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October 5, 2010
Riding in the Electric Lotus
Neuwerks
A couple of weekends ago I got a call form a close friend who shares a love for European cars, and is also a moderator of a large site devoted to the VW Passat. At the time I was working at a friends local Audi Shop, and I had a strange question asked me when I answered my phone. “Hey I got a Tesla for the day, Wanna go for a ride?” Who would say no to that??
October 4, 2010
The Velozzi Supercar: Will It Make It To Market?
By Ted Berner
GTwildfire
A Los Angeles-based Company, run by Roberto Velozzi, has partnered with Bayer Material Science (yes, the Aspirin people), Capstone Turbine Corporation, and other substantial companies to create a supercar, but with a twist or more appropriately a spin… one hell of a spin. The car will use a microturbine driving a generator to convert biodiesel or numerous other fuels to power an electric drive system that would make Jay Leno giddy. Performance specs are 770 HP, 0-60 in 3 seconds and a top speed of over 200 MPH. The first 200 miles of driving would be on electric power, and extended range would be 1000 miles using onboard generation.
However, I have some healthy skepticism reporting on the Velozzi concept, which is just one in a sea of similar boutique EV’s that never seem to materialize. Quite some time ago I posted about the Lightning GT, an electric supercar in the works by an upstart British automaker, which boasted similar performance specs. We’re still waiting for that one to hit the market.
August 31, 2010
Ford’s Electric Future
By Jen Dunnaway
Editor
Back at the beginning of the 80′s, Ford set out to build a true “World Car”–the Escort–a version of which was to appear on every continent on Earth, making it a global vehicle in a way that hadn’t been earnestly attempted since the Model T. Though I continue to drive a Ford Escort (or two) just about every day, I’d sure never driven an electric car. But with its new global electrification strategy, the next-gen Focus already billed as the company’s next “World Car,” and the all-new electric Focus spearheading its varied fleet of battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, Ford is embarking on something far more ambitious than the last world-car effort.
But forget about world domination for a second–let’s talk about the car. On the road, I found the all-electric Focus to be a total darling. Continue reading…
January 13, 2010
NAIAS: Walking Around the EcoXperience
By Jim Brennan
UDMan
On the lower floor of the Cobo Hall Convention Center, there was a track (of sorts) that was set up so everyone could pilot an electric (or Hybrid) vehicle. There were many models that were made available by the various manufacturers, even models that were not on sale in the US yet. There were cars from Tango, CT&T, Think, Mitsubishi (which is odd because they didn’t attend the show), Mercedes Benz, Smart, and GM.
December 22, 2009
Dan Neil Takes Audi’s e-tron for a Test Drive
By John Coyle
Deputy Editor
Audi’s e-tron was a smash hit at the LA Auto Show, and nobody had even seen it on the road. But Los Angeles Times automotive critic Dan Neil got to take one for a test drive and feel its 3319lbs of torque. Think we’ll really see these on the road in two years? With only a 100 being released worldwide, the chances of spotting one in the wild is remote, but it’d still be cool…
December 2, 2009
LA Auto Show 2009: Audi's e-tron Stuns in Orange
By John Coyle
Deputy Editor
This electric concept actually dropped in Frankfurt, but the one on the floor there was a comparatively staid fire-engine red. The e-tron Audi brought to LA, on the other hand, is painted in an orange that’s probably visible from space, even through the roof of the Los Angeles Convention Center. The body is so smooth and clean it almost looks like this eco-beast was grown in a vat, and not constructed by something as mortal and clumsy as human hands. I don’t really care for the wheels—they look a little too much like food processor blades—but overall, this car is a complete knockout, and getting these few shots probably took close to an hour, because all the media peeps were swarming over it. The scene honestly made me think of killer bees attacking a bull. Oh, and it’s hard to argue with 3,319.03 Lb-Ft of torque. More photos and a walk-around video after the jump.
Continue reading "LA Auto Show 2009: Audi's e-tron Stuns in Orange" »
November 7, 2009
Electric Beauty: Porsche 912 EV at SEMA
By Jen Dunnaway
Editor
It’s a 1976 912 packing 85 3.3v lithium ion batteries. They power a NetGain Warp11 DC motor, which puts go to the wheels via an original Porsche 5-speed transmission. Built by Sunshine State Restorations in consultation with the Tallahassee Area Electric Vehicle Association. The overall effect? An ultra-clean classic EV. See more…
Continue reading "Electric Beauty: Porsche 912 EV at SEMA" »
June 5, 2009
Electric Shock: Tesla Model S Exclusive
By John Coyle
Deputy Editor
There’s really no other way to say it; the teaser for oncars.com’s three-part Tesla Model S feature is straight-up sexy. Now, I’ve given Tesla plenty of crap over the company’s slow crawl into the auto industry. Between the delays with getting its Roadster to customers, to the opening—and closing—of the Detroit office to the flaky trannys, it hasn’t been an easy road for the Silicon valley start-up. Some in the press even said the Roadster would amount to vaporware. But my gut says the future holds good things for Tesla, and I love styling of the Model S. In my opinion, it kind of looks like a cross between a Maser and the new Jag XF. Here’s hoping it doesn’t wind up as an exotic.
March 17, 2009
Would Desperation Drive You To This?
Bick66
With the current economic climate and unpredictable gas prices, fuel efficiency is on everyone’s mind. Although big SUVs and gas-burning muscle cars are still plentiful on our roads, smaller cars are becoming more common every day. I found this Tango from the Commuter Cars Corporation in the Home Depot parking lot yesterday and couldn’t help but think about how the way some of us view transportation is changing. This narrow electric road pod won’t haul much home from the hardware store but it does 0-60 in 4 seconds and you can park four of them in an average parking spot. It also runs a 12-second quarter mile and comes standard with a steel roll cage–and this one was a even little tricked out with a Momo wheel and one-behind-the-other Sparco seats.
Personally, I’m still attached to the idea of having a vehicle you can haul a trailer with, and I’ll never retire my love for 60s American muscle. However, if you pay attention to how many empty seats there are in the cars around you on the highway, you might wonder how much fuel we’re burning just to push unnecessary weight down the road. How about you? Could you ever see owning something like the Tango if the gas situation gets bad enough?
January 13, 2009
My 2010 Ride
By Ryan Porter
IN-N-OUT Editor
While Rob was out at Detroit partying it up and having a blast I told him that he had to do one thing for me. I made him promise to check out the smart fortwo ED or simply said, the electric smart car.
In reality the smart fortwo ED won’t be much of a change from my smart but I’m crossing my fingers that the transmissions works a little smoother. For those of you who don’t know the smart’s tranny feels about like a 2-speed powerwheeel but either way the smart rocks! I think every CarDomain member needs one!
