Voxan Explained

Voxan Motors
Image Upright:1.3
Image Alt:Black and silver streamlined motorcycle in foreground with a French palace backdrop
Foundation:1995
Founder:Jacques Gardette
Location City:Fontvieille, Monaco
Location Country:Monaco
Industry:Motorcycle
Owner:Gildo Pallanca Pastor
Parent:Venturi

Voxan Motors is a motorcycle manufacturer founded in Issoire, France in 1995. The brand was particularly known for its 996 cc, 72° V-twin engine. Founded by Jacques Gardette, the project was to build the first French motorcycle company in the global market involving different partners. Alain Chevallier designed the chassis, while Sodemo Moteurs focused on the engine. The first prototype was shown in 1997, and the first production model released in 1999.[1]

On 2 June 2010, the Monegasque company Venturi announced the purchase of the brand which had been in compulsory liquidation since December 2009. Its president Gildo Pallanca Pastor led Voxan in the same direction as Venturi by orienting it towards electric motorisation. In 2013, the Wattman, the first electric motorcycle developed in Monaco, was born.[2] In October 2020, the Wattman, in a new high-performance version, broke 11 world speed records with Italian motorcycle racer Max Biaggi on board.[3]

History

Founded by Jacques Gardette in 1995, and financially backed by the Dassault Group in 1996, Voxan set out to become the first French motorcycle manufacturer in the modern era. In 1999, the first model, the limited production Roadster, was delivered to dealerships and sold exactly 50 units. The company then launched the Café Racer model in 2000,[4] and the Scrambler model a year later. Although Voxan had garnered support for its products within France, the company continued to struggle against the established Japanese and Italian brands. In June 2002, Didier Cazeaux and Société de Développement et de Participation bought Voxan to ensure its continuity, and production restarted on April 1, 2003. The Street Scrambler model was released in 2003, and the Scrambler and Black Magic models in 2004. Voxan opened its 23rd dealership, and its first in Luxembourg in May, 2005. In October, 2007, Voxan had an initial public offering on Euronext,[5] with both Sodemo Moteurs, and Fortune Terres Luxembourg considering takeover bids.[6] [7]

On December 22, 2009, Voxan was forced into liquidation, and is now a subsidiary of the Monaco-based Venturi.[8] [9] Upon acquisition Voxan's manufacturing department ceased production, and its engineering staff were relocated to Venturi's headquarters in Fontvieille, Monaco. In June 2010, Venturi announced Voxan's new eco-friendly corporate plan, evolving the creation of an electric motorcycle by 2013.

Legacy models

Wattman electric motorcycle

The Wattman is the brand's first electric model, released in 2013. Designed by Sacha Lakic, this electric motorcycle delivers a power of 150 kW (203 bhp) for an instantaneous torque of 200 Nm up to 10,500 rpm. At the time, it was the most powerful electric motorcycle ever built, capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 s.[10]

The Wattman has also been developed in a high performance version by the Voxan engineering team in Monaco. This version, also designed by Sacha Lakic, was conceived with the aim of breaking new world speed records. It is equipped with the same Mercedes electric motor that powers ROKiT Venturi Racing and Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team in the Formula E World Championship.[11]

World speed records

Ridden by Max Biaggi, the Wattman set a new world speed record for an electric motorcycle in the 'partially streamlined electric motorcycle over 300 kilos' class, reaching 366.94 km/h.  The record was set on the last weekend of October 2020, at Châteauroux airfield in France.[12] Further records were set at the Kennedy Space Center between 18 and 23 November 2021, including world record in the 'partially streamlined electric motorcycle under 300 kg' class.[13] The Voxan Wattman holds a total of 21 world speed records listed below:[14] [15]

Under 300 kg:
Over 300 kg:

