Super-Fast Japanese EV’s $3.6 Million Price Is a Hoot

Japan's Aspark Co. Ltd. is pricing its all-electric Owl hypercar at a hefty $3.6 million, well above rival models.

A prototype of the 1,150-hp Owl fitted with racing tires recorded a zero-to-100 kph time of just under 1.9 seconds earlier this year. The company claims the production model running on street legal treads also will break the two-second barrier, which would make it the fastest car in the world.

But several other upcoming electric supercars also are expected to approach or best the two-second time, including the Rimac C_Two, Pininfarina PFO and the next-generation Tesla Roadster. These vehicles have higher top speeds and longer driving ranges than the Owl, which maxes out at a relatively pedestrian 174 mph and 186 miles, respectively.

The Pininfarina and Rimac models are expected to undercut the Owl by $1 million or more. And Tesla’s Roadster will be a steal by comparison at an estimated sticker of $250,000.

Aspark showed an updated version of the Owl (pictured), which it aims to launch in mid-2020, at this week’s Paris auto show. The company hopes to sell 50 of the vehicles. Those interested in pre-ordering the two-seater are being asked to submit a $1.2 million non-refundable deposit.