Gordon Murray Design TEEWAVE AR.1 electric sports car – a showcase of Toray technologies

Gordon Murray Design and Toray Industries has unveiled a prototype electric sports car called the TEEWAVE AR.1. The vehicle is the result of a commission from the Japanese industrial company for GMD to design, tool and build a fully-functioning prototype vehicle utilising many of Toray’s advanced automotive materials, and took just nine months from concept discussion to running vehicle.

The two-seater EV sports car is powered by a permanent magnet synchronised motor offering 47 Kw and 180 Nm – with juice provided by a 16 Kwh lithium-ion battery – mated to a single-speed transmission, housed in a mid-rear configuration. The powertrain utilises base components used in a commercial electric vehicle currently available, but feature unique electrical architecture and control units developed for it by GMD.

Performance figures include a charging time of six hours and operating range of 186 km as well as a top speed of 147 kph and a 0-100 kph time of 11.4 seconds. The car features a remarkably low weight of just 850 kg (with the battery accounting for 240 kg), and while the numbers above don’t sound blisteringly fast, GMD says that with the torque at hand there’s lively acceleration from a standing start.

Attention has been given to the low weight, low centre of gravity and suspension geometry, resulting in an excellent ride and handling balance, the company adds.

Still, the car is more a showcase for a host of Toray technologies, led by the liberal use of carbon fibre throughout – aside from the aluminium sub-frame, CF features for the monocoque chassis, crash structures and body. The Toray carbon fibre component system used on the AR.1 has a process time of less than 10 minutes, and the carbon monocoque, one of the key technologies of the TEEWAVE, can be applied to all types of vehicle other than the AR.1.

Toray materials and products used in the AR.1 are carbon fibre for the monocoque chassis, crash structures, body, interior and seats, PLA/PET floor mats and luggage mats, paint film on the steering wheel cover, ‘Ultra Suede’ trim on seats and door cards and PLA/Nylon alloy optional floor mats.

There’s also TPO laminated soft touch material with Toray PLA foam and pressure sensitive adhesive on instrument panel, sills and door top trim as well as the company’s Picasus film on the instrument screen and 3GT/PET polyester knit on the A-pillar trim panels.

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