Foo - Wrightspeed X1 - fastest street legal car, and electric

Or one of the fastest. I found a link to this cool, Earth-friendly car on a trail of a news story about the at MIT student Star Simpson:

http://www.wrightspeed.com/x1.html

http://www.wrightspeed.com/images/X1-front-34-high.jpg

Cool car, and entirely electric!

0-30 mph: 1.35 sec
0-60 mph: 3.07 sec in 117 ft
0-100 mph: 6.87 sec
0-100-0 mph 11.2 sec
Lateral g: 1.3
Braking g: 1.2

Is that an electric ariel atom?

The 11.5sec quarter is less than impressive for fastest street legal car.....fastest street legal car is approx 9.96 seconds for the quarter.
I think the Bugatti Veyron gets better.

Now, if it's under $100k, then this car gets a bang for the buck award, so long as they gut that governor on it....my Hoopty Buick Regal had a better top speed than that (that thing did 120 on an oval track...with over 250k on it).

And yes, it seems to be a modified Atom.

Is that an electric ariel atom?

Yeah I recognized that car right away too...

Anyway, seems like a waste. This car is useless for anything but playing around, and as I understand it comes with a supercharged Honda engine from like a Civic, so gas mileage isn't a problem to begin with compared to most sports cars. I'd be more impressed if they electrified a real sports car, or a car that everyone can use for everything and make it convenient.

My son used to race one of those... :lol:

http://www.luddite.net/showmedave/brandonkart.jpg

Yeah I recognized that car right away too...

Anyway, seems like a waste. This car is useless for anything but playing around, and as I understand it comes with a supercharged Honda engine from like a Civic, so gas mileage isn't a problem to begin with compared to most sports cars. I'd be more impressed if they electrified a real sports car, or a car that everyone can use for everything and make it convenient.

Whaaaat? This thing is a fully electric vehicle. Not gasoline, not a hybrid....electric only. I don't know what you guys are talking about.

Imagine driving a car with those specs, and (I assume) nearly silent. I bet that thing is a blast...

Is that an electric ariel atom?

Looks like. I want the nasty polluting version very badly.

My son used to race one of those... :lol:

http://www.luddite.net/showmedave/brandonkart.jpg

I wanna race one of those too!! shifter karts rock!!

They clearly state that it is not a production car and never will be. It's just a platform to prove that electric cars and performance can coincide.....

Why does the fully electric Atom have an intake?

Why does the fully electric Atom have an intake?

I was thinking the same thing... I'd have stripped that sucker down of even more unnecessary components.

The 11.5sec quarter is less than impressive for fastest street legal car.....fastest street legal car is approx 9.96 seconds for the quarter.
I think the Bugatti Veyron gets better.

Now, if it's under $100k, then this car gets a bang for the buck award, so long as they gut that governor on it....my Hoopty Buick Regal had a better top speed than that (that thing did 120 on an oval track...with over 250k on it).

And yes, it seems to be a modified Atom.

The Bugatti Veyron is the biggest farce in the automotive world today.

Pretty cool but heres one you can actually buy although not cheap

http://www.teslamotors.com/

Why does the fully electric Atom have an intake?
Maybe the plastic thing is cosmetic or it channels air to the electronics to cool it down, but the structural hoop in front of it, is supposed to keep your head from getting bonked.

Why does the fully electric Atom have an intake?

Because it's kind of part of the (minimal) bodywork. It looks better with it on.

Getting slightly off topic, the Ariel Atom was the first segment of Top Gear I ever saw. I've now watched 9 seasons of it. Awesome show. Season 10 begins October 7. I'm stoked.

http://www.luxurylaunches.com/entry_images/1206/25/mosler.jpg

This might be(officially fastest) soon....Supercharged and twin turbo models available :D

Made in good 'ole USA, too :D

Is that an electric ariel atom?

Correct

reminds me of this

http://www.kfamilytoys.com/images/KET_SAFARI_8869800.jpg

That's quick, but I know several people with significantly faster gas cars. I've been in a super charged 6 cylinder Cougar with nearly that amount of speed. I'd rather see this sort of technology put into street appropriate muscle cars. Almost nobody would commute in one of those. As a drag toy, it's slow. As a street car, it's high profile obnoxiousness.

Because it's kind of part of the (minimal) bodywork. It looks better with it on.

Getting slightly off topic, the Ariel Atom was the first segment of Top Gear I ever saw. I've now watched 9 seasons of it. Awesome show. Season 10 begins October 7. I'm stoked.

I can't stand the Top Gear host, thus I do not watch.

Looks like. I want the nasty polluting version very badly.

+1. So do I, they look like a blast.

The Bugatti Veyron is the biggest farce in the automotive world today.

How so? Other than being ridiculously expensive and relies on altering it's own aerodynamics at the cost of handling to get that top speed, what's the beef?

I know the Ultima GTR is up somwhere in the top3....but it's not exactly production as it's a rolling chassis you have to add an engine and tranny to. (it's records were done using a factory approved combination you can buy from a US company...it's not cheap though....no 740hp engine/tranny combo is cheap).

