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2023 Farnova Othello Aims To Be The Quickest EV Hypercar

From Fornova Automotive comes another EV Hypercar, but this one promises a 1.9-second 0 to 60 mph time

New EV hypercars have become kind of a flatulent occurrence lately, as more and more startup companies are coming up with concepts that promise power and torque outputs, dwarfing those of a Bugatti Chiron or a Koenigsegg Regera. We have seen some impressive numbers from the Rimac Nevera , but now there may be a car that could challenge it if the numbers turn out to be true, and it’s being made by a Chinese Yacht company.

The Chinese company Farnova Automotive is a newly-formed sub-division of Farnova Yachts, founded by Go Gelin, in 2019 and has partnered with Qiantu Motors, which unveiled its first model – the K50 – in 2018. The same K50’s chassis is used as the basis for the Fornova Othello. However, that’s all the two cars will share.

Performance specs

That’s the maximum wheel torque, taking into account the gear ratios of the gearboxes – apparently, it will have two of them. Meanwhile, a 75 kWh battery provided by Swedish manufacturer, Northvolt, will provide a 373-mile (600 km) range (WLTP) on a single charge.

The Farnova Othello is said to be capable of a 1.9-second sprint to 62 mph (100 km/h), 8.5 seconds to 186 mph (300 km/h), and will have a top speed of 261 mph (420 km/h). If this turns out to be true, it will be able to surpass the Rimac Nevera both in terms of performance and range.

2023 Farnova Othello specifications

Being an EV, the Farnova Othello can afford to have more unconventional proportions. Nevertheless, its design language features the classic proportions of a mid-engine sports car. The car features a bold and edgy exterior design while featuring flying buttresses, butterfly doors, an active rear wing, and a massive rear diffuser.

Availability and price

The Farnova Othello is scheduled to debut sometime in 2023. Only 200 examples of the hyper EV will be built and each will start at around $292,000 ($250,000).

• Richard Leon Percival
• October 24, 2021

Farnova Othello: The Soon-to-Be Fastest Electric Hypercar

Farnova Othello is an electric Hypercar made in China with tremendous claims over its capability. The car is made by Farnova Automotive, a subsidiary of Farnova Yachts which, as the name implies, is experienced in producing and marketing super luxury yachts.

Farnova Automotive was founded 2 years ago in Shenzhen, China. The startup is partnering with Qiantu Motors which had risen to the fore thanks to the K50 electric supercar . And it’s no wonder that Othello will be packing the same chassis of the car.

Farnova Othello is equipped with a dual-motor system that is claimed to be capable of producing 1,835 HP and 12,000 Nm of torque.

It’s actually quite strange, given that the battery capacity of the hypercar is limited to 75 kWh. The stats are somehow ominous with specifications like Othello. Farnova further claims that the EV has a range of up to 600 kilometers. The battery is said to be sourced from the Swedish battery company Northvolt.

In addition, Farnova Othello is also claimed to be able to accelerate from 0-100 km / h in just 1.9 seconds. Accelerating to 300 km / h only takes 8.5 seconds while the top speed is clocked at 420 km / h.

If all these figures are accurate, Othello will be faster than Rimac Nevera. An electric hypercar with 1,914 HP of power and 2,360 Nm of torque. The Croatian EV has the capacity to accelerate from 0 – 100 km / h in 1.97 seconds with a top speed of 412 km / h.

Price and Availability

Until now, Farnova Othello is still in the prototype stage, which is referred to as Proto-1. However, Farnova Automotive is optimistic that the candidate for the world’s fastest electric car will go into production in 2022 and be marketed thereafter.

The Farnova Othello is only going to be available as many as 200 units, each unit will be priced at $287,578.

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More powerful than the Bugatti Chiron, this ultra-sleek 1,810 hp electric hypercar is not from Italy or Germany but from China and it will cost just $290,000.

[Via: Carscoops ]

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Farnova Othello, the spectacular Chinese electric hypercar

Although at the moment it is only a project, the Chinese firm Farnova Automotive, which you probably have not heard of and if you have, it will be because you are a fan of the engine, has broken into the segment of electric hypercars.

The founder of Farnova Automotive, Guo Gelin, became a wealthy man thanks to his yacht business. This firm is a newly formed subdivision of Farnova Yachts .

Farnova Othello has two electric motors that develop 1,835 hp and 12,000 Nm of torque.

Farnova assures that this hypercar will reach 100 km/h from a standstill in just 1.8 seconds, and that it will go from 0 to 300 km/h in 8.5 seconds, with a maximum speed of 420 km/h. This speed is hard to believe, so we will have to wait for this car to go from being a project to a reality and we can check these measurements.

The wheels it will use will have 225/30 XR21 tires at the rear and 255/35 ZR20 at the front.

The exclusivity of the Farnova Othello

This hypercar will be very exclusive, having a limited production of 200 units with an approximate price of 250,000 euros. This price does not seem expensive to us for such an exclusive vehicle that we treat.

The automaker decided to name the car after Shakespeare’s famous story of Othello. The Othello will feature a chassis from the Qiantu K50 sports car. Precisely the manufacturer shares a partnership with Qiantu Motors. This electric sports car also comes from China and was exhibited in 2018.

The aerodynamics are really impressive, with its huge rear spoiler, which would also work as an air brake. Also on the roof would have another speed brake.

Its battery pack will have a capacity of 75 kWh and will come from the Swedish company Northvolt.

According to plans by the Chinese manufacturer, in 2023 this hyper sports car would go on the market as well as a line of SUVs, crossovers and electric sedans.

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Farnova Othello Is A New Chinese Electric Super Car

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This is the Farnova Othello, a new Chinese electric super car. The Othello sprints from zero to one hundred in only 1.8 seconds, to 300 in 8.5 seconds, and tops out at 420 kilometers per hour. Only 200 examples will be made for a cool 1.86 million yuan ($288.000) per unit.

