Piëch Automotive has rebooted itself and re-introduced a new concept for the GT two-door coupe. Still with a fully electric powertrain, the car is now planned to deliver over 1000 PS (German horsepower), is designed as a larger 2+2 seater featuring an in-house developed battery platform, and has a sharper brand design language.

The company was founded by Toni Piëch in 2017, revealed its vehicle concept in 2021, and in 2023 underwent a “comprehensive realignment” with a revised strategy and new leadership. Tobias Moers, former CEO/CTO of Mercedes-AMG and most recently CEO at Aston Martin, has taken over the roles of CEO/CTO, and Piëch, Chairman of the Board at Piëch Holding AG, continues to contribute to the company that bears his name. Under Moers’ leadership, the GT is being redeveloped from scratch and is set for launch in 2028.

The new car is bigger in every dimension from the concept Futurride covered in 2021 at 4780 mm (188.2 in) long, 2000 mm (78.7 in) wide, and 1350 mm (53.1 in) tall, on a 2780-mm (109.4-in) wheelbase. The previous car came in at 4432 mm (174.5 in) long, 1991 mm (78.4 in) wide, and 1250 mm (49.2 in) tall on a 2620-mm (103.1-in) wheelbase.

 

Evolving the sports car and culture

Piëch says it is on a mission to evolve the sports car and “sports car culture,” where the driving experience is paramount, but now fully electric, according to Moers.

“For me, Piëch Automotive is the opportunity to realize my vision of the perfect sports car,” he explained, on his motivation. “This is the once-in-a-lifetime chance to develop a car without compromises. A car that will set a new benchmark.”

“Sports cars are pure emotions, and electric sports cars have not delivered that so far,” added Piëch. “Piëch stands for a return to the unique driving experience and genuine emotions. At Piëch, the experience is our top priority.”

Piëch and Moers are convinced that the right combination of sports car legacy and technological innovation will be the key to success. The company will use some of its own, patent-pending technologies “that have not yet been introduced by any manufacturer” to bring this vision to life. It will rely on the expertise of automotive manufacturing “in the German-speaking region.”

“Who, if not us, knows how to build sports cars?” said Moers. “We have an invaluable competitive advantage in Germany and Europe. We have the right partners, the best engineers, and the necessary expertise. Simply put: We know how it’s done!”

 

Speed to market

Toni Piëch is convinced that the company’s independence is crucial for its competitive advantage.

“Above all, Piëch as a company can be characterized by short decision-making processes and rapid actions,” he said. “Unlike large corporations, we are entirely independent and can act fast and in an agile manner. At the same time, our investors support us in realizing the long-term vision instead of chasing short-term financial results. This combination is ideal to transform visions into reality.”

Although due in an un-startup-like four years, Piëch will rely on a network of specialized technology partners to ensure “maximum flexibility and speed.” This network includes established industry leaders as well as agile niche suppliers. A collaboration with an experienced manufacturer is planned for the production.

“We want to combine the agility of a startup with the experience, quality, and expertise of the German automotive industry,” summarized Moers, on the concept. “For us, this is the one-and-only way to meet the high expectations set by both ourselves and our future customers.”

 

Torque control and two-speed gearbox

The GT is said to establish new standards for precision, performance, and dynamics. Performance targets are accelerations of 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in less than 2.6 s and 0-300 km/h (0-186 mph) in less than 14 s, a top speed of 300 km/h (186 mph), and a Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time of less than 6 min, 55 s.

The rear-wheel-drive car will have two motors, each producing 375 kW and individually driving the left and right wheels, with peak outputs of 750 kW (1020 PS) and 1100 N·m (811 lb·ft). The desired torque control, vectoring, and precision are said to be achievable only with an electric drivetrain. Variable traction control and variable rear axle locking are through wheel-torque-based software modules via a Torque Controller.

A gearbox featuring two selectable gear stages, which can be automated or manually shifted by the driver using steering wheel paddles. The DUAL2-DRIVE drivetrain solution is being engineered for a sports car driving and emotional experience, explained Ralph Illenberger, Chief Engineer at the car and SVP of Engineering for Piëch Engineering GmbH.

“The strength of the electric motor lies in its torque curve—maximum torque at low speeds,” he said. “However, its declining torque-power curve at high speeds is its greatest weakness for usage in the sports car sector. The typical sports car acceleration in the extended and upper-speed range is simply missing.”

With the drivetrain solution, engineers are looking to harness the strength of the electric drive while compensating for its weakness by increasing the power curve.

“We drive with power, not with torque,” said Moers. “This is the foundation for a true sports car feeling. We call this overall composition ‘Piëch Immersive Performance.’”

The experience is being engineered to combine performance across the entire speed range with a composition of sound, tactile elements such as vibrations and precision, and instant feedback.

 

Battery development focused on thermal management

Piëch’s battery technology called TRACK2CHARGE focuses on thermal management for performance and range. The immersion cooling technology ensures continuous battery cooling—even under the highest demands of track use and regardless of environmental conditions—to enable both sustained peak performance and immediate recharging under heavy load.

It directly cools the cylindrical cells and components that carry current using dielectric oil. The flow rate is adjusted to ensure that each of the 16 battery modules receives cooling in parallel. The thermal management system’s heat exchangers are supported by additional “chillers” if needed, ensuring optimal battery operating temperature during high-performance operation and fast charging.

Equipped with over 90 kW·h of battery capacity, WLTP ranges of over 500 km (310 mi) are said to be “easy to achieve.”

Even during the charging process, the battery meets the expectations of sportscar customers: The GT charges at CCS fast chargers with a charging current of 500 A, reaching 80% battery capacity from 20% SoC (state of charge) in only 8 min, 30 s.

 

Carbon monocoque with aluminum/steel ends

Piëch is tackling the issue of weight, of utmost relevance for a sports car, by choosing a carbon monocoque that serves as the passenger cell of the GT. The front and rear ends use an aluminum/steel hybrid construction and house the multi-link suspended axles.

The result is a weight target of 1800 kg (3970 lb), typical sports car torsional and bending stiffness, and a payload capacity of 320 kg (705 lb).

“With the GT, we demonstrate the advantages of lightweight design and an innovative electric drivetrain,” said Illenberger. “However, this is just the beginning. We will leverage this foundation to fully unlock the potential of the technology. Underlining our commitment to shaping the evolution of the sports car. Our modular concept enables future development of additional body variants such as an SUV and sports sedan.”

Recognizing the demand for personalization, especially in the performance-luxury segment, Piëch is preparing to meet high levels of complexity to gain a competitive advantage.

“We understand that there is a strong demand for personalization in this segment,” said Moers. “Essentially, there is no car like another. That’s why we’re setting up the groundwork within the company to build each customer’s electric dream sports car.”

Supply chains, production, and all processes are being set up accordingly.

 

The company promises more information is coming soon on the car, next up in July on the “engine” and dynamics.