Apex AP-0 Concept Is A Lightweight Electric Sports Car With 650 HP

Apex has officially unveiled the new AP-0 concept, following a slight delay related to the coronavirus.

Designed to preview a production model that will be launched in late 2022, the AP-0 is an electric sports car that is “race-inspired and road legal.”

Packed with personality, the AP-0 has a striking design that looks fast even when standing still. Since the car is electric, it eschews a traditional grille and instead features narrow slots which channel air through the vehicle and out the hood.

Elsewhere, we can see a front splitter and three-piece LED headlights. The car has also been equipped with digital side mirrors and a teardrop-shaped glass roof with an aerodynamic rear fin that draws inspiration from Formula 1. There are also butterfly doors as well as 19- and 20-inch carbon fiber wheels.

The sporty styling continues at the rear as the concept has an enormous diffuser. However, the most unique styling feature is the taillights which are bound to draw attention. While full-width taillights are nothing new, the AP-0 also incorporates vertical lights and this gives the concept a unique look.

Apex didn’t release interior pictures, but said we can expect a “clean, simple” cabin with two seats and a dashboard that features “smooth layers of materials.” There will also be a compact steering wheel which boasts machined aluminum and carbon fiber.

On the tech front, the concept is equipped with a holographic augmented reality display and an AR Race Instructor. The latter gamifies the “way drivers can learn new racetracks.”

The AP-0 also has an advanced LiDAR sensor which generates detailed maps of the vehicle’s surroundings. The company said this allows the car to more accurately identify potential hazards such as pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles. It allows the car to offer a Level 3 semi-autonomous driving system, and Apex hinted it could eventually be upgraded to a Level 4 system.

Power comes from a 90 kWh lithium-ion battery pack which feeds an electric motor that develops 650 hp (484 kW / 659 PS). It enables the rear-wheel drive sports car to rocket from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 2.3 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 190 mph (306 km/h).

Speaking of performance, Apex says the concept has a range of up to 320 miles (515 km) in the WLTP cycle. When the battery is depleted, the car can be given an 80% charge in less than 15 minutes using a CCS rapid charger. Likewise, a full recharge with a Type 2 connector should take around eight hours.

While many electric vehicles are heavy, the AP-0 has a curb weight of just 2,645 lbs (1,200 kg). That was made possible thanks to the use of a carbon fiber tub, carbon fiber body panels and carbon fiber wheels – among other things.

Besides being lightweight, the concept promises to handle like a proper sports car as it features a motorsport-inspired push rod suspension. The model also has a carbon ceramic braking system with discs that measure 14.1 inches (360 mm) front and 13.4 inches (340 mm) rear.

While the production model is more than two years away, the company said pre-tax pricing will start at £150,000 (£184,594 / €166,476).