The Farnova Othello is manufactured by Farnova Automotive, a company founded in 2019 an d based in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. The company has a “ strategic cooperation agreement” with Beijing-based Qiantu Motors, a troubled electric sports car maker that became famous with the Qiantu K50 but currently doesn’t produce any cars. Farnova and Qiantu will setup a new factory in Changde, Hunan Province.

The founder of Farnova Automotive, Guo Gelin, became a very wealthy man thanks to his yachting business. Farnova Yacht is also based in Shenzhen and makes high-end sailing ships and a cool RV .

Farnova Automotive plans to build electric cars and buses. The company released images of an upcoming Fano Lightweight 12M electric bus, designed by a former chief-designer of Lamborghini. Sadly, Farnova didn’t name this gentleman.

Farnova also showcased a smaller electric bus which will enter production in 2022. The batteries are provided by BYD.

It may be expected that the Othello is based on the Qiantu K50 but size and specifications don’t match, so it seems an all-new vehicle. The Othello is equipped with a dual-motor system with a total output of 1835 hp and 12.000 Nm. Somewhat oddly, the battery size is only 75 kWh, which seems very small for a vehicle with specs like the Othello. The company claims a range of 600 kilometers. Interestingly, Farnova says the battery is sourced from Swedish battery maker Northvolt. Size: 4670/2080/1145, with a 2670 wheelbase and a 1350 kilo curb weight.

The aero is pretty impressive with a pop-out wing at the back and a large diffuser under the vehicle.

The interior has a minimalist design, with a oval-shaped steering wheel and a see-through instrument panel. The race seats are sourced from Recaro.

Speed brake on the roof. The car on the photos is called Proto 1. Farnova wants to start production next year. The Othellos will serve as a halo-car for the brand. Starting in 2023, the company will roll out a line of electric SUVs, crossovers, and sedans.

A great looking car and a promising company. Let’s see if they can bring the Othello to production.

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The Farnova Othello is a bargain electric hypercar from China (if it’s legit)

--> --> --> <--.

It can reportedly reach 100km/h in a blistering 1.8 seconds

--> October 7, 2021

There’s a new entry to the electric-hypercar market and it’s coming from China. Called the Farnova Othello , it is based on a previous Chinese super EV, the Qiantu K50 . But this juiced-up road rocket packs a much bigger punch than its predecessor. Weighing just 1,350kg , it promises to give the likes of Rimac a run for their money in speed and price. On top of that, it also looks like a street-legal spaceship, complete with gullwing doors and a hunkered-down appearance that should make lesser cars move out of the way rather quickly.

According to available information, the Othello will feature two electric motors with a total power output of 1,810hp , and a mind- and chassis-bending torque figure of 12,000Nm . That’s apparently enough to go from zero to 100km/h in 1.8 seconds and onto a top speed of 420km/h. The size of the Swedish-made battery pack is given as a rather modest 75kWh, which means any driver wishing to achieve the claimed range of 600km better have a very light right foot.

The handful of pictures we came across show a modern-looking EV that stands 4.67m long, is 2.08m wide and just 1.15m tall. The cabin on the prototype vehicle still looks a bit spartan, and we’re guessing it will be spruced up a bit once the planned production run of 200 vehicles starts.

The cars will be built at the Quiantu Motors factory in Changde, China, and anyone wanting to own a Farnova Othello will have to transfer at least 1,860,000 Chinese yuan (P14.65 million) to its makers. That may sound like a lot of cash until you realize that many of the other cars capable of going this fast cost a lot more. Rimac will ask P116.7 million for a Nevera, while any gas-guzzling option like a Bugatti will easily set you back P170 million or more. So, in that respect, the Othello is almost a bargain (assuming it’s real).

Frank Schuengel

Frank is a German e-commerce executive who loves his wife, a Filipina, so much he decided to base himself in Manila. He has interesting thoughts on Philippine motoring.

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Farnova Othello Is A 1,835 HP Limited Production Electric Hypercar From China

The Othello is powered by two electric motors, sprints to 62 mph in just 1.8 seconds, and will be built in just 200 examples

by Thanos Pappas

Another day, another fully electric hypercar by a newly established automaker. The Othello from Chinese company Farnova was launched in prototype form, boasting a claimed 1,810 hp (1,350 kW / 1,835 PS). Farnova Automotive, founded in 2019, aims to build 200 units of the Othello starting from next year, with a price tag of 1.86 million yuan ($287,578).

The Othello is based on the chassis of the Qiantu K50 sportscar , after an agreement between Farnova Automotive and Qiantu Motors who was struggling to keep afloat. Despite sharing the same underpinnings, the two models are quite different, both in terms of styling and performance.

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See Also:  Qiantu K50 By Mullen Is A 430 HP Chinese Electric Sports Car Aiming At The US

More specifically, the Othello is fitted with two electric motors producing a combined 1,810 hp (1,350 kW / 1,835 PS) and a massive 12,000 Nm (8,851 lb-ft). This kind of power allows it to sprint to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 1.8 seconds, 300 km/h (186 mph) in 8.5 seconds, and reach a top speed of 420 km/h (261 mph). The battery, sourced from Swedish company Northvolt, has a capacity of 75 kWh offering a rather optimistic advertised range of 600 km (311 miles).

The full-scale prototype is characterized by sharp creases on the bodywork, gullwing doors, flying buttresses, and a retractable roof-mounted aerobrake. According to Car News China , the hypercar is measuring 4,670 mm (183.9 inches) long, 2,080 mm (81.9 inches) wide, and 1,145 mm (45.1 inches) tall, with a curb weight of 1,350 kg (2,976 pounds).

Starting in 2022, Othello will be produced in a new factory in Changde in a limited number of 200 units. Besides the hypercar, Farnova has big plans for its automotive business. They have shown images of an electric bus allegedly designed by an unnamed former chief designer at Lamborghini and, starting in 2023, will roll out electric SUVs, crossovers and sedans.

