A new British
start-up called Lunaz has chosen Silverstone as their base and put together a
skillful engineering team with previous ties to Aston Martin, Ferrari, Jaguar,
McLaren, Volkswagen and Formula 1. Led by former Renault F1 Technical Director
Jon Hilton-Lunaz, it plans to bring some exciting British classics back to
life, albeit ditching the old oily bits and replacing them with electric
powertrains and a host of new technologies.
Everything starts
with a thorough inspection and a full restoration process. The vehicle then
gets an in-house developed electric powertrain and updated brakes, suspension
and steering, as well as a throttle-by-wire system. Some of the original
components, like the fuel filler cap and dials, have been converted for the
electric powertrain.
All cars feature
traction control, cruise control and support DC fast charging. They also get
air conditioning, electronic heating and a modern infotainment system with
satellite navigation and Wi-Fi.
Subsequently, Luna
proceeds to test each vehicle, and right now has a 1953 Jaguar XK120 undergoing
this process. The classic Jag packs twin electric motors, powered by a 80 kWh
battery, that produce 375 bhp and 700 Nm of torque. A 1961
Rolls-Royce Phantom V eight-seater, with a 120 kWh battery, and a 1956
Rolls-Royce Cloud are also being prepped for market launch.
Getting one of
Lunaz’s electric classic cars will require spending a minimum of £ 350,000
(US$ 430,562/€ 391,126) in the UK, taxes excluded, and you will be able to secure a
build slot starting next month straight from the company.
