Founded by David Alcraft, we are Alcraft Motor Company - a British-owned vehicle engineering and design business, which sets out to give Britain an electric vehicle brand which is a reflection of its most respected skills and traditions: original but timeless design, great engineering solutions, innovation, a fast-track motorsport mindset and low-volume high-quality vehicles.

Based in the growing Silverstone innovation cluster, we’re developing technologies to meet the growing demands of customers who want cars to be sustainable but exciting, bespoke yet affordable, cutting edge but traditionally crafted.

We are passionate about dynamic, design-led, high-tech motoring.

We are seeking to attract like-minded individuals to join our journey and offer some handsome rewards - see Perks area and the details of special items noted below.

OUR PROJECT PHILOSPOPHY

British

While our ambitions are international, our core is a British business, proud of Britain’s automotive skill base, from its cutting-edge hi-tech innovation and engineering ingenuity to its design credentials and traditional craftsmanship heritage. We’re using some of Britain’s best design and engineering talent to help develop the Alcraft project.

Design

For us design is an integral component of a vehicle, and electric vehicles offer the opportunity for designers to rethink the conventional form of the car, without the need to accommodate bulky engines and transmissions. Britain has long produced iconic automotive products, and our design team is developing an Alcraft design language, blending the ultra-clean and contemporary with the timeless values of British design.

Engineering

We are developing British-engineered electric powertrains and vehicle platforms. While focusing on vehicles with pure electric drive, we are also developing supplementary range-extending systems to achieve the optimum balance between environmental impact, performance and range. Our solutions draw on the British engineering tradition of minimising weight and maximising efficiency to enhance performance – an ethos perfectly suited to electric vehicles.                                                                                                                                               

THE CAR (see www.alcraftmotor.com for a definitive set of images)

The GT illustrates what Alcraft is about - a car with an elegant simplicity and understated, timeless good looks. Everything in the GT’s design has a purpose. Structural elements of the vehicle are visible externally: the exposed carbon-fibre B-pillars and roof structure are part of the aesthetic but serve as both a safety structure and a device to create an exceptionally light cabin, with a roof made largely of glass and a wraparound front screen. The cabin design is about what we call “responsible luxury” - leather is used, but not at the expense of weight or a clean, contemporary design.

The GT is not another electric supercar – it’s high-performance yet unashamedly practical, a shooting brake-style rear with a slide-out loading platform giving access to a 500-litre luggage area which can accommodate two golf bags. And even with enthusiastic driving it will be able to cover a typical 200-250-mile weekend trip on one charge, with over 300 miles possible. It has been designed and engineered to be either battery-only or equipped with a range-extender. It has also been designed so that it can made as a 2+2 rather than a two-seater.

The GT is about driving involvement rather than specification sheet numbers, torque rather than power, light weight and dynamics rather than straight-line speed and Nurburgring lap times. But the numbers associated with an advanced electric powertrain can’t be ignored. A three-motor configuration with three-motor four-wheel drive means the 840 lb ft torque and 600 horsepower translate into a 0-62mph time of around 3.5 secs. And a weight of only 1700kg, around 75% of a Tesla Model S, combines with torque vectoring to help give outstanding handling.

The car will of course have cutting-edge connectivity and apps to make the user experience as seamless as possible and to allow technical and performance software updates.

OUR JOURNEY SO FAR

The Alcraft GT was conceived by a small team of passionate but pragmatic car enthusiasts, automotive industry professionals and successful business people, with experience ranging from running a globally renowned low-volume British car company – Charles Morgan - to building up British businesses into international enterprises. There was a common view: create something distinctly British, not a me-too product, which we would all like to own.

The GT was designed by Matthew Humphries, who was responsible for Morgan’s Aeromax and its fuel-cell LIFE car. The design was carried out in parallel with an engineering team from Delta Motorsport, which has globally recognised expertise in high-performance electric cars and was a key supplier on the Jaguar C-X75 prototype development programme. The rigorous virtual engineering process allowed the design of a complete powertrain and other key systems, so that suppliers could be identified and put in place at an early stage, and safety, type approval and homologation issues could be addressed.

The car is now ready to be taken beyond concept. The next step on our journey is to build a full running prototype and show vehicle, which is where this current crowdfunding campaign comes in.

If our initiative appeals to you, and you want to be part of the journey to create a British electric vehicle brand, then we would welcome your support to help us take this next step.

OUR TEAM

DAVID ALCRAFT  (Founder & Managing Director)

David is leading the effort to establish an independent car design, development and manufacturing business founded on British design and engineering. He has a strong track record in building British businesses, most recently having grown his medical firm into a multinational organisation, twice being given the Queen’s Award for Industry. David is also passionate about classic cars and owner of a substantial classic car image archive.

CHARLES MORGAN (Director of Innovation)

Charles is synonymous with Britain’s specialist car industry, having spent almost 30 years at Morgan. As well as roles as Strategy Director and MD he drove its adoption of new technologies, including aluminium and electric powertrains. He was on the Executive Board of the SMMT from 2005-14, and is a member of the Automotive Council Technology Advisory Board and SMMT Forum. Charles brings uniquely relevant experience to the business.

