There are some start-ups that want to succeed with new, electric cars. This deserves special attention, not only because the co-founder and Porsche great-grandson Toni Piëch is the namesake, but also because the Swiss company has put together a profound, twenty-strong team that has now presented a first drivable prototype after a first appearance two and a half years ago at the Geneva Motor Show.
Boris Schmidt Editor in the department “Technology and Engine”.
In 2024, three vehicle variants are to be launched on the market, a sports car, internally called GT 2, a four-seater (GT 4) and an SUV. It is planned with an annual number of a total of 10,000 units, the majority of which is to be accounted for by the SUV, starting with the GT 2, which is to be available in the showrooms for around 200,000 euros. All three Piëch rest on the same basic structure, the battery is T-shaped in the center tunnel and in the rear, there are three engines, one in front and two independently of each other on the rear wheels. Each offers 150 kW (204 hp). It is promised that the battery, which will have around 80 kWh capacity, will be charged in less than ten minutes, provided that it is charged with 350 kW. The range should be up to 500 kilometers.
Technology boss Klaus Schmidt, who earned his money at BMW M for a long time, is particularly proud of the battery with pouch cells. Not only can it be charged extremely quickly, it is also able to recuperate more efficiently than others. This increases the range. So far, the company has worked with a Chinese battery manufacturer, but now it is bringing the know-how from Europe. In any case, according to Piëch, he binds himself much more closely and intensively to the respective supplier than is usual in car development, which is a great advantage and makes the processes faster and more effective. The development team has moved its location to Memmingen in Bavaria, where there is also a small test track at the airfield.
