British companies envision the roadster of the future.
The days of the nimble, well-powered roadster that could be maintained on a shoestring budget may be a thing of the past.
Working together, they have created the Aura Concept, a modern take on the classic British roadster. It is a lightweight electric roadster with a claimed range of 400 miles. Horsepower is not mentioned, but performance is not the primary focus here. Instead, the team focused on efficiency and sustainability.
The project was supported by a UK government initiative aimed at challenging local companies in the automotive industry to develop solutions and innovations for electric vehicles. Participating companies included design firm Astheimer Design, materials specialist BAMD Composites, EV powertrain company Potenza Technology, and software development company Conjure.
Key design elements include a body shaped to reduce aerodynamic drag as much as possible and a lightweight structure to offset the weight of the battery. The lightweight construction is made possible by composite body panels made of natural fibers. Not only are these panels lightweight, but their manufacture also reduces environmental impact compared to using conventional materials.
The battery has a capacity of 88 kilowatt-hours. It actually consists of two independent units of equal capacity. One is located under the front hood and the other on the floor of the vehicle. This arrangement provides a driving feel similar to that of a front-engine internal combustion engine. According to the designers, it also helps with overall balance.
A final element worth mentioning is the user interface. There is the usual infotainment screen in the center of the dash, plus a second screen at the hub of the steering wheel. This second screen features self-leveling technology, making it easy to read no matter how far the steering wheel is turned. Part of the interface includes software that finds the fastest and easiest charging location and displays the actual remaining distance to within 0.5% accuracy.
