An Iranian born, British-based car company owner has wowed the UK's motoring press with his latest beast.
Supercar marque Arash and its determined founder Arash Farboud has exceeded expectations to produce his latest car.
The company previously showcased the all-gasoline AF8, a mid-engine supercar powered by one of General Motors' 7.0-liter LS7 V-8s, which was pegged as a rival to the likes of the Ferrari 458 Italia and other top-end cars, Motor Authority reported.
But now, Arash is targeting the flagship models of its more established rivals–hybrid supercars like the LaFerrari and P1.
Arash will take them on with its AF10 supercar. AF10 was its first road car though the original was more a concept than volume proposition like the AF8 that came directly after it. The original AF10 also featured an LS7 V-8 but was made almost entirely of carbon fiber whereas the AF8 relied on a mix of carbon fiber and more conventional materials for a larger market share.
The new AF10, which will make its world debut next week at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, uses a supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 and four electric motors. The engine delivers 900 hp and 886 pound-feet of torque on its own while the four electric motors, two at each axle, deliver 1180 hp and 797 lb-ft.
According to the company's online report, the top output of the system is 2080 hp, making it a real rival to other cars in that class.
The engine is mated to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automated unit with paddle shifters and it sends its drive to the rear wheels only.
Each of the electric motors is paired with a two-speed gearbox and forms an all-wheel-drive system. The electric motors are powered by a 32-kilowatt/hour lithium-ion battery that can be charged by recovered brake energy or directly by the engine.
A carbon fiber tub forms the core of the chassis. Aluminum sub-frames are attached front and rear, along with double wishbone suspension with adjustable dampers. The car rides on 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels shod in Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires. Performance claims include a 0-60 (100 kph) mph time of 2.8 seconds and a top speed well in excess of 321 km/h.
If you want to put an order down in the UK, Arash is currently taking orders for the car. The starting price is £1,100,000 (approximately $1,584,500). For an additional fee, you can get a lighter version built for racing.
In an exclusive interview with Financial Tribune, Arash said, "I think when we first started to look at hybrid technology three years ago, we were already at the limit of gasoline motor design and gearbox capacity. Our final output was around 1000 brake horsepower mark."
The auto entrepreneur noted that "with the availability of an electric motor, the world changed for us".
The growth in electric vehicles started when the CEO visited an Audi workshop at Le Mans in France, saying it truly changed how he saw the electric powertrain.
Asked whether the AF10 would make it to Arash's country of origin, he said it was always a possibility and he would sure love to send some to Tehran.
The CEO also said the future for sports and normal cars was definitely hybrid because of its efficiency and use of power.
"After trying out the current hybrid cars … we knew it had to go ahead," he said.