Honestly, I want to see a comeback of affordable sportscars...ones where there is as little special sauce as possible, and as much go as you could ever want. Right now the Corvette is the closest to that, but it's still too pricey to want to actually race on a blue collar budget.

Or one of the fastest. I found a link to this cool, Earth-friendly car on a trail of a news story about the at MIT student Star Simpson:...

Nah, I'll stick with this one. Much more refined.

http://www.teslamotors.com/

Nah, I'll stick with this one. Much more refined.

http://www.teslamotors.com/

Thank you Dr Pete, see my post above

Thank you Dr Pete, see my post above

D'oh, sorry--missed that one. ;)

Pretty cool but heres one you can actually buy although not cheap

http://www.teslamotors.com/

...you can drive more than 200 miles on that charge the next day. (http://www.teslamotors.com/efficiency/charging_and_batteries.php)

0-100 km/h (60 mph) in four seconds. In 2004, the Eliica reached a speed of 370 km/h (230 mph) (http://www.eliica.com/) Video (http://www.exn.ca/dailyplanet/view.asp?date=3/22/2005#)

There is no doubt in my mind that an electric car is in my future. These current units are just a sample of what's ahead.

How so? Other than being ridiculously expensive and relies on altering it's own aerodynamics at the cost of handling to get that top speed, what's the beef?

I know the Ultima GTR is up somwhere in the top3....but it's not exactly production as it's a rolling chassis you have to add an engine and tranny to. (it's records were done using a factory approved combination you can buy from a US company...it's not cheap though....no 740hp engine/tranny combo is cheap).

Honestly, I want to see a comeback of affordable sportscars...ones where there is as little special sauce as possible, and as much go as you could ever want. Right now the Corvette is the closest to that, but it's still too pricey to want to actually race on a blue collar budget.

It's ugly as hell, it's completely useless, it's most likely a dog to drive at speed, and it's made by Volkswagen. I'll take a Subaru any day.

I love how folks poo-poo cars like the Veyron, as if there's any shred of practicality at all in purchasing a car like that. Those of us who can't afford it come up with some practical reason why they wouldn't buy it anyway, when all it really is is a veiled way of saying "I can't afford it."

Granted, I can't afford one either, and probably never will, but if I were one of Bugatti's target customers, i.e. people who can actually BUY a 1.7 million dollar car without batting an eyelash and spend several hundred thousand maintaining it, I'd be writing that check right now. Shortly thereafter I'd be loading it up on my private jet and flying it somewhere where I could drive it at 253mph.

I love how folks poo-poo cars like the Veyron, as if there's any shred of practicality at all in purchasing a car like that. Those of us who can't afford it come up with some practical reason why they wouldn't buy it anyway, when all it really is is a veiled way of saying "I can't afford it."

Granted, I can't afford one either, and probably never will, but if I were one of Bugatti's target customers, i.e. people who can actually BUY a 1.7 million dollar car without batting an eyelash and spend several hundred thousand maintaining it, I'd be writing that check right now. Shortly thereafter I'd be loading it up on my private jet and flying it somewhere where I could drive it at 253mph.

If I wanted a car I could drive like that, it would be a Ferrari or Lamborghini or the like. The Veyron is designed purely for top speed. That it does VERY well, but that's all it can do. And, it's friggen ugly!

It's ugly as hell, it's completely useless, it's most likely a dog to drive at speed, and it's made by Volkswagen. I'll take a Subaru any day.

According to tests done by numerous shows and magazines, the Veyron is a dream to drive. It was either 5th Gear or Top Gear that likened it to an Enzo that is actually pleasant to drive.

It's ugly as hell, it's completely useless, it's most likely a dog to drive at speed, and it's made by Volkswagen. I'll take a Subaru any day.

The Veyron runs away from Enzos on twisty roads (Evo Magazine). It's a hell of a car.


... race on a blue collar budget.

Hoo-ee -- that's not gonna happen anytime soon. ;) The cost of tires alone can keep me from racing as much as I'd like, never mind building a dedicated track car and buying a trailer & tow vehicle for it.

The more I get my toes into car racing, the more I realize that 1) I still have no skills, and getting enough instruction will cost a lot of money; and 2) it's really, really expensive for somebody on a budget like mine.

Oh yeah, back to the Wrightspeed --

It's cool -- it looks like a lot of fun. Anything based on the Atom really can't suck (I don't think that Atom buyers will accept anything that sucks, either).

And, I like the effort of the Tesla. Another preexisting chassis-turned-engineering study that's actually a hoot.

I'm also waiting for the hybrid sports car that Toyota's working on, along with another from Honda.

According to tests done by numerous shows and magazines, the Veyron is a dream to drive. It was either 5th Gear or Top Gear that likened it to an Enzo that is actually pleasant to drive.

Still, what's the point?

Still, what's the point?

If you're asking, then there's no hope in convincing you.

If you're asking, then there's no hope in convincing you.

I can see the point of a fast car just for fun, but why something you can't park anywhere and will never have the chance to drive like it can be driven? Plus, once again, the Veyron is ugly.

