Lightning GT caught rolling around the track

The all-electric Lightning GT sports car might have just had its formal debut yesterday, but that doesn't mean prototypes haven't been tooling around for a while -- check out this video of the swoopy two-door doing the track thing in ultra-dramatic slow-mo. Of course, there's no sound, so there could totally be a nasty 5.0L Windsor V8 block under that hood, but we'll give 'em the benefit of the doubt for now. Video at the read link -- and be honest, is this thing enough to sway your feelings from the Tesla Roadster or the Fisker Karma?

[Via Autoblog Green]

[Isomorphic @ Jul 24th 2008 7:25AM]

I hope that's on Top Gear soon, I wonder if James May would drive it...

[ShadowKain @ Jul 24th 2008 8:05AM]

Top Gear hasn't done too much with alot of these electrics, unless I missed the episode on the T. Roadster. Anyhoo, neat video, too bad most can't afford these types for vehicles yet.

[Henry @ Jul 24th 2008 8:37AM]

http://www.lightningcarcompany.co.uk/ - more info.

There are some awfully big claims being made there.

[Cassini @ Jul 25th 2008 5:37AM]

That's a nice ride - it has some sex appeal, but not like the Karma. So as it stands, I'll take Fisker Karma in blue, thanks.

A few of my favorite photos of the Fisker set:

- http://www.autoblog.com/photos/fisker-karma-1/583235/
- http://www.autoblog.com/photos/fisker-karma-1/583247/
- http://www.autoblog.com/photos/fisker-karma-1/583458/

[hiko36 @ Jul 24th 2008 7:26AM]

Still no specs I see...

[Domenick Yoney @ Jul 24th 2008 9:56AM]

All the specs you could ask for are out there. Anything specifically you want to know? Only thing I haven't found is vehicle weight.

[TekManiac @ Jul 24th 2008 7:44AM]

I look forward to the plug-in Prius.

[Tom @ Jul 24th 2008 7:58AM]

That isn't Slo-mo. Look at the grass moving in the wind...
So not exactly a SUPERcar right now, just slightly-faster-than-walking-car.
Im sure they'll figure it out tho, and single handedly revive the British Automotive industry

[Sonny @ Jul 24th 2008 7:59AM]

I have no feeling for any electric car let alone a 100k plus electric. If i wanted a psuedo-exotic I will still buy a gas guzzler. If I have enough money for a 100K car I don't think I'll be so broke that I couldn't buy gas.

[Abuzar Baloach @ Jul 24th 2008 12:20PM]

It's not about the money idiot.

[J.G. @ Oct 12th 2008 10:31AM]

I think the point is, that if your spending some hard cash like that. You'll buy something more exhilarating. Something that can do serious speed, fast acceleration, has ranges at least of 250 miles or more, and most importantly not wait more than about 10 minutes before it can be used again after all energy has been depleted. Yeah I am all about GREEN, saving the world and such. But if we where all that uptight about saving the world, there is so much more we could be doing right now to make it GREENER. But until more enjoyable GREENER vehicles come around, I wouldn't blow excessive amounts of money on such restrictive forms of transportation when there are much cheaper and enjoyable vehicles out there. Except for bragging rights that is. And that's an whole other issue right there, much greater than being about the GREEN. But for the sake of it, this would be okay I guess, for people who do small errands that don't require going further than 200 miles and not doing much else far as transportation for the rest of the day. In other words, not for the average consumer but for the wealthy who don't do much doing an average day except go to an event and home. It plays on the psyche. "I am being GREENER by buying this none gas powered GREEN machine to due my minimalistic daily activities." But think about all the other NON-GREEN things that are cause to make these OVERPRICED forms of transportation. Who's getting FOOLED here? The wealthy or the average Joe and Sue watching the wealthy drive these things? Ca, ca, ca, ca, come on!

[NHAnimator @ Jul 24th 2008 8:05AM]

Boy, if we could only catch this thing in a bottle.

[jcmiro @ Jul 24th 2008 8:15AM]

You guys are missing the point....If you have the right charger it recharges in minutes....Tesla's take hours...

[Mr.Ironic @ Jul 24th 2008 8:29AM]

er...that's not slow mo.

[Louis @ Jul 24th 2008 8:29AM]

I spoke to a Tesla representative at the Biritish motorshow yesterday. He indicated that the claims made about the lightening gt are largely unsubstantiated and they are looking for a 150 million investment partner to actually [try] achieve them.

wrt the radical charge time he said. a) you'll never be able to find a suitable power supply and b) it would require a badass power cable.

