Aspark Owl Roadster is an Electric Featherweight Beast on Four Wheels That Does 0-60 in 1.78s

Japan’s Aspark has always been about pushing the boundaries with their electric vehicles, and the Owl Roadster takes that to a whole new level. This open-top beauty is essentially a convertible version of the original Owl coupe, just the type of vehicle you want to get behind the wheel of when the road calls and you want a little wind in your hair and some serious speed beneath your feet.

Only 20 of them will be made in a modest workshop in Italy, with each one meticulously hand-assembled by the folks at Manifattura Automobili Torino, and it’s that small production run that will make this thing a genuine eye-catcher. But the true magic resides in how this car can transform physics into pure adrenaline without using a single drop of petrol.

Four electric motors are bolted to the corners, delivering an impressive 1,953 horsepower and 1,416 pound-feet of torque from the start. There’s no waiting for the revs to build up; the power just pours in, driving you back into your seat with enough force to make the horizon blur. Aspark predicts a 0-60mph time of 1.72 seconds, narrowly beating the Rimac Nevera. If you push it harder, it can reach 62 mph in 1.78 seconds, 124 mph in 4.76 seconds, and 186 mph in 9.74 seconds. Maximum speed? The theoretical top speed is 257 mph, but the electronics are configured to limit it to 217 mph on daily routes. Brakes are also not an issue, thanks to carbon-ceramic discs grabbed by 10-piston calipers up front and four-piston ones in the back; these are the types of repetitive stops that would cause weaker systems to burn.

You guessed it: carbon is the material of choice here, from the lightweight monocoque chassis to the entire body panels, keeping the whole weight to just 4,189 pounds. Now that’s a game changer; it allows the motors to carve corners with surgical precision. Double-wishbone suspension keeps everything in place, and the ride height can be adjusted between 3.1 and 6.3 inches depending on the surface. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires wrap around the 20-inch wheels, ready to absorb the pounding without complaint. Inside, the seats and dash are upholstered in Alcantara, with exposed carbon elements that keep things simple yet elegant in the two-seater cockpit.

The doors lift upwards to let you in, and you have an excellent view of the low-slung cabin with all of the controls right at your fingertips. There is no roof, so you can see the sky, but if it rains or you need to cool off, a quick-deploy soft top folds out for you. Active aerodynamics are also in the works, with a rear wing that can alter on the fly to slice drag or increase downforce as you gain speed. Four drive modes allow you to customize the feel to your liking, from a mild Snow setting for slippery starts to High Boost, which releases the entire power for track days or empty straights.

A 69kWh battery powers the whole shebang at 800v, good for about 155 miles before you need to plug in. Top up from 20-80% in 45 minutes with the right setup and you’re back in business. Range won’t win endurance races but in a car this focused on bursts of speed it’s just fine. Aspark spent years honing this pack since the project started in 2014, drawing on their previous record as the fastest electric production car at 272mph.

You’ll need considerably deep pockets to purchase one, as each Roadster starts at $3.5 million. That ranks it among the most costly electric cars available, surpassing even the Lotus Evija’s $2.3 million price tag. Production begins soon after its premiere at the Prestige Salon Automobile de Lyon last month, with delivery targeting buyers seeking something different from the regular supercar throng.
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