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Written by Rowan Horncastle
Singapore-based electrics firm Vanda has used the Geneva motor show to pull the wraps off what it claims is the world"s first fully-electric hypercar, the Dendrobium. Yeah, try saying that quickly after a few shandies. Currently a slow-rolling design concept, this nature-inspired two-seat EV is being co-developed with Williams Advanced Engineering with a hope to bring it into production in the next two years.First previewed in an 8-Bit-esque video a few months ago, the radical two-seat all-electric concept wants to sniff out other hypercars with a top speed in excess of 200mph and 0-60mph in 2.7 seconds. That first stat is impressive and difficult to achieve for an EV, while the second isn"t exactly hypercarish given a seven-seat EV family can already better it. Supercar, yes. Hypercar, no. Possible? Err, maybe. Like the upcoming AMG hypercar and Aston Martin Valkyrie both utilising the expertise of F1 firms to make barely-believable performance believable Vanda, a small (as in 20 employees small) electrics firm has done the same by roping in Williams (another firm with F1-nous) to co-develop the car and get its head round the drive-y bits but also give this ambitious project a sliver of credibility by proxy. However, unlike Aston Martin and AMG, Vanda does not have decades of road car experience and a proven portfolio of rip-snorting road cars to build from. Instead, it has a small electric truck with a 62-mile range called the Ant, and a 37-mile all EV monkey bike called the Motochimp. Combined top speed of both? Less than 30mph. We have a feeling there could be some late nights ahead in Camp Vanda. The Dendrobium is named after the native Singaporean flower and its design has been inspired by it too. To get in, both the doors and roof bloom out and up suicide style to expose the cockpit, making it easier for the taller amongst you. The buttressed open-wheel design is further inspired by nature, with the body tapering into something resembling a wasp"s behind, and features wheels designed to look like roots of a tree, many honeycomb details and plenty of exposed space to mimic peaks and valleys of landscapes. Meanwhile, the front lights are meant to look like waterfalls, and there"s a glowing rear charging point. The mismatching seat design is also meant to remind you of human muscles. Design bingo, you"ll agree.
Date written: 7 Mar 2017
More of this article on the Top gear website
ID: 6973
Singapore-based electrics firm Vanda has used the Geneva motor show to pull the wraps off what it claims is the world"s first fully-electric hypercar, the Dendrobium. Yeah, try saying that quickly after a few shandies. Currently a slow-rolling design concept, this nature-inspired two-seat EV is being co-developed with Williams Advanced Engineering with a hope to bring it into production in the next two years.First previewed in an 8-Bit-esque video a few months ago, the radical two-seat all-electric concept wants to sniff out other hypercars with a top speed in excess of 200mph and 0-60mph in 2.7 seconds. That first stat is impressive and difficult to achieve for an EV, while the second isn"t exactly hypercarish given a seven-seat EV family can already better it. Supercar, yes. Hypercar, no. Possible? Err, maybe. Like the upcoming AMG hypercar and Aston Martin Valkyrie both utilising the expertise of F1 firms to make barely-believable performance believable Vanda, a small (as in 20 employees small) electrics firm has done the same by roping in Williams (another firm with F1-nous) to co-develop the car and get its head round the drive-y bits but also give this ambitious project a sliver of credibility by proxy. However, unlike Aston Martin and AMG, Vanda does not have decades of road car experience and a proven portfolio of rip-snorting road cars to build from. Instead, it has a small electric truck with a 62-mile range called the Ant, and a 37-mile all EV monkey bike called the Motochimp. Combined top speed of both? Less than 30mph. We have a feeling there could be some late nights ahead in Camp Vanda. The Dendrobium is named after the native Singaporean flower and its design has been inspired by it too. To get in, both the doors and roof bloom out and up suicide style to expose the cockpit, making it easier for the taller amongst you. The buttressed open-wheel design is further inspired by nature, with the body tapering into something resembling a wasp"s behind, and features wheels designed to look like roots of a tree, many honeycomb details and plenty of exposed space to mimic peaks and valleys of landscapes. Meanwhile, the front lights are meant to look like waterfalls, and there"s a glowing rear charging point. The mismatching seat design is also meant to remind you of human muscles. Design bingo, you"ll agree.
Date written: 7 Mar 2017
More of this article on the Top gear website
ID: 6973
