Brabus has made a 435hp E-Class Wagon for Frankfurt. With a twist.

[narf]

I was just about to say I think it looks superb. Does that count?

I'll cover you if when the inevitable happens.

Interesting.

Electric motor 248 hp (185 kW) 3-phase 4-pole AC induction motor[2]

Electric motor 80 kW (110 hp) synchronous motor

Electric motor 47 kW (63 hp) permanent-magnet motor[1]

Engine one or two permanent magnet synchronous motors

Electric motor 150 kW (200 hp) asynchronous motor

 

[chaos386]

Excuse me but...

435 HP and a 0-100 km/h time of 6.9 seconds...? A Mercedes S500 also has 435 HP, weighs about the same and accelerates in 5.0 seconds from 0-100 km/h...

Is that Brabus acceleration number a printing error and are they referring to 0-100 mph or is it rather lame? I mean, an electric car should be accelerating faster, than a fuel-driven car, right?

I have a feeling the motors are directly powering the wheels, without the use of a multi-ratio transmission in between, which is why the acceleration and top speed are so underwhelming (seriously? 220 km/h? The E200 wagon I drove a few weeks ago went faster than that!). It's a torque monster that's stuck in 3rd gear...

 

[narf]

That's how hub motors work, no space for a gearbox

 

[chaos386]

That's how hub motors work, no space for a gearbox

Inboard motors with small 2-3 speed gearboxes? That'd reduce unsprung weight, as well.

EDIT: not making suggestions for Brabus, here, (I'm sure plenty of people are working on how to fit gearboxes to per-wheel motors) just whinging that it hasn't been done yet.

 

[narf]

Unimogs have reduction gearing in their wheels. Yay, an excuse!

https://pic.armedcats.net/n/na/narf/2011/09/14/Portalachse.jpg

Wouldn't count it as a gearbox though.