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How Enthusiast EVs SHOULD Look in the Future
December 01, 2023
It’s not easy to give a fresh take on where electric vehicles will stand in the enthusiast market. Most of what we hear is either the classic “they don’t make ‘em like they used to,” or the devout “this is the way of the future.” But, EVs have yet to really cater to the wants and needs of people who really like driving a sports car. Electric cars all seem to follow the same blueprint; a “skateboard” style chassis, four doors, and tons (literally) of weight to throw around. With the exception of high dollar manufacturers like Porsche, Rimac, and Pinninfarina, there has not been a small, lightweight, affordable car that you can chuck around corners like a BRZ or a Miata. Not yet, at least.
For us enthusiasts, an electric car will never fully replace the thrill of driving a machine with thousands of moving parts working together in perfect harmony. But, it doesn’t necessarily have to replace it. It can be its own, new thing with a different set of strengths and weaknesses. I think to really break into our world, there must be a lively but reasonable weekend sports car that us mere mortals can get their hands on. It’s time to move away from heavy, big-bodied sedans built like a steel toe boot and step into a sharp, light running shoe.
There are challenges, of course, with packing all of the electric tech into that small of a platform. Batteries and motors are improving and getting smaller, but with what is currently available a vehicle design like this would not provide the range for consistent daily use or a vacation road trip that so many of our lives require. There is some hope, as smaller EVs are released from Hyundai, Kia, and other companies, proving it is possible to get what you need in a small package.
As is tradition with vehicle development, engineers are peering into the fiery crucible of motorsport in search of ways to apply new technology to road cars. Scalar Performance, a team based in Canada, has been developing an all-electric 2022 Subaru BRZ to compete in NASA and take on the big boy GT4 cars. Featuring a totally unique powertrain with the electric motor in the rear, the SCR1 is a bespoke track car with a promising future. With the equivalent of 328 bhp and weighing in at just 3200 pounds, SCR1 can make the sprint to 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds, and will keep on going to a top speed of 165 mph. Because it does use the skateboard design and the motor is mounted between the driver and the rear axle, this unique BRZ has the handling characteristics of a mid-engine sports car and is capable of putting in competitive lap times.
The SCR1 should be the new blueprint for the everyman’s electric sports car. It has all of the features and dynamics enthusiasts look for in a fun daily or weekend canyon carver, and is based on a platform we already know is perfect for modifying or customizing to your heart’s desire. There is one BIG issue, however; and that’s the price. The SCR1 Founder’s Edition will set you back a monstrous $210,000. This places the SCR1 right behind a Porsche 718 GT4 Clubsport, the gold standard of gentleman driver race cars. Even though it sits far out of reach for most of us, SCR1 gives me hope that one day this technology will begin to trickle down into our road cars. It is serving as a proof of concept that it is possible to make a fast, fun, small electric car that can compete with the big guns we all know and love.
- Carter Bell