Another small-series manufacturer is venturing ahead: Morand Cars from Switzerland plans to start production of a hybrid and electric hypercar in 2023.
It’s that time again: a small company is announcing the next evolutionary step in the sports car world with big words. This time, the call is sounding from Switzerland. Morand Cars wants to start production of a hypercar in 2023 that will be offered in both pure electric and hybrid guises. Of course it’s “a fusion of high-tech, craftsmanship and passion,” and of course the power is in the 2,000-horsepower range. But then, that’s what almost everyone claims.
Young company with tradition
Is there any truth to it in the end? It’s too early to say. In any case, Morand Cars’ plans are no less ambitious than those of its competitors Viritech, Elektron, Illyrian, Pambuffetti, Elation, Ajani Motors or Zedro. As you can see, the list of hypercar pioneers has grown long in recent months. VIP club membership with exclusive driving events is often part of the concept, and in most cases an ancestor of the startup founders was active in the world of motorsports at some point.
From the ranks of hypercar startup competition: the Drakuma from Ajani Motors.
Morand Cars is no different. For example, the father of founder Benoît Morand, Louis Morand, had already competed in various endurance races at Spa or the Nürburgring. This involvement gave rise to the company “Moteurs Morand” in 1958, which added extra spice to racing car engines of various makes. This past now runs under the “Heritage” chapter of the new Morand Cars brand.
400 km/h and road approval
The hypercar variants envisaged for 2023 are to come forward in terms of performance as a melange of Formula 1 and 24-hour race cars, coupled with a luxury interior and state-of-the-art networking. For the hybrid, a combination of a V10 combustion engine and three electric motors with a total system output of 1,200 hp is planned. The pure E version dwarfs that with 2,000 hp from four engines. Both versions are said to be capable of speeds of up to 400 km/h and break the 200 km/h mark from a standstill in a maximum of 6.5 seconds. Despite these dangerously nimble figures, both Morand Cars are to be road-legal.
The ladies and gentlemen from Morand Cars are also surprisingly specific about weight, range and charging times. The hybrid can cover 70 electric kilometers, the Stromer 301 kilometers. Charging times are expected to range between two and ten minutes – depending on the available charging point. At 1,370 kilograms (hybrid) and 1,250 kilograms (electric version), both cars are comparatively light, thanks to the use of carbon fiber and a composite material made from natural fibers. At least that’s the plan.
A natural fiber composite and carbon are to make the hypercars from Switzerland light.
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A little something is still missing
The first fully functional prototype is scheduled to premiere at relevant trade shows next year. The design is already 80 percent complete, according to the company website. If you’d rather look a little further into the future of the Swiss manufacturer: the second generation of the hypercar is already set to launch in 2026.
Whether that can actually work is also a question of the right team. However, the Swiss company has not yet put together a complete team, as a glance at the advertised positions reveals. The company is still looking for engineers and chief developers for electronics, operation, reliability, quality assurance, driving dynamics, simulation, aerodynamics, vehicle systems, homologation and chassis. After all, Michel Volet, who was president of the Swiss ice hockey club Fribourg-Gottéron from 2011 to 2019, is already on board. That’s something, too.
Survey
… definitely take it as a convertible.
… definitely take it as a coupe.
Conclusion
What would the automotive industry be without daring pioneers who dare to tackle ambitious plans? However, a sketch and a fancy website do not turn an idea into a finished car. We don’t begrudge each and every one of these companies their potential success – but in the end, only very few have made it.