650 horsepower Apex AP-0 Concept debuts with racing DNA

What is this, lurking in the dark you wonder? Scroll down and you'll find out!

It's the new AP-0 Concept - a lightweight electric sportscar with 650 horsepower - built by Apex!

Designed to preview a production model that could be launched in late 2022, the AP-0 is race-inspired and road legal.

It features a striking design that looks like it's going 100kph even when it is standing still. The sporty styling continues at the rear as the concept has an enormous diffuser.

But its most unique styling feature are the massive taillights. They are bound to draw attention what with the vertical section running right down the middle. It gives the concept a unique look.

It also has butterfly doors, 19- and 20in carbon fibre wheels, not to mention a large front splitter and three-piece LED headlights. It also gets digital side mirrors and a teardrop-shaped glass roof with an aerodynamic rear fin that draws inspiration from Formula 1.

The AP-0 also has an advanced LiDAR sensor which generates detailed maps of the vehicle’s surroundings. The company said this allows the car to more accurately identify potential hazards such as pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles. It allows the car to offer a Level 3 semi-autonomous driving system, and Apex hinted it could eventually be upgraded to a Level 4 system.

It’s literally carbon-fibre to the core. It uses a carbon-fibre tub and chassis, with a modular spaceframe and a centre spine for increased rigidity.

When it comes to performance, Apex offers some impressive stats for the AP-0 concept. It’s rear-wheel-drive only and features a 90-kilowatt battery pack mounted in the floor to generate up to 650 horsepower.

The entire car weighs 1,200kg and as such, Apex claims it has 560Nm of torque and can reach 100kph in just 2.3 seconds. It also has a driving range of 515km.

Apex says the AP-0 produces exceptional downforce for impressive handling without the need for big spoilers, thanks in part to the big vertical fin which also forms part of the distinctive cross-shaped taillight. In fact, Apex found this look so distinctive that it became the company’s logo.

Inside, it gets a square steering wheel and three-screen display for the driver. It contains a host of advanced technology and driver assist systems that can achieve Level 3 autonomy, and Apex says the infrastructure is there for Level 4 autonomy when it’s available...