TORQ three-wheel EV roadster goes from road to track
by CanadianManufacturing.com Staff
The TORQ Roadster boasts 600 ft/lbs of torque, pushing it from 0 to 60 mph in four seconds.
SAN DIEGO—Epic EV has delivered its first production model TORQ EV Roadster, a three-wheel, open top, high-performance electric vehicle.
“In many ways, the TORQ EV was the car I fantasized about while building the Aptera,” said TORQ designer Chris Anthony. “Whereas the Aptera was designed to be the most efficient commuter car possible, the TORQ, as its name implies, puts performance first and harnesses the amazing power delivery of an all-electric driveline mounted to featherweight platform to provide breathtaking acceleration and handling.”
The TORQ Roadster boasts 600 ft/lbs of torque, pushing it from 0 to 60 mph in four seconds. Its three-wheel design reduces drag on the tarmac by 25 per cent and an 80.5″ track width helps it pull 1.3Gs while cornering—more than a Ferrari F430. It comes equipped with high-performance cam suspension and a carbon fibre body with polycarbonate windscreen.
“Whereas, the Tesla Roadster is a great street car that also can be driven at the track,” commented Anthony, “the TORQ is a great track vehicle, that can also be driven on the street. The difference being,” he added, “the TORQ is much easier to service, repair, and configure/modify by the end user.”
The TORQ Roadster starts at $65,000 in the United States and €50,000 Europe.
First customer, David Vespremi, Tesla Motors’s former Director of Communications, accepted the keys to his black TORQ Roadster with optional carbon fiber body panels and a number of additional comfort and convenience items.
“In the U.K. and elsewhere, track-day machines like the KTM X-Bow, Ariel Atom, and others can be registered for road use and driven to and from the track or autocross on weekends. However, here in the U.S., those cars can’t legally be registered for use on public roads, so there is a pretty big lifestyle commitment involved in purchasing a tow vehicle, trailer, and all of the spares needed to enjoy the visceral experience of a track day car here,” said Vespremi.
“A big part of what appeals to me about the TORQ is that I can literally charge it in my garage on the same charger as our Nissan LEAF, sneak out early in the morning in a quiet electric car without the rumble of an engine waking our two young children, go for a spirited drive, and be back again without having disturbed anyone, let alone the environment, and I don’t have to own a pickup truck or trailer to do it,” he added.
TORQ maker Epic EV will produce about fifty TORQs in 2013, followed by a substantial increase when production ramps up for the 2014 TORQ.
San Diego, California-based Epic EV designs and manufacturers electric vehicles and powertrain components and is owned by parent company Epic Boats.
