Say Watt? This Porsche 356 lookalike is all electric
Britain’s Watt Electric Vehicle Company Coupe is ready to roll after ten months of road testing. The car’s design is “inspired by the legendary 1955 Porsche 356a” but there the similarities end.
The WEVC Coupe is made from carbon fiber, weighs less than 2200 pounds, has a 50:50 weight balance, and a mid-mounted 120 kW electric motor. It’s claimed to accelerate from 0-62 mph in a little over five seconds and have a range of up to 230 miles.
Beneath the nostalgic styling there’s an innovative aluminum chassis with an integrated battery enclosure that makes it light and strong enough to pass European crash tests. The two-seater gets its power from a compact 40 kW battery and the platform has been designed to be flexible, allowing for the development of all kinds of EVs in the future. The Coupe is really just an attention-seeker for the technology that WEVC calls PACES, which could underpin other cars and commercial vehicles. The skateboard-style chassis allows for front-, rear-, or all-wheel drive and can even be scaled up to bus size.
The order books are open for 21 of Launch Edition Coupes, priced at $113,000, and due to for delivery from early 2022.
If you’re in the mood for an all-new electric homage to a classic then you could also check out the quirky Morris JE, the Alpha Ace or perhaps even the AC Cobra Le Mans tribute.