Ferdinand Piëch’s Son Joins The Automotive World With Mark Zero Concept

The son of Ferdinand Piëch has launched his own car company and will unveil the firm’s first vehicle in concept guise at March’s Geneva Motor Show.

The company is dubbed Piëch and the vehicle is known as the Mark Zero Concept. It is an all-electric sports car with a retro-inspired design and should offer respectable performance as well as decent range.

Specifications haven’t been released but Piëch claims the Mark Zero concept will have an electric range of approximately 500 km (310 miles) on the WLTP test cycle while tipping the scales at less than 1800 kg (3968 lbs). Among the important features will be an energy recovery system and an air-cooled battery pack which Piëch asserts will support quick charging.

In a bid to ensure the Mark Zero offers a similar driving experience to vehicles with internal combustion engines, Piëch will mount the battery pack in the car’s transmission tunnel and on the rear axle.

Underpinning the Mark Zero Concept is a modular architecture that can be updated with new components as technology advances. While it remains unconfirmed, it’s possible that the Mark Zero could be sold with a plethora of powertrains thanks to this flexible platform, potentially including with various internal combustion engines, hybrid powertrains, and maybe even with a fuel-cell option.

In addition, Piëch plans on building various models, including a four-seat sedan and an SUV, on the Mark Zero’s platform.

In terms of styling, the Piëch Mark Zero Concept features an elongated hood and a short tail, much like some of the industry’s most iconic GT cars. The front end consists of rounded headlights, a large grille, and an aggressive front splitter element.