E-Legend EL1 600kW electric supercar to launch in 2022
The E-Legend EL1 could be the finest retro-inspired EV we’ve yet seen, basically because it looks like a modern day Audi Sport Quattro rally car.
The German EV startup is throwing around some tasty figures too. The EL1 has carbon monocoque construction, offers 600kW from its electric motors and claims to hit 100km/h in 2.8 seconds or 200km/h in under ten seconds. Weight is a respectable 1680kg, it’ll go on to 255km/h and has a range up to 400km. Lots to like here.
Thirty of these striking hand-built, road-legal EL1s have been promised. A fully working prototype will supposedly be ready early in 2022, while a video on the German company’s website shows a static prototype at a reveal event looking really rather magnificent.
Group B legend
Reason it looks so stunning and racy are the obvious design cues of the Audi Sport Quattro road car of 1984 and 1985 – homologation specials from the glory years of Group B rally.
Its before-tax price of 890,000 Euros (about $1.4 million) is bit of a downer, as may be Audi coming chasing after E-Legend with a “please explain” as this glorious EL1 may infringe a dash on the old copyright stuff.
The Bavarian-based E-Legend doesn’t mention Audi anywhere in its EL1 blurb, although says it “unmistakably hearkens back to the rally legends of the 80s.” The launch event having an original Audi Sport Quattro alongside the EL1 must have been purely coincidental, we’re sure.
Battery capacity of 90kWh helps with the 400km range, while it’s promised to be able to complete two ‘just send it’ laps of the Nurburgring without the EL1’s battery curbing your enthusiasm. 150kW DC fast charging is also promised for the liquid-cooled battery, helping you quickly get home from the race track.
Analogue with electric
E-Legend’s mission is apparently to: “transfer the primal, analogue and instinctual emotions of driving into the digital world, and revolutionise the E-race car market.” Three-way adjustable suspension’s promised, as is a normal and sport mode for the electric powertrain, plus a high-performance braking system.
Beyond all that, it’s a gorgeous, mint-coloured, LED-lit, boxy-arched, bonnet-bulging, giant C-pillared, carbon-faced and perfectly-stanced triumph, and it’s hard to not want one, even at that comical price.
The cabin picture show it to be cleanly minimalist, with screens for your driving display, infotainment and side view mirrors. Much carbon fibre, too.
We approach these EV startups with a mix of excitement and wariness. The fact E-Legend says it is “still looking for supporters” and interested parties can “contribute through shareholding based on a nominal value of 290 Euro per share” are classic red flags.
That said, who wouldn’t want this car to eventually exist? Well, apart from Audi perhaps.
E-Legend says it plans to make two other vehicle types, each with a limited run of 30 models. As a hint for what one might be, the reveal of the EL1 also had an original Lancia Stratos on display. Okay, we really want this whole thing to succeed.
