The Gumpert Nathalie or RG Nathalie is a hydrogen-electric hybrid sports car running on methanol to generate hydrogen that is scheduled to enter production in 2021. It is the first car produced by the new car manufacturer RG founded by Roland Gumpert, following the bankruptcy of his company Gumpert which produced the Apollo. Roland Gumpert is a former president of Audi Sport. In 2017, Roland Gumpert joined forces with Aiways, a Chinese company based in Shanghai and specialist in alternative energies, and founded his new company called “RG”, initials of Roland Gumpert, based in Ingolstadt in Germany. At Beijing Motor Show 2018, RG presents the prototype of its first model: the “Nathalie”, named after the daughter of the founder. The RG Nathalie is to be produced at 500 copies from the end of 2019 in Germany, then in Shangrao in China and sold at a price of 420000 Euros.
In the evolution to the production model, many characteristic points were worked on compared to the prototype version presented last year. The most striking feature are the doors, which are designed as “scissor doors” – common in cars in this class of super sports coupes with purebred sports car genes. The Nathalie is a two-seater coupe, its line is close to the Nissan GT-R. It receives headlights with LEDs at the front, removable shutters and a light strip joining the rear lights. It is designed on a very light carbon shell which gives it high performance with a maximum speed of 300 km/h (190 mph) and a 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.5 seconds. The Nathalie receives four electric motors of 150 kW (200 hp), each placed in the wheels. They develop a combined power of 400 kW (540 hp) transmitted on all four wheels.
The Nathalie is equipped with a 15 kW (20 hp) fuel cell which operates on methanol and supplies a 70 kWh (250 MJ) battery. The complex system developed by RG consists of a methanol reformer which, by a catalyzed chemical reaction, divides methanol into carbon dioxide and hydrogen, the latter feeding the fuel cell which produces electricity.[10] The fuel cell system type is indicated by the fuel cell producer as Reformed methanol fuel cell. It also increases its autonomy thanks to the recovery of energy produced during braking. It benefits from a 60-liter tank of methanol and thus a range of 600 km (370 mi) to 1,200 km (750 mi) in “eco” mode. If renewable methanol is used, a carbon-neutral operation is possible.
Overall, this design further demonstrates the technological leadership of Roland Gumpert vehicles. The use of lightweight biological materials such as flax is particularly progressive. The vehicle can be refueled with commercially available methanol. The supply is free of charge for customers in the first year after delivery. An overnight delivery service has been installed for the exclusive customer base in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and is currently being expanded across Europe. The regions of North America and the Middle East are currently being developed as well. Organization and sales are carried out by the field marketing specialist FMS as part of the internationally operating Advantage Smollan Group.
