Best of Auto Car

Overview of Electric Cars

The newest generation of electric cars is a good match for the current generation of gas and/or diesel powered cars. The development is fast. With newest generation of Lio-Ion batteries and powerful electric motors these cars can be used for daily people and goods transports, have enough range and are faster than their fossil powered brothers. Therefore I have decided to create (and maintain) an overview of these new generation of electric cars.

In this overview I will maintain a list of interesting electric cars of the newest generation.
The car has to meet the following requirements:

The range of the car has to be minimal 50 miles (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle) / 90 miles (highway car).
Available on the market within three years.

If you encounter some interesting developments or when you have the missing data which is not yet in the table submit this information as a comment on this article. I will use this data to get the list up-to-date.
Here is my first list. If you have any tips for improvements please let me know.
If you want to write a full article about any electric car then check our contribute section for more information how to proceed. When finished I will publish the article and link it from this list.

Photo	Brand	Consump	Range	Power	Speed	Prod. yr	Price
	Citroen EV’ie	232 Wh/mile	69 mile	30 kW	60 mph	2009	£16,850

Below is the overview of electric cars divided four sections: sport cars, highway cars, Neighborhood Electric Vehicles and promising prototypes.

Sport cars

These are the fastest electric cars now available. Most of these cars are way faster than their fossil counterpart. Unlike gasoline roaring sport cars, these electric sport cars are still very efficient. A very powerful electric motor can also be used for economical driving. Currently there are very few gasoline powered cars which can match the performance of these new electric sport cars. They have electric engines of more than 150 kW (> 200 HP) and can accelerate to 60 mph in less than 5 seconds. The fastest one can do this in less than 3 seconds. These cars put down a clear statement: fossil driving is the past. Electric power is the future.

Brand	Consump	Range	Power	Topspeed	Prod. Yr	Price
Tesla coupe	176 Wh/mile	250 mile	185 kW	125 mph	2008	$98,000
Lightning	? Wh/mile	180 mile	480 kW	> 130 mph	2008	?
Venturi	179 Wh/mile	156 mile	180 kW	100 mph	2008	€297,000
Zap-X	? Wh/mile	350 mile	480 kW	155 mph	2010	$60,000
Obvio 828E	? Wh/mile	240 mile	120 kW	120 mph	2009	$49,000

Highway cars

These are electric cars which can travel in the city and on the highway and can completely replace the fossil burning car. These cars have a range of at least 95 miles and have a top-speed which is high enough (> 63 mph) for driving the highway. Keep in mind that there are already systems which can charge these batteries within 15 minutes. As soon as these “electric fuel-stations” become available a long car trip is also possible.

Brand/Type	Consumption	Range	Power	Top-speed	Prod. yr	Price
Aptera Type-1e	124 Wh/mile	121 mile	19 kW	85 mph	2008	$26,900
Mitsubishi i MiEV	160 Wh/mile	100 mile	47 kW	113 mph	2009	?
Loremo Electric	95 Wh/mile	125 mile	20 kW	106 mph	2010	€30,000
Silence-PT2	? Wh/mile	250 mile	100 kW	125 mph	2008	$42,000
Miles XS500	?	120 mile	? kW	80 mph	2008	$29,500
Think	251 Wh/mile	113 mile	30 kW	63 mph	2009	€20,000
eBox	234 Wh/mile	150 mile	120 kW	95 mph	2008	$68,000
Phoenix SUT	349 Wh/mile	100 mile	? kW	95 mph	2008	$45,000
Venture Vehicles VentureOne EV	? Wh/mile	120 mile	40 kW	75 mph	2009	$25,000
UEV Electrum Spyder	? Wh/mile	250 mile	? kW	100 mph	2008	$70,000
Bolloré	179 Wh/mile	156 mile	30 kW	78 mph	?	€20,000
Commuter Cars Tango	? Wh/mile	160 mile	52,5 kW	150 mph	?	$108,000
Smart Fortwo EV	192 Wh/mile	72 mile	30 kW	70 mph	2010	?
Hybrid Technologies Mini Cooper EV	? Wh/mile	70 mile	? kW	80 mph	2008	$65,000
ElectroVaya Maya 100	? Wh/mile	225 mile	? kw	88 mph	2008	?
Subaru r1e	? Wh/mile	50 mile	40,3 kW	63 mph	2010	?
Cleanova II	240 Wh/mile	125 mile	? kW	81 mph	2008	$10,000¹
Doblo Electric	459 Wh/mile	94 mile	60 kW	75 mph	2008	£29,500
MDI MiniCat²	157 Wh/mile³	94 mile	18,6 kW	69 mph	2008	€4,000
Ariana 792	? Wh/mile	94 mile	28 kW	75 mph	?	?
Att Parade	? Wh/mile	150 mile	? kW	69 mph	?	$20,000
E-mobile	? Wh/mile	125 mile	18 kW	75 mph	2008	€18,900
Golf Golf CityStromer	400 Wh/mile	44 mile	17,5 kW	63 mph	1992	€12,000
Green Vehicles Triac	230 Wh/mile	100 mile	20 kW	80 mph	2008	$19,995
Tara Tiny	160 Wh/mile	75 mile	3 kW	44 mph	2008	$2,500
Lumeneo Smera	106 Wh/mile	94 mile	29,8 kW	81 mph	?	?
Lotus Elise ECE	181 Wh/mile	203 mile	150 kW	134 mph	2008	€108,750
VW Golf ECE	168 Wh/mile	219 mile	75 kW	91 mph	2008	€60,000
Detroit Electric Subcompact ECE	138 Wh/mile	188 mile	30 kW	91 mph	Q4 2009	€22,491
Nice e500 (Fiat 500)	? Wh/mile	75 mile	? kW	60 mph	2008	?
Renault Megane EV	? Wh/mile	125 mile	? kW	? mph	2011	?
BYD F3e	192 Wh/mile	188 mile	? kW	94 mph	?	?
Citroën Berlingo Electrique	270 Wh/mile	60 km	28 kW	60 mph	2005⁴	?
Citroën Saxo Electric	230 Wh/km	63 mile	15 kW	57 mph	1998⁴	?
Luxury Electric Honda Acura	? Wh/mile	140 mile	? kW	? mph	2008	?
Citroen EV’ie	232 Wh/mile	69 mile	30 kW	60 mph	2009	£16,850

