|
Price |
|
-- |
Production |
|
-- |
|
Engine |
electric |
Weight |
-- |
|
Aspiration |
-- |
Torque |
381
lb-ft |
|
HP |
402
hp |
HP/Weight |
-- |
|
HP/Liter |
-- |
1/4 mile |
-- |
|
0-62 mph |
3.5
seconds |
Top Speed |
155
mph (electronically limited) |
(from Exagon Press
Release) Furtive-eGT, the concept
With its electric drivetrain and innovative solutions, the Furtive-eGT
rewrites the ground rules for contemporary GT sports cars. Not in
terms of performance alone, but in terms of the new driving
sensations delivered by a grand tourer designed as an electric
vehicle from A to Z.
An exceptional electric GT sports
car
Exagon Motors set out to
develop an exceptional electric sports car that would combine the
best of their experience in electric motorsports (Electric Andros
Trophy) with today’s cutting-edge technologies. The specifications
drafted by Luc Marchetti, CEO of Exagon Motors, established clear
objectives: the Furtive-eGT had to combine exceptional performance
with real day-to-day driveability. To achieve this versatility,
Exagon worked with a number of leading European partners who brought
their expertise to the project from the outset: Siemens, Saft,
Michelin and Nokia. The result: the most exciting GT sports car
around.
Original technologies and leading
partners
The Furtive-eGT combines
an impressive sum of human expertise with technologies never before
seen in cars. It is an innovator in all areas, from its
latest-generation Siemens motors and Saft batteries to its carbon
body, running gear developed with Michelin, three-speed gearbox with
seamless torque delivery, acoustics by Focal and man/machine
multimedia interface. The Furtive-eGT embodies a unique blend of
expertise. No comparisons can be made with the existing market
offering.
A GT made for the era of
sustainable development
The Furtive-eGT is very
much a car of its times, the era of digital cars and sustainable
development, but it also reflects a long tradition in exceptional
GTs. This long-haul traveller is a true 2+2, designed to comfortably
seat four passengers with their luggage. The Furtive-eGT is designed
as a versatile car, combining the ride and performance of a quality
sports model with the comfort of a grand tourer.
A new sensory experience
The electric drivetrain
delivers original driving sensations with the torque coming in
immediately. With constant torque of 516 N.m between 0 and 5,000
rpm, the Furtive-eGT is capable of phenomenal acceleration,
sprinting from 0 to 100 km in just 3.5 s, with a top speed limited
to 250 kph. As well as savouring the silence of this impressive
performance, owners can take pleasure in owning a car with zero
carbon emissions. Looking beyond figures, this is an experience that
everybody should enjoy at least once in their lives.
French spirit and style
Designed by Exagon
MotorsTM, the Furtive-eGT is a car of classic, timeless beauty. It
embodies a truly French approach to modern, prestige vehicles, far
removed from passing trends and fashions. The Furtive-eGT is 4.46 m
long with very short front and rear overhangs. The design is elegant
and dynamic, while placing the emphasis squarely on aerodynamics. A
car of pure, clean lines, the Furtive-eGT stands out from the crowd
with distinctive features, such as the double-bubble roof, headlight
signature and rear wings to optimise downforce.
2. Siemens electric motors
The Furtive-eGT is
driven by two latest-generation electric motors from Siemens Inside
e-Car. Installed centrally on an aluminium cradle at the rear, and
linked by the three-speed gearbox with seamless torque delivery,
they drive the rear wheels of the Furtive-eGT (rear-wheel drive).
From the driver’s standpoint, the two motors act as one even though
the electronic controls allow them to operate separately. The two
motors are liquid-cooled to maintain performance levels in all
conditions of use.
These electric motors are among the most compact on the market. They
each develop 148 kW – or 296 kW overall – a level of power
equivalent to 402 bhp, for an outstanding level of efficiency.
Maximum power of between 5,000 and 10,000 rpm is available in
one-tenth of a second, with constant torque of 516 N.m (258 N.m x 2)
between 0 and 5,000 rpm.
These motors, developed
specially by Siemens for the needs of the Furtive-eGT, each weigh 51
kg. Viewed against their individual rated power of 148 kW, this
gives them energy density of 2.901 kW/kg, an excellent figure, with
efficiency close to 98%. Two inverters, also developed specially for
the Furtive-eGT, distribute electric power by converting the direct
current from the Saft battery into alternating current. The
inverters drive the motors in two modes, based on torque or engine
speed, modifying amplitude and frequency as necessary. The
“supervisor” control electronics were developed internally by
Exagon.
