The automotive industry has seen huge changes in the past few years, as manufacturers prepare to make the switch from fossil fuels to electric power. It has been an opportunity for some of the industry's smaller players to rise through the ranks and become major market forces, and it's also led to the birth of new titans like Tesla.
Sports cars are always the segment of choice for enthusiasts to be concerned about, but the slew of high-profile sports models debuting over the past few years has ensured even the biggest skeptics that electric power won't kill them off, far from it.
In fact, sports cars are becoming faster and sleeker than ever thanks to EV technology, and it seems likely that they're only going to become more powerful over time. A lot of attention has been given to the most high-profile sports car launches, but with so much change happening, some lesser-known hidden gems of the EV sports car world have slipped by unnoticed. Here, we take a look at ten electric sports cars that most people won't have even heard of, but all deserve a lot more credit than they get.
10 Qiantu K50
The Qiantu K50 debuted in 2019 in China, with 402 hp and a starting price of just under $100,000. It has been a sales success, with over 1,000 units sold in its first year alone. Currently, Qiantu only sells cars in China, but the K50 might be on its way to the States within the next few years.
This is thanks to a partnership with California-based Mullen Technologies, which plan to build and sell the car in the US. The K50 was designed to meet European crash safety standards, but America has a few peculiar requirements that require extra work, according to MotorTrend. US homologation of the car started in 2019 but has been delayed by the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.
9 Kyburz E-Rod
This pint-sized sports car from Swiss carmaker Kyburz is like an Ariel Atom, except even lighter, as it weighs just 530 kg (1,186 lb) in its lightest form. It debuted in 2016 and, in top-spec trim, comes with 201 hp and 137 miles of range.
It's far too impractical to be anything other than a weekend toy, but for anyone who thinks a Caterham Seven is a bit too porky, it might be just the ticket. Prices start from just €30,000 ($31,630) but rise all the way to €97,500 ($102,800) for the top-spec version.
8 Apex AP-0
The Apex AP-0 is an upcoming supercar set to enter production later this year, from the same British designer who released the excellent Elemental RP-1 a few years ago. The car was unveiled in 2020 with 650 hp and a 0-62 mph time of just 2.3 seconds.
It's set to come with a starting price of around £150,000 ($187,210), its price reflecting the fact that it's not a cutting-edge hypercar like the Rimac Nevera or Pininfarina Battista, despite its sci-fi looks. Instead, the AP-0 is designed to be a track-ready EV that's made in the same spirit as the RP-1.
7 Cupra Leon E-Racer
Cupra was formerly the performance arm of Spanish VW Group brand Seat, but it was spun off into a separate brand in 2018. One of Cupra's first motorsport entries is the Leon E-Racer, a car that's loosely based on the Seat Leon hatchback, but built to touring car specifications.
It makes 680 hp and made its race debut in the FIA eTouring Car World Cup in 2021, where it won the inaugural manufacturer's title. It's also racing in the 2022 series, where it won the first race of the season at the Circuit de Pau-Ville in France in May 2022.
6 Tommykaira ZZ EV
The original Tommykaira ZZ sports car became a cult classic in the '90s, but in 2014 it was relaunched as a track-ready electric sports car. The car sports impressive performance figures for its era, with 305 hp and a 0-60 mph time of just 3.2 seconds.
Even by track-toy standards, it isn't very practical, as its limited 75-mile range means that it's really only good for circuits with fast charging points. But, it's still reportedly a blast to drive and makes for a fun alternative to the usual Lotus or Caterham track day options.
5 LCC Lightning GT
The LCC Lightning GT was unveiled in 2009 and is reportedly still being developed today, with development cars spotted as recently as 2019. At least one road-legal prototype already exists and has existed since 2011, but so far there have been no customer deliveries.
The car is made by a small British company and is made from carbon fiber to keep weight to a minimum. The electric motors reportedly make 495 hp and the top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph. Let's hope that after all these years of development, the Lightning GT can finally make it to production soon.
4 Lexus Electrified Sport Concept
Unveiled as part of a slew of Lexus concept cars in early 2022, the Electrified Sport Concept didn't garner much attention, despite being arguably the most exciting car of the reveal. Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda confirmed that the concept previews an upcoming Lexus hypercar that will be the spiritual successor to the LFA.
It's not set to arrive until the end of the decade at the earliest, but it should boast a sub-2-second 0-60 mph time and a 400+ mile range when it does finally arrive. Fingers crossed that Lexus keeps the gorgeous styling of the concept the same for the production version.
3 Baltasar Revolt
Directly contradicting the many EV startups that aim for luxurious, high-end vehicles, Spanish EV maker Baltasar have opted to keep things relatively straightforward with their first car, the Revolt. It's a lightweight, RWD roadster that's built for the track, and makes 500 hp from two electric motors.
Baltasar claims that the Revolt should be able to gain 100 km (62 miles) of range in just five minutes of charging, making recharging at the track a much quicker and simpler affair. The car debuted in 2021 and is now available for a starting price of €230,000 ($242,500) plus taxes.
2 Piëch GT
The founder of sports car startup Piëch Automotive boasts better industry connections than most, as he's the son of former VW Group chairman Ferdinand Piëch and the great-grandson of Porsche founder Ferdinand Porsche. His first car, the GT, is set to debut in 2024, powered by 3 electric motors that will generate roughly 600 hp.
A fully-functional prototype is reportedly undergoing testing, and the car will likely be available for customers to pre-order soon. It's easy to be cynical about the production hopes of many sports car startups, but it seems that Piëch has a better chance than most of getting its cars to customers soon.
1 Hongqi S9
Made by one of China's state-backed automakers, the Hongqi S9 debuted in 2019 with a unique design and bold performance claims. It supposedly made 1,400 hp with its all-electric drivetrain, and it was claimed it would reach production in 2021.
Hongqi kept to that claim, with production reportedly commencing in 2021 at a facility owned by Silk EV, an Italian partner of Hongqi which has a factory just down the road from Ferrari's headquarters in Maranello. The project has been overseen by several ex-Ferrari and Lamborghini executives, and only 99 units are set to be produced, each with a price tag of approximately $1.75 million.