Slovenian in-wheel motor specialist Elaphe has unveiled its new Sonic.1 high-performance in-wheel motor at CES 2025 in Las Vegas. Positioned as the world’s first direct-drive in-wheel motor compatible with high-performance brakes, the Sonic.1 is tailored for use in the front wheels of high-performance vehicles, where space and weight optimization are critical.
The Sonic.1 integrates large 400 mm brake discs within a 21-inch rim, offering a continuous output of 200 kW per wheel and peak outputs reaching up to 255 kW. Additionally, the motor delivers a continuous torque of 1,000 Nm, with a peak torque of 1,700 Nm per wheel. Its maximum speed is 3,500 revolutions per minute (rpm), making it suitable for performance-focused electric and hybrid vehicles.
The Slovenian company also highlighted the motor’s rear-wheel drive capability, which can generate up to 1 MW of power and a continuous power density of 8 kW/kg. The Sonic.1 features an integrated axle solution that includes two of these in-wheel motors, paired with two 125kVA/L onboard SiC inverters by McLaren Applied. Elaphe claims that the new motor offers performance advantages, including 10% faster acceleration and a 15% reduction in stopping distance compared to conventional e-axles. Additionally, the motor enhances vehicle handling with up to 15% higher lateral acceleration, enabled by torque vectoring.
The Sonic.1 is compatible with both all-electric and hybrid vehicles, and is expected to be an integral component in future high-performance vehicle designs. Elaphe is showcasing the technology at CES in partnership with Italdesign, which is displaying the Quintessenza concept car featuring the Sonic.1 motor in all four wheels.
