Tag: sportscar

Sounds Familiar: Millionaire drops big bucks to build Lotus-based EV sportscar

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Technology, UK, Electric

Ecotricity Nemesis

We’re beginning to think that the real difference between a millionaire and a billionaire is simply whether or not one succumbs to the idea of building your own sports car. The latest to fall victim to that money trap is Dale Vince – a man with a vision for an all-electric, 330 horsepower beast capable of ripping off the 0-60 mph sprint in 4.4 seconds on its way to 100 mph in 8.5 seconds. Like a few other specialty racers we’ve seen surface recently, the Nemisis uses a Lotus chassis for its bones, while a pack of lithium-polymer batteries supplies the juice. And according to Vince, the cells can be topped off in 8-10 hours using a trickle charge.

All told, the car has a range of somewhere between 100 and 150 miles and boasts a theoretical top speed of 170 mph. Ecotricity, the company that builds the Nemisis, has its eyes set on besting the UK’s electric vehicle top speed record of 139 mph soon. So, how much would you have to pay for a car like the Nemesis? Vince isn’t saying, though considering that it cost around £25 million to develop (including a £400,000 investment from the British government), chances are it won’t be cheap should it ever hit production.

[Sources: Inventorspot, The Daily Mail]

Sounds Familiar: Millionaire drops big bucks to build Lotus-based EV sportscar originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Infiniti still mulling halo sportscar model?

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Infiniti, Rumormill, Luxury

Infiniti Essence concept car

Infiniti Essence concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Infiniti has got its hands full these days. Between the launch of the new M range, development of its own luxury version of the Nissan Leaf electric vehicle and plans for a rival to the likes of the BMW 1 Series, Audi A3 and new Lexus CT200h, to say nothing of the manifestation of its Infiniti Performance Line, there’s plenty on the Nissan premium division’s plate. But that doesn’t mean it couldn’t take on one more big project, if the latest reports from overseas come to fruition.

According to British weekly Autocar, Infiniti chief Toru Saito is keen to top the brand’s model lineup with a full-on range-topping sportscar. The segment is one which rival Acura had previously attacked with the iconic NSX and which Lexus recently tackled with the LFA supercar (albeit at a stratospheric level), but which Infiniti hasn’t broached until now. Although previous rumors surrounded the use of the Nissan GT-R’s platform, if it comes to be, Autocar says that Infiniti’s sportscar would likely take its cues from the critically acclaimed Essence show car displayed at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, and possibly draw on parent company Nissan-Renault’s recently-penned partnership with Mercedes-Benz.

Gallery: Infiniti Essence Concept

[Source: Autocar]

Infiniti still mulling halo sportscar model? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Nissan considering Leaf-based EV sportscar

Filed under: Performance, Infiniti, Nissan, Rumormill, Electric

Nissan is reportedly considering building a sports car based on the electric drive hardware from its new Leaf EV. From a business perspective, it would likely make sense for Nissan to follow the same path set forth by Toyota/Lexus with premium hybrid models, and indeed, the Leaf is already pegged to get a pricier sibling at Infiniti. A premium battery electric vehicle could be sold a significantly higher price point, helping to subsidize the cost of more mainstream models like the Leaf.

The big question is what platform to use. Mercedes-Benz and Audi are both developing electric versions of their respective supercars. Nissan could do a battery powered version of the 370Z, which has both its positives and negatives. The Z is relatively lightweight for a modern car, although its small size could make packaging the battery problematic. A more likely scenario might be a version of the 2009 Infiniti Essence concept which was originally shown as a hybrid. The larger car would allow for more battery and range.

A third possibility that might actually be the best option is a new car based on the Leaf platform but with the motor moved to the rear axle. The compact size of the electric motor could make packaging easier than with an internal combustion vehicle, and much of the rest of the hardware could stay the same.

[Source: Inside Line]

Rumormill: Nissan considering Leaf-based EV sportscar originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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