Here Are The Wildest Chinese Electric Sports Cars You Haven’t Heard Of

• By Tycho de Feijter
• September 19, 2022
• 30 Comments

Everybody wants electric sports cars. They are quick with all that low-RPM torque and low transient response times; plus, penguins approve. Today we take a quick look at the development of electric sports cars in China — amazing vehicles you’ve likely never even heard of. There is a lot going on, as always, especially since we’re covering concept cars, one-offs, and production cars in both electric and hybrid form. So please allow me, a Chinese car-industry expert, guide you through the amazing world of Chinese EV sports cars.

Like elsewhere, sports cars in China are mainly halo cars to draw attention to a brand. For the longest time, high-end sports cars by Chinese brands were not considered an easy sell, as most consumers who got the cash preferred a fancy import. But that is slowly changing with the advance of electric technology. Consumers consider Chinese EV tech superior to Western, so suddenly a homegrown electric sports car may have a serious chance.

Songsan Dolphin SS: The Electric Corvette Clone

I am so cool yeah yeah yeah sixties yeah yeah yeah Americana yeah yeah yeah — or so the founders of Songsan Motors sing. These fellows love America. They started as a Harley club, then they started importing these motorbikes, and then one day in 2019 they decided to leave their choppers for motorcars. Their first creation was the Songsan Motors Dolphin SS, a two-door sports car with a retractable hardtop.

Design is inspired by the 1953 C1 Chevrolet Corvette. Songsan doesn’t hide that; they got pics of the C1 all over their website, mixed with pics of celebrities like Marilin Monroe, Johnny Depp, and Brad Pitt. The Dolphin SS honors the C1. But don’t think it is some cheap-ass kit car made in a shed in Boulder Creek. The machine is contract-manufactured by none other than Buffet’s BYD, the same company that created the impressive e-Seed, which I’ll get to soon.

The Dolphin SS uses a BYD PHEV powertrain combining a 1.5 turbo with an electric motor. Combined output is a proper 320 hp and 535 Nm, much more than the original C1. Transmission is a six-speed DCT. Battery capacity is 16 kWh. Songsan claims a 0-100 in 5.9 seconds, a fuel consumption of 1.3 liter per 100 kilometers (that’s almost 200 MPG!), and an EV-only range of 100 kilometers. Price is 598.000 yuan or $93,970. BYD wants to do more contract manufacturing for other car makers in the future. Well, if they can do the Dolphin SS, what can they not?

Because of its BYD underpinnings, the “Chinese Corvette” is street legal, and quite a few have been sold in and around Beijing. Songsan is developing a full electric version of the SS Dolphin. But that ain’t all. They are also working on a four-door fixed-roof version of the Dolphin, a Buick Roadmaster heritage car, and a way too-ugly Volkswagen Bus inspired van called the SS Summer . They better stick to American cars. Confusingly, BYD now builds a car called Dolphin as well, but that’s a small electric hatchback .

ArcFox-7 & ArcFox GT: Icy Cool Supercar

The ArcFox-7 is an electric supercar with scissor doors, and was unveiled at the 2016 Beijing Auto Show, where I met it in person . ArcFox is an EV brand under BAIC. The brand makes the α-S (Alpha) sedan and the α-T SUV. Back in 2016 the ArcFox brand was new, so it needed attention. At the time, it made a cool electric city car called the ArcFox Lite , which was later moved to another brand  — a thing Chinese carmakers do all the time.

[ Editor’s Note: The name and badge sure do remind me of this . – JT]

The 7 was developed by BAIC and Spanish firm Campos Racing . The it was partially based on the platform of a NEXTEV Formula E race car, engineered and operated by the Spanish racing team. NEXTEV was later gobbled up by another Chinese automaker, NIO, and renamed NIO 333 Racing . The ArcFox 7 had impressive specs: 603 horses and 1050 Nm for 0-100 in 2.8 seconds. It had a 66.6 kWh battery and a 298 kilometer range (179 miles). It was very low too, with a height of just 1214 millimeters. The concept was functional. ArcFox released a video showing the car driving around on roads and tracks in Spain, and later it did a demo run on the Goldenport race track in Beijing.

We didn’t hear much about the 7 until early 2018, when Chinese media reported that production was imminent, with a range of 400 to 500 kilometers (250-310 miles or so) and a price of 10 million yuan. But that didn’t happen. Instead, ArcFox went to work on a new EV supercar project.

The ArcFox GT debuted in 2019 at the Geneva Motor Show. It was a twin, with a track version called the “Race Edition.” The rounded design of the ArcFox-7 was dumped for more angular lines with a shipload of spoilers and wings. ArcFox used the opportunity to unveil its new brand slogan: “Born Free.” The GT had a carbon monocoque and four electric motors — one on each wheel. Combined output was 1020 hp and 800 Nm. Zero to 100 km/h took 2.59 seconds but top speed was a slightly disappointing, or realistic, 255 km/h (that’s just under 160 mph). The battery was a 85 kWh unit for 400 kilometers of range (~250 mi), able to charge 20 to 80% in 30 minutes.

The Race Edition was even more badass, with 1632 horses and 1320 Nm. The GT was displayed in several ArcFox shops in China, where it was reviewed by Yan Zhi [Editor’s Note : I’m not entirely sure who this is. So if you are reading this and scratching your head, worry not. I’m there with you. -DT] . The GT wasn’t functional and ArcFox didn’t develop it any further, so it never reached production.

BYD e-Seed GT: Seeds Of BYD’s Design

“Big chickens don’t peck at small seeds,” or so a Chinese proverb says. The 2019 BYD e-Seed GT concept is a large car with a length of 4.95 meters (16 feet or so) and gull-wing doors. BYD called it a “supercar,” so that’s what it was. If Warren Buffet believes BYD, why shouldn’t we?

