Ariel announces 1,180 bhp hypercar

Ariel Motor Company has released details of its all new battery powered hypercar that will offer 1,180 bhp while weighing around 1,600 kg

Dubbed the HIPERCAR, which stands for High Performance Carbon Reduction, the project is set to go into production in 2020. As with other Ariel vehicles the focus of HIPERCAR is on extreme performance, agility and usability, but with the added consideration of ultra-low emissions. The car will be available in four wheel drive and two wheel drive variants, and will offer astonishing performance utilising cutting edge, UK developed technology.

Phase 1 of the project, which Ariel will undertake with partners Equipmake and Delta Motorsport, will demonstrate both 2 wheel drive and 4 wheel drive prototypes at the Low Carbon Vehicle (LCV) Show at Millbrook in September.

The new car, which is yet to be given its final model name, is a series hybrid electric vehicle featuring a 750 Volt, 42 kWh or 56 kWh lithium-ion cooled and heated battery pack which is charged by a 35 kW micro-turbine range extender.

The car is built around an aluminium folded and bonded lightweight chassis with full rollover protection. The structure features aluminium front and rear subframes carrying aluminium wishbones and outboard adjustable suspension. Powered wheels, will be driven by inboard motors via integral, single speed step-down gearboxes. Each individual motor develops 220 kW (295 bhp) and 50 Nm (332 ft lb) of torque.

Pricing will not be finalised until later in the project, but Ariel director Simon Saunders said that the HIPERCAR would represent great value for money. “It will be an expensive car because of the technology involved but when compared to £1m+ supercars, which it will outperform, it’s going to represent excellent value for money,” he said.  “This is the first true electric supercar that will cross continents, drive to town and lap a race track”.