Key Takeaways
- Piëch GT exterior design revealed in full-size clay model, interior still unseen.
- Piëch Dual2Drive system to offer over 1,000 horsepower, independent wheel control, and customizable drive modes.
- GT will spawn four-door sedan, SUV, and potentially other models.
Since arriving in 2017, Piëch Automotive has changed tack on what it wants from its first car. First, we saw the Mark Zero concept at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, which was supposed to have entered production this year with the name Piëch GT. That didn’t go so well, but now the fledgling automaker has new leadership that includes Tobias Moers, former CEO of Mercedes-AMG and Aston Martin. Along with that new leadership comes a new direction for the brand, demonstrated with a full-size clay model of the Piëch GT Concept. Despite carrying the name of the man who fathered the Bugatti Veyron, and despite the company being founded by his own son, Toni, the great Ferdinand Piëch had no interest in being associated with the project, according to Car and Driver: “I am in no way involved, nor do I take an active interest in it,” he said.
Bugatti
Bugatti was founded as an automaker by an Italian-born designer named Ettore Bugatti in Molsheim, Alsace, when the French city was a German one in 1909. Bugatti created several successful cars for road and racing, but Ettore’s death in 1947 led to the company ceasing operations in 1952 before a short-lived revival in 1963. The brand was revived again in 1987, resulting in the EB110 GT, but the company we know today only appeared in 1998, when Volkswagen Group acquired the brand. In 2005, the Veyron arrived, setting the tone for Bugatti’s contemporary era.
- Founded
- 1909 (Automobiles Ettore Bugatti)
- Founder
- Ettore Arco Isidoro Bugatti
- Headquarters
- Molsheim, France
- Owned By
- Porsche
- Current CEO
- Mate Rimac
Carbon-Fiber Construction
A carbon-fiber monocoque cradles a 16-module battery pack with 312 cylindrical 21700 cells and a capacity of 90 kWh. At the front, an aluminum sub-assembly houses a multi-link steel sprung suspension, which matches the rear setup, where the axle module is made of steel. All in all, the package measures 188.2 inches long, 78.7 inches wide, and 53.1 inches tall, with a 109.4-inch wheelbase (this is configurable, but more on that momentarily). Curb weight is around 4,000 lbs, all of which sits on 22-inch wheels that may house optional carbon fiber brake discs if there is enough demand.
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Motivating the package is the Piëch Dual2Drive system, which comprises two independently operable electric motors, each producing the same 503 horsepower you’d get from a rear-wheel-drive BMW M3. Each motor also produces 406 lb-ft of torque, resulting in combined totals of over 1,000 hp and 800 lb-ft of torque. All of that is powered by a two-speed transmission like a Taycan, translating to a 0-62 mph time of 2.6 seconds and a top speed of 187 mph. Driving range is estimated at 312 miles on the generous WLTP testing cycle.
“We can feed energy at a constant maximum 500 kW from beginning to end, boosting the state of charge from 10 to 80% in under 10 minutes, which is not bad at all in view of the current infrastructure limitations.”
– Tobias Moers, Piëch Automotive AG Chief Technical Officer & Co-CEO.
Immense, Hitherto Unseen Levels Of Customization
We’re always hearing how this bespoke car or that low-volume special edition offers unprecedented levels of choice, but Tobias Moers says that each car truly will be different because Piëch is offering customers the choice of not just colors and finishes but also inviting them to refine soundtracks, drive modes, and even artificial vibrations to their taste. Those drive modes are especially interesting because independently functioning motors on each rear wheel will enable each wheel to control traction, torque vectoring, and locking levels on their own. So owners can choose exactly how their car behaves depending on their own skill level – not that of the test driver. Notably,
steer-by-wire like on the Tesla Cybertruck
is being explored, too.
Big Future Plans
The company intends to produce around 2,000 cars in 2028 and 2029, escalating that to 4,500-5,000 units per year when Piëch Automotive’s second vehicle is launched as a four-door sedan. Then, the GT will enter its second lifecycle, either being restyled or comprehensively redesigned as something new in 2033. At this point, a Purosangue-style SUV will arrive.
The Ferrari Purosangue Redefines The Super SUV
No Lamborghini, Porsche, or Aston Martin comes close to Ferrari’s Super Sports Utility Vehicle.
new Mustang GTD
supercar and has
produced others like the Ford GT
, will build the new EV in 2028. Pricing is expected to be in the $200,000 range, which means similar pricing and performance to the
Porsche Taycan Turbo
. With this adaptable platform, Moers adds that there is room for extended-wheelbase sedans brimming with luxury or low-volume special editions, possibly with even more sporting intent. Hopefully, for Piëch Automotive, it will be a case of third time’s a charm.
Source:
Car and Driver
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