New Startup Plans 1,000-HP Supercar for 2016 Geneva Motor Show

BOLD RIDE

Copyright © 2016 Bold Ride LLC.

 

Posted by Zach Doell 

 

                               

                              

The world’s latest and greatest automotive machinery will descend upon Switzerland for the annual Geneva Motor Show early next month, bringing with them 200-mph Jaguars, $2.5 million Pagani supercars, and the like. But interestingly, one of the most intriguing additions to the 2016 event doesn’t bring with it a big name or brand heritage at all.

 

Hailing from Beijing, China, research and development firm Techrules has announced it will display a 1,030-horsepower concept supercar at the show, which utilizes a combination of electric motors and turbine power, with the turbine used as a range-extender. Better still, the company claims its concept vehicle achieves a driving distance of 1,240 miles between fuel stops.

While that formula of electric motor and turbine range-extender is certainly a departure from the more typical combustion engine range-extender, as seen in the BMW i3, fitting a “microturbine” in a car is not a new concept.
 

Most recently, Jaguar toyed with the idea on its striking C-X75 concept from 2010 (above), fitting a pair of diesel-powered microturbines and four electric motors. The C-X75 was eventually redesigned with a conventional gas engine, aiming to crack the McLaren P1, Porsche 918, and Ferrari LaFerrari market, however the project was later shelved indefinitely. Instead, it played the villain car in the latest James Bond thriller, Spectre.

Microturbine technology continues to find use in stationary commercial applications, allowing for relatively low-cost, reliable, and low-emission power generation, though according to the National Institute of Building Sciences, it isn’t without its limitations, namely low fuel-to-electricity efficiency. That efficiency may call into question some of Techrules’ impressive performance claims, though only time will tell.

The Techrules TREV, which stands for “Turbine-Recharging Electric Vehicle” (but could also be the name of a pledge brother at Alpha Phi Omega) will make its grand appearance at the Geneva Motor Show on March 1st.