Citroen Survolt set for Le Mans track debut

Citroen's stunning Survolt concept is set to turn its wheels in anger tomorrow (July 10) at the Le Mans Classic.

The all-electric sportster will be piloted by female racer Vanina Ickx (daughter of ex-F1/Le Mans veteran Jacky Ickx) at the biennial French celebration of the motor car.

The twin-chevron brand has for now posted a teaser video of the Survolt in action, and you can't miss the jet-plane whine as the futuristic coupe blows past.

The compact (3.85m long, 1.87m wide, 1.2m high) Survolt features a state-of-the-art tubular chassis, a flat underside with an extractor and full carbon bodywork -- and Citroen claims these ingredients " combine to make it a genuine electric racing car".

Propulsion comes from a pair of electric motors that belt out 220kW from 0 to 5000rpm, and the Survolt's waiflike 1150kg kerb weight means acceleration is decidedly sprightly.

Citroen is claiming a sub-five second 0-100km/h sprint and top whack of 260km/h for the Survolt, putting it in the same league as BMW's V8-powered M3.

Power for the electric motors is provided by twin 140kg lithium-ion batteries that each boast a 31kW capacity, enabling the car to cover 200km. The cells can be recharged in just two hours with a specific power supply, or in 10 hours on the standard 220-volt network.

Citroen boasts that Survolt is "extremely rare in the world of racing, its full electric drivetrain allows the model to combine dynamic, sporting performance with environmental consideration."

The Survolt is set to strut its stuff at 1:30pm (European time) on Saturday at the iconic Le Mans circuit, which will host a large gathering of classic cars and enthusiasts at the Goodwood-style event.

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