Skip to main content

Porsche buys a 10 percent stake in the Croatian brand building a 2,000-hp EV

Croatian startup Rimac made waves at the 2018 Geneva auto show when it unveiled the C Two concept, an electric hypercar powered by a 2,000-horsepower electric drivetrain. The jaw-dropping specifications sheet evidently caught the attention of Porsche — the German firm has purchased a 10 percent stake in Rimac.

“By developing the purely electric two-seater super sports cars, like the Concept One or the C Two, as well as core vehicle systems, Rimac has impressively demonstrated its credentials in the field of electromobility. We feel that Rimac’s ideas and approaches are extremely promising, which is why we hope to enter into close collaboration with the company in the form of a development partnership,” Porsche board member Lutz Meschke explained in a statement sent to Digital Trends.

Related Videos

Neither party disclosed the financial terms of the deal. There’s no word on exactly what comes next, either. We could see some of Porsche’s technology appear in future Rimac products, vice versa, or both. Company founder Mate Rimac tellingly pointed out the partnership represents an important step in his goal of becoming a component and system supplier, which indicates Porsche bought the 10 percent stake with technology transfer in mind, not simply to add a jewel to its crown.

Porsche is on the brink of introducing the Taycan, its first volume-produced electric car, but the sedan won’t compete in the same segment as Rimac’s upcoming C Two. The Taycan will fight for the Tesla Model S‘ turf; the C Two will compete at the top end of the hypercar spectrum as a rival to the second-generation Roadster Tesla announced in late 2017. On paper, it has more than what it takes to run alongside Elon Musk’s high-performance brainchild and even well-established speed machines like the Bugatti Chiron.

The C Two (pictured) has a top speed of 256 mph, a figure which — if verified — will earn the coupe the honor of being the world’s fastest production car. Rimac quotes a zero-to-60-mph time of 1.8 seconds and a 402-mile range when using the famously optimistic European testing cycle. And while it’s first and foremost a driver’s car, it’s also compatible with level four autonomy, meaning it can drive itself in a wide variety of conditions without requiring the slightest input from the driver.

It’s no surprise, then, that Porsche approached Rimac about a partnership. Enthusiasts have shown a strong interest in the burgeoning brand, too. The C Two’s 150-strong production run sold out just three weeks after the car’s Geneva unveiling in spite of a base price pegged in the vicinity of $2 million.

Editors' Recommendations

Why you should consider a plug-in hybrid in 2023
2020 audi q5 tfsi e first drive review phev 19

EVs are all the rage — and it makes sense. Electric vehicles allow you to avoid high gas prices and feel good about not impacting the environment as much, plus they’re usually sleek, stylish, and fast.

But in 2023, owning an EV isn’t for everyone. After all, charging stations, while improving, still aren’t as common as they should be -- and depending on your car, they sometimes aren’t all that fast. If you’re worried about those issues, there’s an alternative — a plug-in hybrid (also known as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or PHEV). These are cars that essentially offer the best of both worlds: A battery and electric motor for quick, clean trips around town, and a gas engine for longer road trips.
What makes a PHEV so great?

Read more
10 electric cars with the longest range
Lucid Air

Electric cars are becoming increasingly common, but there’s still one issue that new EV buyers run into — range anxiety. Because charging isn’t as easy or as quick as filling up a tank of gas, range can make or break an EV — it dictates how far you’ll be able to drive before you run out of juice.

Electric cars will continue to gain longer and longer ranges over time, but there are already some impressively long-range cars available. Here’s a look at the electric cars with the longest range.
Lucid Air Dream Edition

Read more
Mercedes is finally bringing an electric van to the U.S.
Front three quarter view of the 2024 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter electric van.

Mercedes-Benz might be known for luxury cars, but it also makes vans, and it's finally bringing an electric van to the United States.

Scheduled to start production this summer, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter is an all-electric version of the Sprinter full-size cargo van that's already a favorite of delivery services like FedEx and Amazon, as well as camper van converters. While the automaker has been selling electric vans in Europe since 2010, the new eSprinter is the first one aimed at the U.S. market.

Read more