Wiesmann Makes Triumphant Comeback With New EV

If you’ve never heard of Wiesmann, don’t be ashamed. It used to be a small German manufacturer that sold lightweight roadsters and coupes powered by BMW engines.

We once rode shotgun in an MF3 roadster, powered by the E46 BMW M3 engine, and it was a glorious experience. To us, it was the best interpretation of a roadster since Mazda introduced the NA Miata. In later years, Wiesmann even used BMW’s twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 to power its cars, weighing next to nothing. What a glorious combination.

Alas, Wiesmann died in 2014, followed by a few empty promises to bring the brand back. Wiesmann finally released teaser images of an all-new model earlier this year, and now we have production-ready pictures of the Thunderball.

With a name like Thunderball, we were expecting at least a B58 inline-six with a straight pipe. Or perhaps the same version of the V8 found in the current M5? Imagine riding a wave of torque and noise into the horizon, deeply offending every Karen within a five-mile radius.

Unfortunately, it was not to be. Wiesmann has gone modern, and the Thunderball is powered by electricity. Electricity is widely known for not making exciting noises at all. (Yes, we get the thunder reference, but allow us to sulk and be overly dramatic for once.)

At least Wiesmann managed to stick to its original ethos of a lightweight car powered by more grunt than it needs.

Wiesmann claims its EV weighs just 3,750 pounds. The original RF3 weighed just 2,600 lbs, but we’ll gloss over that.

It has a bespoke spaceframe chassis with two electric motors underneath that gloriously retro body. Together they produce 670 hp from an 83-kWh battery pack.

Unlike most EVs, the Wiesmann does not have all-wheel drive. Both motors are mounted at the rear, and power is only sent to the rear wheels. A limited-slip differential is standard. This will likely be the most sideways car ever produced.

Wiesmann says it will get to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds and 124 mph in 8.9 seconds. The range is claimed to be 300 miles, and thanks to an 800-volt electrical system, it can be charged as quickly as a Porsche Taycan. The interior is equally beautiful, though we have no idea why it has so many gauges…

Wiesmann is currently taking orders, though a US introduction has not been confirmed. If it does come our way, expect to pay roughly $315,000.