Fuel-efficient city cars are being created at automaker R&D departments the world over, and even BMW plans on getting in on the action. BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer has confirmed that the German automaker was working on a ‘mega city car’ that will carry an all-new look, and two powertrains. One micro car will receive motivation with the aid of standard combustion, but the other will be pure electric. The electric vehicle will also comply with a California mandate that by 2012 there must be a fuel cell or battery-powered car that can travel 200 on a single charge. For comparison sake, GM promises at least 40 miles for the Chevy Volt, and Mitsubishi is looking at 100 mpg for the iMiEV.
It’s also worth mentioning that the BMW CEO specifically pointed out that it meets California regulations, signaling that the vehicle would be available Stateside. There is still no word regarding which of BMW’s three brands would be used for the vehicle, but we’re still very sure it won’t be a Rolls Royce.
This vehicle was at the Peterborough Kit and Car builder Show. The Etrike is available as a set of working drawings and comprehensive build notes together with suppliers details for all the components to get one on the road from £1500. The beauty of this vehicle is that you can build in your modifications as you go and produce a truly unique machine for anyone from 16 years old to 70. It’s fun it’s green and it’s affordable!
World’s cheapest car goes on show
Tata Motors has unveiled the world’s cheapest motor car at India’s biggest car show in the capital, Delhi.
The vehicle, called the Tata Nano, will sell for 100,000 rupees or $2,500 (£1,277) and enable those in developing countries to move to four wheels.
The four-door five-seater car, which goes on sale later this year, has a 33bhp, 624cc, engine at the rear.
It has no air conditioning, no electric windows and no power steering, but two deluxe models will be on offer.
See key features that make the Tata Nano so cheap
Tata will initially make about 250,000 Nanos and expects eventual annual demand of one million cars.
The price will be slightly more than the 100,000 once tax and other costs are taken into consideration.
The Nano release comes as India’s domestic car market is predicted to soar in the coming years on the back of the country’s fast-growing economy and increased consumer wealth.
‘People’s car’
Indian car sales are predicted to more than quadruple to $145bn by 2016.
Company chairman Ratan Tata said the launch of the Nano was a landmark in the history of transportation.
He said the car was “a safe, affordable and all weather transport - a people’s car, designed to meet all safety standards and emissions laws and accessible to all”.
Environmental critics have said that the car will lead to mounting air and pollution problems on India’s already clogged roads.
But Tata said the car had passed emission standards and would average about 50 miles to the gallon, or five litres per hundred kilometres.
The firm also said it would introduce a diesel version of the Nano at a later date.
‘Family transport’
At the unveiling ceremony Mr Tata said: “I observed families riding on two-wheelers - the father driving the scooter, his young kid standing in front of him, his wife seated behind him holding a little baby.
“It led me to wonder whether one could conceive of a safe, affordable, all-weather form of transport for such a family.
“Tata Motors’ engineers and designers gave their all for about four years to realise this goal.
“Today, we indeed have a People’s Car, which is affordable and yet built to meet safety requirements and emission norms, to be fuel efficient and low on emissions.”
Ravi Vangala, of Hyderbad, India, said: “I… congratulate Tata for his dream, and I will definitely buy the Tata Nano car.”
Chanel 4 have this report on a new electric gull winged car. Now one or two of us here on this site will know it’s actually a stylish quadricycle from Itally which has been around a few years now.
Electric car company Nice has unveiled a new sports car featuring gull-wing doors.
The Super Light Electric Sport Car was designed around a carbon fibre cell, with advanced electronics replacing traditional mechanical assemblies.
This research project was developed in partnership with Cranfield University’s power and drive systems group based in Shrivenham.
‘This is not a production car, but it does show what is possible when design starts from the principle of electric-drive upwards,’ said Nice co-founder Evert Geurtsen. ‘When integrated with advanced, lightweight materials, the benefits of this approach become very clear.’
The Super Light Electric Sport Car will have a starring role in the electric car pavilion at this year’s British Motor Show. Nice will also have a stand at the event. This will showcase a new front end on the company’s Mega City car, as well as a host of brand new electric models from the company.
‘The Nice decade is just beginning for electric vehicles,’ added Geurtsen. ‘No congestion charge, no road tax, parking concessions and 2p per mile motoring. It doesn’t get much nicer than that.’
