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Venturi Fetish
The Venturi
Fetish deserves the distinction of being the world's first production
twin seated electricity-powered sports car. Considered a symbol
of innovation, the Venturi Fetish was unveiled at Geneva International
Motor Show in 2002 and did not fail to turn heads. After later being
presented at the 200 Paris Motor Show and the 2003 Detroit Motor
Show, it was awarded a "Talent du Luxe" plus a "Michelin
Challenge Design" award respectively.
Venturi Fetish |
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The Venturi
Fetish concept car gives testimony to the innovation of the carmaker
in terms of the core design. Venturi has come a long way since it
was created as France's solution to the Ferrari of Italy, in 1984.
It was only in 2001 when Gildo Pallanca Pastor purchased Venturi
that the decision to concentrate on an electric motor was taken
which ultimately led to the Fetish model. Parisian designer Sacha
Lakic created the car's futuristic design. The Venturi Fetish made
a mockery of the public opinion that an electric car had to be ugly
and weak at it turned this preconception on its heels.
The Venturi
Fetish can boast of a boatload of technology, engineering and design
features that make it one of the most coveted cars worldwide. The
engine position is ideal as it is in the rear central part of the
automobile. In addition, the presence of a monocoque carbon chassis
plus the architecture as a whole make it worthy of comparison to
a racing car.
The technical
specifications of the car are impressive. The car produces an approximate
250 bhp (nearly 180 KW) peak output making the acceleration of the
car comparable to a normal internal combustion engine (ICE) sports
car. The capacity of the car to reach 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds is
proof to its amazing acceleration just shy of that of a supercar.
The Venturi Fetish has a less comparable top speed of 100 mph, a
respectable option taking into account the fact that it has only
gear.
The Venturi
Fetish has a maximum torque of about 220 Nm. The electric motor
is responsible for one other significant attraction and that is
the availability of the full 220 Nm torque at all speeds as compared
to cars that have internal combustion engines, which hit their peaks
at different RPMs.
The specifications
by the company are for a range of 150 miles. Since lithium-ion accumulators
are used as batteries, they offer a very quick overall recharge
in only 1 hour. This is made possible due to the Venturi Fetish's
onboard charger. Some may see the 1 hour recharge rate as prohibitive
for long-distance trips, but past owners of other electric vehicles
such as the GM EV1, will
see this as a vast improvement from the 6 to 8 hour overnight charge
times that they had grown used to having.
The car is
retail priced at around $460,000, which will suit any rich treehugger
with a need for speed. Now produced in Monoco, the production of
the Venturi Fetish is limited to just 25 new vehicles per year making
it one of the most rare and sought after specialty cars in the last
10 years. A sports car to the core the Venturi Fetish can be driven
with passion, desire and a yearning the open road and new technology.
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