Electric
Williams creates a rolling physics-bending machine – just add bodywork
By now, you’ve probably heard the phrase ‘actions speak louder than words’. And for Williams Advanced Engineering to create a turn-key electric hypercar chassis with 2,200bhp – just add bodywork – and call it something as basic as an ‘electric vehicle platform’… you can see what’s doing the heavy lifting there.
And also the heavy shoving, by the looks of the spec sheet – 1,650kW (or about 2,213bhp in yesteryearian), yielding a nought to 62mph lunge in less than two seconds, as well as a top speed of more than 248mph. And if we’re reading things right, a total vehicle weight under 1,800kg. Not exactly a Lotus Exige, but basically flyweight in the world of EVs, and especially so when it’s motivated by more than 2,200bhp. Just to satisfy your curiosity, that puts the power-to-weight ratio around the 1,230bhp per tonne mark. Which rather feels like enough, but then we’re unadventurous like that.
Of course, being an EV, we now have to talk about how far it’ll go on a charge and how long it takes to recharge. And honestly, it’s starting to get more than a little dull. We don’t time how long it takes to fill the 100-litre tank on a GT car, let alone mark it down compared to the 40-litre splash and dash you get with a hot hatch. In any case, it’s a 20-minute fast charge and 280 miles of range when said 20 minutes have elapsed. Williams is also working on a hydrogen fuel cell version, in case that ever stops being ‘the fuel of the future’ and starts being useful in the present. Good enough? Good stuff. Let’s get back to interesting things.
Because it’s a) an EV, and b) an EV built by Williams Advanced Engineering, it’s pretty much up to you what you’d like in terms of use and powertrain layout. Want something rear-drive and track-only? Easy. An all-wheel-drive GT car? Sure. An open-roof targa-type deal? Not a problem. A front-drive people mover? Er, possibly not.
See, it’s two-door only, and pretty much perfectly packaged to save space and weight wherever possible. And that pushrod (or pullrod; we always get those mixed up) suspension might not be the best anchor for little Arlo’s car seat.
But of course you knew what Williams’ EV platform was about from the outset – ultimate performance for finite passengers. Page one, item one in the supercar handbook. All we’re doing now is daydreaming about which coachbuilder could drape it in the best bodywork. Touring? Zagato? Italdesign?
So, coachbuilders of the world: please show us exactly what kind of car you’d build on this base – or better yet, actually build it. After all, actions speak louder than words.
Keyword: Want to build your own EV hypercar? We’d suggest starting here