Renovo’s electric Coupe takes a classic Shelby design, and adds 1,000 lb-ft of torque

By Stephen Edelstein Published August 18, 2014

Even if their carbon-spewing powertrains don’t agree with your sensibilities, there is still plenty about old cars to enjoy. The styling, for example.

Silicon Valley-based Renovo Motors may have created the perfect compromise between classic styling and modern technology.

Debuting at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the Renovo Coupe is basically a Shelby Daytona Coupe replica with an electric powertrain, something sure to please gearheads and hippies alike.

Over 50 years after it first hit the track, the Daytona Coupe still looks amazing, and that’s really all that needs to be said about this timeless design.

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Underneath the 1960s-style skin are a pair of Sequential Axial Flux Electric Motors, which get power from a Renovo-designed 740-volt lithium-ion battery pack. Over 500 horsepower and a staggering 1,000 pound-feet of torque are sent to the rear wheels through a single-speed transmission.

Since this is an electric car, all of that torque is available instantaneously. That’s bad for tires, but good if you need to tow a B-52.

It’s also enough to jolt the 3,250-pound Renovo Coupe from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds, and on to a top speed of 120 mph.

Renovo says a full charger from a 240-volt Level 2 source will take about five hours, but there’s also a DC fast-charging option that takes just 30 minutes. Based on how other fast-charging setups work, that’s probably for an 80-percent charge, as a rapid full charge can damage the battery pack.

Deliveries are supposed to begin in 2015, but Renovo didn’t release any pricing information. “A lot” is probably a good guess, but the Renovo Coupe will probably still cost less than an original Shelby Daytona Coupe.

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Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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