Forget gull or falcon wings, these are elytra doors – they’re what set the new Aehra SUV apart. With all four doors up high, it looks like a flying fantasy concept car, but the luxury EV will be available to order soon.
Based in Milan and home to several notable ex-employees from Ferrari and Lamborghini, Aehra is a new “ultra-premium” electric car brand.
It has an “eco-sustainability manifesto”, coupled with a focus on futuristic design. The SUV’s entire body is made from recycled carbon fiber composites (only the crash structure is aluminum), while its low gerotor is said to provide class-leading aerodynamics.
creative thinking
To say that the Aehra (pronounced “eye-air-ra”) looks more elegant than any of its rivals might sound like curses and faint compliments, but its low nose, broad roofline and The very short overhangs and chunky, slatted sides are a far cry from SUV standards.
Standout details include active front and rear spoilers, unique LED light strips and an elegant rearview camera – the latter inspired by the winglets found on Moto GP race cars.
Chief designer Filippo Perini, whose CV includes the Lamborghini Aventador and Huracan, said: “For the first time in my career, we start from a blank slate. Our design language is driven by air. Everything in the car It has to be functional, otherwise it’s just decoration.”
Aehra is targeting a drag coefficient (Cd) of just 0.21. For context, the Mercedes-Benz EQS is currently the most aerodynamic production car in the world with a Cd of 0.20.
interior space
As for those doors, they mimic the forewing shells of flying beetles called elytra. They open electrically, cutting into the roof to aid access.
Step inside and Aehra claims “four NBA-sized players” can travel in comfort, thanks to the three-meter-long wheelbase (similar to the stretched “Li” version of the BMW 7 Series) and the packing freedom afforded by electric vehicles. The rear seats recline like those on a private jet.
We haven’t been granted a glimpse inside yet, but expect big screens and plenty of patented tech. CEO Hazim Nada — a former oil trader turned EV evangelist — says the company is working on “a new kind of HMI [human machine interface] system”.
“Racing Experience”
Details on the Aehra’s drivetrain are also limited so far. Nada says it will feature “two or three electric motors” with an output between 750hp and 815hp. “The barrier to entry to very high power has been lowered,” he said, “but we don’t think 1,000hp+ makes sense.”
and battery size The SUV has about 120 kilowatt-hours of power and a target range of 500 miles — longer than any electric car currently on sale. It is also said to be “20% lighter than comparable cars”, at just under 2,000kg.
The SUV will offer a “sports car experience” with four-wheel drive and adaptive air suspension, Perini said. “It’s a car you can drive from point A to point A, just for fun.” Its soundtrack, we’re told, will emphasize the noise of electric motors and components rather than create artificial sounds.
Countdown to 2025
Interestingly, the SUV doesn’t have a model name – it’s just “Aehra.”when all electric The Aehra sedan has appeared, due to be released next February.
The two cars, which share 70 percent of their components, are expected to be delivered for the first time in 2025. Nada has set an ambitious target of 15,000-25,000 vehicles per year for each model.
The SUV will cost more than £140,000 and will stand in stark contrast to the Lotus Eletre, Tesla Model X, Lamborghini Urus and Aston Martin DBX. If it lives up to the promise of its looks, the agency will have reason to be concerned.