Voxan Motors
IndustryMotorcycle
Founded1995
FounderJacques Gardette
Headquarters
Fontvieille, Monaco
,
Monaco
OwnerGildo Pallanca Pastor
ParentVenturi
Websitewww.venturi.com/en/voxan-motors/

Voxan Motors is a motorcycle manufacturer founded in Issoire, France in 1995.[1][2] The brand was particularly known for its 996 cc, 72° V-twin engine.[1][2] Founded by Jacques Gardette, the project was to build the first French motorcycle company in the global market involving different partners.[1] Alain Chevallier designed the chassis, while Sodemo Moteurs focused on the engine.[1] 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.[3] In October 2020, the Wattman, in a new high-performance version, broke 11 world speed records with Italian motorcycle racer Max Biaggi on board.[4]

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.[1] In 1999, the first model, the limited production Roadster, was delivered to dealerships and sold exactly 50 units.[1] The company then launched the Café Racer model in 2000,[5] and the Scrambler model a year later.[1] Although Voxan had garnered support for its products within France, the company continued to struggle against the established Japanese and Italian brands.[1] 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.[1] The Street Scrambler model was released in 2003,[1] and the Scrambler and Black Magic models in 2004.[1] Voxan opened its 23rd dealership, and its first in Luxembourg in May, 2005. In October, 2007, Voxan had an initial public offering on Euronext,[6] with both Sodemo Moteurs, and Fortune Terres Luxembourg considering takeover bids.[7][8][9]

On December 22, 2009, Voxan was forced into liquidation, and is now a subsidiary of the Monaco-based Venturi.[2][10] Upon acquisition Voxan's manufacturing department ceased production, and its engineering staff were relocated to Venturi's headquarters in Fontvieille, Monaco.[2] In June 2010, Venturi announced Voxan's new eco-friendly corporate plan, evolving the creation of an electric motorcycle by 2013.[10]

Legacy models

  • Roadster - the first model from this manufacturer, production beginning in 1999
  • Cafe Racer
  • Scrambler
  • VB1
  • Street Scrambler
  • Black Magic
  • Charade - based on the Black Magic
  • 1200 GTV - prototype presented at the salon de Paris 2007
  • Starck Super-Naked (project abandoned)
  • Black Classic - an evolution of the Black Magic
  • VX10 - project code Nefertiti, 10th Voxan model, presented in May 2009

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.[11]

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.[12]

World speed records

Max Biaggi on the Voxan Wattman (partially-streamlined)
Max Biaggi on the Voxan Wattman (non-streamlined)

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.[13] 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.[14] The Voxan Wattman holds a total of 21 world speed records listed below:[15][16]

Under 300 kg
  • ¼ mile, flying start, partially streamlined: 293 km/h (182 mph)
  • ¼ mile, flying start, non-streamlined: 285 km/h (177 mph)
  • 1 km, flying start, partially streamlined: 456 km/h (283 mph)
  • 1 mile, flying start, partially streamlined: 454 km/h (282 mph)
  • 1 mile, flying start, non-streamlined: 368 km/h (229 mph)
  • ¼ mile, standing start, non-streamlined: 156 km/h (97 mph)
  • 1 km, standing start, partially streamlined: 223 km/h (139 mph)
  • 1 mile, standing start, partially streamlined: 273 km/h (170 mph)
  • 1 km, flying start, non-streamlined: 370 km/h (230 mph)
  • ¼ mile, standing start, streamlined: 149 km/h (93 mph)
Over 300 kg
  • 1 km, flying start, partially streamlined: 408 km/h (254 mph)
  • 1 mile, flying start, partially streamlined: 404 km/h (251 mph)
  • 1 mile, flying start, non-streamlined: 367 km/h (228 mph)
  • 1 km, flying start, non-streamlined: 366 km/h (227 mph)
  • 1 mile, standing start, partially streamlined: 255 km/h (158 mph)
  • 1 km, standing start, partially streamlined: 216 km/h (134 mph)
  • 1 mile, standing start, non-streamlined: 216 km/h (134 mph)
  • ¼ mile, standing start, non-streamlined: 153 km/h (95 mph)
  • ¼ mile, standing start, partially streamlined: 142 km/h (88 mph)

