Kepler Motors: Has any one seen this ghastly sick puppy?

[bardofoc]

The company is named after Johannes Kepler in honor of his laws describing the motion of the planets. Their hybrid vehicle, The Motion Supercar, debuted very recently at the Dubai International Motor Show, and it is what all EV's should strive for. It goes from 0-60 MPH in less than 2.5 seconds. It maxes out at 200+ MPH, has a 250 hp electric motor driving the front, and it is a 2-speed automatic. It also runs on Lithium-ion batteries. Check it out on Youtube. This thing is so darn fast, it actually outruns helicopters (lol). I believe the makers are arabian, but the contact is listed as being here in Costa Mesa. Too bad only 50 of these bad boys are going into production.

[palmer_md]

I think Neil left out one of his jobs in the "resume" from their website.

Kepler Motors Company - Team (http://www.keplermotors.com/company.php)

Neil Hannemann - Program Manager

- Engineering Director of McLaren Automotive.
- Chief Engineer of the Ford GT production car.
- Chief Engineer of the Saleen S7 production car.

I suppose Aptera and the Kepler car are not as related as those other positions.

[PatQ562]

It's hard to believe 2.5 sec 0-60mph, as that would require 1.1g of acceleration all the way - they may have the power but how do they get the tires to hook up so well? Plus there are cars with more power that still take 3-4 seconds. Whatever. It's still a beast with nice "teaser" ad graphics.

It is interesting that the contact site is in a humble industrial strip in Costa Mesa - might have to bop over there tomorrow during lunch. Not far from Matchbox Motors, restorer of Fiat 600s (another once-popular euro-car that shows you CAN build real cars out of rubber and steel that barely weigh 1100 lbs).

Pat Q

[palmer_md]

I found the video and now understand what you mean.

This thing is so darn fast, it actually outruns helicopters (lol).


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[bardofoc]

Thanks so much for doing that for me. I would have done it myself, but I don't yet have the power.

[Dolphyn]

Hmm, that's not what comes to mind when I hear the phrase "ghastly sick puppy." Have I become old or something?

:confused:

[KarenRei]

It's hard to believe 2.5 sec 0-60mph, as that would require 1.1g of acceleration all the way - they may have the power but how do they get the tires to hook up so well?

Downforce. Of course, at sub-60mph speeds, that'd take a serious dedicated effort.

Update: Ah, their website lists one of the features as "active aerodynamics". So yes, they probably are deliberately choosing serious downforce for that.

[palmer_md]

Downforce. Of course, at sub-60mph speeds, that'd take a serious dedicated effort.

Update: Ah, their website lists one of the features as "active aerodynamics". So yes, they probably are deliberately choosing serious downforce for that.

Also using HP numbers on the electric is misleading. Electric motors have way more torque per horsepower than a gasoline engine. This leads to much better acceleration numbers than a pure gas car with the same horsepower.

[NeilBlanchard]

The McLaren F1 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McLaren_F1) had a 627HP/480ft/lbs V12 that did 0-60 in 3.1 seconds, so 800HP (and probably higher torque as well?) to get under 2.5 seconds is plausible. Add to this that the F1 was rear wheel drive and the this Kepler is four wheel drive...

[PatQ562]

My gearhead friend and I drove over to the Kepler Motors Costa Mesa facility during lunch today. We met a couple of real nice engineering folks who were kind enough to spend some time with us. The Costa Mesa outfit does engineering for various super-fast vehicles, and has their eyes on breaking the current Electric Land Speed record (314mph one-way, 288mph both ways). The current Kepler body shell is on the way back from Dubai, and they hope to have a rolling prototype later in 2010. These vehicles will sell for well over a million each. I think Leno's got his order in already. The prototype-to-delivery cycle can be shorter when the budget permits everything to be machined rather than waiting for tooling.

Regarding >1G acceleration, it's apparently highly dependent on tires and road surface meshing like gears. Some dragsters can pull multiple G's of acceleration due to the hot rubber sticking to the track.

Pat Q

[Bakersfield2482]

I think a significant point has been missed here. It's not an EV. From reading above, I get the impression the posters are unaware this car will have a large gasoline engine.

"The MOTION sets a new standard with all-wheel drive Dual Powertrain Technology (DPT) which provides a combined 800 hp. Power comes from a 550 hp, modified Ford EcoBoost twin-turbo 3.5 liter V6 driving the rear wheels acting independently of a 250 hp electric motor driving the front wheels. This unique AWD system launches the MOTION to 60 mph under 2.5 seconds with a top speed over 200 mph." (from www.keplermotors.com)

[KarenRei]

I think a significant point has been missed here. It's not an EV. From reading above, I get the impression the posters are unaware this car will have a large gasoline engine.

"The MOTION sets a new standard with all-wheel drive Dual Powertrain Technology (DPT) which provides a combined 800 hp. Power comes from a 550 hp, modified Ford EcoBoost twin-turbo 3.5 liter V6 driving the rear wheels acting independently of a 250 hp electric motor driving the front wheels. This unique AWD system launches the MOTION to 60 mph under 2.5 seconds with a top speed over 200 mph." (from www.keplermotors.com)

Is there a sizable battery pack? It's either a hybrid or a series PHEV. If it's a PHEV, it's an interesting twist, in that it'd need the gasoline engine running for maximum performance, but should do just fine on just the electric for regular driving.

[shotgunslade]

The brochure says that the 550+ hp turbocharged V6 Ford engine drives the rear wheels and 250 hp electric motor drives the front wheels. I would guess that the battery pack is small and that the electric motor is only employed for maximum acceleration. No indication as to whether the battery is recharged by regen braking or by the engine driven alternator. I think the designers wanted all wheel drive for maximum launch, and figured a 250 hp motor with maybe 30 seconds or 1 minute worth of battery would weigh only a little more than a center and front differential, driveshaft and half-shafts, and could have much less drivetrain loss. Remember that the mechanical KERS system in Formula 1 gives 80 additional hp for less than 7 seconds.

[palmer_md]

The current Kepler body shell is on the way back from Dubai, and they hope to have a rolling prototype later in 2010.
Based on this it sounds like they dont have a fully operating protype yet, just a rolling chassis and an idea. From the video it does not look like they have hardly enough room for the engine in the back or the motor in the front let alone room for a battery pack. It will still be interesting to follow. At a million bucks per copy you can hand make some pretty cool stuff.