¹ Price is for the conversion on top of the price of the car itself.
² The car uses compressed air to drive on. By plugging in the car in the electric grid the car can fill its own air-tank.
³ Calculated on 4 hours charging, 230 V on 16 Amp = 14720 Wh / 94 mile = 157 Wh/mile
⁴Not in production anymore.

Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEV)

These are speed limited battery electric vehicles which are perfect for driving in the city. NEV is a Federally-approved street-legal vehicle classification which came into existence in 1998 under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 500 (FMVSS 500). (The vehicle classification is referred to as “low-speed vehicle” within Federal regulations.) NEVs are defined as a four-wheeled motor vehicle that has a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 3,000 pounds and a top speed of between 20 to 25 mph. [3] Those states that authorize NEVs generally restrict their operation to streets with a maximum speed limit of 35 miles per hour (56 km/h) or 45 miles per hour (72 km/h). They have typically less range then their highway car counterpart. The cars are small and therefore easy to park in the city. The cost price and their power consumption is less compared with a highway car.

Brand/Type	Consumption	Range	Powerrmogen	Top-speed	Prod. yr	Price
CityEl	96 Wh/mile	56 mile	2,5 kW	39 mph	1987	€8,000
Twike	64 Wh/mile	125	3 kW	53 mph	1986	€20,000
Reva G-Wiz	192 Wh/mile	50 mile	13 kW	50 mph	2001	$13,600
Zenn	? Wh/mile	35 mile	? kW	25 mph	2006	$12,750
Myers Motors NmG	? Wh/mile	30 mile	22,4 kW	76 mph	2005	$36,000
Aerorider	16 Wh/mile	50 mile	0,6 kW	28 mph	2008	€7,500
Zap Xebra sedan	? Wh/mile	25 mile	? kW	41 mph	2006	$11,200
Dynasty Sedan	142 Wh/mile	31 mile	? kW	24 mph	2005	$19,000
Kurrent	? Wh/mile	40 mile	4,1 kW	35 mph	2007	$9,800
Elettrica	? Wh/mile	70 mile	? kW	45 mph	2007	£12,750
ElectroVaya NEV	? Wh/mile	75 mile	? kW	25 mph	2008	?
Elbil Norge Kewet Buddy	160 Wh/mile	94 mile	13 kW	56 mph	1998	?
Ydea	128 Wh/mile	125 mile	4 kW	38 mph	2007	?
Mega City	186 Wh/mile	40 mile	4 kW	40 mph	2008	£10,847
Town Life Helecktra	160 Wh/mile	44 mile	4 kW	28 mph	2008	€11,000
LITTLE ANGEL 001 SONIK MOTOR	115 Wh/mile	75 mile	2,2 kW	28 mph	2008	?
SCE maranello4cycle	? Wh/mile	63 mile	4 kW	28 mph	2008	?
MyCar	? Wh/mile	75 mile	4 kW	50 mph	2008	€6,500
Eagle G-car	? Wh/mile	50 mile	? kW	38 mph	2008	$3,300
XFD-6000ZK Flybo	178 Wh/mile	81 mile	6,5 kW	34 mph	2008	$10,000
Sam Cree	80 Wh/mile	44 mile	15 kW	53 mph	2008	€6,600
BugE	50 Wh/mile	30 mile	2,24 kW	50 mph	2008	$4,827
go-one³	21 Wh/mile	63 mile	1,5 kW	25 mph	2008	?
ElectroVaya Maya 300	? Wh/mile	120 mile	? kW	35 mph	?	?
Green Vehicles Moose	? Wh/mile	60 mile	6,5 kW	35 mph	2008	$12,995
Green Vehicles Microwatt	? Wh/mile	60 mile	6,5 kW	35 mph	2008	$11,995
Lux 200 Dilixi	? Wh/mile	63 mile	5 kW	28 mph	?	?
Nice MyCar	? Wh/mile	60 mile	? kW	40 mph	2008	£8,995
Nice Ze-0	? Wh/mile	40 mile	? kW	55 mph	2008	£14,000
Sunmotor Coupe DX	? Wh/mile	156 mile	? kW	44 mph	2008	?
Venturi Eclectric	256 Wh/mile	31 mile	11 kW	31 mph	2007	€24,000

