Making its first appearance on Japanese soil at the Tokyo Motor Show is the Teewave AR.1, a working prototype for a pure-electric roadster model that is the result of a nine-month partnership between Gordon Murray Design and materials company Toray Industries.
To keep the two-seater model’s weight down, Toray designed a frame made out of carbon fiber while the seats, outer body panels and other parts are also all molded out of the lightweight material.
As a result, the Teewave AR.1 tips the scales at just 850kg (1,873 pounds) and that’s including the 240kg (529 pounds) battery, which puts it in Lotus Elise territory while also weighing some 400kg less lighter than a Tesla.
Unfortunately, the prototype is let down by its weak electric motor that produces 47kW which is equal to 63-horsepower. Gordon Murray says that it completes the zero to 100km/h (62mph) sprint in 11.4 seconds and can reach a top speed of 147km/h (91mph), while it has a driving range of up to 186 kilometers (116 miles).
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