| Make
|
Venturi |
| Model |
Volage |
| Concept
year |
2008 |
| Production
year |
2012 |
| Engine |
in-wheel
electric motors |
Like all contemporary Venturi vehicles the Volage concept
is an electric powered car. Introduced at the 2008 Paris
Motor Show the Venturi Volage concept was a two-seat sports
car with four-wheel drive. It was developed as the result
of a partnership between Venturi and tire manufacturers
Michelin.
Under the flowing, aerodynamic carbon
fibre bodywork of the Venturi Volage, which was styled
by Sacha Lakic, lies an aluminium and composite material
chassis which is both light and strong. Weight is an important
consideration in designing electric powered vehicles as
the batteries themselves are quite heavy. The batteries
used in the Volage are Lithium-Polymer (li-po) units which
weigh 350 kgs (772 lbs) in total. These batteries can
be recharged over 1,500 times, and can be 80% recharged
in just four hours using an external recharge booster,
using the vehicles built-in charger it takes 8 hours.
An even distribution of the Venturi Volage's weight -
45% at the front, 55% at the rear, and an overall weight
of 1,075 kilos ( 2370 lbs) enables it to hit 62 mph (100
km/h) in less than 5 seconds.
Inside each wheel of the Venturi Volage are two electric
motors. One provides drive, the other is used for suspension
in a system called "Michelin Active Wheel".
This active electric shock absorber system allows for
total adaptation to the type of road
surface and driving.
Inside the two-seat Venturi Volage is a touch screen dashboard
which can be configured to suit the drivers favored layout.
From this interface the driver can also configure the
vehicle to suit his or her needs. For example, they can
decide to give priority to range rather than power, or
comfort rather than speed.
Venturi hope to have the Volage in limited production
by 2012. Each car will be hand assembled at the Venturi
workshops in Monaco.
Similar and related vehicles:
Venturi America
Venturi Fetish
Venturi Eclectic
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