The e-Seed had all sorts of seedy sporty details, like the winglets on the side skirts, the red BYD-branded brake calipers, ventilated brake discs, and a low front spoiler. It didn’t have any mirrors. BYD said the e-Seed had an all-wheel drive 626 hp PHEV powertrain, combining a 2.0 turbocharged gasoline engine with two electric motors — one at the front and one at the rear. The fuzzy name had a real meaning. Seed stood for: Sports, Experience, Environmental, Device.

This was just before the arrival of the cabin-widescreen technologies. BYD took a head start on the future with a novel three-screen setup, with each screen of the same size. Looks a bit like a display in a TV shop, but cool nevertheless.

At a design exhibition BYD showed a model, about 1:12 size it seems, of a convertible version of the e-Seed. With four seats! Very cool car but sadly they didn’t make a 1:1 of it.

The e-Seed GT also introduced a new design language which most notably came to life on the BYD Han EV, a sport sedan launched in 2020 (shown above). This machine actually has supercar power; the range-topper has a twin-motor setup with 517 hp and 700 Nm. It does 0-100 in 3.9 seconds and you can buy one in China for just 288.600 yuan ($41,500 USD). So this little seed came to life indeed.

Farnova Othello: Not The Play Or The Game

The Farnova Othello is an electric supercar unveiled in 2021, priced at a friendly $288,000 USD. The Othello was developed by Farnova Automotive, a company based in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. The founder was a certain Guo Gelin, who became wealthy by building high-end boats with his company Farnova Yacht . Confusing detail: Farnova Yacht works with a Spanish yacht-design company called BYD Group , with BYD being an abbreviation of Barcelona Yacht Design. It gets better: Farnova Automotive’s main business was building electric buses , powered by batteries from… BYD. That’s the Chinese Build Your Dreams BYD. Hope Farnova didn’t mix up their BYDs, like asking the Spanish firm for a battery pack or the Chinese firm for a new mast.

The Farnova Othello was meant as a halo-car to draw attention to the buses. The claimed specs were impressive : dual motor, 1835 hp and 12.000 Nm, 0-100 km/h in 1.8 seconds, 0-300 in 8.5 seconds, and a top speed of 420 km/h. The battery was sourced from Swedish battery maker Northvolt. The battery’s size was 75 kWh — good for a 600 km range (373 miles), according to the company. At least one prototype was produced, with working doors and an interior but without a powertrain.

The plan was to build 200 cars in a joint venture with Qiantu Motors (see further down). The company also unveiled plans for an electric SUV, pickup truck, and a futuristic high-end bus . Sadly, nothing came of it.

Leap S01: A Dirt-Cheap EV Sports Coupe

The Leap S01 is what the 2022 Mazda Miata RF should have been: a small, cool, and speedy electric sports car with a roof. Instead, Mazda went for an open-top stinker again [ Editor’s Note: This is a hot take that I’m just going to let slide. Let’s move along. -DT] . The S01 was the first car of Leapmotor (they spell it without a space – no time for spaces I guess), a new EV maker hailing from Zhejiang province. Nowadays the company is best known for its high-end C01 sedan and C11 SUV, but the S01 got it all started. It uses a front-motor front-wheel drive powertrain with the battery pack under the floor and under the rear bench. Yes, a rear bench. Unlike the Miata the S01 seats four fellows.

Skateboard platforms are good. They can put the motor in the back if they want, and I hope they do someday.

The motor of the Leap S01 puts out 170 hp and 250 Nm. Top speed is a slightly too slow 135 km/h but 0-100 is a decent 6.9 seconds. There are two battery options: 35.6 kWh for 305 kilometers (190 miles) of range or 48 kWh for 380 kilometers (236 miles). Price starts at just 129.900 yuan ($ 18,670 USD ).

The Miata isn’t sold in China right now. Guess why? Same reason Toyota doesn’t sell the GT86 in China anymore: They are too stinky and push up the brand’s average emissions by too much. In 2018, the last year it was available, the Miata RF with a 155 hp 2.0 sold for 339.000 yuan ($48,720 USD). The Miata roadster was killed off in China in 2009 (I saw one in pink !).

NIO EP9: Nürburgring Nightmare

NIO is a buzzy Chinese EV maker with some novel ideas about charging. It is coming to Europe and America with its electric SUVs. But back in 2016 nobody had heard about it yet. So naturally it went for an electric supercar. The EP9 was designed by David Hilton, an American also responsible for the 2020 Infiniti Emerg-E hybrid concept car. The EP9 had four electric motors — one on each wheel. Total output was 1360 hp and 1480 Nm. NIO claimed a top speed of 313 km/h and a 0-200 of 7.2 seconds. The battery was small at only 54 kWh for a claimed range of 427 kilometers NEDC.

Production or no production? Well, more of the latter than the former. NIO made eight cars in total. One and two were NIO’s own record-breaking cars. The other six were sold to early investors, reportedly for 3.5 million USD (2017 exchange rates) each. They were shown together once,  at the 2017 Shanghai Auto Show. They were not road-legal and their current whereabouts are unknown. NIO announced plans for a production run of another 50 cars but that never happened.

The NIO ET9 is a record holder. But as so often, the records are a little vague. In 2017 it set a record lap of 6:45.90 on the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife in the category “Non-series/non-road-legal.” The record currently stands at 5:19.546 set by a Porsche 919 Hybrid EVO in 2018.

A more interesting record is the fastest lap by an autonomous vehicle at the Circuit of the Americas, set in 2017 as well. Lap time was 2:40.33. NIO also set a record lap time for electric cars (this one with a driver): 2:11.30. For comparison, the fastest lap ever on this track is 1:36.169, set by Charles “Losing Point” Leclerc in a Ferrari F1 car in 2019.

Sometimes, some of the EP9’s are displayed in NIO stores around China, even now, six years after the car first debuted.

