Wrightspeed X1: Super-Fast Electric Car.

Ian Wright is betting big on electric cars. Not just any electric car: his car can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 3 seconds!

In the first matchup, the X1 crushed the Ferrari in an eighth-mile sprint and then in the quarter-mile, winning by two car lengths. In the second race, against the $440,000 Porsche, the two cars were even after an eighth of a mile. But as the Porsche driver let out the clutch in a final upshift, his tires briefly lost traction. The X1, blazing along in its software-controlled performance mode, beat the Porsche by half a car length.
It never occurred to me that I would lose," says Kim Stuart, the Porsche's driver. "It was like a light switch. He hit the pedal and was gone."

If the car looks familiar, it's because Wright builds his car from off-the-shelf parts. The chassis is actually that of British-made Ariel Atom, previously featured in Neatorama a while ago.

Business 2.0 | company website | Photo:Flickr user thomas pix' photoset.

Newest 2

Newest 2 Comments

Looks just a bit drafty for winter driving. But it is eye catching, and can beat a Porsche. Drop that on the market when gas gets to $4.00 and you will have a hit.

Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)

Form follows function. It's proven that it goes fast and can do it efficiently. Now, the real question is, can it change the industry as a production car that people can love? Will it have the charm of a Beetle? Will it earn the loyalty of Saturn lovers? Can it's brand become an auto icon that people will prefer over everything else?
A zero emissions car has to do more than go fast. But, performance is a serious step in finding acceptance.

Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)

Login to comment.

Click here to view up to the first 100 of this post's 2 comments