Mon Dieu! Quebec Company Creates the Azkarra; 0-60 in 2.5 Seconds

The Canadian province of Quebec has a history of churning out offbeat, low-production speed machines. Blame the six months of winter or the intoxicating effects of pure maple syrup; whatever the reason, enterprising gearheads living in New England’s tuque have a habit of building their own cars.

From the Dubuc Tomahawk, an all-electric 2+2 promising 0-60 miles per hour in three seconds, to the sheep’s-head ugly (but fast) HTT Pléthore, there’s no shortage of cars being designed and built in La Belle Province. Now, another Quebec-based company, Girfalco, intends to increase that number with its new three-wheeled EV — the Azkarra.

We are living in a time where three-wheeled cars are no longer a joke banished to the dustbin of old Mr. Bean episodes. With a significant heaping of Hammond Help, the Morgan 3-Wheeler possesses James Dean levels of cool in some circles, while the Polaris Slingshot and Can-Am Spyder are common enough that they no longer cause mini-riots at every fuel stop.

The Azkarra stands on a trio of rubber donuts and is offered in two versions. The base Azkarra is a rear-wheel drive affair with 100 peak horsepower on tap. The S model cranks up the joie de vivre by tripling the fun to 301 peak horsepower. All-wheel drive means three-wheel drive for the S, equipped as it is with three electric motors.

Both are advertised with a minimum range of 200 km, or just over 120 miles in Freedom Distance. The company estimates the base Azkarra will sprint to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, while the S will turn the trick in only 2.5 seconds. That’s Bugatti Veyron performance territory. A curb weight of 1058 pounds for the base model and 1,124 lbs for the S certainly help these acceleration numbers.

The estimated price is decidedly un-Veyron, though, with the Azkarra retailing for $67,500 and the Azkarra S for $97,500 in the land of hockey sticks. At today’s exchange rate, that’s $51,643 and $74,795 American. This is beyond “Kids, check the couch for change!” money, but it does represent a decent price point for something which will scamper to 60 mph like a stabbed rat. Girfalco does plan to certify their cars for registration in the U.S.

Unsurprisingly, it is said that the Azkarra and Azkarra S will enjoy extremely low production numbers, meaning you’re unlikely to see one yourself on the way to the Montreal F1 race. A total of 100 cars are planned over the next four years. Production is set to begin this year, with the first deliveries scheduled for the jaunty months of spring.

[Images: Girfalco]