Qiantu K50: Qinda Qonfusing

Ha, the Qiantu K50, an electric supercar manufactured by Qiantu Motor. It’s a complicated story even for Chinese standards. I’ll be brief. The K50 was originally developed by a design company. It debuted at the 2014 Beijing Auto Show. Response was so positive that the company decided to produce it, and the production car was unveiled in 2015. Sadly, things then took a bit longer than expected with a corporate ownership change and other troubles. In the meantime, Qiantu unveiled a convertible version and a smaller sportscar, the K20.

Finally, in 2018, the K50 launched on the Chinese car market. the company opened trendy shops in Beijing and Shanghai and sold a bunch of the things . Then, there was another ownership change and a distracting side-project with Farnova Automotive (see above). The result was that production of the K50 stopped. By early 2022, however, production resumed again, and the K20 also seems set for production.

That is great, but tech-wise the K50 is a little outdated by now. On the other hand, it is still the only Chinese electric supercar that you can actually buy and drive on the road. How it all pans out is uncertain. I just checked the manufacturer’s website and it seems down . So perhaps the revival turns out to be short-lived.

The current K50 sells for 754.300 yuan ($108,300 USD). It has a dual-motor four-wheel drive powertrain with a total output of 435 hp and 680 Nm. Top speed is 200 km/h and 0-100 takes 4.6 seconds. The 78.84 kWh battery takes the K50 380 NEDC kilometers afar. A 20-80% fast charge takes 45 minutes. Interesting sidenote: in 2019 US company Mullen Technologies announced plans to assemble the K50 in California and sell it for $125,000 USD. The plan came to nothing and Mullen is busy now with a ‘Five’ electric SUV .

Weird special edition unveiled at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show. Never made it to the market.

Techrules GT96/AT96 and Ren/Ren RS: Turbines!

Techrules was a carmaker founded in 2015 in Beijing. It was a subsidiary of the TXR-S Group , a company that makes air bearings, air compressors, ultra-high-speed permanent magnet motors, and micro turbines. Techrules created four concept cars to promote their TREV technology. TREV is a kind of EREV. TREV stands for Turbine Recharging Electric Vehicle. It uses a gas turbine as a range extender to recharge the batteries. The turbine does not power the wheels directly. The company’s motto is: “New Tech. New Rules.” Techrules’ cars are in the Asphalt 8 and 9 racing games, so clearly they do indeed rule.

First, they developed a chassis. This formed the basis of the Techrules concept cars. They wanted to make supercars. So the chassis had racecar suspension and a tiny one-seat cabin. The turbine sits right behind the cabin. I imagine that could be a bit noisy, but, you know, deal with it. It’s new tech and new rules.

Techrules GT96/AT96: Gas Turbine Power And Six Electric Motors

The Techrules GT96/AT96 twin debuted at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. The GT was the roadcar version and the AT a hardcore track version. They had the same powertrain: six electric motors — one for each front wheel and two for each rear wheel. The battery pack sat under the floor. The maximum speed of the gas-powered turbine was 96,000 rpm. Techrules claimed a combined output of 1030 hp and 8640 Nm (at the wheels). Dry weight was 1380 kilo (3,042 pounds), which ain’t bad.

To get there, the 96 had a carbon fiber monocoque and body. It was very fast; 0-100 in 2.5, 0-200 in 7, 0-300 in 16, and a “limited” top speed of 350 km/h (217 mph). The battery specs are a tad unclear. In 2016 Techrules said it was a 20 kWh unit, but later they claimed 30 kWh. Pure electric range was 150 and full range no less than 2000 kilometers. That’s aircraft-kind of range. Well, no wonder. Aircrafts got turbines too. Techrules should build a flying car. The AT96 was a functional car and it did a track test on the Silverstone circuit, in England.

Techrules Ren/Ren RS: Middle Driver, Diesel Turbine

The Ren debuted one year later at the 2017 Geneva show. It was a more civilized car, intended for comfortable road trips with great haste. The Ren RS, however, was a very hardcore and track-only. The Ren was designed by the famous Italian studio Giugiaro, and it showed. There was more Italian influence: The chassis was developed by L.M. Gianetti , an engineering and racing firm. At the time, Techrules said production of the Ren would start in 2018. Didn’t happen, but it was a great car.

The Ren had a McLaren F1-style three-seat interior with the driver sitting in the middle. It had a fighter-jet canopy that opened to the front. The Red was a luxurious car with lots of leather and wood. The RS was racier, with only one seat and a shipload of extra wings. The drivetrain setup was the same as on the 96, but it had more power: 1287 hp and 7800 Nm at the wheels and 2340 Nm at the shafts.

Intriguingly, the turbine was powered by… diesel! Top speed was 330 km/h and 0-100 took 2.5 seconds. Dry weight was 1630 kilo, 300 kilo heavier than the 96. Range was 800 kilometers and the pure-electric range was 200 kilometer. The concepts never made it to production and the technology has never been applied to real cars. Too bad, because putting a turbine on a motorcar is just too cool not to exist.

Trumpchi EnLight & Trumpchi Enpulse & Aion Supercar: Get On The Trumpchi Train

Trumpchi is a brand under GAC. Trumpchi entered the world stage in 2010, much earlier than Trump, so they got the name-bragging right. The brand makes a wide-ranging lineup of fine but not overly exciting cars. Like many Chinese brands they plan to go fully electric. And what do you need for that? A supercar, of course.

Trumpchi EnLight

The Trumpchi EnLight debuted at the 2016 Guangzhou Auto Show, where I met it in person . It looked more like a spaceship than a supercar, with enormous butterfly doors hinged on the B-pillar. It has aero wheels and a slippery body. Trumpchi said it had four-wheel drive for normal road use and a “time-attack rear-wheel drive mode” for on track, which sounded pretty cool.

