- The Italdesign Quintessenza has the world’s first in-wheel motors suitable with giant high-performance brakes.
- The drive models are made by Elaphe, a Slovenian firm.
- Elaphe was additionally a provider of in-wheel motors for Lordstown Motors.
In-wheel electrical motors have an enormous benefit over standard drive models: they unlock house that may probably be used for a bigger battery, which may result in extra driving vary. That mentioned, the expertise remains to be in its infancy and the motors themselves are fairly cumbersome–a lot in order that no producer has discovered a option to mix in-wheel motors with high-performance brakes.
Till now, that’s. Enter the Italdesign Quintessenza, a wild electrical automobile that’s half coupe, half pickup wannabe. It additionally has a shocking hyperlink to the ill-fated Lordstown Endurance electrical pickup, which isn’t one thing I believed I might be writing about this morning. A radical Italian tremendous GT idea doesn’t often have a spot in the identical sentence with the Lordstown Endurance, however right here we’re.
Picture by: Italdesign
The hyperlink between the 2 is the factor I discussed earlier–these fancy in-wheel motors. They’re made by Slovenia’s Elaphe, the identical provider that powered the U.S.-made Endurance truck.
Within the case of the Italdesign Quintessenza, it options the world’s first in-wheel motors which are suitable with giant efficiency breaks–that’s what Elaphe claims, not less than. Referred to as the Sonic.1, the groundbreaking drive unit will be mounted throughout the rim of a 21-inch wheel and might accommodate a 15.7-inch (400-millimeter) brake disc, making it appropriate for on-track use.
Picture by: Italdesign
What’s not so nice is that every motor provides about 88 kilos (40 kilograms) of unsprung weight per nook, which historically means the dealing with takes successful. That mentioned, efficiency shouldn’t be a problem. Within the Quintessenza, the rear motors make 670 horsepower (500 kW) every, whereas the entrance models churn out 402 hp (300 kW) every, for a grand complete of two,145 hp (1,600 kW).
These are nonetheless estimated figures, so take them with a grain of salt. With high-performance tires, Italdesign reckons its wild idea automobile might speed up from zero to 62 miles per hour in lower than 2.2 seconds. This, nevertheless, can also be an estimated determine.
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Italdesign
In accordance with Elaphe, the brand new high-performance in-wheel motors profit from a proprietary traction management system that may make changes 20 instances quicker than on a normal EV. The Slovenian firm has additionally developed a so-called “vibroacoustics” system that controls the inverter and permits for customizable sound profiles and haptic suggestions. In different phrases, it may well make the motors sound and vibrate in several methods for various automakers.
Picture by: Italdesign
Elaphe mentioned deliveries of its high-performance Sonic.1 in-wheel motor are because of start later this yr, however the firm was tight-lipped about what automakers would make use of it. Luka Ambrozic, Elaphe’s business boss, informed Autocar that the agency is in talks with each giant automobile producers and area of interest manufacturers.
