For most of us, programming an autonomous race car was as complex as winding up a Hot Wheels toy on the kitchen floor – perhaps dreaming there’d be a day when actual motor cars could hurtle around a track without a driver behind a wheel.
The ED Torq appears to be that dream come true. With momentum building for a driverless car revolution, myriad motors are being unveiled at recent events like CES (the International Consumer Electronics Show) and Google's prototype car boasting success after success in its live road testing escapades.
But this particular concept isn’t built for everyday transit. The Torq sits on an open wheel racing suspension with no sign of a cockpit opening. The light, aerodynamic boy augmented by removing the bulge of a windshield – and having no windows whatsover – which takes having a “sporty” body to another level.
Yet, according to the Grugliasco-based firm, there’s room for two passengers – or should we say pilots? The array of 360-degree wraparound monitors supposedly eliminate all blind spots created by traditional automobiles, which typically have pillars blocking the drivers view. Yet the car retains it's claim of being an "driverless" motor, offering full autonomous capabilities, as well as driver-assist features.
When it comes to power, Torq's four electric motors produce 320Kw of overall power (around 480hp), plus 1800 Nm of “torque” (modern Formula One cars have only 1000 Nm) – hence the name of the car – and the top speed is an alleged 190 mph (over 300 km/h). And the lithium-ion battery pack stores 88 kilowatt-hours of electricity, which is actually more than the Tesla Model S with 85 kilowatt hours.
"This prototype is only the beginning of an ambitious development project that we are creating with our technicians from all over the world: the only way you can offer a truly 'global' service is by combining different cultures," CEO and Design Director, Michael Robinson.
The ED Torq was originally revealed at last year's Geneva Motor Show but a new teaser video recently surfaced on the carmaker's YouTube page:
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