MATT HUMPHRIES (Head of Design)

Matthew is formerly Head of Design at Morgan Cars, where he modernised the company’s design capabilities. He created the hydrogen fuel-cell Life Car, Aeromax, Plus 8, Eva GT, Supersports and Aero Coupe, and reinvented the iconic Morgan three-wheeler. He now also designs and produces watches, and is a senior vehicle design tutor at London’s world-renowned Royal College of Art. Matthew leads the development of Alcraft Motor Company’s design language.

CHRISTOPHER MACGOWAN (Advisor)

Christopher is one of the automotive industry’s best-known figures, having been CEO of both its key trade bodies, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and the Retail Motor Industry Federation. He was made an OBE in 2008. He is a member of the RAC Foundation Public Policy Committee and is a powerful advocate of the UK as a global automotive operating centre. Christopher guides Alcraft Motor Company on governance.

MARK CARBERY (Brand & Marketing Director)

Mark has 25 years’ experience of motor industry communications. He has been central to the successful launches of two completely new car brands – Lexus and Daewoo – and as Director of Communications Northern Europe for Michelin was responsible for launching its last Formula 1 programme. He has also worked in product planning and development. Mark is Alcraft’s marketing, brand and communications contact.

BILL McCUE (Head of Finance)

Bill has extensive experience including roles as COO, FD and IT Director in sectors ranging from engineering to banking. He operates across the business spectrum, but specialises in developing companies’ finance and support systems to underpin business growth and value. He was a key member of the team which built and sold David Alcraft’s multinational medical business, and is leading Alcraft Motor Company’s financial and funding strategy.

YVONNE FARNSWORTH (Administration Executive)

Yvonne is an experienced administrator with accounting skills who has worked with David Alcraft over a long period, helping him build his last, multinational business. She was in retail banking at Lloyds, before leaving to establish a successful security, entertainment and phone systems business which was sold to Chubb.

REWARD HIGHLIGHTS

Specifications of MHD Watches included in our Rewards

MHD SQ1 Watch

• Brushed finish Stainless steel case. 
• Stainless steel case back with "limited edition of 300" marking. 
• Knurled Crown, with screw down fixing. (at 4 o'clock to aid comfort) 
• Bevel edged mineral crystal glass. 
• Internal brushed finish bezel. 
• Case size 42mm, 11mm deep. 
• Satin finish black dial with red and grey markings. 
• Black hands with luminous tips (glow in the dark). 
• Red second hand. 
• Miyota 2035 quartz movement. 
• 10 atm water resistance. 
• 20mm black calf leather rally strap with red stitching (overall length of both sections excluding buckle: 190mm gentleman's standard size)

MHD Alcraft GT Watch

The AGT timepiece has a 42mm diameter, four-piece layered stainless steel, lightweight, exoskeleton case, which is 12.5mm in depth and topped with resilient, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal bevel-edged glass. The crown and case layers are highlighted with beautiful automotive-style knurled and polished chamfered-edge finishes. Even the three-piece dial has an automotive influence, from the brushed finished chapter ring to the machine-turned, steel colour sun ray dial with laser cut markers, which is then layered over a lower lume dial for visibility in the dark. For extra visibility, Humphries has even considered the semi-skeletonised hands with additional lume for precision timekeeping.  

The AGT houses a Miyota 9015 automatic 24-jewel movement, which is known for its hacking function for precise time setting and 42-hour power reserve. The beautiful Miyota 9015 movement can be viewed from the sapphire crystal display case back, which is also externally engraved with “MHD AGT”, and for added luxury the AGT is held to the wrist with either a black or brown calf leather strap with polished buckle. 

And for those who are interested in what the letters ‘GBD’ stand for on the dial face…Great British Design. 

Case:

- 4-piece layered case design.

- 42mm diameter by 12.5mm depth.

- Stainless steel bezel with knurled outer edge. Polished chamfered edge and brushed

  finish top surface.

- Sapphire crystal glass with bevel edge.

- Stainless steel exoskeleton frame with brushed finished top surface and polished    

  side surfaces.

- Stainless steel centre barrel with knurled finish.

- Stainless steel crown with knurled finish and turn edge.

- Sapphire crystal display case back with engraved “MHD AGT” markings. 

- Water resistance to 5 ATM

Dial:

- 3-piece dial design.

- Brushed finished chapter ring.

- Machine-turned, steel colour sunray dial with laser-cut marker slots.

- Lower lume dial (lume glows through the machine-turned dial).

- Semi skeletonised precision hands with lume.

Movement:

- Miyota 9015 Automatic 24 jewel hacking mechanical movement with 42-hour   

power reserve.

Strap:

- 20mm black or brown calf leather strap with polished buckle.

Details of Electric Bike

We have picked the top of the range of the British designed and manufactured Cyclotricity electric bikes for our reward. They have a unique and exciting “stealth mode” so if you sign a declaration not to use the high power settings on public roads, the factory will send you a code to increase power (which can be reversed at will). We have chosen two models with recommended retail prices between £1,195 and £1,299; please say which you prefer and specify a 17 inch or a 21 inch frame size:

the 500W bike with a 21AmpHr battery for best range and occasional thrills (http://www.cyclotricity.com/uk/dual-power-bikes...)

or, sacrifice some range and go for the top model for maximum power with the 1000W version with a 12AmpHr battery. (http://www.cyclotricity.com/uk/dual-power-bikes...)