603HP Piech Mark Zero Electric GT Does 0-100 Km/h In 3.2 Sec

Say hello to the first car named after the Piëch family, the Mark Zero all-electric sports car.

The brainchild of Ferdinand Piëch’s son Toni and Rea Stark Rajcic, the Mark Zero previews Piëch Automotive’s first production car — or at least that’s the plan. It’s a 4,432mm (174.5in) long electric GT that promises to offer a driving range of 500 km (311 miles) on the WLTP combined cycle as well as a fun driving experience.

Described as a “puristic electric sports car,” the Piëch Mark Zero uses a flexible and open vehicle architecture that allows the use of a variety of drive systems, including electric, hybrid, fuel cell or internal combustion engine. Besides the two-seat coupe, the company plans to build a four-seater and a sporty SUV using the same modular platform.

The Geneva Motor Show vehicle is an all-electric coupe featuring a new unspecified type of battery cell that’s said to “hardly” heat up during charging and discharging. Thanks to a high rate of recuperation, Piëch Automotive maintains it can be charged to 80 percent in 4:40 minutes using a fast charger.

Another advantage of the new type of battery cell is it can be cooled by air alone due to the reduced heat build-up. According to the startup, this contributes to an overall weight reduction of around 200 kg (441 lbs), resulting in a vehicle weight of under 1,800 kg (3,968 lbs).

The batteries are placed in the center tunnel and at the rear axle to ensure weight distribution and handling “similar to that of a conventional sports car with a combustion engine.” By not placing the battery pack under the floor, Piëch Automotive says it was able to achieve a low seating position typical of a sports car as well as precise handling, giving the driver “immediate feedback.”

Power comes from three electric motors: a 150 kW (204 PS/201 hp) asynchronous motor on the front axle and two synchronous motors on the rear axle (mechanically decoupled) producing 150 kW each. So about 600 horsepower in total. The projected performance specs look enticing: 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).

Piëch Automotive’s battery partner is Hong Kong-based Desten Group while the necessary charging infrastructure is supplied by China’s Qingdao TGOOD Electric.

Photos: Stefan Baldauf / Guido ten Brink for Carscoops | Piëch Automotive