Models

Former models

Year Name Production Reference
1999-2009 Roadster Yes [16]
2000-2009 Café Racer Yes [17]
2001-2009 Scrambler Yes [18]
2003-2009 Street Scrambler Yes [19]
2001 VB1 Yes[20]
2004 Black Magic Yes [21]
2004 Black Classic Yes
2006 Charade Racing Yes[22]
2007 GTV 1200 No[23]
2007 Starck Super Naked No[24]
2009 VX-10 No[25]
2013 WATTMAN No[26]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Everything about VOXAN - Voxan Brand History. Autoevolution. SoftNews NET. 3 May 2012. Autoevolution. 2008–2012.
  2. Web site: Voxan Wattman, Probably the Most Awesome Electric Motorcycle of the Planet. Tibu. Florin. 2013-12-02. autoevolution. en. 2020-05-13.
  3. Web site: Max Biaggi Sets New Electric Land Speed Record On Voxan Wattman. 2021-03-23. carandbike. English.
  4. Web site: Cormier . Jason . Voxan - Café (Racer) Français . www.odd-bike.com . 19 July 2019.
  5. Web site: VOXAN-SCCM . European Equities europeanequities.nyx.com; (archived copy at archive.is) . 28 April 2018.
  6. Web site: Business - Liquidation : Guillaume Maillard (Sodemo) : les liquidateurs de Voxan n'ont pas fait leur travail . Voxan's liquidators did not do their job . Paris . 17 February 2010 . moto-net.com . 11 April 2018.
  7. Web site: Voxan en liquidation judiciaire faute de repreneur . Voxan in liquidation for lack of buyer . Paris . 29 December 2009 . moto-net.com . 11 April 2018.
  8. Web site: Venturi buys Voxan Motorcycles. Electro Velocity. Best Green Blogs. 16 May 2012. Electro Velocity . 2011.
  9. Web site: Venturi Automobiles buys Voxan motorcycles. Motorcycle.com. Motorcycle.com Forum Network. 16 May 2012. Motorcycle.com . 2010.
  10. Web site: 2014 Voxan Wattman Electric Motorcycle Claims 200hp and 148 ft-lb.. Motorcycle.com. 2013-12-02. Motorcycle.com News. 2020-05-13.
  11. Web site: Hancocks . Simon. November 4, 2020 . Max Biaggi smashes electric motorcycle land speed record. 2021-03-23. Visordown. en.
  12. Web site: Voxan Wattman: The fastest electric motorcycle in the World - automobilsport.com. 2021-03-23. www.automobilsport.com.
  13. Web site: 456 km/h (283 mph): the Voxan Wattman remains the world's fastest electric motorcycle . 30 November 2021 . www.venturi.com . 28 November 2022.
  14. Web site: Swarts . David . 2021-12-06 . Biaggi Rides Electric Voxan To 283 mph Motorcycle Land Speed Record . 2023-07-21 . Roadracing World Magazine Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News . en-US.
  15. Web site: Bennetts . Voxan, WorldSBK Champ Max Biaggi smash Electric Motorcycle Speed Record . 2023-07-21 . Bennetts UK . en.
  16. http://www.moto-net.com/actualites-motos-375-Essais-et-Tests-ESSAI-LECTEUR-Bluffant-!.html Essai VOXAN 1000 Roadster Bluffant! Reader Test- VOXAN 1000 Roadster: "Amazing"!
  17. http://www.autoevolution.com/moto/voxan-cafe-racer-1999.html Voxan Café Racer (...born for the expert...)
  18. http://www.moto-net.com/actualites-motos-374-Essais-et-Tests-ESSAI-LECTEUR-La-moto-plaisir.html Essai VOXAN 1000 Scrambler La moto plaisir
  19. http://www.moto-net.com/actualites-motos-542-Essais-et-Tests-ESSAI-Street,-Scrambler-ou-les-deux-.html Essai VOXAN 1000 Street Scrambler Street, Scrambler ou les deux?
  20. http://www.motoplanete.com/voxan/1057/VB1-1000-2001/contact.html Voxan VB1 1000 2001 De la haute couture- Fiche moto - MOTOPLANETE
  21. Web site: Fredoc Black Magic 55. 2012-07-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080316210048/http://web.mac.com/fredoc2/iWeb/VoxanBlackMagic55/ . web.mac.com/fredoc2 . 2008-03-16 .
  22. http://www.charaderacing.fr/ Voxan Charade Racing
  23. http://www.moto-station.com/article3111-news-moto-2008-voxan-gtv-1200.html News moto 2008 : Voxan GTV 1200 - Moto Station
  24. http://www.thebikergene.com/naked-bikes/a-quick-look-at-voxans-french-v-twin-range-and-the-starck-super-naked-concept/ A quick look at Voxan’s French V-twin range and the Starck Super Naked concept
  25. http://www.moto-infos.com/essai-1487-voxan-vx10.html Moto Infos : Essai du VOXAN VX10 Bike Info: VOXAN VX10 Test
  26. http://www.bikedekho.com/bike-news/voxane-wattman-becomes-the-most-powerful-production-electric-motorcycle-ever.html Voxan Wattman becomes the Most Powerful Production Electric Motorcycle Ever

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