Piëch Automotive Starts Anew With an Ambitious 1,000-HP Electric Sports Car Concept

The Swiss startup seems to believe in taking advantage of second chances, as it just unveiled a new iteration of its all-electric sports car with a more modern design and notably more advanced engineering.

For those out of the loop, Piëch Automotive was founded in 2017 by Anton Piëch, son of former VW Chairman Ferdinand Piëch, and Rea Stark Rajcic. After the first effort to bring an electric sports car to the market failed, Toni Piëch decided to give it another go with new partners. The company's new leadership includes Tobias Moers, former CEO of Mercedes-AMG and Aston Martin, and chief technical officer Ralph Illenberger.

Their new Piëch GT concept is a 2-plus-2 coupe that improves on the design of the previous Mark Zero EV with sharper, more defined lines and a more powerful drivetrain. However, calling this ambitious project a "concept" is a bit of a stretch, as the new GT is just a clay model at this point.

Nonetheless, the design is still an exciting one and will certainly appeal to many sports car lovers, so let's see what the Swiss brand promises.

First off, the car is said to be 188.2 inches long, 78.7 inches wide, and 53.1 inches high and to sit on a 109.4-inch wheelbase. Its carbon-fiber monocoque chassis will house a 16-module battery pack with 312 cylindrical 21700 cells and a total capacity of 90 kWh.

In terms of power, the new car promises to cross the 1,000-horsepower (745 kW) threshold and deliver 811 lb-ft (1,100 Nm) of torque. This exceptional power comes from two independently operable electric motors, producing 503 hp (375 kW) and 406 lb-ft (550 Nm) of torque each. One motor will be mounted at the front and the other in the rear, meaning this will be an all-wheel drive vehicle.

All that grunt will translate into a top speed of 187 mph (300 kph) and a 0 to 62 mph (100 kph) acceleration time of just 2.6 seconds. The 90-kWh battery pack is expected to ensure a 312-mile (502-km) range, which is pretty good for a sports car, but it should be mentioned that it is based on Europe's generous WLTP testing cycle.

For comparison's sake, the initial Mark Zero concept was presented with an electric powertrain comprising three motors that were said to produce over 600 hp (450 kW) combined.

The all-new Piëch GT will also have a pair of two-speed transmissions (one for each of electric motor), independent wheel control, and a multi-link steel sprung suspension, and it will ride on 22-inch wheels with optional carbon fiber brake discs.

All this talk about performance numbers and specs is definitely fascinating for lovers of sports cars and power, but the startup says their cars "are crafted for more than acceleration and speed. They are crafted for a new way of life. Each mile charged with visionary technology under your command. We developed our sports car around you. And your emotions. Piëch ignites the path to these emotions."

Interestingly, the company plans to offer prospective customers unprecedented levels of customization, and Tobias Moers claims no two Piëch GTs will be the same. Though every car will have the same hardware, customers will be able to choose from a wide range of color and trim options, as well as personalize the software to have individual soundtracks, drive modes, and even to generate artificial vibrations.

In order to bring the new Piëch GT from concept to reality and then to production, the company partnered with Canada's Multimatic, the same team that is building the new Mustang GTD supercar and has produced the second-generation Ford GT.

Five years in the making, Piëch Automotive's electric sports car might see the light of day in 2028. The company plans to manufacture around 2,000 units in the first two years of production, each with a starting price of around 200,000 euros (about $215,000 at current exchange rates).