Future of classic cars is electric
The starting price for ‘pinnacle’ classics powered by battery is NZ$700k, writes
Electric vehicles are very old news at a new automotive company called Lunaz. But in a very good way. Lunaz is preparing to launch a range of ‘‘pinnacle classic cars’’ powered by bespoke pure-electric powertrains.
A 1961 eight-seat Rolls-Royce Phantom V, 1953 Jaguar XK120 and 1956 Rolls-Royce Cloud are currently being developed.
The Jaguar XK120 is fitted with an 80kWh battery pack, while the Phantom V is specified with a 120kWh power unit.
The company says each classic will be an entirely custom restoration, with cars ‘‘analysed to the millimetre to ensure Lunaz’s engineers develop the most appropriate powertrain solution for the character of the car and the intended driving dynamics’’.
As it should be. The entry price is a touch under NZ$700,000. And then you work upwards from there depending on individual specification.
Lunaz says its conversions answer questions of reliability, usability and sustainability, around classic cars. The proprietary powertrain is designed, engineered and manufactured in Silverstone, England, under the leadership of former Renault F1 technical director Jon Hilton.
All Lunaz classics are engineered with fast charging capability, regenerative braking systems and the integration of modern conveniences like traction control and cruise control.
The company says each will be ‘‘truly one-of-a-kind with colourways and interiors finessed by leaders in bespoke automotive and fashion design’’.
The restoration and conversion process starts with an exhaustive inspection. Each corner is weighed to understand the original weight distribution to the gram. This information informs decisions on chassis setup, powertrain packaging and suspension. The internal combustion engine and associated systems are then removed.
The car is 3D scanned which allows the engineers to create detailed CAD models.
Traditional coachbuilding and restoration skills are employed as the car is stripped down to a bare metal shell.
The same approach extends to the interior. The in-house design team makes adaptations to integrate modern conveniences such as satnav and wi-fi.
The accessories associated with electric powertrains, including battery chargers and DC converters, are integrated into the existing design of the car, utilising the fuel filler cap for charging and adapting dials to an appropriate read-out for the electrical powertrain.
New air conditioning and electronic heating systems are installed and the accelerator is converted to a throttle-by-wire system. Braking, suspension, steering and electronics systems are all upgraded.
The Jaguar XK120 by Lunaz is currently in its final testing phase. The twin motors produce 280kW/ 700Nm.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom and Rolls-Royce Cloud by Lunaz are also nearing completion.
Lunaz was founded by David Lorenz and Jon Hilton in 2018.