9/18/08 - 7 sexy hybrids you can't (yet) buy - msnbc.msn.com

[A1phaGeek]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26462400/

#1 Aptera
"Mere Earthlings will likely do some serious rubbernecking when the Aptera Typ-1 three-wheeled vehicle hits the road, perhaps as early as this year. The vehicle, shown here, is officially classified as a motorcycle and looks more like something out of "The Jetsons" than Detroit. The California-built machine will come in all-electric and hybrid flavors, the latter getting more than 300 miles per gallon of gas. Top speed exceeds 85 mph, and the vehicle goes from 0 to 60 in under 10 seconds, the company says. About four hours plugged into a standard socket recharges a drained battery."

[palmer_md]

After following the links to the venturi I found a car that is the exact opposite of the Aptera...well not exactly. Its a 4 wheel electric car that has a solar rooftop and seats three passengers. But aerodynamically it is very different than the Aptera. Still a pretty cool car. Reminds me of an electric car from the early 1900's. Jay Leno has an electric Baker that has a similar look. I remember Jay saying that the front and rear windows roll down and when he rolls them down the car gains 2 mph. This car could also benefit from putting the front and rear windows down.

http://www.venturi.fr/Eclectic-Video.html

[APTERA 2356]

Aptera is now #2 on the list , The prius took over the number 1 slot.

Aptera is still #1 to me :love0001:

[A1phaGeek]

Aptera is the second slide, but the first on the list. The list is cars you CAN'T buy yet. The Prius is the example of what you can buy now.

[A1phaGeek]

After following the links to the venturi I found a car that is the exact opposite of the Aptera...well not exactly. Its a 4 wheel electric car that has a solar rooftop and seats three passengers. But aerodynamically it is very different than the Aptera. Still a pretty cool car. Reminds me of an electric car from the early 1900's. Jay Leno has an electric Baker that has a similar look. I remember Jay saying that the front and rear windows roll down and when he rolls them down the car gains 2 mph. This car could also benefit from putting the front and rear windows down.

http://www.venturi.fr/Eclectic-Video.html

WOW, and people say the Aptera looks weird. That thing is anti-aerodynamic. The whole concept just does not make sense to me. Why three seats? why no doors? why a massive absolutely flat front end? At least it is electric!

[n_dawg]

WOW, and people say the Aptera looks weird. That thing is anti-aerodynamic. The whole concept just does not make sense to me. Why three seats? why no doors? why a massive absolutely flat front end? At least it is electric!


Yeah, that's basically what I thought of it when I stumbled upon it mebbe two months ago.

This is the problem with thinking that car stylists are car designers.

[KarenRei]

Agreed. One of the things that I love about the Aptera is that it's a product of inverting that paradigm -- designers get the first go, *then* stylists can play their hand.

[G-Jet]

Karen, tell that to the "designer" of this car. I think you have it backwards.

G

[Matthijs]

Eclectic offers a range up to 50 km at a speed of 50 km/hr (electronically restricted), which suffices largely to cover daily movements in urban areas.

I think this car makes sense, also the shape. It only has a top speed of 35mph so aerodynamics are not that important. And it can store 2.5 m2 of photovoltaic cells on the roof this way.

[G-Jet]

I like the venturi ecletic. It has a very specific mission and is a good design.

g

[Mother]

When you criticize its styling, remember, guys, this vehicle is from the same country that brought us the Renault 2CV, the Citroen "roach", and all those wonderful Peugeots.

Mother

[G-Jet]

Who said anything about the styling. I was talking about the "design".

G

[NeilBlanchard]

Hiya,

The second car shown looks like the Honda FCX Clarity, and not the new Honda Insight, that they refer to.