Inside, it had seats fitted in wooden frames and something called the “Eco Box”, which regulated the air quality in the cabin, and increased “ the humanistic and natural taste as an indoor landscape, which indicates the future development of human culture. “ [ Editor’s Note : What the hell am I looking at in that picture? – JT]

Trumpchi Enpulse

The Trumpchi Enpulse debuted at the 2020 Beijing Auto Show. It was a way more realistic vision on an electric supercar. It was a compact roadster with scissor doors and angular lines. The show car had no roof but Trumpchi showed a version with a removable panoramic-glass roof on a backdrop . That backdrop held more secrets, as it also unveiled a track-version of the Enpulse with a fixed roof. The Empulse had a new powertrain with dual motors and a two-speed transmission. At the show, Trumpchi said they intended to produce the Enpulse. As it turns out they won’t, and yet they will. You’ll see.

Aion Supercar 

Imagine you are a car brand badly wanting a supercar. Your owner lets you develop two supercar concepts. When the second one debuts, the owner announces production. You are delighted. And then: Misery comes along. Like every other Chinese car company, GAC likes to launch a new brand and/or sub-brand every year or so. In 2018 GAC dutifully launched the Aion sub-brand, a line of  EVs. This sub-brand morphed into a stand-alone brand in 2020, now aiming at the high-mid end market. And what do you need to promote that? A supercar of course. So in 2021, GAC cruelly moved the supercar project from Trumpchi to Aion. You had been waiting for so long. It was all for nothing.

Aion only released one image of the upcoming vehicle. It looks similar to the Trumpchi Enpulse, but it seems lower and it has a fixed roof. The yet unnamed supercar uses a dual-motor powertrain that’ll do 0-100 in 1.9 seconds. That’s faster than the proposed Tesla Roadster (two seconds) but slower than the Roadster SpaceX Package (1.1). Aion said the supercar will cost one million yuan (140,000 USD) when it hits the market next year. A steep step. Aion’s current most-expensive car is the LX Plus ( first car here ), a crossover SUV with 490 hp for $62,010 USD.

Update: the Aion electric supercar has since been unveiled. It is called the Aion Hyper SSR , it has 1225 hp and does 0-100 in 1.9 seconds. It’ll launch in 2023, starting at 1.3 million ($186,000 USD) 

Windbooster Titan: Hell Of A Name

If this was a coolest name contest the Windbooster Titan would have won. Just say it slowly: Wiiindbooooster Tiiitaaan. Probably one of the best car names ever. The machine debuted in 2016 at a tuning show in the pretty southern city of Shenzhen. The Titan was developed by the Windbooster Car Corporation ( Wayback ), a company owned by Cammus , a large Chinese performance-parts and electric cart maker. Sadly, the Windbooster Car Corporation has since died and the car was subsequently renamed to Cammus Titan , which is simply not cool enough.

The Titan was a working prototype , powered by two motors in the back, one motor on each wheel. Output was a windboosting 500 hp and 1000 Nm. Top speed was 260 km/h and it winded to 100 in 3.9 seconds. Interestingly, Windbooster also claimed a 200-250 time of 5.9 seconds. I know no other carmaker using that metric. The 72 kWh battery pack was located behind the seats. Range was 400 kilometers and a fast-charge took only 1.5 hours. The Windbooster had a titanium alloy frame, a carbon fiber body, and a perfect weight distribution of 42% front, 58% rear. Only one was ever made and Cammus still displays it proudly on its website today. And rightly so, cars like the Windbooster Titan come around only once in every generation, and we can’t have it blowing away.

They did manufacture a kiddie-car version.

In 2019, the Windbooster Car Corporation also worked on an interesting side project : the Windbooster E86, an electrified version of the Toyota GT86. The gasoline motor went out and in came a 203 hp Windbooster-developed electric powertrain. The company claimed a 45:55 weight distribution, improved handling, a 0-100 in 5.5 seconds, and a “200-250” kilometer range.

Total Recap

Even though many Chinese car makers have shown electric supercars, only the Qiantu K50 made it to serious production. The Aion supercar, however, seems for real this time, so that’ll be number two. The Leap S01 is supremely cool and I hope other car makers will develop similar cars to create a new segment. Many of the concepts came with exotic and sometimes strange technologies, ideas, and names, but that is a good sign, showing an industry in permanent flux and hurry. With Techrules, I joked about flying cars. Well, that’s not really a joke anymore. Several Chinese companies are working on such machinery; I’ll get back to that in an upcoming story.

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Tycho de Feijter

“On the other hand, it is still the only Chinese electric supercar that you can actually buy and drive on the road.”-

I wonder if the chinese government subsidizes all the vapor ware over there that never makes it to production/showrooms like they do here in the US?

Hey SongSan

If you’re going to do EV homages to classic cars may I suggest early to mid air cooled Porsches?

And how’s this for a slogan: All of the style, none of the stink.

When looking at these foreign-market exclusive cars, I always struggle to balance the flashy press photos with the product that hits the streets after being built under the lower regulatory standards than we’re used to in the US.

Though I have to say, that Corvette clone is speaking to me

I’m pleasantly surprised by these. There are some badass designs here.

The Petersen had a NIO as part of their hypercar exhibit. It certainly looked the part, and belonged in the room with the Ferraris, Lamborghini and Porsche. You keep hoping one of these will be real, and then have a cheaper brother.

Dolphin SS…who the heck names these things? Anyway, to me it more resembles the 58 Corvette, with the quad headlights and the contrasting cove. But hats off to them for creating it anyway.

The first half of the list are gorgeous, second half not so much 😛

These are cool. I hope they end up over here 🙂

Oh China, your rich are SO rich, while your poor are SO poor. There seems to be little in between, including imagination.

Reading about the taxonomy of the Chinese domestic car market is a little like listening to a 6 year old describe the plot of Inception.

A VW knockoff called the “SS Summer” has, uh, some unfortunate connotations working against it I fear.

