The French manufacturer, Venturi, is well known for its small electric roadster called the Fetish, and now that electric vehicles are all the rage, they have decided that it would be a good time to bring out a new model. Of course, there’s no better time like the present, especially since the Paris Motor Show is hours away and will practically be all about electric cars anyway.
The Venturi America - although if you ask us the name makes no sense, we are talking about a model made by a French manufacturer making its debut in France - is a small electric car powered by an electric motor that delivers a total of 300 hp and 380 Nm of torque. The America can hit a top speed of 124 MPH (or 200 km/h) and, when traveling at a speed of no more than 90 km/h (55 mph), will offer an autonomy of 300 kilometers.
The new electric model is based on the 2006 Fetish and was designed under the leadership of designer Sacha Lakic. Like with the Fetish, America is also characterized by the intense use of carbon fiber.
More details are to be released after the official launch.
Back in 2009, the Venturi Buckeye Bullet broke the world speed record with a speed of 300 mph. Being the overachievers that they are, the students from Ohio State went back to the lab and came out with a speedier Bullet to attack Bonnevile Salt Flats, Utah for this year’s races. However, this time, OSU and Venturi have collaborated on this vehicle as a starting point for an all new car in 2011.
And, believe it or not, the Venturi Buckeye Bullet (AKA Venturi Jamais Contente) was caught clocking in an average of over 307mph over 0.62 miles in both directions. The Bullet officially recorded a top speed of 310mph. The Venturi Jamais Contente is powered by an 800 HP electric motor and lithium Ion batteries. Target is to hit a top speed of 320 mph.
Venturi’s President, Gildo Pallanca Pastor, says that this project is an important milestone in the history of automobiles : "From the Camille Jenatzi "Jamais Contente" to the "Venturi Jamais Contente", it has taken 111 years to go from 100 to 500 km/hr in an electric vehicle. It is thus with enormous satisfaction that Venturi has been able to demonstrate its technological progress in the field of electric propulsion by setting this historic record".
The Venturi will be back in Bonneville in 2011 and 2012 in an attempt to hit a top speed of 350 mph.
Press release after the jump.
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Setting land speed records for an alternatively powered vehicle, the Venturi Buckeye Bullet, the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell powered high speed streamliner to break the 300 MPH mark. Nicknamed "La Jamais Contente", 750 HP was developed in partnership with the students at Ohio State University and pays tribute to the original record setting electric racer of the same name from back in 1899 when the antique automobile become the first vehicle to achieve 60 MPH. The project is part of a 3 year program with the University during which time the Streamliner will attempt to break a few other records for electrically propelled race cars as well as with the further development of innovations in driver safety, driveline, electronics and packaging for the high speed application.
After the team’s success back on September 25 with back to back 300 MPH passes down the mile long stretch of salt, the team’s efforts will continue on into the 2010 and 2011 land speed record seasons. To be exact, the Buckeye Bullet 2 currently holds both national and international land speed records of 315 MPH and 272 MPH as well as the honor of being the first zero emissions electric vehicle to run at over 300 MPH.
Just like the original "Jamais Contente," the Buckeye Bullet 2 shows that electricity is a very powerful fuel and with the right configuration shows that anything is possible. This is also a powerful push for future EVs like the upcoming Chevrolet Volt, demonstrating that electricity can be a functional fuel. The Team made up of Ohio State students and staff isn’t done yet, their next goal is to reach 350 MPH in the battery powered streamliner.
Full specifications after the jump.
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After cars like the Citroen GT and the Nissan Nuvu, the Paris Auto Show is starting to look like its the place to present electric dream cars. Now in its second day, Venturi came with a new addition to the line-up: the Volage Concept, a two seater roadster that is looking to go into production in 2012.
This Volage is made completely of carbon fiber. Venturi says it "incorporates innovations which have enabled radical changes in terms of the vehicle’s architecture, style, dynamic behavior and, more generally, the design of a modern vehicle."
Volage features Michelin Active Wheel technology that incorporate four wheel motors with a maximum power of 73 hp per engine, or a total of 292 hp and a peak torque of 232 NM (4x58 NM). It makes the 0 to 50 mph sprint in less than 5 seconds.
Venturi unveiled the Fetish for the first time at the 2004 Paris Motor show. This year during Top Marques Monaco Venturi announced we will see the production version on the streets starting June 2009. Well, the price is quote spicy - about 297,000 euro (or $465,000).
The production version will have a maximum power of 300 hp and a peak torque of 280 lb-ft. The efficiency of the car has been improved with 92%, while the production version lost 30kg from the original prototype’s weight.
Fetish will make the 0-100km/h sprint in just 3.5 seconds and will hit a top speed of 160km/h.
