Lotus Track Tests Hybrid Evora 414E

Lotus Cars – that other Brit sports car maker – has announced the commencement of track testing on it’s Evora 414E Range Extended Hybrid Electric Concept. Testing is taking place at the company’s RAF Hethel track in Norfolk.

Lotus says it’s devoloping the 414E Hybrid to showcase the company’s new developments in plug-in, range-extended electric propulsion, new electronic technologies to enhance driver involvement. We reckon just wow would have been a sufficient reason. Anyone who’s driven the Karts that Lotus turns out will recognise the potential for superfast, extra-sporty electric hybrid racing.

From the outside it looks like Lotus has been evolving, lightening and tightening vehicles since the Elise specifically for this latest batch of low to the ground, corner loving karts. In 414E, Lotus Engineering has developed a highly efficient, high performance drivetrain system consisting of twin motors each limited providing 155 kW of power and 500 Nm of torque to each wheel :: Read the full article »»

Honda RC-E: First Electric Supersports Bike

At long last, the world’s largest and arguably most influential motorcycle manufacturer is getting in on the electric motorcycles show. Honda has announced it will be showing an electric supersports motobike concept at the Tokyo Motor Show next month. Fresh on the heels of the Husqvarna Concept E-go, Honda has an electric concept of its own: the Honda RC-E. Styling draws heavily on the best period of the firm’s hallowed racing past, its lines uninterrupted by the LED projector headlight mounted in the nose intake. If this is a test of public interest in an electric Honda sportsbike, they’re pushing ALL the right buttons. RC-E is suspended front and rear by Ohlins TTX and it’s designed to “Pursue the joy of riding” says Honda. The firm promises “a powerful and smooth ride unique to an EV model” and 600-class performance in a 250cc-class body. M★D  READ MORE

DMC Back To The Future, AGAIN?

Goes around, comes around, what’s old is new again and LiLo! 3 common epigrams that seem to dictate the future, as the television man says “but wait there’s more” “The car of the future has really become the car of the future,” joked James Espey, a vice president at DeLorean Motor Company of Humble, Texas. In 1975 GM auto Exec J.Z. Delorean – most noted for the Pontiac GTO – started a small auto company with a huge name, DeLorean, and though his ill fated venture would last only 7 years, thanks to some spectacular publicity – Back to the Future – the thought has stuck. J.Z.DeLorean died in 2005, his legacy lives on. DMC – DeLorean Motor Company reinvented itself via Texas entrepreneur Stephen Wynne acquired the remaining parts inventory and the uberstylized DMC logo trademark. We’ve been speculating on a reinvention of the DeLorean since October 2010, well it’s closer now than it ever has been. Fast Forward, October 2011: DMC has partnered with electric-car start-up Epic EV to develop the Electric DeLorean. The original DeLorean was slow, unreliable and production ceased after just one year, when the company filed for bankruptcy in 1982. Just 9,200 DMC-12′s left the factory. Wynnes DMC EV will use 80 per cent of the DeLorean’s original parts and will be unleashed on the world in late 2013 M★D READ MORE

PSA Peugeot-Citreon VeLV Electric City Runabout

Peugeot, hmmm, they’ve always made a decent enough Looking automobile, a little lacking perhaps on the reliability front – Peugoet Drivers Be Quiet, servicing your car EVERY month isn’t normal – aside from that little nugget, if don’t fit into a slimline blue pencil skirt or loafers and cardigans, they’ve never really been inspiring. Adding to that image, Peugeot has released pix of it’s latest concept, the VeLV. In fairness to Peugeot, it looks like their partners, Citreon may have had a heavy hand in designing this commuter. VeLV is a French acronym that translates to City Light Electric Vehicle – the PSA concept debuted at a Paris innovation forum where the company said its baby would be aimed at corporate fleets, rental companies, car-sharing schemes and private buyers who fancy a second car or just a round-town runabout. M★S READ MORE