Electrifying Power Meets Vintage Elegance: Wiesmann Unleashes 680HP EV With Timeless Appeal
Imagine, if you will, a couple of young German chaps, brimming with the kind of energy that only youth and a belly full of bratwurst can provide, wandering around the Essen Motor Show in '85. Each car they see is a groan of disappointment. Nothing to tickle their fancy. Nothing to satiate their thirst for adrenaline. So, what do these wurst-fueled lads do? In typical German fashion, they simply decide to build their own, because why the hell not?
From the very start, back in the ancient epoch known as 1988, the Wiesmann brothers have been churning out, with Teutonic precision, some of the most delightfully mental coach-built performance cars the Old Continent has ever seen. It's like they took their grandad's pristine Mercedes, locked it in a garage with a rabid honey badger, and what came out was the Wiesmann MF3 Roadster. A car so fierce it could make a grown man weep thanks to its BMW M3 engine, purring like a kitten when idle, and growling like an angry tiger when at full throttle.
Custom built to order, these roadsters had a waiting list as long as the queue for the loo at a curry festival. BMW was so impressed they signed a partnership, allowing Wiesmann to sell cars with a BMW warranty. Now that's like getting a golden ticket to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, except the chocolate is horsepower and the Oompa Loompas are German engineers.
The brothers didn't stop there. The MF3 was followed by the GT MF4, with a coupe and a convertible, and engines hotter than a vindaloo. In 2008, the Wiesmann factory, shaped like a gecko (because just like those sticky-footed critters, these cars cling to the road), started pumping out the GT MF5.
Next thing we know, in 2016, Contec Global swoops in, buys Wiesmann, and pumps in a load of cash. Like a Red Bull for the car world, except without the risk of heart palpitations.
Fast forward to the year of our Lord 2022, and we were graced with the Wiesmann Project Thunderball. If the name doesn't give it away, it's an all-electric convertible sports car that looks like it was designed by a mad scientist in a lab, with a dash of 007. It's got the classic long bonnet, the sculpted wheel arches, and no tailpipe. It’s like the lovechild of a Tesla and a 1960s Aston Martin.
The interior is as luxurious as a Savile Row suit, with no tacky frills. It has classic gauges, a screen that doesn’t shout 'look at me', and enough leather to make a herd of cows nervous. It's clear this car is ready for serious driving, with a speedometer that runs all the way to 186 mph (300 km/h).
Then there's the power. Holy moly, the power! The Thunderbolt packs 680 rampaging electric horses and 1,100 Nm of torque. That's enough to pull a cathedral off its foundations or bring the Earth to a standstill. It comes with a limited-slip differential, so you better start saying your prayers to the god of traction.
And let's not forget about the 800V architecture and the 83kWh battery that can be charged at up to 300 kW DC. It has a range of 310 miles (500 km), which is like driving from London to Edinburgh, but the 0 to 62 mph (0-100 km/h) time of 2.9 seconds is what really makes your heart skip a beat
Finally, with 14.9-inch (380 mm) brakes front and back, you won't have to worry about stopping this beast. It's like they strapped four anchors to each wheel. This monstrous amount of power and torque is delivered through 21-inch tires. If you buy this car, you might as well buy a tire company, because you'll be going through rubber faster than a teenager goes through sneakers.
This hybrid of carbon fiber, steel, and aluminum weighs in at 3,913 lbs (1,775 kg), which gives it a power-to-weight ratio that would make a fighter jet blush. It even comes with 10.8 cubic feet (305 liters) of luggage space. That's enough room for a pair of golf club bags or a modest wine cellar, whichever you prefer.
So, there you have it, ladies and gents. The Wiesmann Project Thunderball. A car that's not just a showpiece, it's a masterpiece. You can order one already, tailor-made to your requirements. So, prepare yourself to terrorize the tarmac in style. Just remember, with great power comes great responsibility. And an increased chance of getting a speeding ticket. And of course the small matter of $328,000 (€300,000) if you actually wanted to buy one although, even if you do have the required funds - you-ll need a bucket of patience. The waiting list is already as long as the Great Wall of China.
Be careful out there, and remember, if you're not living life in the fast lane, you're taking up too much space. Happy motoring!
Yours truly,
Captain Electro.
