In the race to offer the latest and greatest hybrid performance technology, Chinese-based startup Techrules is taking a different approach. Rather than matching a piston-driven internal combustion engine with electric power to eke out every last pony possible, Techrules has decided to employ diesel-powered turbines to juice the motors that drive the wheels. The result is something Techrules is calling a series-hybrid diesel powertrain, and believe it or not, it’s slated for production in 2018. Techrules’ will offer this innovative technology in its very first production vehicle – the Ren. The name is an allusion to the Chinese core value of humanity and kindness, which makes sense given the car’s surprising efficiency. However, the big draw here (beyond the wild new powertrain tech, that is) is the Ren’s futuristic, aerospace styling and four-figure output. If all goes according to plan, the Ren should be one of the quickest production vehicles on the planet.

Of course, all things considered, that’s a pretty big “if.” The hybrid supercar segment isn’t exactly kind to newcomers, and considering the crazy new technology promised by the Ren, you could say the deck is stacked against Techrules’ favor. Nevertheless, progress is being made, with the Ren making its debut at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, followed by an appearance at the Concorso d’Eleganza in May at Lake Como in Italy. Read on for the details of what to expect should this thing hit the market.

Continue reading to learn more about the Techrules Ren.

Exterior

Aesthetically speaking, we think the Techrules Ren is pretty darn exciting. It looks like one of those futuristic concepts you’d see introduced at one of the major auto shows, but this time around, it’s actually slated to become reality.

Unsurprisingly, Techrules says automotive designers Fabrizio and Giorgetto Giugiaro penned the Ren in Turin, Italy. The looks take inspiration from the world of aerospace, giving it a sort of ground-bound Air Force hardware kind of vibe. And that all makes a whole lotta of sense for a number of reasons. Not only is it the sort of look you need to impress in this segment, but with a turbine-powered powertrain and enough output to break free of the Earth’s atmosphere, aerospace just feels right.

According to the car’s designer, Fabrizio Giugiaro, “We created a design that reflects Ren’s stunning performance and innovation with a dramatic and distinctive fighter jet-style canopy and unique modular three-cockpit design.”

If you wanted, you could call it a “one-door” body style, as the entire top canopy section slides back to reveal the cockpit and seats. The wheels are large, plus-sized units that fill the fenders with a turbine-esque swirl. The upper aero components are presented in solid, smooth shapes, set in white and stretched across the body. The lower components are in black, and get a chunkier appearance. Complementing the lower black aero is a black stripe that runs down the center of the vehicle. This element is placed a little lower than the white aero components, giving the top portion a sort of “bolted on” appearance.

In front are triangular intakes, while four-sided sections in the rear get outlined with thin taillights. There are also laser headlights in front, while the rear uses something called “star-burst” reversing LEDs. A long aero fin runs down the spine of the car to increase lateral stability.

Interior

Interestingly, the Ren offers a modular layout for the cabin, with a driver’s cockpit and optional passenger side pods available. That means the car can come equipped with one, two, or three canopies to accommodate up to three individuals. The canopies are made from a polycarbonate material (basically high-tech plastic).

With the three-passenger canopy option is selected, two of the passengers sit next to the driver in a “semi-prone” position. Touchscreens fold out for entertainment purposes, while an onboard communication system utilizing built-in speakers and microphones are mounted in the headrests. It’s not certain how much noise there will be inside the cabin, but with turbine engines providing the juice, it’s likely there will be quite a bit of whine that needs to be filtered out, hence the communication system.

While quieter operation might be the goal in this segment (at least when cruising), this set-up is still novel and interesting, and it offers further support for the aerospace theme first seen with the exterior. The driver’s central seating position is also reminiscent of the McLaren F1.

Either way, Techrules is adamant that the car offers a high degree of luxury and high-end materials inside the cabin. In that case , we’d expect leather, Alcantara, brushed metal, and the like, all of which appears to be present and correct. What’s more, Techrules points out that the seat cushions are finished in denim fabric from the clothing company Pantaloni Torino, which supposedly grips the passenger and keeps him or her from sliding around during high-performance maneuvers. And while denim is certainly an odd choice, you gotta at least give Techrules credit for being original.

