Exagon Motors
Exagon Motors is a French automotive manufacturer specializing in the design and development of high-performance electric vehicles and racing cars. The company is also a racing team with a history of competing in championships such as the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) and the Trophée Andros. It is best known for creating the Exagon Furtive-eGT, an electric grand tourer unveiled in 2010.
History
Exagon Motors was founded in 2011 by Luc Marchetti and is based on the technopole of the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in central France. The company operates as a division of Exagon Engineering, a motorsport engineering firm established in 2004.
Before developing its own road car, Exagon Engineering built a reputation in motorsports. In 2005, the team prepared a Kia Rio that helped driver Yvan Muller win the Trophée Andros, a prestigious French ice racing championship. From 2007 onward, the team became a regular competitor in the WTCC. Since 2009, Exagon has been responsible for supplying and developing the electric vehicles for the Trophée Andros Électrique, an electric variant of the championship.
Furtive-eGT
Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Exagon Motors |
| Production | 2010 (Concept), 2013 (Pre-production) |
| Assembly | Magny-Cours, France |
| Class | Sports car / Grand tourer (S-segment) |
| Body style | 2-door coupé |
| Layout | Rear-motor, rear-wheel drive |
The company’s flagship project, the Furtive-eGT, was first presented as a prototype at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. A pre-production version was later shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2013. The car was designed as a 2+2 seater, combining a lightweight carbon fiber chassis with an electric powertrain developed in collaboration with major European partners.
Technical Specifications
Powertrain and Performance
- Electric Motors: Two liquid-cooled Siemens permanent magnet motors, each producing 148 kW (198 hp), for a combined output of 402 hp (300 kW).
- Transmission: 3-speed semi-automatic transmission.
- Battery: 53 kWh lithium-ion battery pack supplied by Saft, integrated into the floor as part of the structural chassis.
- Performance:
- 0–100 km/h (62 mph): 3.5 seconds.
- Top Speed: Electronically limited to 250 km/h (155 mph), with a theoretical maximum of 287 km/h (178 mph).
- Range: Claimed 360 km (224 mi) in urban driving (EU standard).
Chassis and Design
- Structure: A carbon fiber and aluminum honeycomb monocoque chassis, inspired by Formula One technology, weighing only 124 kg (273 lb).
- Suspension: Double wishbone suspension on cast aluminum subframes at both the front and rear.
- Dimensions: The car has a length of 4,465 mm (175.8 in) and a curb weight of approximately 1,640 kg (3,616 lb).
Production Status and Legacy
Although the Furtive-eGT garnered significant attention for its technology and design, it never entered full-scale series production. The project was seen as having arrived slightly ahead of its time for the electric vehicle market. The company quoted a price of approximately $450,000 USD for the vehicle.
Despite the lack of series production for its own model, Exagon’s engineering expertise lived on. The company’s parent, Exagon Engineering, continued to work on high-profile projects. Notably, they were involved in the development of the DS E-Tense concept (2016) and the hybrid hypercar Delage D12 (announced in 2019), the latter of which leverages the technological foundations laid by the Furtive-eGT project.