Prototypes

Promising prototypes which can really drive (no mockups). Either developed by enthusiastic pioneers or first tests of existing car manufacturers. There is a change that these make it to commercial production.

Brand/Type	Consumption	Range	Power	Top-speed	Prod. yr	Price
Dodge Zeo	256 Wh/mile	250 mile	200 kW	130 mph	?	?
Wrightspeed X1	200 Wh/mile	100 mile	176 kW	112 mph	?	?
Eliica	275/248 Wh/mile	200/125 mile	480 kW	119/250 mph	?	$255,000
Subaru g4e	? Wh/mile	125 mile	65 kW	? mph	?	?
Trev	59 Wh/mile	94 mile	25 kW	75 mph	?	?
Think Ox	? Wh/mile	125 mile	? kW	85 mph	?	?
Zap Alias	? Wh/mile	101 mile	240 kW	157 mph	2009	$32,500
Nissan Mixim	? Wh/mile	150 mile	100 kW	112 mph	?	?
Fiat Phylla	152 Wh/mile	138 mile	27 kW	81 mph	?	?
Venturi Astrolab	102 Wh/mile	69 mile	16 kW	75 mph	?	?

I did my best to create an accurate list based on the information found on the internet. Despite this the information can have inaccuracies. If you find some please let me know, I will update this list.
If you have more (up-to-date) information add a comment to this article with the information. I will use this to keep the list up-to-date.
I need your help to keep this list interesting and up-to-date. Just add a comment if you have more information or want to give your personal opinion.

Car News, Car Review, Future, Auto, New Cars, Car Quote, Price

Win A New 1967 Ford Mustang GT500 Tribute Car

Ford Mustang GT500 Tribute Car1967 Ford Mustang GT500 fastback, based on the famed “Eleanor” car seen in both the original and the remake of the classic car movie “Gone in 60 Seconds.”

The then-completed car will be on display at WCC’s annual campus car show in early October, where a drawing will be held to determine its new owner. In addition to the car, the winner will receive a trip in early November to the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas, where the car will be showcased.

Car News, Car Review, Future, Auto, New Cars, Car Quote, Price

2010 Audi A5 Sportback - First Drive Review

With frameless windows and a fast, sloping roofline, the A5 Sportback is a handsome car, but a new concept it is not—sleek hatchback variants derived from their sedan brethren were common in the 1970s. Audi's own original Avant models, for instance, arrived as fastback hatches in 1977 and remained as such through the third-generation Audi 100/5000 sedans, until they were finally replaced with a conventional boxy wagon style in 1990.

The "Sportback" concept goes back quite a ways inside of Audi Design, too. Initially proposed in the late 1990s—down to the name—by designer Marc Florian (now at GM), it morphed through several iterations over the years before it finally emerged as this car and the upcoming A7.

But before you decide you want one, know that the A5 Sportback won't come to the U.S. Audi thinks the market would be too small, and U.S. crash regulations would have required the roofline above the rear passengers to be about 1.5 inches thicker, so extensive reengineering would have been in order. Audi is planning to produce 40,000–50,000 units annually, most of them for Western Europe.

So Many Engines
On the Continent, a whole range of engines is offered. Audi figures the two 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo-diesels, rated at 143 hp and 170 hp, will be the most popular and account for 40 percent of sales. The 2.0-liter, four-cylinder TFSI gasoline engines, in 180-hp and 211-hp iterations, will account for 25 percent. The remainder will be split between two TDI V-6 turbo-diesels—a 190-hp, 2.7-liter and the ubiquitous 240-hp, 3.0-liter (of Q5, A6, Q7, A8, VW Touareg, and Porsche Cayenne fame)—along with a normally aspirated, 265-hp, 3.2-liter gasoline V-6.

