Gordon Murray and Toray Industries build carbon-fiber electric roadster

U.K. design and engineering firm Gordon Murray Design Ltd. and Japanese carbon-fiber specialist Toray Industries have built a lightweight electric-powered two-seater called the Teewave AR.1.

The project is designed to demonstrate the capabilities of Toray's carbon-fiber technology. Toray is a key supplier of composite materials used on the Boeing 787 airplane.

The Teewave AR.1 uses a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis. Toray says the process time for the chassis is less than 10 minutes--extremely quick should the car be put into production.

The car has a curb weight of 1,874 pounds, which includes a 529-pound battery pack. Gordon Murray Design says the Teewave AR.1 tips the scales at nearly 900 pounds less than a Tesla Roadster. The Teewave AR.1 measures 156.5 inches long, about 1.5 inches longer than the Tesla.

Power comes from a 63-hp (47-kilowatt) electric motor from the Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric car. Torque is rated at 133 lb-ft. The Teewave AR.1 has a performance target of accelerating from 0 to 62 mph in 11.4 seconds and a top speed of 91 mph.

The U.K. design firm said the project took just nine months from first discussions to a running prototype. Crash performance has been simulated on computer, and crash tests have been run on the car's front structure.

By Dale Jewett