- Aspark broke Rimac’s record for the fastest electric hypercar with a new version of the Owl called SP600.
- The electric hypercar clocked 438.7 km/h (272.6 mph) at the Papenburg proving grounds in Germany
- Italian firm Manifattura Automobili Torino is responsible for the development and production of the Japanese model
The fight for the highest top speed in production EVs is on, as the upcoming Aspark SP600 beat the previous record set by the Rimac Nevera. The new hypercar hit a top speed of 438.7 km/h (272.6 mph) in Papenburg, making it 16.6 mph (26.7 km/h) faster than its Croatian rival.
The impressive achievement took place at the 2.4-mile-long (1.8 km) straight of the Papenburg proving grounds in Germany. Professional driver and Nurburgring 24h winner, Marc Basseng, sat behind the wheel, while the speed was recorded and verified by a Racelogic V-Box device.
More: World Record-Setting Aspark Owl Electric Hypercar Blitzes A Quarter Mile At 198 MPH
The EV is described as a “production-intend prototype” of the Aspark SP600. This model has yet to be formally revealed, but it looks like an evolution of the Aspark Owl, with tweaked aerodynamics for a higher top speed. It is unclear if the company made any upgrades to the quad-motor electric powertrain rated at 1,984 hp (1,480 kW / 2,012 PS) in the Owl. We also don’t know the planned production numbers and the price tag of the Aspark SP600.
The company collaborated with Bridgestone for a custom-engineered tire based on the Potenza Race for the record attempt. It is said to endure speeds of over 420 km/h (261 mph), and also meet the specific demands of Aspark’s “vehicle weight and driving dynamics”.
The record run was held by Manifattura Automobili Torino (M.A.T.), which is responsible for the development and production of Aspark’s electric hypercars in Italy. Besides its collaboration with the Japanese firm, M.A.T. is known for producing exotics like the New Stratos, the Glickenhaus SCG003, and the Apollo IE.
Masanori Yoshida, Aspark CEO, said: “It has been about 10 years since we started making the Owl Hypercar. We aimed for the world’s fastest acceleration car, and then attempted and achieved the top speed world record today.”
Following the announcement, we expect M.A.T and Aspark to give us more details about the SP600, including its technical specifications. The production version will most likely drop the motorsport-themed livery of the record car, as well as the headlight stickers resembling the owl’s eyes.
