The German sports car manufacturer Wiesmann has presented an all-electric roadster with 800-volt architecture under the project name Thunderball. It is still a concept, but it is intended to go into series production: Interested parties can already pre-order the 500-kW sports car.
Although it is a purely electric car, the Thunderball is recognisable as a Wiessmann model – at the front, the shape of the air intake and also the very long bonnet are reminiscent of the combustion models, which mostly ran on a V8 from BMW.
In the Thunderball, the long bonnet has remained, but there is no longer an engine mounted underneath: Two electric motors mounted on the rear axle transmit a power of up to 500 kW and enable a torque of up to 1,100 Nm.
A battery with an energy content of 92 kWh is installed, of which 83 kWh can be used. Wiesmann does not specify the exact installation position or the weight of the 800-volt storage unit. Since the Thunderball is made primarily of lightweight materials such as aluminium and carbon fibre, the total weight is supposed to be 1,775 kilograms. The weight should also ensure low consumption: around 500 kilometres should be possible with the 83 kWh net. This is at least the value Wiesmann is aiming for; the vehicle has not yet been homologated according to WLTP.
The Thunderball is not only able to drive fast (0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds, 0-200 km/h in 8.9 seconds), but can also charge quickly. The AC charging power is 22 kW, with up to 300 kW said to be possible at a corresponding DC charging station. The battery has its own water cooling system to enable fast charging even at high ambient temperatures.
On its homepage, the company also emphasises the “typical Wiesmann driving experience”, which is also to be achieved in the electric roadster. To achieve this, for example, the recuperation can be precisely regulated via the shift paddles on the steering wheel. The fully adjustable sports suspension with variable stabilisers should also contribute to this.
Instead of the big V8, there is room for something else under the front bonnet: luggage. In the front, 180 litres or two hand luggage suitcases can be stowed. Almost incidentally, the technical specifications state that the rear luggage compartment with 125 litres is only available in the coupé – so there will be a version with a fixed roof in addition to the roadster.
Production of the Thunderball is to take place in Dülmen. The basic price for the Thunderball is said to be around 300,000 euros. Interested parties can already pre-order the E-Roadster. It is not yet known when production will start.
carscoops.com, wiesmann.com
Keyword: Wiesmann shows 800-volt roadster with production planned