It’s fun to study Chinese aspirations; a knock off/tribute to an American sports car/cruiser with a Caucasian beach girl trunk ornament. LOL

But she’s Asian, so…

So ironic that “communist China” is the rawest fang and claw capitalism on the planet. They’ve got any number of vaporware electric supercars. All we’ve got is Faraday Future, Nikola, and Lordstown Motors.

The Songsan Summer is actually my favorite, even though there was not an actual write up here, just the picture. I did look it up other places.

One day I will have to replace my Flex and man would that thing be cool as a replacement.

I really wanted things to weirder. These mostly look like mid engine sports cars from GTA.

Once free of the engine compartment, I really hoped we could really explore style.

Cool article. Btw, the “Buick Roadmaster” link for Songsan is wrong (duplicate of the four-door link).

FYI… Buffet — is a long line of food items to eat. Buffett — is last name of Warren, a fellow Nebraskan and Investment guru.

I’d love something like the Leap S01, but of course we’d never see anything like it in ‘Murica, because we buy too much stuff and have to cart it around with us everywhere we go (thus the need for EVs to be crossovers) and are concerned people will question our masculinity if we are seen driving anything smaller than a big rig (thus the “need” for EVs to be pickup trucks). So no business case.

I love the Leap S01! The front end could use some work but it looks like something I’d very much enjoy driving if it was available in the US. I don’t need an electric supercar, I need practicality in an affordable package. Even better I’d prefer a PHEV version of the S01.

I agree that the S01 is neat! But someone’s gotta roast Tycho for that hot Miata take. He’s telling me that Mazda made a huge mistake by not making the Miata *checks notes* seat 4, *squints* fixed-roof, and *furrows brow intensely* front-wheel drive.

*head explodes comedically*

The Songsan ‘Corvette’ looks like the result of an acid-fueled weekend tryst between an actual C1 and a Mondeo-I mean Jaguar. The hood is unfortunately long and it bothers me. And the 4 door side view strongly suggests ‘56 Buick Special. Something about the roof, and maybe a suggestion of radiused rear arch? Kinda like the color, tho, and the wheels definitely fit. I mean, if you’re gonna go retro, might as well go FULL RETRO.

Look at the size of it compared to the Porsche, it’s huge!

Only one of all these cars actually made production?

Also, cool wheels on the Othello.

They all look very much like other mid engined cars, which makes little sense to me. Why must electric cars follow ICE design?

Of all of these the Leap S01 is the most interesting. This with a manual and rear wheel drive would be very interesting, I know neither is needed, but there is space for an engaging electric car and this looks promising.

The S01, in RWD, with a hybrid powertrain would be my next car if someone sold something like that here

A lot of these appear to be more vaporware than things that will show up, but the convertible e-Seed was one that I liked the look of. I could easily see that selling here under a different name.

Trumpchi? Seriously? Do these people even have a clue as to how these names translate?

I think your average MAGA hat is more likely to be seen with a three-headed goat than riding in an EV sports car made in “Chy-na.”

Trumpchi predates the MAGA hats, it was started in 2010, back when he was just a reality TV host dipped in the world’s second-cheapest bronzer.

In spoken Chinese there is the equivalent of the English “uh” or “um” filler words, which is “nei ge”. It’s pronounced and sounds like the N word. It’s been used for thousands of years. So, would you then demand that the Chinese word be stricken in usage, in their country, just because of the comparatively new usage of a word that sounds similar in the U.S.? Trumpchi predated MAGA and all of that nonsense and is a Chinese market company yet here you are chastising the company because of the link to Trump that you alone created, because in a country where they do not do business the name is too close to that of the Orange man? That’s so brilliant of you, bravo, what a stupendous feat of mental machinations.

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Canova: On Board the New 43 Metre Baltic Sailing Yacht

Creating the perfect blue-water sailing yacht is not a matter of chance. It requires a team of specialists working in harmony under the direction of a knowledgeable owner. Fortunately, Canova had such a team. Her owner, a passionate sailor with more than 42 years’ experience, had previously owned nine yachts from notable yards such as Baltic , Swan and Wally . He raced some, but pure cruising is his real love and he had hoped to circumnavigate in his previous Canova , a 35.78-metre Baltic.

“The first Canova was a great blue-water cruiser,” the owner explains, “but in reality it was a traditional semi-custom cruising yacht with little focus on performance, and difficult to sail short-handed. So I decided to start again with a new Canova , larger, with much better performance and focused entirely on blue-water cruising – nothing more.” By now, he knew exactly what he wanted: “Optimum seagoing comfort; easy maintenance in remote areas; lots of shade in the cockpit; tenders stowed below decks, and the best possible interior layout and, initially, a lot more half-formed ideas also!”

The owner hired a young Italian designer, Giuseppe Martines, to work all these ideas into a preliminary design, which “really showed us what we needed, and it turned out to be quite close to where we finished up but it picked up some game-changing ideas on the way”. Armed with this outline, he approached Baltic to develop the mechanical and engineering package.

As the preliminary design for this ultra-fast carbon-hulled cruiser progressed, one unusual innovation was proposed – the Dynamic Stability System (DSS). This novel solution uses a sub-waterline hydrodynamic foil, horizontally deployed to leeward to create lift, which complements the righting moment of the keel. This reduces the yacht’s angle of heel, making both hull and sails more efficient and increasing speed. Pitching is also much reduced, adding to sail efficiency and comfort.

Six months down the road, five leading naval architects were asked to outline their proposals and evaluate how the DSS foil could be integrated into their design. Farr Yacht Design was the ultimate winner, and after undertaking detailed studies to compare DSS with other options, including canting, fixed and telescopic keels, the owner selected a DSS foil in combination with a lifting keel incorporating a trim tab on the basis of performance, reliability and comfort.

While the DSS system used on smaller yachts was manually operated and relatively simple, scaling it up to superyacht use was a different matter. The righting moment generated by Canova’s foil was calculated to reach a maximum of 140 tonnes/metre, so it was clear that some challenging engineering issues would need to be addressed, alongside careful design work to shoehorn it into the hull without impacting on the accommodation or technical systems.

