Photo: Guido Ten Brink/SB-Medien
The Internet would have you believe that only tyrants and cats are looking to take over the planet, but - as in so many other cases - the Internet is wrong. Meet the Aspark Owl electric hypercar, a Japanese creation looking to reach the 62 mph (100 km/h) benchmark speed in under two seconds.
Last week, the company behind the ambitious hypercar presented a video of its mule making a short acceleration run in what looked like the yard behind the workshop where the EV is built. The open chassis was definitely quick, but copious amounts of wheelspin showed there was still work to be done.
At that point, all we could show you of the car's actual body were a few digital renderings, but Aspark promised it would bring the finished product to Frankfurt. Being Japanese and all, they kept their promise, and the Owl made a full appearance at the IAA.
The first thing you notice about the hypercar is that it's so low (39 inches), some Frankfurt visitors might have tripped on it by accident. The Owl looks to be about hip-high, which should make getting in and out quite interesting for people more than 5' tall.
What it lacks in ergonomics it more than makes up for in aerodynamics. The Japanese hypercar is a prime example of function over form which, as it so often happens, actually ends up creating a very beautifully styled body.
The front end has a bit of Fisker Karma to it - and some old Ferrari cues as well - but manages to remain original. The side profile is probably the Owl's best angle as it reveals the swooping line that goes over the two immense wheels as well as the pronounced drop at the back, making room for the giant wing.
The aerodynamic elements are a work of art in themselves. The three-quarters rear angle reveals a set of gills just below the side window which look as though they were designed by a man with a shaky hand. In fact, they are simply shaped so they can best achieve their role - to direct the airflow across the side of the vehicle. This is probably also the moment you realize the Aspark Owl doesn't have side mirrors, replacing them with cameras instead.
What surprised us the most about the hypercar is that it also has a finished interior. And it's not bad at all. In fact, if Elon Musk cares to see what a "spaceship-like" cabin looks like, please show him to the Owl. It may feel like an '80s spaceship, granted, but it's a spaceship nonetheless.
We guess the best thing about this latest electric hypercar is that there's more to it than just the insane proposed acceleration. It has a beautiful exterior design and a cozy, retro-futuristic interior - two things that are not easy to come by, particularly on the same vehicle. Right now, only two questions remain: will it break the two-second threshold and, more importantly, will it ever make it into production?
At that point, all we could show you of the car's actual body were a few digital renderings, but Aspark promised it would bring the finished product to Frankfurt. Being Japanese and all, they kept their promise, and the Owl made a full appearance at the IAA.
The first thing you notice about the hypercar is that it's so low (39 inches), some Frankfurt visitors might have tripped on it by accident. The Owl looks to be about hip-high, which should make getting in and out quite interesting for people more than 5' tall.
What it lacks in ergonomics it more than makes up for in aerodynamics. The Japanese hypercar is a prime example of function over form which, as it so often happens, actually ends up creating a very beautifully styled body.
The front end has a bit of Fisker Karma to it - and some old Ferrari cues as well - but manages to remain original. The side profile is probably the Owl's best angle as it reveals the swooping line that goes over the two immense wheels as well as the pronounced drop at the back, making room for the giant wing.
The aerodynamic elements are a work of art in themselves. The three-quarters rear angle reveals a set of gills just below the side window which look as though they were designed by a man with a shaky hand. In fact, they are simply shaped so they can best achieve their role - to direct the airflow across the side of the vehicle. This is probably also the moment you realize the Aspark Owl doesn't have side mirrors, replacing them with cameras instead.
What surprised us the most about the hypercar is that it also has a finished interior. And it's not bad at all. In fact, if Elon Musk cares to see what a "spaceship-like" cabin looks like, please show him to the Owl. It may feel like an '80s spaceship, granted, but it's a spaceship nonetheless.
We guess the best thing about this latest electric hypercar is that there's more to it than just the insane proposed acceleration. It has a beautiful exterior design and a cozy, retro-futuristic interior - two things that are not easy to come by, particularly on the same vehicle. Right now, only two questions remain: will it break the two-second threshold and, more importantly, will it ever make it into production?
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