Ariel Hipercar: 1200 HP and a gas turbine to go further
This page is translated from the original post "Ariel Hipercar : 1200 ch et une turbine à gaz pour aller plus loin" in French.
- 04/09/2022 11:00
At Ariel, we don’t like to do things halfway. The new Hipercar proves it once again.
Hipercar, for High Performance Carbon Reduction: the name of the new electric Ariel sets the tone. Since the project’s announcement in 2017, the small British manufacturer has made considerable progress. It has just revealed a working prototype, which closely resembles the final model with a few minor differences.
Very distinctive on the outside, the Hipercar also offers some technical surprises. It can, in fact, optionally be equipped with a gas turbine, which will act as a range extender. Capable of reaching a speed of 110,000 revolutions per minute, this system is lighter than a traditional small thermal engine. One day, it could run on hydrogen, completely eliminating the vehicle’s pollutant particulate emissions.
The Hipercar is powered by four electric motors. Each is connected to a specific wheel, enabling all-wheel drive. The combined power reaches 880 kW (about 1200 hp), while torque hits 1800 Nm. Ariel also plans to produce a front-wheel-drive version, with a power output of 440 kW.
The electric drive is powered by a 62 kWh battery. If the driver relies solely on this battery and not on the range extender, regular refueling will be necessary. Indeed, the range of a Hipercar without the turbine barely reaches 240 km (measured according to the WLTP cycle).
0 to 100 km/h in just over 2 seconds
By maximizing the use of lightweight materials, Ariel has managed to limit the total weight to around 1,500 kilograms, which is relatively low for an electric vehicle. In terms of performance, the Hipercar can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 2.09 seconds, and from 0 to 100 mph (161 km/h) in 4.42 seconds. The top speed is limited to 250 km/h.
Ariel plans to produce its Hipercar in limited quantities. Regarding pricing, the British manufacturer has simply revealed that the all-wheel-drive version with range extender will cost “less than a million pounds“. The development is not yet fully complete, but this prototype provides a very accurate idea of the final outcome. Production is expected to commence in about 2 years.
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