The Thunder Power isn’t an 80’s glam band, it’s a 450-hp electric sedan from Taiwan

By Andrew Hard September 16, 2015

The Europeans may have garnered most of the attention at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, but a Tesla-rivaling sedan from East Asia made a bold (albeit silent) debut of its own away from the main stages.

Dubbed the Thunder Power — yes, Thunder Power — the vehicle is an electric luxury sports car from Taiwan that features Italian designs outside and German engineering inside. All the elements have come together to form a truly unique automobile, and in fact it was one of the more memorable showcases to grace the halls of the Frankfurt Motor Show. That’s especially impressive coming from a company that started as a power tool manufacturer, but hey, Lamborghini started off building tractors.

The Thunder Power Sedan is offered in two versions — one with 308 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque and another with a whopping 429 hp and 413 lb-ft, and the latter will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 5.0 seconds and top out at 155 mph. No matter which version you plunk your money down for (projected base price is around $63,000), you’ll be treated to a distinct, almost aquatic-like exterior, one that was penned by the famed Zagato studio in Milan. Inside, the luxurious amenities are plentiful, including fine leather upholstery, real wood trim, and a TP-Touch infotainment system that spans the entire length of the dash. Oh, and it’ll go over 400 miles on a full charge.

The Sedan is built on a dedicated EV platform, one that the company says can be scaled up or down to accommodate smaller supercars and larger SUVs. For now, the architecture underpins the car you see above as well as the all-wheel drive Thunder Power Race, pictured below.

1 of 7

Thunder Power Race — Jeff Zurschmeide/Digital Trends

Thunder Power Race — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Thunder Power Race — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Thunder Power Race — Jeff Zurschmeide/Digital Trends

Thunder Power Race — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Thunder Power Race — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Thunder Power Race — Jeff Zurschmeide/Digital Trends

As you might expect, the Race version has been thoroughly redesigned, and it now resembles a Nissan 370Z with its protruding front lip and prominent rear spoiler. It also features track-tuned suspension and a new electric motor, which reportedly produces an insane 1,000 hp or so. Now the name is starting to make sense.

Thunder Power plans to launch the sedan in Europe in 2017, followed by China in 2018 and the U.S. some time after that.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more

Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?

The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.