Piëch Automotive won’t let its second chance pass it by.
The Swiss startup has just unveiled a new version of its all-electric GT concept from 2021, reports Car and Driver. The latest iteration of the sports car has a sharper design and a much more potent powertrain.
Piëch first showed off an early version of the GT, then known as the Mark Zero, at the Geneva Motor Show in 2019. Two years later, the company shared images of a more refined version of the vehicle that combined different elements of grand tourers made by brands like Aston Martin and Porsche over the years. The car would combine classic auto styling with an electric powertrain that the automaker said would produce over 600 hp. That EV wouldn’t make it to production, but Piëch wasn’t done yet.
The new GT shares the same general shape and proportions as the 2021 version, but has more defined lines and features giving it some much-needed character. We’re especially fond of the sculpted front fascia with its razor-thin headlights, the graceful sloping roofline, and an angular rear that gives the car an athletic air. The GT only exists as a full-size clay model at this point, so it’s unclear what the interior will look like, but it will feature a 2+2 seating layout. Piëch also plans to give an extensive list of color and trim options and tells the magazine that no two examples will be the same. That’s a bold claim, but one we imagine will appeal to some sports car lovers.
The concept also features a fully overhauled drivetrain. The new setup includes two electric motors, one mounted in the front and the other in the rear, which will give the vehicle all-wheel drive. Each motor will produce 503 hp and 406 ft lbs of torque by itself, for a combined output in excess of 1,000 horses and 800 ft lbs of torque. Thanks to all this grunt, Piëch says the car will be able to sprint from zero to 62 mph in 2.6 seconds, which would put it in the same league as the Porsche Taycan Turbo S, and reach a top speed of 187 mph, which would make it about as fast as the range-topping Taycan Turbo GT.
The powertrain will get its juice from a 90-kWh battery pack that gives the EV a 312-mile range. That number is decent, especially for a sports car, but it is based on Europe’s forgiving WLTP testing cycle. Other intriguing features include a two-speed gearbox—something that no EV actually needs—and independent wheel control.
Piëch’s founders, Rea Stark Rajcic and Anton Piëch, the son of the late Volkswagen Group boss Ferdinand Piëch, have teamed up with former Mercedes-AMG exec Tobias Moers to make sure this version of the GT makes it to production. The company will reportedly emply Canada’s Multimatic, the builders of the second-generation Ford GT, to produce the car. As of now, the company is eyeing a 2028 launch date and a starting cost of around $200,000.
Click here for more photos of the Piëch Automotive GT.