2011 Artega SE

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German automaker, Artega, unveiled their latest work, the Artega SE, at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, showing the promise of what a German electric sports car could look like, as well as giving the US-based Tesla and their pride and joy, the Roadster 2.5, something to think about.
While expectations are understandably high for the SE, Artega is tempering its expectations on the car, leaving it with a concept tag while it still undergoes testing and development.
Ultimately, the company has made no bones about its intention of bringing the Artega SE into something more than just a concept car. Artega chief executive, Peter Müller, put it in simple terms: "Our aim is to combine environmental responsibility with the passion for automobiles."
The Artega SE is an electric version of the company’s initial offering, the Artega GT. The two cars sport the same body and aluminum spaceframe with the only notable difference being the powertrain fitted under its hood.
Details on the Artega SE after the jump.

Exterior and Interior Thanks to a combination of materials used in auto racing, including the aluminum space frame, high-strength steel, and alloys reinforced carbon fiber, the Artega SE weighs at the scales at 1,400 kg, which is about 100 kg lighter than the Artega GT. Despite being a lighter model, the SE still comes with the same 57:43 weight distribution ratio towards the rear axle as the GT model. The SE’s body and aluminum spaceframe is the same that’s found on the Artega GT, which means that you can expect it to have carbon fiber reinforced plastic and EU5 on the front hood. Apart from the carbon fiber, Artega also built the SE with the idea of developing a car that can be considered the lightest of its class. Inside the car, the SE comes with a multi-function sports steering wheel that includes toggle switches on the car’s wheel, which the driver can use to adjust the recuperation rate when he removes his foot from the accelerator. These settings are differentiated to different levels of recuperation – 75 kW to zero recuperation, which is referred to as “sailing. What this does is it gives the driver the opportunity to adjust and readjust the acceleration pedal to suit his own whims or, more importantly, adapt to certain weather and driving conditions. Right behind the wheel is the SE’s redesigned instrument cluster, which houses some pretty pertinent information about the car including analog and digital displays for speed, range, battery level, and energy flow. Performance Powering the Artega SE are two electric motors, each having a 37 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack with a nominal voltage of 350 V and mounted on the car’s rear axle. Both motors operate independently, producing a total output of 275 horsepower with a 0-62 mph time of 4.3 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph. On a full charge, the Artega SE has a range of 124 miles with a full charge capable of being finished in just 90 minutes when charging at a high-powered charging station. Pricing The Artega SE is still in concept form, but the German automaker is already shooting for the stars as far as sales goals are concerned: 500 electric sports cars a year priced at €140,000, or $195,000 based on current exchange rates. Ambitious, we say. In the meantime, Artega is preparing to build a couple of test vehicles, which it is expected to introduce later this year, possibly around the summer months, leading up to the Frankfurt Motor Show. Should the reaction to the Artega SE be somewhere around what the company expects, the automaker will immediately prep the car up for mass production. No timetable has been set until a decision has been made, but Artega is pegging to be somewhere around 2012.