At the Lightening GT stand itself there was a lot of glitz (minibar, cocktails) but a distinct lack of actual information (NB i didn't talk to anyone there).

[drivin98 @ Jul 24th 2008 10:06AM]

You expect Mr.Siry to say Tesla is shaking in their boots? Of course he's going to play it down. All these negative comments remind me of the stuff being said not so long ago when the Tesla was under development. Vaporware, the batteries will blow up, it's just a converted Elise, Elon is trying to dump the company, etc. etc.

If you talk with the folks that make the batteries that can handle the charge and the companies that make the equipment to dish out said charge, there's a lot less pessimism.

Personally, I look forward to the day when these two meet on the track.

[teej @ Jul 24th 2008 2:56PM]

1.21 gigawatts! GREAT SCOTT!

[redbellyman @ Jul 24th 2008 8:36AM]

Windsor was a 5.8 block

[Phil Perman @ Jul 24th 2008 8:46AM]

Ford made Windsor engines ranging from 3.6-5.8l, and one of the best known, the Boss 302, just happens to be 5l

[agnosticj @ Jul 24th 2008 12:22PM]

Good catch. I let that one get past my ultra-nitpick filter

[patsy @ Jul 24th 2008 8:48AM]

> and be honest, is this thing enough to sway your feelings from the Tesla Roadster or the Fisker Karma?

You mean, would I rather spend my imaginary $100K on the GT instead of the other ones? Man, that's a tough call, why do they have to complicate things with so many choices?

[Greg @ Jul 24th 2008 9:06AM]

Looks like someone went to wal-mart, took an engine out of a powerwheels jeep and stuck it into the frame pictured in the video. I'm sold. I'd be the envy of 3 year old everywhere.

[Kaiser-Machead @ Jul 24th 2008 9:56AM]

The front end is like Jaguar XK8 meets TVR Griffith, but the back end......ugh!

[Argent @ Jul 24th 2008 9:59AM]

really like the look of this car -- something i can't really say for the fisker, which (imo) looks a bit goofy up front.

[Frankenstein Black @ Jul 24th 2008 10:09AM]

Until there is a tangible spec'ed vehicle (like Tesla) they should change the name from Lightening GT to Vapor GT Especially with that 10min charge claim. Whose house has that type of power requirement? Oh and the logo should be a worm on a hook trying to catch a big Fi$h...

[paul @ Jul 24th 2008 10:13AM]

Not for the price it's not. The battery tech is cool and all since it supposedly only takes minutes to charge, but at $250,000? That's a joke.

[Abuzar Baloach @ Jul 24th 2008 12:23PM]

That kind of speed doesn't seem lightning-like to me.

[spookthehamster @ Jul 24th 2008 1:19PM]

I work for a company involved in the production this car, as well as some other EVs. Yes the car is slow right now, that's because it's a prototype, and it only has 2 motors instead of 4 at the moment. You think the Tesla was quick on it's first prototype?

The battery is no BS, the Nano batteries will recharge in 10 minutes from a three phase power supply.

Also, I spoke to an engineer from Tesla when I was at Le Mans. They're worried about this tech, because when it's perfected it'll eclipse them.

[xB Owner @ Jul 24th 2008 1:32PM]

What a snore-fest. Wake me when someone is actually flogging the thing around a track. Until then it is officially all show and no go.

The Power Wheels statement above is completely appropriate.

[Carl M @ Jul 24th 2008 1:45PM]

There is sound! It's just THAT quiet!


Okay, maybe I'm making that up.

[Farhan @ Jul 24th 2008 5:33PM]

Yes, it looks great, and can recharge in no time from a three phase power supply, assuming you can actually find a three phase power supply short of driving your car up a transmission tower. So that said, how much money must be spent and resources wasted replacing our existing fueling systems. Why not focus our energies on renewable fuels like E85 that we already have the infrastructure to transport and distribute?

[ug @ Jul 25th 2008 12:32PM]

Because E85 has a low EROEI and the feedstock is grown via fossil fuel based fertilizers.

[Teon @ Jul 24th 2008 10:13PM]

You find me an ~actually~ renewable source of ethanol.

The only truly sustainable power is electric, not to mention it's much cleaner than ethanol, and once developed the performance stands to greatly increase due to the favourable torque curve of electric motors.

[Kári Rafn @ Jul 25th 2008 6:12AM]

According to a leaked report from the World Bank:

The report, leaked to "The Guardian," a British newspaper , said that production of biofuels , such as corn ethanol, have forced global food prices up 75 percent.

i.e. ethanol is not a smart choice

[[e-mail] @ Jul 27th 2008 3:21PM]

Wow!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7524475.stm