Dual motors drive the rear axle of the zero-emission roadster.
Wiesmann, an independent sports car manufacturer, is back in business after a long hiatus with the retro-themed Project Thunderball. The brand’s BMW-powered models are familiar, but the undercarriage is not derived from Bavarian heritage. The roadster is purely electrical and has no ICE.
It’s interesting to note that electric motors do not always refer to all-wheel drive. In this case, the motors are mounted at the back of the vehicle to give it a tail-happy nature. This is not the first rear-wheel drive electric convertible. The original Tesla Roadster sent power exclusively to its rear axle.
Project Thunderball is influenced by British design elements and echoes the styling of its predecessors. The egg-shaped front grille is a nod to the MF5 V10 Roadster, from which it inherited the stacked double circle lights theme. The clamshell hood gives it a nod towards the past, while the retro interior features modern amenities such as a large touchscreen or body-hugging carbon fiber seats.
Weismann promises some impressive numbers for the Project Thunderball. It makes 671 horsepower with its pair of electric motors. The electric roadster is capable of moving mountains due to its combined torque of 811 pound feet (1,100 Newton-meters). From a standstill, it takes only 2.9 seconds for the vehicle to reach 62 mph (100 km/h). It weighs in at 1,700 kg (3,747 lbs).
Two electric motors draw their power from an 83-kWh lithium battery that can be charged at 800V and up to 300 kW. Project Thunderball can travel up to 311 miles (500 km) on a fully charged battery. Roheen Berry, CEO of Weismann claims that the EV has five levels of regenerative braking.
We don’t know when Project Thunderball will be available for purchase or how many there will be. Pricing is another piece of the puzzle. However, we know that the electric cabrio will be made at the Gecko plant in Dulmen. According to our sources, the majority of the original team are still employed by the company.