The Aspark SP600 has become the world’s fastest electric hypercar, reaching a top speed of 438.7km/h. This achievement was the culmination of a dedicated project between the Japanese auto maker and Manifattura Automobili Torino (MAT), with technical support from Bridgestone.
Professional driver Marc Basseng drove the SP600 to its record-setting speed at the Automotive Testing Papenburg track.
This record follows Aspark’s previous success with the Aspark Owl, the fastest accelerating electric hypercar. For the SP600, Aspark again partnered with MAT to develop and manufacture a vehicle capable of breaking the speed record for electric hypercars.
Masanori Yoshida, Aspark CEO, said, “It has been about 10 years since we started making the Owl Hypercar. We aimed for the world’s fastest-acceleration car, and then attempted and achieved the top speed world record today. This technical capability inspires all involved to personal excellence and to challenge and grow in leaps and bounds into the future.”
To achieve this, MAT collaborated with Bridgestone to develop custom-engineered Potenza Race tires. These tires were designed to withstand speeds over 420km/h while accommodating the specific weight and driving dynamics of the SP600.
The SP600 was put through virtual and physical testing, including wind tunnel validations and multiple track testing sessions, at MAT’s headquarters in Torino, Italy. MAT managed the complete development of the vehicle, covering powertrain and software integration, suspension and chassis design, software calibration and the bespoke battery design.
On June 8, during the second run of the day, the SP600 achieved its record-breaking speed of 438.7km/h, verified by the certified Racelogic V-Box measurement device provided by the ATP proving ground in Papenburg. Previous attempts saw the car consistently surpass the 420km/h mark, with speeds reaching 420.8km/h and 430km/h.
Top executives of the three companies were present: Aspark CEO Yoshida, MAT CEO Paolo Garella and Bridgestone VP – consumer business unit Steven De Bock.
De Bock said, “It was a big excitement on this first attempt for the record, which we immediately saw the potential of the cooperation between the car and tires.
“The whole team at Bridgestone worked extremely hard to deliver this project in such a short period, another testimonial of our technical capabilities and how we cooperate with our partners.”
Garella said, “This record represents a Milestone in the continued growth of MAT, a company that today represents the best of the Italian tradition in the automotive industry. In 10 years, we have developed more than 11 full vehicle projects and we have demonstrated that with the right resources we are second to none.”
