With the UK set to ban new petrol cars within a decade and many other countries committed to following close behind, all eyes are now on the electric car market. Although Elon Musk’s Tesla brand moved early to claim pole position, other manufacturers are fast catching up. And there are some amazing electric cars set to be released into the world over the coming year. We look at five of the most incredible.
1. Audi e-tron GT
German automotive manufacturer Audi has long held a reputation for innovative engineering that puts their vehicles way ahead of the class – and the forthcoming e-tron GT is no exception. It may be only the second battery-powered vehicle to come from Audi, following from the e-tron SUV, but it is set to become the brand’s flagship vehicle – and it’s not hard to see why. A total of 582bhp will be sent to all four wheels, resulting in a breathtaking 0-62 mph time of 3.5 seconds. That’s more than enough to face off with a supercar at a red light!
The electric dream machine features a 90kWh battery pack capable of achieving a range of almost 250 miles using the WLTP standard. Thanks to the battery pack’s position low on the floor, the e-tron GT will enjoy superb stability and handling that is sure to be a match for its close relative, the Porsche Taycan. Both will also share a rapid 350kW charging system giving top speed battery top-up times.
2. Mercedes-Benz EQS
Another German manufacturer set to take the electric car world by storm in 2021 is Mercedes-Benz, whose luxurious, technology-filled EQS is poised to offer a premium alternative to the Tesla Model S, with price and performance to rival the Porsche Taycan.
While the current iteration of the EQS has more than enough to offer anybody in the market for an electric supercar, Mercedes don’t plan to stop there – AMG, the high-performance division of Mercedes is best known for its petrol V8s, is expected to reveal an enhanced version of the EQS in 2022.
3. Tesla Roadster
Of course, no list of electric cars would be complete without Tesla appearing within it. Despite several ups and downs over the last few years, including questions over quality and output, Musk never fails to deliver. Spaceships aside, top of Elon’s agenda this year is his second-generation Roadster. Originally intended for release in 2020, this particular car has been plagued by delays, although not all within Tesla’s control.
The 2+2 supercar features a unique removable roof panel and is said to have a range of 620 miles thanks to a huge 200kWh battery pack. The Roadster is also claimed to have a 0-60mph time of 1.9 seconds and a top speed of 250mph. Musk has also tweeted recently that he would like to see the car fitted with rocket boosters. You’ll probably want to get used to the standard handling first!
4. Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo
Porsche are no stranger in the supercar market so it’s no surprise to see them upping their electric game this year. Their latest offering sees the Taycan receive the Cross Turismo estate treatment, introducing an elongated roofline and more boot space.
The Taycan Cross Turismo will feature the same powertrain options as the regular Taycan, meaning 532bhp in entry-level 4S guise. If that’s not enough for you, it will later be joined by Turbo and Turbo S models, the latter promising 751bhp, all-wheel-drive and an as-yet-undisclosed 0-60 time.
5. Lotus Evija
Last, but most definitely not least, is a tuning of beauty that is worthy of a feature piece all to itself – the awe-inspiring Lotus Evija. With a price ag of £2 million and a look to match it, the highly anticipated Lotus Evija is set to become the world’s most powerful production car when it arrives later this year.
Lotus is claiming an astonishing 1,973bhp from the electric hypercar’s all-wheel-drive system, resulting in a 0-60mph time of under three seconds and a top speed of over 200mph. As if that wasn’t enough, it also boasts a 0-186mph (300km/h) time of under nine seconds, with a target range of 215 miles. Weighing in at 1,680kg, it may seem heavy by lotus standards, but it more than makes up for this with its performance.
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