I can see the point of a fast car just for fun, but why something you can't park anywhere and will never have the chance to drive like it can be driven? Plus, once again, the Veyron is ugly.

Switch out "car" for "bike" and "Veyron" for any bike ever ridden in the Tour de France, and search the road forum. This debate will be present in about 7,869 threads.

Switch out "car" for "bike" and "Veyron" for any bike ever ridden in the Tour de France, and search the road forum. This debate will be present in about 7,869 threads.

Fits my point as well. We all want something cool, but I'd rather have a mid-level Trek or something than a TDF bike.

(Sorry about my roadie ignorance-I don't own a roadbike.)

Still, what's the point?

The Top Gear guys said it best -- "It's a Concorde moment." It's an engineering feat that's in its own league. Other cars go that fast, sure. I haven't heard of anything else that goes that fast so easily, with so little drama that the passenger could be sipping still water from a goblet.

It's like Maybach. It's been refined so that riding in one at 160+ mph (one does not "drive" a Maybach; one hires a chauffeur ;) ) is a serene experience. That's where you sip your tea and nap while your less-affluent colleagues trail behind in the corporate jet suffering popping ears and maybe airsickness.

If you want visceral excitement, go get an Enzo, Zonda, Carrera GT (my favorite production engine noise in the world), or pick up a used McLaren. That's not what the Veyron is about.

BTW -- "ugly" (or "sexy") is purely a subjective opinion, and, as a rule, is completely worthless of discussion.

The Top Gear guys said it best -- "It's a Concorde moment." It's an engineering feat that's in its own league. Other cars go that fast, sure. I haven't heard of anything else that goes that fast so easily, with so little drama that the passenger could be sipping still water from a goblet.

It's like Maybach. It's been refined so that riding in one at 160+ mph (one does not "drive" a Maybach; one hires a chauffeur ;) ) is a serene experience. That's where you sip your tea and nap while your less-affluent colleagues trail behind in the corporate jet suffering popping ears and maybe airsickness.

If you want visceral excitement, go get an Enzo, Zonda, Carrera GT (my favorite production engine noise in the world), or pick up a used McLaren. That's not what the Veyron is about.

BTW -- "ugly" (or "sexy") is purely a subjective opinion, and, as a rule, is completely worthless of discussion.

As an engineering feat, sure, but it's still a bit pointless as a passenger car. And, I really don't like the looks. And you still can't park it anywhere. Once again, I will take a Subaru STi any day.

As an engineering feat, sure, but it's still a bit pointless as a passenger car. And, I really don't like the looks. And you still can't park it anywhere. Once again, I will take a Subaru STi any day.

Again, you're thinking about a 1.7 million dollar uber-car in normal human terms of practicality. That's where the problem is.

People will buy these cars, and may or may not ever drive them. Why? Because some people can afford it.

Again, you're thinking about a 1.7 million dollar uber-car in normal human terms of practicality. That's where the problem is.

People will buy these cars, and may or may not ever drive them. Why? Because some people can afford it.

Yes, but 1.7 million dollars, to spend on huge excess, why not have a stripped out racecar and a jet to pull it around with?

Yes, but 1.7 million dollars, to spend on huge excess, why not have a stripped out racecar and a jet to pull it around with?

Because these buyers already HAVE the jet and the racecar.

Because these buyers already HAVE the jet and the racecar.

Then they should be set:p

As an engineering feat, sure, but it's still a bit pointless as a passenger car. And, I really don't like the looks. And you still can't park it anywhere. Once again, I will take a Subaru STi any day.

Why the STi? It's still just an three-box Subie with a turbo slapped onto it. It's pointless to make a brick go that fast, so the base Impreza is hands down a better choice.

Right? ;) :D

Why the STi? It's still just an three-box Subie with a turbo slapped onto it. It's pointless to make a brick go that fast, so the base Impreza is hands down a better choice.

Right? ;) :D

Point taken. I'd still take a balanced, but slower car over the Veyron.

What is unbalanced about a Veyron?

What is unbalanced about a Veyron?

It's designed solely for top speed. You can't seriously tell me they didn't have to give low-end performance up to get 253 mph.

It's designed solely for top speed. You can't seriously tell me they didn't have to give low-end performance up to get 253 mph.


The Veyron runs away from Enzos on twisty roads (Evo Magazine). It's a hell of a car.

I have that issue, too. The guy whose Enzo they borrowed for the comparison test later went to place his order for a Veyron because his Enzo couldn't keep up.

Being fond of STi's, you know the value of AWD, too (and the drawbacks of high boost, fwiw).

0-60 is 2.4 seconds.

I'd say it has low end performance.

I have that issue, too. The guy whose Enzo they borrowed for the comparison test later went to place his order for a Veyron because his Enzo couldn't keep up.

Being fond of STi's, you know the value of AWD, too (and the drawbacks of high boost, fwiw).

The Enzo is the exact same way. Sacrifices low end performance to make top speed, although maybe to a lesser extent. I still wanna see how the Veyron does on gravel.