Drivetrain

While the aerospace themes seen throughout the exterior and interior are indeed impressive, the most noteworthy features of the Techrules Ren is what it’s got in terms of power production. Making the go is something Techrules calls a Turbine-Recharging Electric Vehicle (TREV) powertrain. This innovative set-up is slated for production status sometime in the future, and is currently in development at Techrules’ technical centers in Beijing and Shanghai. The Ren is the first car to get the TREV powertrain, but Techrules says it could be used in new production cars sometime in the future, including both passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles.

“The innovative series-hybrid powertrain technology delivers unprecedented levels of efficiency and performance, and an ultra-low environmental impact,” Techrules says.

This is how it works – first, the turbines burn diesel fuel, creating rotational energy. But rather than driving the wheels directly, the turbines are instead used to generate electricity. That electricity is then sent to a battery pack, which stores it until it’s used to juice the electric motors that are used to drive the wheels. So basically, think of the turbines as large, powerful “range extenders.”

Techrules says there are two-, four-, and six-motor configurations planned for the future. The model on display is the Ren “flagship version,” which gets a battery capacity of 25 kWh. Peak output is rated at an astonishing 1,287 horsepower, while the twist figure comes in at 1,725 pound-feet of torque. Fill up the fuel tank with 80 liters (21.1 gallons) of diesel, and you’ll get as much as 1,170 km (727 miles) of range. That computes out to 34.5 mpg, but Techrules is a bit more conservative, saying it’ll average about 31 mpg. Meanwhile, all-electric range for the top trim is 124 miles.

More importantly, the Ren should be able to accelerate to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, while top speed is pegged at 200 mph. Not bad for a hybrid.

Further powertrain options include a 430-horsepower iteration with RWD and just two electric motors, and an 858-horsepower iteration with AWD and four electric motors. Techrules also mentions that a track-only iteration will be the first out the gates.

Meanwhile, weight is kept to a minimum thanks to aluminum and carbon fiber construction for the chassis. L.M. Gianetti, Techrules’ partner based out of Torino, was responsible for chassis development. L.M. Gianetti is also known for its work with Ford and the M-Sport Fiesta RS WRC.

AP Racing provides the carbon ceramic brakes, with six-piston calipers mounted in all four corners. The suspension is a horizontally adjustable coilover set-up, which means this thing should be an impressive handler.

Prices

The Techrules Ren is scheduled for delivery sometime in 2018, with the first iterations being some kind of track-only variant. Production is slated to ramp up throughout 2018, and the order books are already open for interested customers.

Each example will be hand built, with around 10 units produced annually.

Pricing is so far unannounced, but should be well into the seven-figure range.

Competition

Porsche 918 Spyder

When it comes to hybrid hypercars, the Porsche 918 is one of the originals. Made from a variety of exotic materials, including carbon fiber and magnesium, this Stuttgart superstar certainly looks like it belongs amongst aerospace-themed vehicles. Making it go is 4.6-liter V-8, which gets electrical assistance by way of two electric motors. Output is rated at 887 horsepower and 940 pound-feet of torque, with less than 3 seconds required to reach 60 mph. Top speed is around 211 mph.

Read our full review on the Porsche 918 Spyder.

McLaren P1

The P1 is the next go-to in this segment, and it’s got all the speed and craziness you’d expect. Outside, the composite aero elements are active, working at all times to increase grip and provide more speed, while motivation is derived from a hybrid, twin-turbo V-8 pushing upwards of 900 horsepower and 1,100 pound-feet of torque. Properly applied, that oomph makes the P1 hit 60 mph in less than 3 seconds, while top speed clocks in at 217 mph.

Read our full review on the McLaren P1.

Conclusion

I’ll just come right out and say it – the Techrules Ren looks and feels an awful lot like vaporware. The outrageous aerospace bubble exterior, the crazy turbine hybrid powertrain… it all looks great on paper, but as is often the case with vehicles like the Ren, anything this radical very rarely makes it off the ground.

That’s not to say it’s impossible. Techrules could very well put the Ren into production, and if it does, it could be a game changer. Using diesel turbines to produce electricity (a lot of electricity) is a fascinating idea, and personally, I’m rooting for the company’s success.

Here’s what it comes down to – making a fancy design and pinning crazy claims to it is all too commonplace. In fact, we see it happen at pretty much every major autoshow. However, actually following through on an innovative idea and making it work in the real world – that’s something to be celebrated.

You’ve got our support, Techrules. Now just make it happen.

References

Techrules AT96 TREV

Read our full review on the Techrules AT96 TREV.

McLaren F1

Read our full review on the McLaren F1.