Volar-E Electric Supercar Teased Ahead of Barcelona Unveiling
Spanish engineering firm Applus+Idiada has released a first teaser of the Volar-E, an 800hp electric supercar developed with Rimac and set to debut at Circuit de Catalunya.
Applus+Idiada has released the first teaser image of the Volar-E, an all-electric supercar developed in partnership with Rimac, ahead of its official unveiling at the Circuit de Catalunya. The project, commissioned by the European Commission, aims to demonstrate the performance potential of electric vehicles at the top end of the market. The public debut is scheduled for Friday, 1 March 2013, in Barcelona.
The Volar-E is the result of a collaboration between Spanish engineering specialist Applus+Idiada and Croatian electric car manufacturer Rimac Automobili, best known for its own Concept_One hypercar. Applus+Idiada was selected by the European Commission in 2012 to design and construct a high-performance electric vehicle that could rival combustion-engined supercars on track and in acceleration.
Technical partnership with Rimac
Rimac supplied key components for the Volar-E, including its carbon fibre body, tubular chrome-molybdenum chassis, battery system and electric motors. The car uses four electric motors, one at each wheel, producing a combined 800hp (596kW) and 1,500Nm of torque. Power is provided by a 38kWh battery pack, also from Rimac, highlighting the close technical relationship between the two firms.
While full performance figures have not yet been released, the combination of high power output, instant torque and lightweight construction positions the Volar-E as one of the most ambitious electric supercar projects to date. The 38kWh battery is relatively compact by modern standards, suggesting the focus is on short, high-intensity track use rather than extended road range. The chassis and battery technology draw heavily on Rimac’s experience with the Concept_One, but the Volar-E’s design and development have been led by Applus+Idiada.
Commissioned by the European Commission
The European Commission’s involvement underlines the Volar-E’s role as a technology demonstrator. The aim is to show that electric vehicles can offer high performance and driving excitement, countering perceptions that EVs are only suited to urban or economy segments. The project also serves to highlight European engineering expertise in emerging electric powertrains and lightweight construction.
The Volar-E’s public unveiling at the Circuit de Catalunya will provide the first opportunity to see the car in action and assess how closely it delivers on its technical promises. Further details on performance, pricing and production intent are expected to follow the debut.
The Volar-E joins a growing list of electric supercar projects from established and emerging manufacturers, including the Rimac Concept_One and the Audi R8 e-tron. For more on the evolution of electric high-performance cars, seeAudi R8 e-tron returns as all-electric supercar at Geneva.
