Send to a friendJeb July 13th, 2007 12:32 PM Link
Hey, more power to him. It’s small builders like this that can take on these projects and lead the way.
Ariel Atom Builders’ Pending Supercar Goes Electric, Changes Name
Written By: Chris Paukert
That the stateside Ariel Atom builders at Brammo Motorsports have been hard at work on a supercar has been something of an open secret. Dubbed “Rogue GT,” it was to be a 12-cylinder monster designed to take on the establishment while fitting “real” people comfortably.
But in a revealing interview for Best Life Magazine, Brammo’s Craig Bramscher has let slip that their planned exotic has dramatically changed focus. As the CEO, Bramscher says he’s had a change of heart about the sort of environmental impact of his company, and that revelation will have a direct impact on his company’s product plans.
According to the article, Bramscher has come to believe that his firm has a “moral obligation” to become a green company. As a result, the planned Falconer V-12 has been jettisoned, and the car will now run not on gasoline, but electricity. With this change in propulsion comes a change in name—the Rogue GT will now be known as the Enertia GT, a name that echoes that of the plug-in electric motorcycle that Brammo unveiled just this past week.
(Click through to the jump for more details and the link)
Bramscher maintains that the Enertia GT’s performance will be largely unchanged. In the interview, he points out that with nature of electric motors (that generate their highest torque numbers at zero revolutions), the car could actually be quicker than it would’ve been with a conventional gasoline-powered V-12. Top speed, however, could suffer somewhat, so the 200 miles-per-hour bogey appears to be off the table.
Interestingly, Bramscher also notes that his Ashland, Oregon R&D crew is also hard at work on “all kinds of alternative-fuel products.”
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15 Comments
Ramsey July 13th, 2007 12:55 PM Link
I hope by “real people” they mean my 6′6″ arse
My Worlds Are Colliding - schneiderism July 13th, 2007 12:55 PM Link
[…] So, it was with child-like, wide-eyed excitement that I saw on Winding Road that Brammo Motorsports of Oregon is creating an electric supercar based on the Ariel Atom. This is unbelievably cool. To understand why, and perhaps get a window into what makes me tick… check out this video. Imagine this car as an electric, sustainable, environmentally friendly transport option. […]
André July 13th, 2007 2:02 PM Link
I’ll buy a Tesla–assuming I had any money.
John July 13th, 2007 2:19 PM Link
Boo! While I am sure that this revised product will be a very fine car indeed, to think that the miniscule production of Rogue GTs would in any way have a measurable environmental impact is the height of stupidity.
smokeydog001 July 13th, 2007 5:11 PM Link
Another mindless West coast moron falling for Little Lyin’ Al’s Henny-Penny pitch!
Steve July 13th, 2007 5:29 PM Link
It’s the principle of the thing. He wants to do what he feels is right, and for that, all the power in the world to him.
I’m sure the car will be a riot to drive!
Ariel Atom builders heart the environment, change new supercar from V12 to all-electric-- Ride Care Depot July 13th, 2007 8:45 PM Link
[…] […]
Ariel Atom builders heart the environment, change new supercar from V12 to all-electric | Review Cars Blog July 14th, 2007 5:18 AM Link
[…] […]
Rogue GT? Gone. Enter the Enertia GT from Brammo Motorsports! » Hybrid News July 14th, 2007 5:42 PM Link
[…] […]
Peter July 14th, 2007 8:45 PM Link
An entrepreneur in California has already made an electric Ariel Atom prototype: http://www.wrightspeed.com/x1.html
I wonder if Wrightspeed is going to be working together with Brammo on this new project…
fantasyfreddy July 15th, 2007 3:57 AM Link
Genius!! I just hope they sell an accessory of a solar charger, so it won’t have to run on coal or nuclear, which is what most electric plants run on!!
dante July 15th, 2007 10:58 AM Link
Yeah, because we really need another pointless V12 supercar that can’t even be driven the speed limit due to its visibility to cops, traffic conditions, and the fact that you can’t see out the stupid thing, drive it up a steep driveway, over a speedbump, or even park it anywhere without worrying about vandalism at least.
Good for this guy for doing something at least a little different. The boring people who criticized him for doing an electric are the same kind of people who never accomplished anything of note. Even stupid ideas that are a little different can lead to a break through later on.
You want another no-name supercar to pick up the 12 year old boys who are still impressed by such things, then build one yourself.
Johnny Rocket July 17th, 2007 12:25 AM Link
Dante summed it up.
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