Alongside the mainstream Astra GTC and Zafira Tourer, the Vauxhall (Opel) RAK e concept must seem a mere figment of the imagination, especially when you consider that its ancestors were rocket-powered and set speed records in the 1920s. But, of course, the new version is a full EV and a lot more rigid, meeting today’s standards for safety and emissions.
It looks experimental, but the project was taken quite seriously by the team that assembled the RAK e. It’s constructed from a steel spaceframe and a fully-recyclable synthetic material for the body, so it only just tips the scales at 380 kg.
The electric engine in the RAK e is said to produce 35 kW, with less than half that always on tap. Despite the low output, the RAK e manages to dash to 100 km/h in under 13 seconds and reaches a top speed of 120 km/h.
But, unlike the likes of Renault’s ovoid Twizy concept and the sporty Campagna T-Rex, the RAK e boasts a tandem driver-passenger layout AND range of 100 km after a three-hour charge.
"We want to develop electric vehicles that everyone can afford," said Karl-Friedrich Stracke, Vauxhall and Opel's CEO. "The Rake aims to deliver pricing that even younger customers can afford. It also has cool looks and production potential. In future, efficiency will be measured in money terms, not litres/100 km."