APEX Motors has just unveiled its new Super Sports EV concept, the APEX AP-0 and nicknamed it the Cyber Dragon.
Apex AP-0 all electric super sports car. Credit: APEX Motors
Like many other automakers, new company APEX Motors were set
to launch their new electric sports car concept at the now cancelled Geneva
Motor Show.
The re-scheduled launch of their project known as the APEX
AP-0 happened at 4pm GMT on March 13, 2020 via the company’s YouTube channel.
The company behind this fully electric sports car concept is
the Hong Kong owned APEX Motors, a company founded by brothers Jason Leung and
Gary Leung which was launched in December 2019 with a grand event at the Ritz
Carlton Hotel in Hong Kong.
Apex AP-0 EV super sports car reveal. Credit: APEX Motors
While a Hong Kong owned company, all design, development and
manufacture of the APEX cars is conducted back in the UK.
Leading the design of the AP-0 super sports EV concept is UK
designer Guy Colborne, who has previously worked as a car designer for brands
like BMW, Pininfarina and Ford. Guy Colborne was also the lead designer of car
company Elemental that produced the car concept RP1.
APEX Motors initially started by creating a character for
the AP-0, which would become the design theme of the project. The dragon was
chosen, symbolising good fortune and wealth, and so esteemed that during later
Chinese imperial history, the Emperor of China was the only one permitted to
have dragons on his house, clothing, or personal articles.
The Apex AP-0 super sports car’s scissor doors add to the sports car experience. Credit: APEX MotorsThe Apex AP-0 EV’s ‘dragon’ like face. Credit: APEX Motors
With the APEX AP-0 Guy has given the EV a ‘dragon face’ and
it is particularly evident looking into the AP-0’s headlights or ‘eyes’ which
are highlighted with a stylish halo light that seems to chase around the main
iris of the light. With the integration of technology and character APEX have
nicknamed the AP-0 the Cyber Dragon.
Moving around to the side of the car, fins or dragon like scales
subtly protrude from the front wheel arches containing the Ap-0’s rear view cameras,
eliminating the need for old world mirrors. The side of the car also reveals
the cars lightweight structured carbon fibre chassis which has then been partially
overlaid with a more free flowing shape to continue the flow of the dragon’s
body. APEX are making great progress in showing, that through great design, EV’s
can and should be exciting.
Headlights that enhance the AP-0’s dragon character. Credit: APEX Motors
Technologically speaking, APEX have centred on a core theme
of connectivity. With autonomous cars being talked of more each year APEX have placed
a LiDAR system as one of the AP-0’s primary tech for the car’s autonomy. LiDAR
stands for Light Detection and Ranging and is a remote sensing method that uses
light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure variable distances to the car’s surrounds.
Instead of trying to hide this system, APEX have embraced it and have used it
to form part of the AP-0’s character with it leading the car’s tail like fin.
This fin trailing all the way to the rear of the car has also created an
opportunity to design a unique taillight shape in the form of a cross or sword which
has also been embraced by the company for their logo.
The Apex AP-0’s LiDAR system for autonomous driving on the roof. Credit: APEX Motors Apex AP-0 EV taillight reflects the company logo. Credit: APEX Motors
Opening the scissor doors draws you inside towards the two
seats that are designed with a feet up position much like a Formula 1 car.
Apart from heightening the driving experience this positioning also goes
towards keeping the AP-0’s centre of gravity as low as possible and helping the
car’s under floor aerodynamic design. A low centre of gravity is also helped by
floor mounting the AP-0’s 90 kWh battery pack. Looking forward, touchscreens
are used to keep the functionality simple however traditional switches and
features are found on the steering wheel to make access to the most used features
immediately available.
The Apex AP-0 instrument panel touchscreens and steering wheel. Credit: APEX MotorsAP-0 has feet up positioned seats similar to F1 cars. Credit: APEX Motors
The AP-0 produces 650bhp and with a kerb weight of 1200kg
the car is said to produce a 0-62 mph (0-100 kph) time of just 2.3 seconds with
a top speed of 190mph. The range of the AP-0 is said to be 320 miles on a
single charge and with a CCS charger you can achieve an 80% charge in under 15
minutes.
