For those of you unfamiliar with Lunaz, they are a British automotive engineering company based at Silverstone that have designed and developed an electric powertrain to give classic cars a new lease of life, such as a 1961 eight-seat Rolls-Royce Phantom V, Rolls Royce Cloud and 1953 Jaguar XK120.
As we know, the automotive landscape is evolving fast, and as Founder, David Lorenz says, “Legislation to reduce carbon emissions through bans on petrol, diesel and hybrid engines is an urgent reality. Lunaz is electrifying the most beautiful classic cars in the world so that they can be driven and enjoyed by future generations.”
As a result, Lunaz is currently experiencing a growing demand for its electrified classic cars, as buyers around the world look to rebalance their collections for a zero-emissions future that may be not that far away now.
Lunaz source a limited number of classic vehicles, some that are no longer in working order and set about restoring and creating beautiful, clean and useable electric classic cars. The cars are fully restored to ensure that all the remaining mechanical components are in excellent working order and of the highest modern safety specifications. The cars’ exteriors and interiors are finished to a superior level of quality so as to preserve the cars’ beauty and provide the owner with high levels of performance and a stress-free relaxed driving experience.
Being based at Silverstone, Lunaz has been able to recruit a talented team of designers, engineers, craftspeople and electric technology specialists who have come from the likes of Aston Martin, Cosworth, Ferrari, Jaguar, Rolls-Royce, McLaren and VW. Together they now hand-build some of the finest electric classic cars in the world.
All Lunaz cars are hand-built at the company’s Silverstone Headquarters under the Technical supervision of Managing Director Jon Hilton, former Technical Director for Renault Formula 1.
In addition to the integration of the firm’s proprietary electric powertrain, each car is reengineered and restored to the highest standard, beginning with a thorough inspection. The car is then 3D scanned so the engineers can create detailed CAD models to ensure technical perfection.
All the traditional coachbuilding and restoration processes are carried out in-house, where the team strips down the car to a bare metal shell, and where imperceptible body defects are addressed by hand before any paint is applied.
The original internal combustion engine and associated systems are removed, and the car’s chassis is prepared for electrification.
The car’s interior gets the same treatment with subtle adaptations to integrate modern conveniences such as satellite telecommunications, Wi-Fi, audio visual entertainment and navigation aids. Many of the things you will find on a modern car of today.
All the new accessories associated with electric powertrains, which include battery chargers and DC converters are discreetly integrated into the existing design of the car. For example, the fuel filler cap is used for charging and dashboard dials are adapted to give the appropriate read-out for the electrical powertrain. New air conditioning and electronic heating systems are installed, and the accelerator is converted to a throttle-by-wire system. The car’s steering, braking and suspension are also upgraded.
Recent customer orders and commissions have included a Jaguar XK120 and Jaguar XK140s in both coupé and roadster body styles, with all cars being hand-built in strictly limited production runs in an effort to preserve the rarity and value of the most celebrated classic cars in motoring history.
Following a customer commission for an electrified version of an extremely rare Bentley Continental S2 Flying Spur with coachwork by H.J Mulliner, Lunaz is now confirming the allocation for a limited production run of all derivatives across the 1955-1965 Bentley Continental family. These will be available in both Coupé and Drophead Coupé body styles.
The Bentleys will join two of the most admired Rolls-Royces, the 1956 Cloud and 1961 Phantom V. Final testing and proving for these cars have been carried out and the first deliveries are expected to take place in the final quarter of 2020.
David Lunaz says that “Lunaz is delivering on surging demand for luxury electric cars. An entirely new breed of customer requires a clean-air powertrain, who until now have been limited to functional and utilitarian designs. Lunaz responds by taking the most beautiful cars in history and making them a relevant proposition for an emerging and influential group of buyers. We are delighted to breathe new life and usability into these timeless designs.”
He goes on to say: “The world is changing. Global legislation and shifting attitudes towards sustainability is driving demand for clean-air alternatives. Our electric classic cars represent the ultimate in up-cycling and sustainable mobility. We are delighted to provide an option for a new generation of classic car lovers, in doing so preserving some of the most celebrated objects in automotive history.”
So, what sort of performance can you expect from a Lunaz electric powered car? Well, the electric Jaguar XK120 is fitted with the firm’s proprietary electric powertrain. The battery size is 80kWH, the equivalent to 700NM of torque (516lb ft) from zero engine speed and 375bhp. The twin motors will propel the car from 0-60 mph in a lightning quick 5 seconds, which is fast even by today’s standards, and you can expect a range of 250+ miles on a full charge.
For more information on these impressive electric powered classic cars, with prices starting from £350,000, please visit: https://lunaz.design
Author Bio:
Simon Burrell is Editor of Our Man Behind The Wheel, a member of The Guild of Motoring Writers, professional photographer and former saloon car racing driver.
Photographs courtesy of Lunaz Design
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