Lunaz Breathes New Life Into Classics With Electric Power And Modern Gear

A new British start-up called Lunaz has chosen Silverstone as their base and put together a skillful engineering team with previous ties to Aston Martin, Ferrari, Jaguar, McLaren, Volkswagen and Formula 1.

Led by former Renault F1 Technical Director Jon Hilton-Lunaz, it plans to bring some exciting British classics back to life, albeit ditching the old oily bits and replacing them with electric powertrains and a host of new technologies.

Also Read: All Hail The World’s First Battery Electric “Classic” Ford Bronco

“I wanted a car like a 1953 Jaguar to be my daily driver; Lunaz takes a history we all love and gives it a bright future. We are innovating to create cars that are usable, dynamic and stand as the ultimate drivers’ classics”, said co-founder David Lorenz.

Everything starts with a thorough inspection and a full restoration process. The vehicle then gets an in-house developed electric powertrain and updated brakes, suspension and steering, as well as a throttle-by-wire system. Some of the original components, like the fuel filler cap and dials, have been converted for the electric powertrain.

All cars feature traction control, cruise control and support DC fast charging. They also get air conditioning, electronic heating and a modern infotainment system with satellite navigation and Wi-Fi.

Subsequently, Luna proceeds to test each vehicle, and right now has a 1953 Jaguar XK120 undergoing this process. The classic Jag packs twin electric motors, powered by a 80 kWh battery, that produce 375 bhp and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque. A 1961 Rolls-Royce Phantom V eight-seater, with a 120 kWh battery, and a 1956 Rolls-Royce Cloud are also being prepped for market launch.

Getting one of Lunaz’s electric classic cars will require spending a minimum of £350,000 ($430,562/€391,126) in the UK, taxes excluded, and you will be able to secure a build slot starting next month straight from the company.