We drove all of them and liked the 211-hp, 2.0-liter four and the 3.0-liter TDI six best. With the turbo-four, the A5 Sportback /feels like a huge, premium GTI: 0 to 62 mph takes in the mid-six-second range, and top speed is 150 mph. You hear a low-pitched, sporty note instead of the typical four-banger drone, and response to throttle input is rapid. The 2.0 TFSI works well with both the six-speed manual and the optional seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual gearbox. It's a light engine, and the A5 Sportback is a very balanced car thus equipped.

Specifications
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 5-door wagon
ESTIMATED PRICE AS TESTED (Germany): $60,033 (base price: $47,912)
ENGINE TYPE: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, cast-iron block, aluminum head, direct fuel injection

Displacement: 121 cu in, 1984cc
Power (SAE net): 211 bhp @ 4300 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 258 lb-ft @ 1500 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed manual, 7-speed dual-clutch automated manual
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 110.6 in Length: 185.5 in Width: 73.0 in Height: 54.8 in Curb weight (C/D est): 3700 lb
PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):
Zero to 62 mph: 6.0 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 14.5 sec
Top speed (drag limited): 150 mph

FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST):
EPA city/highway driving: 22/28 mpg
You can't quite say the same about the 3.2-liter V-6. It is more powerful, but offers hardly more torque than the burliest 2.0-liter, and you can't help but notice the extra weight during turn-in. On twisty highways, the 3.2 feels clumsier than the 2.0 TFSI. The sensible choice among gasoline engines is the entry-level 2.0-liter TFSI with 180 hp, but the horsepower deficit compared with the more powerful version dilutes the fun. An even less expensive A5 Sportback is coming later, a 1.8 TFSI with 160 hp. This engine is great in the A3, but we’re not sure we’ll like it as much in the bigger and heavier A5 Sportback.

Pass Diesel, Collect $200 (In Saved Fuel Costs)
If you’re more mileage-minded, you can go directly to the diesel versions. The four-cylinder TDIs are strong enough to move the A5 Sportback smartly, but their noise, vibration, and harshness never let you forget that you have a small oil-burner under the hood. The two V-6 diesels almost sound melodious by comparison. The 2.7-liter is great for effortless, long-distance cruising, and its CVT transmission makes you forget the (well-founded) prejudices you might have harbored about those boxes. But for real authority, go for the 3.0-liter V-6 TDI, which is a lot quicker and can be mated to the quick-shifting seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. With 369 lb-ft of torque on tap, it simply leaves the smaller V-6 TDI—and every gasoline-powered model—in its dust.

The chassis nicely blends great handling and coddling comfort, even when equipped with 18-inch wheels. We like the Drive Select chassis-adjustment option that lets you tweak the chassis and steering to be either harder-edged or softer according to your preferences, and we love the Sport differential, which you can get with the top-level gasoline and diesel engines and which helps mitigate any understeer that the heavier engines might produce.

Audi arguably makes the nicest interiors in the industry, and the Sportback cockpit is carried over unchanged from the A5 coupe. As in the A4, rear seating isn’t particularly generous but neither is it uncomfortable. This, after all, is a relatively compact sedan by U.S. standards. The A5 Sportback does offer more trunk space than a conventional sedan, and it's easier to access, but this body style clearly is no alternative to a Volvo V70 (or even an A4 Avant).

Based on the A4, but You Probably Knew That
You likely know that the Audi A5 is based on the A4 (much like the Mercedes E-class coupe is based on the C-class). Indeed, the A5 Sportback is a sedan with the front end (including an identical S-line look) and taillights of the A5 coupe, but the wheelbase of the A4.

What's the point? After all, why have two sedans roughly the same size? The answer is simple: the A5 Sportback is a designer's car. It may sport a hatchback, like the portly BMW 5-series GT, the Porsche Panamera, and the Aston Martin Rapide, but the A5 Sportback also will be compared with some of the more elegant, conventionally trunked sedans, such as the Mercedes-Benz CLS and Volkswagen CC. These are all cars for which marketing departments invented the nonsensical “four-door coupe” moniker.

Technological highlights include optional LED light strips up front and in the rear, including a third brake light with 24 LEDs. The front fenders are made of aluminum to save weight. If one feels the need to more closely track their carbon footprint, there is a driver information system which shows the energy flow in the car, including the juice sucked up by the air-conditioning unit and the rear window defroster. Give us a boost gauge for the turbo instead.

In Germany, pricing starts at €33,650 ($47,912) for an A5 Sportback with front-wheel drive and a manual gearbox, with most of the range slotting just under respective A5 coupe models and above the A4 sedans. It's fast, cool, and distinctive, and we think it is a good deal. If only they’d found a way to lower the rear seats by an inch and a half—we wouldn’t mind seeing this car in America.

Audi A5 Sportback
VAudi A5 Sportback