The Goodwood Festival of Speed has been the event of new launches and a prerogative for niche vehicles. First we saw De Tomaso come out with the gorgeous P72, and now, we have the Extreme E electric SUV, the ODYSSEY 21. The ODYSSEY 21 has been built by Spark Racing Technology. The founder of the Formula E Series, Alejandro Agag and chairman Gil de Ferran launched the SUV at the event. The SUV will lead the charge in the new all-terrain motorsport series called Extreme E.

These Are Some Impressive Credentials

The ODYSSEY 21 has been designed by Spark Racing Technology, the company responsible for the Gen 1 and Gen 2 Formula E cars. The battery has been produced by Williams Advanced Engineering, and the SUV is capable of producing 550 horses. The SUV is underpinned by a niobium-reinforced steel alloy tubular architecture and is supported by a crash structure and a roll cage. The ODYSSEY 21 rides on tires designed by Continental.

An All-Electric SUV Endurance Series Is The Entertaining Way To Move Forward

The Extreme E Series has been founded not to just enjoy a new series, but also to spread a word about protecting the planet and reducing air pollution. It also highlights the impact of climate change on the ecosystem. The ODYSSEY 21 will be used as the base car in the series that will go all around the globe and test under extreme conditions and the most fragile parts of our ecosystem, such as the Sahara, Amazon, Himalayas, and Indian Ocean islands, to name a few.

Then the team will be allowed to develop their own powertrain as well as the kind of bodywork they would prefer. There will be 12 cars competing at the event and the Formula E team, Venturi, has already signed up for it. The series was originally supposed to be released as a 'docu-sport' program, but the founders struck a deal with Fox North America and it will be aired on air now.

What They Had To Say

Alejandro Agag, the founder of Extreme E, said that, “The cutting-edge technology our industry-leading partners have employed in its design and construction has resulted in a stunning car, capable of the highest performance in the toughest and most varied environments on the planet." He further added, "Extreme E’s combination of top-level sporting competition and ultra-demanding environments will also prove to be a significant research and development platform for manufacturers, driving further advancements in sustainable mobility. Whether it’s in the Arctic, Himalayas, Amazon, Sahara or on Indian Ocean Islands, this car will showcase the ability of E-SUVs, not only to motorsports enthusiasts, but also to consumers who are looking to make their own difference to the planet by choosing an electric SUV.”

Interestingly, the run comes just one week after the full initial build of the prototype car was completed at the Spark Racing Technology's factory in Tigery, France. The company's technical director, Theophile Gouzin, said, “Our challenge was to build a car that could face all the variations in surface and terrain that will be thrown its way, which will include gravel, rock, mud, ice, snow, water and sand, too. Straight out-of-the-box in Season One, the ODYSSEY 21 and its performance is going to be very impressive, exceeding the power and torque of World Rally Championship and rally raid cars. The numbers are mind-blowing, really.”

Final Thoughts

After all the cars have been built, there will be a group testing in the second half of 2020, and they will get ready for the opening race in early 2021. Although the company may have launched the SUV a little too early, there's no denying that the official video has got us pumped up. However, with so many launches at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, we hope people don't forget about the ODYSSEY 21 by the time the actual Extreme E series begins. What are your thoughts on this SUV? Share them with us in the comments section below.