Models

Former models

Voxan Café Racer
Voxan Black Magic
Voxan Scrambler
YearNameProductionReference
1999-2009RoadsterYes[17]
2000-2009Café RacerYes[18]
2001-2009ScramblerYes[19]
2003-2009Street ScramblerYes[20]
2001VB1Yes[21]
2004Black MagicYes[22]
2004Black ClassicYes[22]
2006Charade RacingYes[23]
2007GTV 1200No[24]
2007Starck Super NakedNo[25]
2009VX-10No[26]
2013WATTMANNo[27]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Autoevolution (2008–2012). "Everything about VOXAN - Voxan Brand History". Autoevolution. SoftNews NET. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Electro Velocity (2011). "Venturi buys Voxan Motorcycles". Electro Velocity. Best Green Blogs. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  3. ↑ Tibu, Florin (2013-12-02). "Voxan Wattman, Probably the Most Awesome Electric Motorcycle of the Planet". autoevolution. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  4. ↑ "Max Biaggi Sets New Electric Land Speed Record On Voxan Wattman". carandbike. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  5. ↑ Cormier, Jason. "Voxan - Café (Racer) Français". www.odd-bike.com. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  6. ↑ "VOXAN-SCCM". European Equities europeanequities.nyx.com; (archived copy at archive.is). Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  7. ↑ "Business - Liquidation : Guillaume Maillard (Sodemo) : les liquidateurs de Voxan n'ont pas fait leur travail" [Voxan's liquidators did not do their job]. moto-net.com. Paris. 17 February 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  8. ↑ "Voxan en liquidation judiciaire faute de repreneur" [Voxan in liquidation for lack of buyer]. moto-net.com. Paris. 29 December 2009. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  9. ↑ Voxan : le repreneur luxembourgeois confirme son intérêt [Voxan: the Luxembourg buyer confirms their interest] (in French), Moto Mag, 4 January 2010, retrieved 11 April 2018
  10. 1 2 Motorcycle.com (2010). "Venturi Automobiles buys Voxan motorcycles". Motorcycle.com. Motorcycle.com Forum Network. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
  11. ↑ Motorcycle.com (2013-12-02). "2014 Voxan Wattman Electric Motorcycle Claims 200hp and 148 ft-lb". Motorcycle.com News. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
  12. ↑ Hancocks, Simon (November 4, 2020). "Max Biaggi smashes electric motorcycle land speed record". Visordown. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  13. ↑ "Voxan Wattman: The fastest electric motorcycle in the World - automobilsport.com". www.automobilsport.com. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  14. ↑ "456 km/h (283 mph): the Voxan Wattman remains the world's fastest electric motorcycle". www.venturi.com. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  15. ↑ Swarts, David (2021-12-06). "Biaggi Rides Electric Voxan To 283 mph Motorcycle Land Speed Record". Roadracing World Magazine | Motorcycle Riding, Racing & Tech News. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  16. ↑ Bennetts. "Voxan, WorldSBK Champ Max Biaggi smash Electric Motorcycle Speed Record". Bennetts UK. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
  17. ↑ Essai VOXAN 1000 Roadster Bluffant! Reader Test- VOXAN 1000 Roadster: "Amazing"!, at moto-net.com, accessed 11 April 2018
  18. ↑ Voxan Café Racer (...born for the expert...), at autoevolution.com, accessed 11 April 2018
  19. ↑ Essai VOXAN 1000 Scrambler La moto plaisir Reader Test- VOXAN 1000 Scrambler - the pleasure bike, at moto-net.com, accessed 11 April 2018
  20. ↑ Essai VOXAN 1000 Street Scrambler Street, Scrambler ou les deux? Reader Test- VOXAN 1000 Street Scrambler- Street, Scrambler or both?, at moto-net.com, accessed 11 April 2018
  21. ↑ Voxan VB1 1000 2001 De la haute couture- Fiche moto - MOTOPLANETE Voxan VB1 1000 2001 High Fashion- Bike file - MOTOPLANETE, at motoplanete.com, accessed 11 April 2018
  22. 1 2 "Fredoc Black Magic 55". web.mac.com/fredoc2. Archived from the original on 2008-03-16. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
  23. ↑ Voxan Charade Racing Archived 2008-11-12 at the Wayback Machine
  24. ↑ News moto 2008 : Voxan GTV 1200 - Moto Station, accessed 11 April 2018
  25. ↑ A quick look at Voxan’s French V-twin range and the Starck Super Naked concept at The Biker Gene Archived 2012-09-29 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 12 April 2018
  26. ↑ Moto Infos : Essai du VOXAN VX10 Bike Info: VOXAN VX10 Test
  27. ↑ Voxan Wattman becomes the Most Powerful Production Electric Motorcycle Ever Naveen Soni, 10 December 2015, at bikedekho.com, accessed 12 April 2018
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