Supercar performance
Accelerating from 0 to
100 kph in just 3.5 seconds, the Furtive-eGT ranks among the best
supercars on the market. The response time between pedal depression
and the delivery of power is just one-tenth of a second. The Siemens
motors use this power for a level of acceleration never before
enjoyed by drivers. The top speed is limited electronically to 250
kph.
On deceleration, the
magnetic field of the electric motors contributes to the car’s
exceptional braking properties, with each motor acting as a
generator to recharge the batteries and thus increase vehicle range.
Together, the motor brakes and callipers developed for the Furtive-eGT
by BERINGER develop up to 1.2 G during the braking phase, slashing
stopping distances and making this one of the world’s best braking
systems.
Maintenance and environmental
protection
The Siemens Inside e-Car
electric motors have few moving parts and deliver a level of
reliability far beyond that of combustion engines. No upkeep is
required before 150,000 kilometres, which makes them virtually
maintenance free. They are silent by definition, emitting no carbon
or NOx.
3. Saft batteries
The Furtive-eGT is
equipped with batteries made by Saft, world leader in lithium-ion
batteries. The company holds market share of 80% in the aerospace
industry as well as in the defence industry and in Formula 1,
reflecting the quality and advanced technology of the components
used, and the high safety standards in all circumstances. These
latest-generation batteries have a capacity of 53 kWh and a rated
voltage of 360 V. They weigh 480 kg overall.
Exagon Motors turned the
constraint of battery weight into an advantage. The architecture of
the carbon body made it possible to install the batteries in the
floor of the Furtive-eGT. This lowers the centre of gravity (110 mm
lower than on a conventional GT) to virtually eliminate roll on
cornering, for exceptional ride and handling. This feature makes a
key contribution to roadholding and thus to the driving sensations
delivered by the Furtive-eGT.
With its Saft batteries,
the Furtive-eGT no doubt has a greater range in all-electric mode
than any other high-performance electric vehicle:
• 360 km
over an urban cycle (ECE15 standard).
• 310 km over a combined cycle (NEDC standard).
• 287 km over a motorway cycle (EUDC standard).
Service life and recyclability
Saft batteries are
highly recyclable. After 3,000 cycles, being used virtually every
day over a period of ten years, they still have at least 80% of
their energy capacity. Moreover, they have no memory effect.
Optional range extender
The Furtive-eGT ships
with an optional range extender. This takes the form of a small
combustion engine of low cubic capacity that recharges the batteries
when they reach their range limits. It does not drive the wheels, it
acts solely as a generator. Pollutant emissions are therefore very
low, since it is optimised to run at constant speed. The range
extender increases the overall range of the Furtive-eGT to 807 km
with 25 l of fuel over a standard ECE15 cycle, or 734 km with 25l of
fuel over a standard combined cycle.
4. Transmission system and gearbox
The Furtive-eGT features
an exclusive three-speed gearbox with seamless torque delivery. Gear
changing is smooth and immediate, with no loss of power.
On each gear change, one
of the two motors continues to transmit power to the wheels. This
process avoids any break in torque to maintain power in all
circumstances. Furthermore, the motors function continuously within
their optimum range of power and efficiency, enabling the vehicle to
take full advantage of their power and to increase energy
efficiency.
Technology developed by Exagon
Motors
The engineers of Exagon
Motors developed this gearbox specially for an electric motor. It is
therefore able to accommodate the instant torque delivery. Unlike
other supercars, fitted with sequential gearboxes, the Furtive-eGT
runs no risk of the clutch breaking in the event of violent
acceleration. It is designed for use without a clutch, either in
manual mode with the steering-wheel mounted paddles or in automatic
mode. For reverse gear, the rotational direction of the motors is
inverted.
5. Carbon chassis/body
The monocoque body of
the Furtive-eGT is made entirely of a carbon fibre/honeycomb
structure based on Formula 1 technology. This exclusive feature is
shared by very few of the world’s supercars, since only seven other
exceptional sports vehicles feature the same level of technical
sophistication, and all are driven by combustion engines. The carbon
body of the Furtive-eGT weighs just 124 kg overall. Torsional
stiffness is exceptional, contributing to the lateral grip and
neutral behaviour of the Furtive-eGT.
The body directly
supports the front half-axles, optimising both weight and overall
stiffness. At the rear, a cast aluminium structure carries the
powertrain and rear half-axles. A low centre of gravity for an
exemplary ride
The carbon body was
designed to house the batteries in its structural floor. The battery
position gives the car a low centre of gravity, around 110 mm lower
than on a conventional supercar, positioned centrally with respect
to the wheels. This strategic battery layout ensures stable ride and
handling.