It’s not the first time we’ve seen diesel touted as a solution for more efficient vehicles, but Loremo AG’s new eponymously-titled vehicle may just have all of ‘em beat — if it can live up to its claims, that is. According to the vehicle’s designers, in addition to diesel, they relied on engine efficiency, low weight, and minimal drag to boost the fuel-efficiency, which they say could top out at lofty 150 miles per gallon. With numbers like those, it should come as no surprise that Loremo’s also entered the car in the Automotive X-Prize competition but, unlike most of the other entrants, this one will apparently actually be available to the general public relatively soon. That’ll supposedly come sometime next year, with Europeans the first in line to get their hands on the vehicle for the relative bargain price of €15,000 (or $22,000) — a redesigned North American version is then set to follow a year later. As if that wasn’t enough Loremo’s also promising a spiffier 3-cylinder GT version that’ll run you $30,000, and both hybrid and fully electric versions, although those are only described as “in the works.”
You’re looking at the maddest thing on four wheels! This is the GG Quadster, the brainchild of Swiss firm GG Technik.
It’s fitted with the engine from a Yamaha R1 superbike, but is tuned to produce 167bhp. And as the quad weighs only 375kg, the power-to-weight ratio is 445bhp per tonne – close to Bugatti Veyron territory! Performance is suitably scary; 0-60mph takes less than three seconds and the Quadster has a top speed of 140mph.
The neat part is that quads are classed as cars by the DVLA, so you can drive one on your standard licence. You don’t even need a helmet, although we’d strongly recommend one. But this much fun doesn’t come cheap – expect to pay around £30,000.
German firm gives the green light for its Isetta bubble car replacement.
A new range of city models is being planned by BMW, and they could be called Isetta after the famous bubble car of the Fifties.
In Issue 989, we revealed how the firm was looking at the designs for such a vehicle (above). But now, it seems the project is being developed into a range of eco-friendly models to sit below MINI.
Back in September, bosses announced plans for a fourth brand – and this is the clearest indication of what it will be.
Strong
An insider revealed the range would be primarily designed for town use, but driver appeal would still be key. As with MINI, it would need a badge with a strong heritage. And while Isetta is the likeliest candidate, BMW has some classic British badges at its disposal – most notably Triumph.
There has been speculation that BMW’s new range would be hybrids. However, our insider said: “That technology is reserved for larger models, such as our SUVs.”
Instead, small turbo petrol and diesel engines would be used to help keep costs down, yet provide decent performance and excellent economy and emissions. This last feature is a key reason for BMW giving the city car project the go-ahead. It needs to reduce the average CO2 outputs from its vehicles to meet new EU targets.
Tata Motors will introduce its $2,500 “People’s Car” on 10 January at 9th Auto Expo in New Delhi. The company plans to begin production of the low-priced vehicle in 2008.
Tata group chairman Ratan Tata has said that the new car, a 33hp, four-door, rear-engined vehicle, is aimed at attracting current two-wheeler customers in India, and would be slightly larger than the smart car.
About 7 million scooters and motorcycles were sold in India last year, typically for prices between 30,000 rupees and 70,000 rupees, about $675 to $1,600…Within a few years 2 million of those motorcycle owners may trade up to buy the Tata car, figures McKinsey & Co. partner Ramesh Mangaleswaran in Mumbai.
Well it’s that time of year again where you’ll find Qdos Cars at the Westpoint Arena at Exeter. Apparantly they have something rather exciting and new to unveil so why not pop down and see what they are working on…..
The Super Light Electric Sport Car was designed around a carbon fibre cell, with advanced electronics replacing traditional mechanical assemblies.
It’s not the first time we’ve seen diesel touted as a solution for more efficient vehicles, but Loremo AG’s new eponymously-titled vehicle may just have all of ‘em beat — if it can live up to its claims, that is. According to the vehicle’s designers, in addition to diesel, they relied on engine efficiency, low weight, and minimal drag to boost the fuel-efficiency, which they say could top out at lofty 150 miles per gallon. With numbers like those, it should come as no surprise that Loremo’s also entered the car in the Automotive X-Prize competition but, unlike most of the other entrants, this one will apparently actually be available to the general public relatively soon. That’ll supposedly come sometime next year, with Europeans the first in line to get their hands on the vehicle for the relative bargain price of €15,000 (or $22,000) — a redesigned North American version is then set to follow a year later. As if that wasn’t enough Loremo’s also promising a spiffier 3-cylinder GT version that’ll run you $30,000, and both hybrid and fully electric versions, although those are only described as “in the works.”
You’re looking at the maddest thing on four wheels! This is the GG Quadster, the brainchild of Swiss firm GG Technik.
A new range of city models is being planned by BMW, and they could be called Isetta after the famous bubble car of the Fifties.
Tata Motors will introduce its $2,500 “People’s Car” on 10 January at 9th Auto Expo in New Delhi. The company plans to begin production of the low-priced vehicle in 2008.
