Wiesmann’s CEO Roheen Berry greets me outside the marque’s distinctive “Gecko Factory” near Düsseldorf, Germany. “I’d never heard of Wiesmann until my brother bought one,” says Berry, “but I was instantly intrigued.” The British-born, Harvard-educated entrepreneur looked into buying distribution rights for the UK and other right-hand-drive markets, but ended up buying the company. “That was in 2016—my hair has gotten a lot grayer since,” he says.
Even fresh out of the box, the numbers look impressive: 680 hp and 811 ft lbs of torque in a car weighing 3,747 pounds equates to crushing zero to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds. Berry also promises a range of “over 500 kilometers” and the ability to rapid-charge at up to 300 kw. It will have to, but while there is revolution under the surface, Project Thunderball’s styling is rooted in the past. Its fulsome curves draw upon classic British sports cars like the Austin-Healey 100 and, while its egg-shaped grille and insectoid lights are distinctively Wiesmann. With “eye sockets” in unpainted carbon fiber, it has a slightly menacing presence—particularly when looming large in your rearview mirror.
Even in this specification, Project Thunderball feels brutally quick. It also slows down very effectively, with five levels of regeneration available via the paddles behind the steering wheel. You can use these to simulate engine braking through the gears when approaching a corner, or simply select maximum regen to drive with one pedal around town.How about handling? Well, Wiesmann has a gecko logo because its cars “stick to the road like geckos to a wall” says Berry.
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Source: MotorTrend - 🏆 230. / 63 Read more »