STUTTGART: The astounding cost of new electric bicycles from carmaker Porsche is enough to raise even the salesman's eyebrows.
With a price tag of €9,900 (around RM48,000) at home in Europe, the Volkswagen-owned company, renowned for its expensive sports cars, has started selling a revised range of full-suspension e-bikes. Porsche is selling a cheaper version for €1,000 less (around RM43,000).
Not unlike their status symbol cars, Porsche's battery-assisted bicycles cost around 10 times the price of an entry-level ebike, which can be bought for under €1,000 (RM4,800).
The range-topping E-Bike Sport, now in its fifth generation, claims to offer a lot for the money.
Bearing the Porsche badge on the head tube, the bikes feature a carbon-fibre frame with 120mm of suspension travel at the front and 100mm at the back. They were developed with high-end e-bike specialist Rotwild.
For an ebike, the Porsche two-wheeler is a lightweight. Including the motor and battery, the e-bike weighs tips the scales at just over 21kg.
Both bikes feature the Shimano EP801 motor with up to 85Nm of torque. It provides up to 25kph of pedal-assisted support which is the legal top speed allowed under European Union regulations.
Porsche gave no range figures but said the powerful batteries are ideal for lengthy tours.
