The ramp up to full-scale production of the Rimac C_Two all-electric hypercar has begun. Rimac Automobili is expecting to build 6 models at their facility in Veliko Trgovišće, Croatia in the coming weeks. Full-scale production is expected to begin in 2021.
Rimac engineers have already produced 12 C-Two models on the line as part of the experimental, crash testing, and validation process. The six additional cars are basically production spec with the fit and finish, driveability, and reliability that is nearly production-ready.
The pre-series cars will be used for the final tweaks before full-scale production begins, dedicated to homologation tests, durability tests, trim experimentation, NVH tweaking, and global product evaluation. Rimac says that minor modifications are still possible as final production inputs and durability and reliability testing wrap up.
This type of process is typical of any new model coming off the line. It takes several tries to get machine calibration, the materials mix, and assembly perfected.
The assembly of each C-Two pre-series car takes around eight weeks. This is half of the time it took to complete the production process of the initial 12 models. That time was cut because the production line was created. The actual assembly of the cars takes five weeks, but the process starts three weeks earlier at the company, as a number of components and systems are produced in-house and delivered to the final assembly line.
The new production line is divided into five main zones, beginning with bonding all brackets and fixing points onto the monocoque. Two people man each zone and build the car piece-by-piece, with the vehicles undergoing electronic checks, torque tightening, parts checks, and more before allowing the car to move on to the next production zone.
Before each vehicle is declared completed, each car’s wheel alignment is tuned, all cameras and sensors are calibrated, and a monsoon test is performed to ensure the absence of any water leak. The paint is checked while panel gaps and flushes are measured for precision. Then, the pre-series cars head to the dyno where their powertrain and brakes are checked.
Road testing is next with engineers checking for wind and powertrain noise as well as any unacceptable squats and rattles.
“We’re creating an entirely new type of performance vehicle with the C_Two. After thousands of virtual simulation hours, years of design and engineering, and many rough and ready prototypes, it’s a very special feeling to see pre-series cars now making their way up our production line. This is the clearest sign yet that the C_Two is almost here, and we can’t wait to deliver the cars to our customers in 2021 and to showcase it all over the world,” said Mate Rimac, Founder and CEO, Rimac Automobili.
