I’ve chased adrenaline in everything from track days to canyon carvers, but the Aspark OWL Roadster? This thing’s a fever dream – an electric hypercar that drops the roof on speeds that’d make a fighter jet jealous, all while costing more than a penthouse in Manhattan. If the fixed-roof OWL was already a benchmark for blistering EV acceleration, the Roadster takes it further by cranking the sensory dial to 11, letting you feel every gust as you shatter wind records. With just 20 units slated for 2025 and a debut looming at the Prestige Salon Automobile Lyon, Aspark’s proving that even in the silent world of electrics, there’s room for wind-in-your-hair chaos. Let’s dive into why this top-down terror is the EV convertible we’ve been craving.
From Owl Coupe to Roadster: Aspark’s Open-Air Evolution
Aspark, the Japanese engineering outfit that’s been quietly dominating EV hypercar headlines, kicked off with the OWL coupe back in 2019 – a 50-unit run that redefined quick with its Guinness-busting sprint times. Fast-forward to now, and they’ve birthed the OWL Roadster as their third act (after the track-focused SP600), partnering with Italy’s Manifattura Automobili Torino for hand-built mastery. It’s not just a hack job with a folding roof; this is a purpose-built droptop designed to combat that “disconnected” feel some folks gripe about in EVs.
Aspark’s pitch? The Roadster amps up the “unity with the road” – wind rushing past, temps shifting on your skin, tarmac vibes humming through your bones – all while you pin the throttle. Debuting at the Lyon show in October 2025, it’s a limited sprint of 20 cars, each a bespoke beast blending Japanese torque wizardry with Italian flair. If the coupe was about raw benchmarks, the Roadster’s about raw emotion.
Design That Screams: Carbon Sleekness Meets Top-Down Drama
Peel back the layers (literally), and the Aspark OWL Roadster’s a visual gut-punch – a low-slung CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) monocoque that’s featherlight at around 4,189 pounds, with every panel sculpted for aero efficiency. The folding hardtop vanishes into the chassis without bloating the lines, keeping that predatory wedge shape intact: razor LEDs up front, massive air intakes feeding the quads, and a variable-angle rear wing that deploys for downforce above 93 mph.
Inside, it’s minimalist futurism – a slim digital cluster, Alcantara-wrapped dash, and Recaro-style buckets that hug like a vice during launches. No overkill screens; just essentials for focus, with camera mirrors ditching blind spots. It’s the kind of cockpit that feels exposed yet intimate, especially roof-down, where the carbon tub’s rigidity shines against twisties. Custom paint? Expect wild options to match the vibe – think metallic blues echoing the sky you’ll be slicing through.
Power Unleashed: Quad Motors, 1,953 HP, and Sub-2-Second Madness
No compromises here – the Roadster inherits the OWL’s savage quad-motor setup, four permanent magnet synchronous beasts churning 1,953 hp and 1,416 lb-ft through a bespoke torque-vectoring system. Fed by a central 69 kWh lithium-ion pack, it catapults 0-60 in 1.72 seconds – face-melting enough to rival the Rimac Nevera R’s 1.74 – and stretches to a 256 mph top end on tracks like Monza. The Roadster’s open setup might tweak aero slightly, but Aspark’s mum on exact shifts – expect the folding roof to add minimal weight, offset by that rigid carbon spine.
Charging? A 44 kW DC max gets you topped in under 80 minutes, with 280 miles of range for real-world jaunts (though who’d poke along in this?). It’s silent fury – no roar, just whoosh – but drop the top, and the wind becomes your soundtrack, turning every blast a multisensory rush.
Why EV Convertibles Are Unicorns: Engineering Hurdles and Rare Gems
Electric droptops aren’t flooding showrooms for good reason – they’re engineering nightmares. The extra beef for roof mechanisms and rollover beef-up eats into range, while low-slung battery weight flips crash dynamics (ICE cars cheat with front-heavy engines). As one trainer spilled to CarBuzz, “It would need more batteries to offset extra weight… Rollover testing is a challenge because of the EV’s weight distribution.”
Yet, pioneers persist: Polestar’s stunning 6 concept promises 0-60 under 3 seconds with a power-folding roof, and Mini’s SE convertible was a cheeky limited run. Aspark’s flipping the script by keeping the OWL’s DNA intact, proving hypercar bucks can conquer the barriers – though at a price that weeds out casuals.
Price, Production, and the Hunt: $3M+ for 20 Slots
Snagging an Aspark OWL Roadster? Cough up north of $3 million (coupe starts at €2.5M, or about $2.7M, so expect a premium for the top). With only 20 built, it’s rarer than a honest politician – fully customizable, handcrafted in Turin, and yours if you beat the queue. No U.S. pricing yet, but imports could nudge it to $3.5M.
OWL Roadster vs. EV Royalty: How It Stacks in the Hyper Lane
| Feature | Aspark OWL Roadster | Rimac Nevera R | Pininfarina Battista |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain/HP | Quad EV motors, 1,953 hp | Quad EV, 2,024 hp | Quad EV, 1,900 hp |
| 0-60 mph | 1.72 sec | 1.74 sec | 1.79 sec |
| Top Speed | 256 mph | 256 mph | 217 mph |
| Production | 20 units (2025) | 10 units | 150 units |
| Price (Est.) | $3M+ | $2.5M | $2.5M |
| Unique Twist | Folding hardtop, wind immersion | Torque vectoring mastery | Battista design elegance |
The Roadster edges on open-air exclusivity, but Rimac’s the all-around king – for now.
Wind-Breaking Verdict: Aspark’s Roadster Redefines EV Extremes
The Aspark OWL Roadster isn’t just a convertible twist on a speed demon; it’s a bold bet that EVs can deliver soul-shaking thrills beyond the stats. At $3M a pop for 20 slots, it’s for the ultra-elite chasing that “unity” high – wind-whipped launches at 1.72 seconds, scents of scorched rubber, all under Lyon’s spotlights come October. In a sea of sealed hypercars, this droptop’s a breath of fresh fury. Sold on the sensory rush, or waiting for Tesla’s Roadster reboot? Hit the comments – what’s your dream EV open-topper?
Source- carbuzz
