The term “Tesla-fighter” gets tossed around a lot these days, but a true rival for the Model S has yet to see the light that awaits at the end of a production line. The latest Tesla-battling hopeful is a Taiwanese startup named Thunder Power that promises to unveil an all-electric concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
A dark teaser sketch published by Thunder Power hints the yet-unnamed model will be either a coupe or a sleek-looking sedan with boomerang-shaped lights on both ends, a sculpted hood and an oval grille with three smaller oval slats. Fourteen-spoke alloy wheels add an elegant touch to the look while emphasizing the model’s road presence.
A second teaser image uncovered by British magazine Auto Express reveals Thunder Power’s first car will be powered by an electric drivetrain programmed to generate a respectable 430 horsepower. It will allegedly be able to drive for up to 373 miles on a single charge, a figure that will make it more capable than the oft-delayed Tesla Model X and the e-tron quattro concept that Audi will show in Frankfurt. What kind of battery pack it will use is anyone’s guess.
With 430 ponies on tap, the EV will be capable of reaching 60 mph from a stop in approximately five seconds flat and reach a top speed of 155 mph.
Additional details are few and far between. All told, all we know is that the project is being led by Peter Tutzer, a former Bugatti technician, and that the bulk of the development work is being carried out in Europe. However, that’s nothing new because many Asian startups — especially those looking to take on Tesla — boast about hiring talent from premium automakers and about designing their cars in Europe.
Full details about Thunder Power’s first car will emerge in the coming days. If the company keeps its ambitious promises, the coupe will go on sale across Europe in 2017 with a base price that’s expected to lie in the vicinity of 400,000 yuan (roughly $63,000).
