IMAGINE if TVR had upped sticks and moved from Lancashire to Münsterland, switched to brawny
Founded in 1988, Wiesmann remains little known outside its native country. As charismatic new British CEO Roheen Berry explains: "We've been around for decades, but 90 percent of our cars were sold in
Leading the charge (yes, literally) is Project Thunderball - arguably the first dedicated electric sports car since the 2008
Unlike Wiesmanns of yore, Project
Thunderball - an internal codename, but don't be surprised if it sticks - doesn't raid the BMW M parts store. Instead, its bespoke 92kWh battery comes from
Before we unplug and play, I'm offered a chance to drive two of Wiesmann's 'heritage' models. The GT MF5 coupe looks a bit like the bonkers Morgan Aeromax and has the thuggish 550hp twin-turbo V8 from a BMW X5
Frankly, no electric car offers such bombast and sense of occasion - and that includes Project Thunderball.
Here, though, you get your kicks in different ways: savage and relentless acceleration, or the elastic effect of 811lb ft of torque, available the instant the twin axial-flux motors start spinning. Conversely, you might also enjoy the calm refinement, or the challenge of driving with one pedal to boost the batteries.
This hard-worked development hack is some 200kg heavier than the production car (target kerb weight is 1,700kg), yet it changes direction with alertness and confidence-building poise. While many EVs feel desensitised, the Wiesmann offers real tactility and finesse.
It's not perfect. I'd like more steering feedback and I'll wager the current suspension setup, tuned on the smooth roads of
Elsewhere, Project Thunderball feels close to showroom-ready. Its carbon fibre panels fit together flawlessly, while its stance looks perfect on custom 21-inch wheels. The cabin is also far more accommodating than cramped Wiesmanns of old, combining hand-stitched leather and analogue dials with exposed carbon weave and a motorsport-style digital display. Overthe-air updates are promised for the touchscreen media system, along with the option to swap the entire battery pack - for more power or a longer range - at a later date.
As Berry reveals via the Wiesmann configurator, each Project Thunderball will also be a blank canvas, ready to be tailored to the owner's taste. "It can be
£260,000), but rest assured you could spend a lot more.
If you want classic styling with the performance of a modern supercar, plus a side order of social acceptability, Project Thunderball (available to reserve now) should be worth waiting for. And that's something we can't, in good conscience, say for
WIESMANN PROJECT THUNDERBALL
PRICE: POWER: 0-62MPH: RANGE: KERB WEIGHT: CO2 EMISSIONS: £260,000 680HP 2.9SECS 310 MILES 1,700KG 0G/KM
(c) 2022 City A.M., source