It also optimises comfort, significantly reducing roll on cornering,
and limiting weight transfer – and thus pitch – on braking.
6. Running gear
The running gear of the
Furtive-eGT was developed in partnership with Michelin, a group with
globally recognised expertise. Over the past two years, engineers
from Exagon Motors and Michelin have worked in close cooperation,
carrying out extensive tests on the Michelin tracks in Ladoux, near
Clermont-Ferrand. The result strikes the ideal balance between
roadholding and comfort, reflecting the advanced performance of the
Furtive-eGT and the specific constraints of electric drivetrains.
Michelin’s expertise was combined with that of Exagon in developing
running gear and designing motorsports vehicles.
Double wishbone suspension
The Furtive-eGT features
double wishbone suspension at both front and rear. This is currently
the best solution for optimising tyre operation and maintaining an
ideal position on the road in all circumstances. The half-axles,
made using the Cobapress process, are mounted directly on the carbon
body at the front and on an aluminium cradle at the rear. Given the
immediate availability of electric power (and torque from 0 to 5,000
rpm), the suspension and tyres had to be specially designed to
accommodate this level of torque with running gear that would be
ideal in all circumstances. The suspension layout and damping
control optimise vehicle behaviour without any sort of management
system. Special emphasis was placed on making the suspension
comfortable, particularly on bumpy roads, a feature that is not
generally the case on cars delivering this level of performance.
Exclusive tyres and specially
designed brakes
The Furtive-eGT is
equipped with Michelin Super Sport, 245/35 ZR 20 tyres at the front
and 305/30 ZR 20 at the rear. They were specially developed to
accommodate the acceleration of electric motors. Rolling resistance
was decreased and grip improved for even higher standards of energy
efficiency. The brake callipers, which have six pistons at the front
and four at the rear, were developed for the Furtive-eGT by Beringer,
a French company with renowned expertise in the aerospace industry.
The vented discs – 380 mm at the front and 360 mm at the rear – are
made of steel and designed to optimise braking in all circumstances,
with deceleration of 1.2 G.
7. A personalised driving
experience
The Furtive-eGT is
equally at ease in both day-to-day and sport driving. To meet a full
range of driver requirements, depending on vehicle use, the
engineers at Exagon Motors developed four operating modes for a
personalised driving experience: Standard, Eco, City and Sport.
In Sport mode,
the emphasis is squarely on performance and sport driving, with
specific accelerator response, acceleration control and motor speed
for gear changing.
In Standard mode
the motors function normally, delivering full power and optimising
motor speed for gear changing, to improve efficiency and focus on
driveability.
In Eco mode, the
power of the motors and peripheral electricity-consuming functions
are limited in order to place greater emphasis on range and to make
the Furtive-eGT easier to handle by an uninitiated driver.
In City mode,
vehicle operation is optimised for low speeds, with the emphasis on
smooth driving. The air in the cabin is recycled automatically to
reduce the nuisance caused by exhaust gases from other vehicles.
An adaptive digital dashboard
Depending on the mode
selected, the 12-inch digital display on the dashboard behind the
steering wheel changes configuration to show pertinent information
to the driver:
• Standard mode:
vehicle speed is shown on the large central dial, with the rpm
of the two motors on the left and the kW transmitted by these
motors on the right. GPS navigation data can be displayed on the
right-hand dial, superimposed on kW data. Both are legible.
• Eco and City mode: the kW used are shown in the large central
dial for eco-driving (force required), the speed is displayed on
the right and the rpm of both motors on the left.
• Sport mode: rpm are displayed on the central dial with a
digital speed display, G force measured on the left and kW used
on the right.
8. Design and aerodynamics
Although the Furtive-eGT
is a sports car with an electric drivetrain, it is first and
foremost a grand tourer. A fact that is clearly visible in its taut,
elegant design lines.
At the front end, the headlights of the Furtive-eGT use full-LED
technology for all lighting and signalling functions. This makes for
comfortable night driving as well as saving energy. At the same
time, the miniature LEDs enabled designers at Exagon Motors to give
the Furtive-eGT its piercing gaze.
At the rear, the boot line rises up from the wings to meet the
double bubble and side wings. While the extractor is the visible
part of the aerodynamic flat bottom design of the Furtive-eGT.
9. Infotainment & multimedia
The Furtive-eGT is
equipped with a multimedia infotainment system developed in
partnership with Nokia. It includes a 9-inch central capacitive
touch screen with swipe and zoom functions. The system comes with a
SIM card enabling a continuous dialogue with the manufacturer,
particularly for technical self-diagnosis data, emergency calls or
weather bulletins. It is also equipped with a USB connection, an
auxiliary socket and the Bluetooth streaming function.
