New Aehra Sedan EV unveiled: 800bhp saloon eyes Porsche Taycan

The advent of electric cars has provided somewhat of a reset in vehicle design and technology, prompting new manufacturers to emerge and produce their own EVs to challenge the establishment. One such company is Milan-based Aehra, which launched in 2022 as a maker of premium, design-led electric cars promising sensational performance. Alongside an SUV, the firm is developing Porsche Taycan rival called the Sedan, which has now been unveiled in concept form ahead of its 2026 launch. 

Aehra has assembled a team of highly regarded personnel to create its new EVs, including former Ferrari and Lotus engineer Franco Cimatti and ex-Lamborghini design boss Filippo Perini, the latter of whom has devised a flowing, cab-forward design language for the brand. This concept will bear close resemblance to the 2026 production car according to Aehra, with its extended cabin, stubby overhangs and low-drag sillouette. 

Much like the electric EQ saloons from Mercedes, Aehra hasn't emulated traditional saloon proportions with the Sedan, instead opting to maximise the aerodynamic and packaging benefits of its bespoke EV architecture. As such, the bonnet, windscreen and roof have been drawn as a single smooth arc, with an enormous glasshouse that begins ahead of the front axle. The cabin is yet to be revealed in full, but it'll be accessed via four butterfly-hinged doors and should offer enormous practicality (the Aehra SUV has the same wheelbase and can seat four NBA basketball players in comfort, according to the brand).

Aehra has partnered with Austrian firm Miba to develop bespoke battery technology for its EVs, which are tipped to use a 925V electronic architecture for a peak charging rate of 350kW. Despite using an enormous 120kWh battery, Aehra is targeting a kerb weight of less than two tonnes for the SUV thanks to carbonfibre chassis components, which bodes well for the lower, sportier Sedan, which will share the same platform. 

Like the Lucid Air Sapphire, Aehra will offer a triple electric motor setup with one at the front and two powering a rear wheel each, enabling precise torque distribution across the rear axle. The SUV generates around 800bhp, and with this layout likely to be carried over for the Sedan, phenomenal performance is expected – particularly given that it could weigh significantly less than its rivals, not least the 2295kg Porsche Taycan Turbo S. For the SUV, Aehra is targeting an industry-leading 497 miles of range, which could increase further with the saloon's slipperier body. 

The two models are also likely to share cabin tech with one another, with the SUV having already debuted Aehra's bold infotainment solution. This combines a traditional dash-mounted touchscreen with a huge full-width display at the base of the windscreen; while driving, the larger unit provides speed, navigation and media information, with camera feeds from the car's digital door mirrors at its outer edges. However, when parked, the screen rises up from the dash to create a vast ultrawide display for media consumption and conference calls. Expect swathes of ambient lighting, carbonfibre trim and sustainable fabrics to feature when the Sedan arrives, costing somewhere near the SUVs projected $160,000 (£130,000 approx.) starting price.