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Sunday, December 5, 2010
Venturi, the company that is self-proclaimed as having produced “the first production electric sports car in automobile history,” successfully taps into the ultra-rich’s unending pursuit of exclusivity. By only building 25 units a year, they can charge $400,000 for each of their high-performance, all-electric luxury sports cars. Somehow oddly fitting, their first EV is called the Fetish
Before building only new electric vehicles, Venturi catered to a similarly wealthy clientele by manufacturing mid-engine sports cars. The Fetish, Venuturi’s first EV effort, appeared in concept form at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show, and from there made the rounds at other events before the beginning of its production run in 2004. Similar to other electric-powered concept or show cars, the Fetish was designed to overcome the public’s often negative opinion that electric cars lack performance, style and range. They have only been marginally successful in their efforts. Although the 330 horsepower carbon-fiber Fetish can reach 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds, top speed is a paltry 112 mph. That’s certainly plenty of power for most EVs, or most any other car for that matter, but with a supercar price tag, you’d expect a similar super car punch in performance. What Venturi counts on is that there are at least 25 eco-conscious billionaires ready to plunk down 400 grand a year to be seen in the attractive Fetish. And when all is said and done, despite Venturi’s sports car building history, it is their ability to build long range electric vehicles that has made them money. In the case of the Fetish, when fully-charged it can go 220 miles before needing to be juiced up again. A rapid battery charge is also available, which yields about one mile of driving for every minute of power that it is allowed to take in. The ability to go 220 miles on one charge is largely the result of weight, or more accurately, the lack of weight of the Fetish at only 2,425 pounds. Other technological advances include a wireless information system developed between Venturi and partner, Intel that remotely monitors the energy storage status to conveniently update an owner that may be at work or at home waiting for the car to be charged. As expensive as the Fetish is, delivery from Monaco to your destination, according to Venturi, is the buyer’s responsibility.Thursday, October 14, 2010
Bentley has presented several days ago new generation of coupe Continental GT, and already today appears information that Englishmen work over one model. It is a question about a four-door coupe. Now such body type becomes more and more popular, and it is not only at Mercedes-Benz or Audi, but also at Porsche and Aston Martin. Therefore in Bentley don't want to lose a new piece of the market.
The most interesting, new four-door coupe from Bentley can become most cheap car in a modeling ruler of the company. According to some information, the base price of this car will be about 140 000 usd. Agree, for Bentley it is absolutely inexpensive (truth, it is not necessary to forget about taxes which can increase considerably final cost of model).
According to some information, at the heart of a four-door coupe Bentley the increased platform from Audi A6 of a new generation thanks to what the weight of the car will make only 1700 kg (for comparison Continental GT weighs on 500 kg more). Well and under a car cowl there will be 4,0-liter motor V8 with a turbo-supercharging which will be created by joint efforts of engineers Audi and Bentley.
Ford prepares to present absolutely new generation of the smallest model under name Ka only in 2014. However journalists from English magazine AutoExpress have managed to learn something about the new car.
At creation of new generation Ford Ka the main attention will be given to design. Ford management plans to make from Ka one of the most stylish cars in the market. And for this purpose without risky experiments with appearance not possible to manage such car. According to AutoExpress, serial Ka will be made in style concept Start which has been shown in April of this year on a showroom in Beijing. And Ka will be equipped too with the petrol motor in volume of 1,0 l from ruler EcoBoost which capacity will makes from 85 h.p. to 125 h.p. depending on adjustment.
Apparently, at the heart of following generation of Ford Ka there will be a new platform which will be created by joint efforts of engineers Ford and Fiat.
