Hybrids are not for everyone, but anyone can make responsible choices. For enthusiasts who want to find some enjoyment in driving, there are alternatives! Too many people believe that a Prius is somehow going to print money and put it in their pocket every time they fill up. The Prius is not, as some would like you to believe, the last word in fuel economy. There are other options, and better solutions for those of us that actually care about what we drive.
I got some more info about this coming weekend's Rallye R.E.A.L.
Over the course of the two day event the cars will travel from Alma, Quebec to St-Jerome, Quebec via a route of approximately 800 kms. The complete entry list, however, is a real disappointment... 18 cars entered, every last one of which is a hybrid.
Joy of joys.
Not a single CNG, LPG, or bio-diesel/biofuel powered car to be seen. No EVs either.
It's quite a let-down when you consider that it's supposed to be an "alternative energy" rally, yet every single car entered runs on fossil fuels. