China’s Techrules Details Supercar Plan

Chinese electric-vehicle maker Techrules announces it will unveil the final design of its first production car at the Geneva auto show in March.

Design of the Techrules GT96 supercar is being undertaken by Italian automotive designers Fabrizio and Giorgetto Giugiaro.

The Beijing manufacturer also has released sneak conceptual renderings of the new car that promises blistering performance thanks to Techrules’ proprietary Turbine-Recharging Electric Vehicle (TREV) powertrain.

The system consists of a micro-turbine-generator that is used as a range-extender to power six electric motors driving the wheels. Total output for the hypercar is said to be more than 1,000 hp.

Excess electricity generated by the micro-turbine is stored in a bank of lithium-manganese-oxide batteries and is used to power the motors should further electricity be required. The high efficiency of the micro-turbine range extender claims a need for fewer batteries, saving weight and space.

Engineering and production partner L.M. Gianetti will begin building up to 25 units per year in late 2017 at its facility in Turin, Italy. Initial output will be a track variant. A fully homologated road version and additional models occupying more conventional vehicle segments will follow over the next few years, with the TREV powertrain configured for optimal efficiency in those applications.

“We have been working tirelessly with the Giugiaro team on the design of the GT96 for many months, and it will be a proud moment when we present the production design of China’s first supercar in Geneva in March,” Techrules Chief Technical Officer Matthew Jin says. “Our dream of seeing turbine-recharging electric vehicles on the roads is getting closer to reality.”

Fabrizio Giugiaro says the Techrules GT96 “is the flag-bearer for a truly revolutionary electric vehicle technology, and we reflect this innovation in the production car’s design.

“Not only does the car feature unique and bold styling attributes to make an immediate impression, but it is also extremely versatile, enabling different configurations for road, track and race, for example. The design spearheads distinctive Techrules styling characteristics that will in the future be seen across a family of models.”