The Aspark Owl SP600, a Japanese battery-powered hypercar, has set a new world record for the fastest speed ever recorded by a road-legal electric vehicle.
On June 8, at the Automotive Testing Papenburg (ATP) track in Germany, the car reached a top speed of 438.73 km/h. This surpassed the previous record of 415 km/h held by the Rimac Nevera since November 2022.
The ATP track, known for its 12.2 km oval circuit with two 4-kilometer straights and a pair of 2.1-kilometer banked curves, provides a controlled environment that allows vehicles to reach high speeds safely. Marc Basseng, a professional driver and Nurburgring 24-hour race winner, achieved the record on his second attempt.
The Aspark Owl SP600 is powered by a bespoke lithium-ion battery system that drives four electric motors, one at each wheel, delivering around 1,491.4 kilowatts of power and 2,000 Newton meters of torque. Despite its high performance, the car promises a range of up to 400 kilometers on a single charge.
Masanori Yoshida, CEO of Osaka-based Aspark, highlighted the decade-long journey of developing the Owl Hypercar, expressing pride in achieving this milestone. The car, produced in limited numbers initially planned for just 50 units, features a striking carbon fiber body and a simplified interior design without assisted-driving systems.
The car also has blistering pace from a standing start. It can achieve 0 – 100 km/h in less than 2 seconds, making it one of the fastest cars available.
Sales for the Aspark Owl have begun in Japan, Europe, and the United States, with each unit priced around £2.5 million. The hypercar was first showcased at the 2019 Dubai Motor Show and has been designed to offer exhilarating performance and unique aesthetic appeal.
