vehicle and out the hood.

Elsewhere, we can see a front splitter and three-piece LED headlights. The car has also been equipped with digital side mirrors and a teardrop-shaped glass roof with an aerodynamic rear fin that draws inspiration from Formula 1. There are also butterfly doors as well as 19- and 20-inch carbon fiber wheels.


The sporty styling continues at the rear as the concept has an enormous diffuser. However, the most unique styling feature is the taillights which are bound to draw attention. While full-width taillights are nothing new, the AP-0 also incorporates vertical lights and this gives the concept a unique look.

Apex didn’t release interior pictures, but said we can expect a “clean, simple” cabin with two seats and a dashboard that features “smooth layers of materials.” There will also be a compact steering wheel which boasts machined aluminum and carbon fiber.


On the tech front, the concept is equipped with a holographic augmented reality display and an AR Race Instructor. The latter gamifies the “way drivers can learn new racetracks.”

The AP-0 also has an advanced LiDAR sensor which generates detailed maps of the vehicle’s surroundings. The company said this allows the car to more accurately identify potential hazards such as pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles. It allows the car to offer a Level 3 semi-autonomous driving system, and Apex hinted it could eventually be upgraded to a Level 4 system.


Power comes from a 90 kWh lithium-ion battery pack which feeds an electric motor that develops 650 hp (484 kW / 659 PS). It enables the rear-wheel drive sports car to rocket from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 2.3 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 190 mph (306 km/h).

Speaking of performance, Apex says the concept has a range of up to 320 miles (515 km) in the WLTP cycle. When the battery is depleted, the car can be given an 80% charge in less than 15 minutes using a CCS rapid charger. Likewise, a full recharge with a Type 2 connector should take around eight hours.


While many electric vehicles are heavy, the AP-0 has a curb weight of just 2,645 lbs (1,200 kg). That was made possible thanks to the use of a carbon fiber tub, carbon fiber body panels and carbon fiber wheels – among other things.

Besides being lightweight, the concept promises to handle like a proper sports car as it features a motorsport-inspired push rod suspension. The model also has a carbon ceramic braking system with discs that measure 14.1 inches (360 mm) front and 13.4 inches (340 mm) rear.


While the production model is more than two years away, the company said pre-tax pricing will start at £150,000 (£184,594 / €166,476).

carscoops

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Limited Edition Ford GT 'Competition Series' Is All About The Track

Image
Ford's new GT Competition Series was built with weight-saving in mind, but also with an improved center of gravity for better road-holding. Among its features, you'll notice the lightweight carbon fiber racing stripes, A-Pillars and side mirrors, as well as the unique race-inspired Perspex acrylic engine hatch with integrated venting. Thanks to the manual latch and the carbon fiber prop rod, weight near the roof has been reduced, though Ford engineers went even further in their quest to make the car lighter, by making the bulkhead Gorilla Glass behind the driver about half as thick (and as light) as on other models. "The Ford GT has racing in its blood," said Ford exec Raj Nair, while adding that the Competition Series "was developed with the most hardcore track enthusiasts in mind, providing a tailored set of lightweight features and unique livery to match." There are also plenty of remaining performance features from the production car, such as
Read more

Alpine A110 Hits Geneva With Pure, Legende And GT4 Versions

Image
Renault’s reborn Alpine brand has been getting rave reviews for its new A110 and now, as promised, it’s revealed new versions of its coupe at the Geneva Motor Show. Following the success of the sold-out Premiere Edition, the A110 will now be offered in Pure and Legende trims. The A110 Pure is targeted at driving enthusiasts. It features one-piece Sabelt sports seats that weigh barely more than 13 kilograms (28.6 pounds) each and, combined with other weight-saving measures, helps keep the curb weight below 1,100 kg ( 2,425 lbs). It’s not entirely stripped out, though, and still comes with features like air-conditioning and satellite navigation. Buyers can also add upgraded Brembo brakes and an adaptive exhaust system and can upgrade to the adjustable comfort seats. Those come standard on the Legende model, which is geared more towards every day driving and grand touring and comes with leather upholstery. Customers can also choose between two Focal sound systems and two wheel
Read more

Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet Is A Crossover For Droptop Lovers

Image
Droptop crossovers have always been rather odd and the T-Roc Cabriolet is no different. It will be the only convertible Volkswagen on sale for the foreseeable future and will celebrate its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Rather than simply removing the roof of the standard T-Roc, Volkswagen has drastically altered the vehicle’s structure and body. In fact, its wheelbase is 37 mm longer than the standard T-Roc while its overall length is up by 34 mm. In addition, the Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet features structural strengthening in the underbody, side panels, cross members, doors, and windscreen frame to make up for the lack of a roof. The folding fabric roof developed by Volkswagen retracts in just nine seconds at speeds of up to 19 mph (30.5 km/h) and is similar in operation to the roof of the outgoing Golf Cabriolet. The presence of the soft top reduces trunk space by 161 liters down from the 284 liters of the run-of-the-mill T-Roc. We don’t think bu
Read more