German startup Vanwall is building an all-electric street-legal hatchback that it promises to launch later this year. Deep details are sparse for now but we’re getting an idea of what it looks like through a series of computer generated images, how much power it’ll make, and that it’s scheduled for delivery late this year. Here’s a closer look at this very limited-production model.
Vanwall announced only a week ago that it would go to Le Mans with its very own Vandervell 680 Hypercar. It’s going to be the first time since 1961 that a car at the prestigious event wears a Vanwall nameplate. Now, the team is bringing a pair of hatchbacks to the market called the Vandervell S and the Vandervell S Plus.
The S model gets AWD along with a combined 320 hp and an estimated range of 450km (279 miles). Vanwall says that it’ll sprint from 0-62 mph (0-100km) in just 4.9 seconds. The S Plus model will develop a total of 580 hp (432 kW) with a 420km (260 miles) range and go from 0-60 in 3.4 seconds.
Prices Start From $138,000 In Europe
Beyond those figures and what we believe are renderings, we don’t know much about this sleek little five-door EV. It certainly looks like it’ll stand out with 22-inch wheels, sharp geometric body lines, and exposed carbon fiber elements. Vanwall says that deliveries will begin in the third quarter of this year with a starting price of 128,000 Euros or about $138,000 before taxes in Germany.
Customers can choose any paint color they want along with “five complementary cockpit interior choices” and “Taylor made options are also available on request.” It also says that it’s going to make 500 of these cars but we’re still missing some big details. For instance, while Vanwall says that “Light weight is another key element in achieving exceptional performance,” we don’t have any idea of how much it weighs.
We’ve reached out to Vanwall in hopes of getting more information about the car. For example, we don’t yet know what sort of battery it uses or how quickly it can charge. We also don’t know if it’s based on anything that’s already out. If we had to guess, we’d probably link it to something like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Kia EV6 GT.
For example, the EV6 Wind with AWD also makes 320 hp while the punchy EV6 GT makes 576 hp. Those figures suggest that indeed the Vanwall Vandervell S and S Plus might be based on Hyundai’s E-GMP platform or perhaps it’s a rebodied Hyundai Ioniq 5. While that might not sound like the most exclusive packaging, it would lend a lot of reliability and familiarity to the car.
At the same time, it’s worth noting that Vanwall’s claim of a 420km range for the Vendervell S Plus is about 86km (54 miles) further than the range of the EV6 GT. On top of those questions, we’re wondering if any prototypes have been completed as of yet. Hopefully, Vanwall will clear some of these questions up for us and we can update you here shortly.
