As sustainability is becoming a top priority for many countries around the world, electric vehicle startups have started to attract a lot of attention in the past few years. And while many adopt the tried and tested recipes in terms of electric car design, offering futuristic-looking machines full of displays and buttons, there are some young companies that go against the grain.
One of them is Olympian Motors, a New York-based startup that has taken a different approach with its two electric cars, the Olympian Model O1 and Model 84. By combining modern-day technology with retro looks, the company is attempting to "change the status-quo in automotive design and bring aesthetic, color, experience and minimalism back to the cars."
The American EV maker aims to revolutionize car manufacturing in the US with an innovative "modular" vehicle and drivetrain system it calls MVDS for short. Details on this modular system are still kept close to the vest, with the company only mentioning that it is a Lego-like architecture that simplifies the vehicle down to six main components (4-core hardware and 2 software modules), with an additional 24 pieces to complete the design, including the steering wheel and seats. Olympian claims this approach will give them significant cost and lead-time advantages compared to legacy car manufacturers like Tesla and Ford.
The company, founded by Eren Canarslan and Jasmine Sungu, wants to enter the EV market with two models, Model O1 and Model 84, both of which boast a distinctive retro-inspired look, taking us a few decades back. However, these two cars are very different between them. While Model O1 is a small and curvy four-door, rear-wheel-drive electric sedan, Model 84 is presented as the first electric convertible SUV in the US.
"Automotive design has stalled out," believes Canarslan. "Vehicle bodies are converging on an optimized aerodynamic form that leaves most vehicles looking identical." Olympian Motors decided to focus on creating aesthetically distinctive cars that are more driver-focused. If you wish, it's like taking a step back in time in terms of design but embracing the future with the tech.
Photo: Olympian Motors
Model O1, the firm's flagship model, boasts a timeless and sleek design with robust flowing wheel arches and a teardrop tail end that reminisces of the iconic VW Beetle, matched by a simple, minimalist cockpit powered by Olympian Operating System (OOS) for an enhanced driver experience.
Bucking the current trend of large tablet screens and plenty of buttons and switches in the dashboard, the team designed the four-passenger EV with a clutter-free interior that replaces the futuristic consoles with a HUD display on the windshield and a voice-command system that will enable the driver to control the infotainment system, seat adjustment, HVAC, lighting, and other functions. All of this comes in an eco-friendly package with "sustainably and responsibly sourced" materials such as steel, exotic woods, cashmere, and silk.
The team's focus on aesthetics doesn't mean they neglected the performance part. The Model O1 will be offered standard with rear-wheel drive and will be able to reach speeds in excess of 160 mph (257 kph) thanks to a 310 hp (228 kW) motor that outputs 305 lb-ft (414 Nm) of torque. Moreover, the car will do the 0 to 60 mph sprint (97 kph) in 5.7 seconds. Equipped with a 400V/82-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the Model O1 should offer a range of 305 miles (490 km) on a single charge.
Photo: Olympian Motors
Model 84, on the other hand, is an electric open-top SUV with a boxy exterior and an asymmetrical front-end design. It also has a retro-futuristic vibe to it but with a more minimalist approach. Inside the cabin, it also comes with an augmented reality head-up display projected on the front windshield, which is set to replace the regular digital screens found in today's EVs.
The bulkier Olympian Model 84 will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in a claimed 8.1 seconds and will reach a top speed similar to that of the Model O1, namely 160 mph. To match its smaller sibling in terms of performance, the team endowed it with a 340 hp (250 kW) motor delivering 355 lb-ft (481 Nm). Its 89 kWh battery pack will provide a 335-mile (540 km) range.
Both the Model O1 and Model 84 EVs are based on Super Board "skateboard chassis" made by Chinese electric mobility company U Power, with their bodies forged in military-grade carbon fiber and titanium, which, coupled with up to nine airbags inside and laminated glass in all the windows, will protect the passengers in case of impact.
Photo: Olympian Motors
Breaking into the complex and almost saturated electric market might not be an easy feat for a startup like Olympian Motors, but we sure hope they soldier on and bring these EVs into production.
Olympian Motors is now accepting pre-orders with a refundable $500 deposit for an initial Founders Edition of the Model O1, which will have a final price of US$80,000. It is available for interested buyers in the US, Canada, and China, and the first deliveries are planned for Q2 2024.
Unlike the flagship model, Model 84 is offered as a Limited Edition model with only 310 units set to be produced, and it will only be available for US residents in New York and California for a price of US$70,000.
After spending a few years as a copy editor, Ancuta decided to put down the eraser and pick up the writer's pencil. Her favorites subjects are unusual car designs, travel trailers and everything related to the great outdoors. Full profile
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