L.A. TIMES 9-24-08 Chrysler Electric car by Lotus with picture

[LARRY]

Story to follow...

[LARRY]

Today's L.A. Times:

"The third vehicle, a Dodge-branded coupe based on a platform designed by English carmaker Lotus, runs only on battery power. Tiny, flashy and lightweight, it accelerates to 60 mph from a standstill in less than five seconds and can travel 150 to 200 miles on a charge.

Those specs make it similar to an electric car already on the market, the Tesla Roadster. That $109,000 car is also based on a Lotus platform, runs on battery power alone and breaks the five-second acceleration barrier."


AUBURN HILLS, MICH. -- Firing a surprise shot across the bows of industry rivals, Chrysler revealed three functioning battery-powered vehicles Tuesday and thrust itself to the forefront of the race to build mass-market electric cars.

In unveiling a minivan, a Jeep Wrangler and a sports car, Chrysler's executives spelled out plans for a future in which most, if not all, automobiles would use electric motors for propulsion -- essentially sounding the death knell for the internal-combustion engine.

Chrysler declined to say how much the vehicles would cost and would not discuss which would be released first. But the third-largest U.S. automaker said that it would put hundreds of electric cars in test fleets next year and would bring one of the models to market by late 2010, with more electric cars to follow soon thereafter.

"We're not talking about a single electric car," said Robert Nardelli, chief executive of Chrysler. "We're talking about a full line of cars that . . . allows us to be energy-independent going forward."

That such news came from Chrysler, the industry's downtrodden underdog -- and the carmaker with the heaviest reliance on large pickup trucks and SUVs -- was almost astonishing. The smallest of the Big Three has seen its sales slip 24% so far this year, has been forced to end its once-lucrative leasing program and has all but ceded production of small cars to other automakers.

"I didn't think they were a player," said Jim Hossack, vice president at industry consultancy AutoPacific. "I'm impressed. This suggests a lot of bravado."

While other automakers, from Toyota Motor Corp. to Renault, have made increasingly loud noises in recent months about producing electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, Chrysler has been almost invisible, doing little more than presenting a trio of electric concept cars in January.

As a result, Tuesday's unveiling blindsided much of the industry. Just a week ago, General Motors Corp. unveiled its production prototype of the much-hyped Chevy Volt. But unlike Chrysler's offerings, the Volt was not operational.

Some observers remarked on the timing of Chrysler's announcement. In recent weeks, Chrysler, GM and Ford Motor Co. have been arguing that Congress should fund $25 billion worth of loan guarantees written into last year's energy act. Those loans were designed to help automakers and suppliers pay for the costs of retooling factories to build vehicles that would comply with new, stricter federal fuel economy standards. But the loans were never funded.

By showing off new technology like electric cars, critics say, Chrysler and others are trying to curry favor with legislators.

"I don't think it's coincidental that we've got GM and Chrysler showing off electric vehicles just as the industry goes to Washington to make their case," said Erich Merkle, auto industry analyst at Crowe Horwath.

At the event Tuesday, Nardelli said that he had recently been in contact with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and House Energy and Commerce Chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.). "We're trying to be clear that these investments qualify for the loans," he said. Executives at GM and Ford have also been in talks with lawmakers.

Two of the vehicles unveiled Tuesday -- the Town & Country minivan and the Jeep Wrangler -- are based on existing vehicle platforms. Each combines an electric motor, a battery and a 1-liter gasoline generator.

According to Frank Klegon, Chrysler's head of product development, they will be able to go 40 miles on battery power alone before the generator kicks in, giving them another 360 miles of range. They will come in front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive options, so that "enthusiasts will be able to roam the planet while taking care of it at the same time," Klegon said.

The third vehicle, a Dodge-branded coupe based on a platform designed by English carmaker Lotus, runs only on battery power. Tiny, flashy and lightweight, it accelerates to 60 mph from a standstill in less than five seconds and can travel 150 to 200 miles on a charge.

Those specs make it similar to an electric car already on the market, the Tesla Roadster. That $109,000 car is also based on a Lotus platform, runs on battery power alone and breaks the five-second acceleration barrier.

[LARRY]

I don't know what the rest of you think, but this means alot more Elise-looking cars running around soon...

[Slipstreamer]

Originally Posted by LARRY

I don't know what the rest of you think, but this means alot more Elise-looking cars running around soon...

Looks like a Europa to me

[LARRY]

And it's going to (gulp!) say "Dodge" on it.

[Slipstreamer]

Originally Posted by LARRY

And it's going to (gulp!) say "Dodge" on it.

Yikes! a-la Chrysler LeBaron (Maserati TC look-a-like)

[PhlypSide]

Originally Posted by Slipstreamer

Looks like a Europa to me

Bingo! Electric Europa, with fugly Dodge logo

[PhlypSide]

Originally Posted by LARRY

I don't know what the rest of you think, but this means alot more Elise-looking cars running around soon...

Let's hope it at least gives enough $$$ back to Lotus to keep our pals in Hethel well-fed and around for many many years to come.

No pricing indicated, it may be as expensive as a real Lotus as well though.

Otherwise, thank goodness I finally discovered motorcycling for myself.

[Mr. Know]

Originally Posted by Slipstreamer

Looks like a Europa to me

That's funny, looks like a REPOST to me. The badging is different however.

[LARRY]

NO not a repost since the article ran this morning in the L.A. Times.

What do you think about the Dodge/Lotus/Electric car?

[LARRY]

Originally Posted by PhlypSide

Let's hope it at least gives enough $$$ back to Lotus to keep our pals in Hethel well-fed and around for many many years to come.

No pricing indicated, it may be as expensive as a real Lotus as well though.

Otherwise, thank goodness I finally discovered motorcycling for myself.

Does this mean we'll get a Lotus shop in Beverly Hills again soon?

[mopho]

Originally Posted by LARRY

NO not a repost since the article ran this morning in the L.A. Times.

And everyone else ran their article yesterday, that's why there are already five threads about it

[Green Hornet]

It won't look anything like a Lotus when they get the fake wood on the sides, the wire wheel hubcaps fake convertible top and continental kit installed

Should be a real beauty -

[Flash G]

Elise Submarine anyone?



.

[LarryB]

Was a little write up in the local paper- they said it was based on the Europa.
Also in Electronic Design:

Look Out, Volt?Chrysler Announces Three Electric Vehicles

"The first prototype, the Dodge EV, is a two-passenger sports car with rear-wheel drive (Fig. 1). Its 200-kW electric motor that provides 268 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque for 0- to 60-mph acceleration in less than 5 seconds, a quarter-mile time of 13 seconds, and a top speed of 120 mph. Recharging takes 8 hours from a 110-V outlet and half that from 220 V."

[Tpup]

Video

msnbc.com Video Player

[Hello Kitty]

I used to drive a Chrysler Conquest, which was really a Mitsubuishi Starion re badged, just like Dodge re badged the Lotus Europa, pictured above.

To Chryslers credit, the Conquest, with its custom spoilers, did look better than the Starion.

[LARRY]

Originally Posted by Slipstreamer

Looks like a Europa to me

Who's going to be the buyer?

The Lotus gang probably wants a Tesla.

So who buys the Dodge version?

[Allan Gibbs]

Originally Posted by LARRY

I don't know what the rest of you think, but this means alot more Elise-looking cars running around soon...

Also means people who are use to vague, non-communicative steering will be in for an additional treat! Chrysler's electric car and the Tesla could be some good PR for Lotus.