The 818 Kit Car Uses A Tesla Model S Drivetrain And Chevy Volt Batteries: Video
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Do-it-yourselfers may wonder about the future of their automotive hobby as we approach the age of electric vehicles, but fret not, Tapp Auto assures us that modifying cars is far from dead even if combustible engines are phased out.
Road&Track caught up with Tapp Auto to find out more of the details. The shop has taken the 818 kit car, which is designed to utilize the drivetrain of a Subaru WRX, and powered it by piecing together components from Tesla and Chevrolet. The drivetrain itself is that of a Tesla Model S, while two Chevy Volt batteries are the power source. The result is a 2,500-pound vehicle with 420 wheel-horsepower on a conservative setting, which is capable of completing a quarter-mile in 11.5 seconds.
The big thing here for us is the tuning. Tapp Auto designed their own software and successfully tuned this 818 EV, and that’s very impressive.
What we would be interested in seeing is a comparison between this 818 and a more conventional build. I’ve personally seen an 818 at a few NEPA SCCA autocross events, and it moved pretty damn well.
In any case, the future seems bright for mod-happy car enthusiasts.
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