Following on from the all-electric Tesla roadster unveiled last year, Velozzi is dedicated to prove that an environmentally-friendly vehicle needn't be quirky and odd. With that in mind, the research and development laboratory has created a technological marvel that is bold and attractive, with power to boot.
The Velozzi concept is a two-seat sports car with seductive styling attributes that resemble Pininfarina-designed Ferraris. The body panels are constructed of lightweight composites and the body rides atop a carbon-fibre honeycomb tub chassis. The front end and sleek headlamps make the car appear to be a relative to the Ferrari 360 Modena, while chiselled body panels leading to massive air intakes fitted just ahead of the large rear wheels are reminiscent of the rear-mounted turbines of a Lear jet. Its large windscreen extends over the passengers and wraps around the rear portion of the car - certain to enhance rearward visibility - while a large, low-mounted rear wing creates downforce. The triangular tail lamp and rear fascia design denotes the Velozzi's American lineage.
Born through impatience - Velozzi engineers were not prepared to wait for an alternative fuelling infrastructure to be developed - the Velozzi concept is an electric car driven by twin AC electric motors sourcing power from a lightweight lithium-ion battery pack. The battery pack is mated to an on-board Velozzi-built micro turbine, optimised to run on any "heavy" fuel - including ethanol, methanol, bio-diesel, or conventional petrol or diesel - to recharge the battery system when needed. The result is a car that is claimed to travel between 100 and 200 miles per gallon of fuel, and Velozzi plans to licence the technology to automakers in the future.
Velozzi has sourced many F1-derived products for the car's mechanical componentry, including a Weismann F1 transmission to transfer power to the rear wheels. The body is suspended by a four-wheel independent suspension connected to 19-inch wheels; while Brembo vented disc brakes at all four corners provide stopping power. The car will weigh between 907 and 1134kg and is claimed to complete 0-60mph in less than three seconds, with a top speed of 200mph. Environmentalists have never had it so good... We'll await the production version before casting our final judgement.
Eric Gallina - 30 Apr 2007