Gojirra99

November 2004

Eliica eight-wheeler

It doesn't require plutonium to power its flux capacitor. It won't travel through time when it reaches 88mph. And unlike the Doc and Marty McFly's DeLorean of Back To The Future fame, it needs nothing more than a power point to keep it running.

Called the Eliica - short for Electric Lithium-Ion battery Car - this radical 800bhp eight-wheeler from Japan is proof that electric vehicles can be fast and fun to drive, too. Boasting a four-second 0-60mph sprint and seven-second 0-100mph time, the Eliica is faster than a Porsche 911 Turbo.

So what is it like on the road? In this world exclusive, we took the controls to find out. As soon as you climb into the snug cockpit, you realise this car is built for speed. It's more than five metres long, shaped like a bullet and carries its batteries, software and motors in a narrow chassis bed, giving it the lowest centre of gravity of any prototype we've come across.

In tests, the Eliica has recorded a top speed of 370kph (230mph), although its inventor Hiroshi Shimizu claims it could clear 400kph (250mph) in the right conditions. "When you're dealing with technology thought by most to be slow, heavy and lacking range, you must do better than any supercar," he said.

At our drive at Keio University near Tokyo, we punched the 'D' button on the dash, pointed the car down the road and flattened the gas pedal. With a faintly audible whirr of eight 100bhp in-wheel motors, the 0-60mph sprint was smooth, effortless, quiet - and surreal. The mind-boggling acceleration was on a par with that of a 500bhp GT racing car. Yet the lack of a transmission meant there were no jerky cog swaps as we were thrust back in our seat by an incredible 0.8Gs.

With that ultra-low centre of gravity, the car handles surprisingly well, and has virtually no body roll or nose-dive. It turns in sharply with well weighted steering through the front four wheels, and gives adequate feedback. And it does not feel as big or as heavy as its length and 2,400kg kerbweight suggest.

The only downsides, apart from the tiny cockpit, are that it takes 10 hours to recharge, and a production version would cost £170,000. To bring Shimizu's research back to the future, he needs a major firm's financial power behind him and the whole electric car movement.

Peter Lyon

Source : autoexpress.co.uk

Hameed

I'd hit it if I could afford one!

The roof towards the rear and the back remind of the Citroens of the 70's! I loved those cars! They had hydro-pneumatic self levelling suspensions that made the car look so cool and advanced in those days!

LexusLuver

amazing
hopefully the wt can be reduced, though it is nice that the all the wt is kept very low to the ground.

ias

uuggghhh the porsche looks a tiny bit better.

O. L. T.

iTrader: (17)

IF you have 8 wheels you BETTER be able to stick it in the twisties

chuckb

she sure aint pretty-But like the write up said-no shifting. Imagine how that must feel, just pulling like a son of bch non stop as soon as you hit it! 7 sec to 100 so whats that 1/4 mile- gotta be 10 sec or something.

I think it needs more than a body kit though

Baby ///M3

I saw the video of it racing a 911 turbo in straight line when I was in Asia a few months ago.

From 0-60mph, it was dead even between two cars. The Porsche did it with fantastic engine hawls while the electric car silently covered its distance with a swift sweeeeesh.

Not sure if I still remember correctly or not, but after 60MPH or so, the electric car simply went sweeeeeeeeeeesh and left the 911 turbo watching its tail a few cars behind.

Considering the quietness of the car, such speed was simply amazing.

Jon

abboushi

it would suck when you need new tires 8 wheels that my freinds is a true sleeper heehee

Richie

LOL, it is 8 wheel drive too!!!

rominl

iTrader: (4)

hahaha man, it could be really fast, but i don't know, if i see this car, i don't think i can stop laughing -- it just looks so damn funny

ebruce2

iTrader: (1)

Hey Bit!!!! You saw the same thing I saw. The Citroen was the first vehicle that entered my mind. Scary, with that being a relatively obscure vehicle around these parts. No offense to those who may have owned one at any point, of course.

Before you know it, I'll be having National Lampoon's European Vacation flashbacks!!!

jtanoyo1

"Hello, HRE?"
"You got the 22" 840R in stock?"
"You do?"
"Can I get 2 sets of those, please? It's for my new car. Yes, it's for 1 car...."

chuckb

NO problem, that'll be $20,000 + tires,balance and mounting at............................

juan01

even though it's fast... that's some ugly shizzz