To this end, BAR Technologies, the engineering team of the British America’s Cup challenge, composite engineering firm Gurit, and French carbon-composite foil builder Isotop were added to the team. Already on board were Baltic, Hugh Welbourn, inventor of the DSS, and Gordon Kay, owner of Infiniti Yachts, whose Infiniti 36 was the first yacht to carry a DSS foil. Together, they developed a self-contained “cassette” running across the yacht’s midships, within which a nine-metre-long foil could be extended to port or starboard powered by captive winches. As this was located just forward of the engine room and directly beneath the master cabin, there was initial concern about noise beneath the owner’s bed, “but now, having sailed many miles, my fears have been allayed”, he says.

With the foil and appendage decisions now made, design work progressed – and more novel solutions proposed to fulfil the brief for the most comfortable blue-water boat possible, including a low-emission, diesel-electric propulsion and electrical power system.

After a three-year build, ably project-managed by Canova’s captain, Mattia Belleri, the yacht started a voyage to the Mediterranean in late 2019 before Finland’s winter ice locked her in, stopping in Amsterdam for some final adjustments to her rig. The route to Genoa was a challenging one for a maiden voyage and, despite being sailed conservatively, Canova still managed a fast average speed, at one stage hitting just over 25 knots.

Fast-forward to a windless day in February, where I join the yacht at Italy’s Porto Venere not far from La Spezia. First impressions are of a seriously attractive yacht, with such well-balanced proportions that it is difficult to assess her size from a distance. But after boarding easily over her open stern platform from her seven-metre limo tender, the long view forward down wide side decks, past her deckhouse to her flush foredeck, makes it clear that this is a large and powerful 43-metre.

“Safe and easy to sail short-handed” was an owner requirement and there are many manifestations of this. For example, her fully instrumented helm stations are positioned close to the bulwarks for excellent forward visibility; the mainsheet track is set out of harm’s way on the coachroof, well-distanced from guests and crew; and a self-tacking jib is sheeted forward of the mast to avoid flailing sheets sweeping the side decks.

“The sails had to be easy to handle,” explains Belleri. “Working with Farr and  North Sails , we developed a ‘solo round-the-world’ sailplan, with the jib furled on one fixed stay and another four sails, ranging from A3 to storm- jib, removable. As for stowage, the storm-jib has its own locker, while the other three sails alternate on two huge drums set in lockers beneath the foredeck, from where their tacks are transferred to the bow with a clever gadget that allows total control. Different from most Code Zero sails, our large quadrilateral sail can be kept on its stay in any weather”.

The whole rig – all carbon – was also chosen for ease of use, with the square-top 3Di main from North Sails reefed on to a mandrel. To achieve a better sail shape and minimise wear, the ability to tension the foot at the reefing points was considered essential. “Rondal’s proven, simple-to- operate claw system that either locks into the clew or to the reefing points combined with the monolithic mast construction were... the driving factors in our choice of rig,” says the captain.

How does it all come together in practice? When Canova crossed the Bay of Biscay in January, the captain says the DSS foil “reduced heeling by up to 40 per cent as Canova surfed in 25 knots of true wind, with the helmsman remaining in complete control”. Later, when we sail in 22 to 25 knots of breeze in 2.5-metre seas off Corsica , Canova gives us an equally thrilling ride, broad-reaching under full sail at over 20 knots with foil extended and a mere 10-degree angle of heel. I feel at ease on the helm, with the manual steering fingertip-light.

As one might expect from a project as well conceived as this, the layout of the yacht’s living spaces also borders on perfection. Interior designer Lucio Micheletti achieved elegance and traditional seagoing simplicity. The transition from exterior to interior is seamless, with the cockpit, sheltered by the extension of the coachroof and on either side by opening glass panels, sitting on the same level as the main saloon.

On the lower deck, the master cabin lies at the centre of the yacht where the motion is minimal, while the bed can be adjusted to counteract the angle of heel. Forward are two guest cabins – a double in the bow and a twin to starboard – while a third cabin can be created by amalgamating the owner’s study with a guest sitting area.

Logically, the galley and four crew cabins occupy the stern of the yacht, concentrating them close to the yacht’s vitals – the engine room and navigation station, from where a companionway rises to the aft deck between the helm stations. But the magic of the layout lies in items that are not so obvious.

The lifting keel, for instance, is concealed between the master bathroom and the main stairway, while the owner’s tender, an HTM seven-metre which can carry a 1,000-litre fuel-bladder to refuel Canova , lies in a garage shoehorned between the foredeck and the guest cabins below. The crew tender , a 4.6-metre Aermarine RIB is stored athwartships in the stern beneath another large hatch. Equally concealed, and chosen for its simplicity and performance, the anchoring system offers two ploughshare anchors deployed through the bottom of the hull just aft of the bow.

Ease of maintenance is a key requirement for a cruising yacht visiting remote destinations , so it was important that Canova could be serviced without being lifted out. She was therefore designed to dry out without damage, sitting on a suitably strengthened keel that takes the yacht’s entire weight. At the same time, every underwater component can be serviced with the yacht afloat. For instance, the drop-down bow thruster is a “plug-and-play” device, readily removable. What with this, the minimal running hours needed for her generators and the bunkering using a bladder in the tender – the yacht is an engineer’s dream.

Canova seems to have everything that a cruising sailor would desire and, surely, her technology and systems represent the future for sailing superyachts. She’s also extraordinarily well built, with a highly practical deck and interior layout, and reduced angle of heel and pitching while under sail, thanks to her DSS foil. Add to this her highly efficient propulsion and electrical system, and she surely sets an example to follow. Is she the perfect state-of-the-art blue-water sailing yacht? If not, she’s as close as anyone has ever managed to get.

Photography by Eva-Stina Kjellman and Jeff Brown.

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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