Aston Martin has announced a partnership with technology company LeEco to develop a new electric RapidE model.
The two companies have already worked together, in particular on the new Aston Martin Rapide S model, incorporating the Letv (former name of LeEco) Internet of the Vehicle (IOV) system, but have now signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop a production version of the Aston Martin RapidE electric vehicle concept, with a range of new electric vehicles to follow before the end of the decade.
LeEco founder Jia Yueting also owns Faraday Future, which showcased a concept car of its own at last month's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Its concept, the battery-powered 1,000bhp FFZero1, is a fully electric concept model with a single seat and no doors. It is said to have a top speed of 200mph and be capable of completing the 0-60mph sprint in less than 3sec. The model features ‘aero tunnels’, which channel air through the car, reducing drag and cooling the battery. Reports state that the company is on course to deliver its first production vehicle in two years’ time.
The partnership indicates the potential to add a range of next-generation connected electric vehicles on behalf of Aston Martin, LeEco and Faraday Future.
A concept version of the model was actually revealed back in October when Aston Martin revealed plans to partner with ChinaEquity on taking the model to production. The RapidE concept was developed in collaboration with Williams Advanced Engineering, in Grove, Oxfordshire.
Since the creation of this concept, Aston Martin and Letv have been advancing the work on production feasibility including the identification of technology solutions for battery systems and powertrain.
Both companies are now focused on bringing the RapidE to market in 2018 utilising the best technologies from the companies’ portfolios.
Danni Bagnall
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