The APEX AP-0 is expected to retail for around £150,000 + local taxes.
“To us, an automobile is not just a transportation, but also a form of experience and enjoyment”.
Luxury coachbuilder ARES Design Modena has revealed their latest project – a one-off restomod based on the Porsche 911 964 Turbo.
The one-off Porsche 911 964 Turbo by ARES restomod. Credit: ARES Design Modena
Coming off the back of a big year that saw ARES Design Modena release their first-ever wholly designed supercars (the S1 Project and S1 Project Spyder), ARES has started 2021 strong with the reveal of a new one-off restomod project based on the Porsche 911 964 Turbo.
A new modified ducktail spoiler and Fuchs-inspired wheels offer a retro feel. Credit: ARES Design Modena
Launched in 1991, the Porsche 964 Turbo took some time to fans over (thanks in part to the 930 that bore the Turbo badge before it) but eventually found a place in the hearts of enthusiasts largely thanks to the unmissable whale-tail spoiler.
Based on the 1991 Porsche 911 964 Turbo. Credit: ARES Design Modena
For this one-off design project, ARES Design Modena has refined the exterior of the 911 964 Turbo by modifying the ducktail spoiler and added new Fuchs-inspired alloy wheels (made famous by the 911 Carrera RS 2.7 of the 1970s) for a retro feel. Meanwhile, under the hood, the Italian luxury coachbuilder has modified the 3.6-liter six-cylinder boxer engine with a more powerful turbine and intercooler to produce an upgraded 425Hp.
Inside, the cabin has been refitted with new leather and tartan houndstooth upholstery (inspired by historic Porsche race cars) along with new gauges and a PCCM infotainment system specially designed for classic Porsches.
As a one-off project, no price has been released for the Porsche 911 964 by ARES, but interested Porsche owners are welcome to contact ARES Design Modena for their own custom restomod quote.
The first deliveries of the new US-only McLaren Sabre hypercar have begun with a papaya orange, blue and Malboro-themed model making an appearance.
MRJWW with McLaren Global Sales Manager Neil Underwood. Credit: MRJWW
The first deliveries of the new US-only McLaren Sabre hypercar have begun, with a few already having been captured on camera recently like this one revealed by MRJWW.
With a twin-turbo V8 engine producing 824bhp and 590lt ft and a top speed of 218mph, the twin-turbo V8 McLaren Sabre is the fastest and most powerful non-hybrid two-seater production car to date and has been homologated especially for US federal standards.
Developed under the code name “BC-03”, the new bespoke hypercar is a special 1 of 15 model that was created purely for a small group of West-Coast North American McLaren clients who desired a “show car made for the road” or as Neil Underwood Global Sales Manager of McLaren Special Operations describes the client’s request “ a car that has an enormous presence on the road but also wouldn’t look out of place on the concept lawn at Pebble Beach.”
Side view of the new McLaren Sabre. Credit: MRJWW
Collaborating directly with the McLaren Special Operations (MSO) team for just under two years, the owners took an active part in developing the McLaren Sabre and were even given the opportunity to drive the test mule to ensure the owners were able to fully customize every aspect of the vehicle to their liking, before final delivery.
Special cut wheel blades from a single piece of metal. Credit: MRJWW
With the McLaren Sabre explicitly designed for the US market, the designers at MSO did not have to adhere to the lengthy specifications for global registration and were afforded a few more freedoms in design. Many aspects of motorsport racing have also been incorporated into the McLaren Saber design, with features like the central dorsal fin and a prominent front splitter included and, for the first time on a McLaren, a large active rear diffuser.
The first deliveries to make an appearance have included a Malboro themed McLaren Sabre at the McLaren Beverly Hills showroom, supercar collectors @sparky18888/@VTM_theking_4 bright papaya orange Sabre and @thetriplefcollection’s carbon modica blue edition as seen below.