Made-to-measure applications on
request
Using the OS and
multimedia interface of the Furtive-eGT, Exagon Motors is able to
develop special applications to be downloaded directly to the car, a
first in the automotive world. For example, if the owner of a
Furtive-eGT is interested in modern art museums, he or she can
request an application grouping all relevant information (contact
details, opening hours, current exhibitions, navigation, etc.),
which will be specially developed and sent directly to the car’s
infotainment system. These personalised applications can be
developed when the order is placed or installed throughout the
vehicle’s service life. This is an open-ended system able to receive
the latest technological innovations in real time.
An exclusive partnership with
Focal
For the acoustics of the
Furtive-eGT, Exagon Motors opted for excellence by teaming up with
Focal, France’s leading acoustic designer and manufacturer. Over
more than 30 years, Focal has developed globally recognised
expertise in the high-tech field of transducers. By working with the
manufacturer of the world’s best audio loudspeakers, Exagon Motors
is out to give Furtive-eGT drivers access to the superlative Focal
sound that is so appreciated by music-lovers.
Exclusive e-Motion Sound Concept
For the Furtive-eGT,
Focal developed a system called eMSC or Exclusive e-Motion Sound
Concept. This system uses exclusive technologies and rare materials,
carefully crafted in the French workshops of Focal, for enhanced
listening pleasure. But the science of onboard acoustics does not
stop there. Layout and volumes have also been optimised. Nothing has
been left to chance: positioning, vibration behaviour and volumes
were carefully calculated to get the best out of the cabin of the
Furtive-eGT.
Two acoustic options are
available for the Furtive-eGT, based on the best technology used by
Focal for its flagship products.
• “Harmony”, the
first level, features ten-channel acoustic architecture based on
Kevlar membrane technology. With this option, Focal has
developed a dynamic, steady, comfortable system that accompanies
listeners whenever they want to step up the pace.
• “Quintessence”, the second level, will delight music-lovers.
It uses exclusive technologies from the Utopia range to further
optimise every aspect of the listening experience. The W
membrane (glass/glass) restores the full impact and velocity of
bass tones, while the famous tweeter made of Beryllium, a
precious material perfectly suited to the needs of acousticians,
achieves a high-precision treble for a result that will delight
music lovers.
10. Customisation programme
The quest for
technological excellence is associated with the idea of
made-to-measure design that was widespread in the automotive
industry of the 1930s. Luc Marchetti wanted to recreate this
mindset, based on an approach that gave pre-war French vehicle
manufacturers international renown. At the time, in the prestige
vehicle industry, it was common for customers to order a chassis and
engine from a leading manufacturer and then to have the bodywork and
interior designed to measure by a renowned coachmaker. This approach
led to the creation of real automotive treasures, unique vehicles
that have since gained the status of works of art.
The ambition of the
Furtive-eGT is to bring customers a degree of customisation rarely
achieved to date. This is where the idea of automotive craftsmanship
or jewel-making comes in. Luc Marchetti explains:
“France is recognised
the world over for its virtuosity in high-end manufacturing. We have
a unique age-old expertise, with both suppliers and craftsmen.
Strangely, this inexhaustible pool of talent has never, or rarely,
been tapped by the automotive industry. A fact that is no doubt
linked to the specifics of volume production. The Furtive does away
with these constraints, since our production is exclusive (planned
at around one hundred vehicles per year) and each model will be
assembled by hand. This means that for the first time, we can
deliver truly exceptional made-to-measure design. Each customer can
be sure of owning not just a unique vehicle but a real work of art
created specially for him or her. Like an interior decorator who
seeks to understand exactly what you want before bringing in the
best craftsmen to decorate your home, Exagon Motors will study each
customer’s requirements individually and submit new ideas, some of
which may be penned by leading designers. The most important aspect
is to create a long-term relationship of trust. The time devoted by
the customer to the design of his or her Furtive-eGT should be an
enjoyable, even magical, experience.”
11. Distribution, service,
maintenance and warranty
Regional ambassadors
will manage distribution of the Furtive-eGT and represent the Exagon
brand.
The Furtive-eGT ships with a two-year warranty. This warranty may be
extended to five years if all maintenance, top-ups and servicing are
carried out exclusively by Exagon Motors. To this end, the brand is
putting in place an exclusive automotive concierge service. This
service will function on a 24/7 basis to satisfy the needs and
requirements expressed.
Maintenance operations
and upgrades (IT set-up, upgrades, braking, routine servicing) may
be carried out directly at the customer’s home.
