Thunder Power: The Taiwanese Electric Car
With the Tesla Model S for sale and the recently revealed Porsche Mission E on everyone’s minds, it is quite easy to see why the Thunder Power is referred to with little enthusiasm and a healthy dose of skepticism. The latest car start-up Straight Outta Taiwan expects to cause a stir in the EV market with its European technology and eye catching design, curtesy of Italian coachbuilder Zagato.
So far, we are being promised a 308-hp and 429-hp model, and both will provide just over 400 miles in range on one charge and an extended 186 mile range after a 30 minute charge. The 429-hp model promises a 0 to 62 mph in less than five seconds, topping out at 155 mph. This tool connoisseur turned potential automaker has made more than their fair share of promises ahead of their proposed 2017 European and 2018 Chinese release.
This battery-electric, four door sedan will also be extended to a SUV, compact and crossover variants. Noticeably very similar to Tesla’s future plans, they have their work cut out for them. With a proposed base price of approximately $62,000, Thunder Power has a lot to do to prove their worth.
With phrases like “Tesla’s latest competition” or “Wants to take on Tesla” being thrown around, it is safe to say that the pressure is on and ever present. This Taiwanese concept, with its proposed impressive performance figures and an exciting GT3 race car variant, had better be more than prepared to back up their claims, because the EV start-up world is unforgiving and will not hesitate to mete out a heavy dose of Karma should they be found lacking.