Singer Vehicle Design and rally specialist Richard Tuthill have joined forces to create two exceptional ACS rally Type 964 Porsche 911’s at the request of a client.
A collaboration between Singer Vehicle Design and Richard Tuthill. Credit: Singer Vehicle Design
Californian-based Singer Vehicle Design is known for some of the most unique and tasteful Porsche re-mods, and their latest ACS rally-style Porsche restorations created at the request of a long-term client are no different.
The Singer ACS in motion. Credit: Singer Vehicle Design
Partnering with UK based off-road competition specialist Richard Tuthill who has been rallying for decades and most recently won the 5000km 2019 East African Safari classic, Singer looked to the golden era of the 1980’s rally racing for inspiration to create their first-ever “motorsport-specification” restoration on a client’s 1990’s Type 964 Porsche 911s.
Led by Singer’s Design Office in California, a unique “All-terrain Competition Study” was undertaken as a collaboration between Singer Vehicle Design and Tuthill Porsche to ensure the client’s modified vehicles would be able capable of competing in off-road racing as well being able to demonstrate extensive all-terrain exploration capabilities.
The result of the All-terrain Competition Study. Credit: Singer Vehicle Design
With assembly of the vehicles occurring at Tuthill’s UK facility in Oxfordshire, the result was two different vehicles – the “Parallax White” version, which focuses on high-speed desert rallying, and the “Corsica Red” version, which has been configured for high-speed, high-grip tarmac events.
“So much of what we’ve done for the last decade has been inspired by Porsche’s competition success and the All-terrain Competition Study provides us the opportunity to showcase that idea literally and vividly,” shared Rob Dickinson, Founder and Executive Chairman of Singer Group.
“We at Singer are motorsport nerds in our hearts and demonstrating our understanding of the discipline required our off-road vision to display deeply legitimate competition credentials from the structural engineering, to the bodywork ethos, to the mechanical package. We’ve taken particular inspiration from the iconic Rothmans-sponsored 911 SC/RSs and 959s that conquered events like the Qatar International Rally and Paris-Dakar in the mid-‘80s and, at the request of our client, have reimagined these all-terrain 911’s in their honor while utilizing fresh perspectives and state of the art know-how.
Inspired by the Rothman sponsored 911 SC/RSs and 959’s. Credit: Singer Vehicle Design
As is our habit, we chose to tackle our subject thoroughly, and we are proud to have found the best in the world -always our ambition –to help us reach our goals. Like Williams Advanced Engineering before them with the Dynamics & Lightweighting Study, Richard Tuthill and his incredible team have allowed us to bring our vision for the All-terrain Competition Study to life in the most spectacular way. We feel confident this machine can appeal to off-roading enthusiasm of all kinds, whether it be in the pursuit of professional competition at the highest level of adventure and exploration. ACS advances Singer’s capabilities in forced-induction, all-wheel-drive, off-road ability and dynamic response -all of which will support our ongoing mission. This pursuit of focused competition studies is something you will see more of from us in the future.”
Racing interior of the Singer Porsche ACS design. Credit: Singer Vehicle Design
Both Singer Vehicle resto-mods have dramatically increased the ride height, suspension travel, and overall strength. Carbon fiber body paneling has also been incorporated to ensure quick replacement can be achieved under rallying conditions, and the addition of a long-range fuel tank, an FIA approved roll cage, and two full-sized spare wheels guarantee’s the rally-specific vehicle means serious business.
Singer Porsche ACS Editions: Corsica Red (Tarmac) and Parallax White (Rally). Credit: Singer Vehicle Design
In terms of engine power, the Singer Vehicle ACS Porsche 911 features a twin-turbo 3.6-liter “Mezger” engine capable of producing 450hp and 420lb-ft torque and combines with a flat-shifting five-speed sequential gearbox.
The tarmac edition for high-speed, high-grip tarmac events. Credit: Singer Vehicle Design
While most of Singer Vehicles restoration’s are one-off designs, the commissioning owner of the two ACS restorations has kindly agreed to share the results of the “All-terrain Competition Study” with other clients who would like a Singer off-road design of their own.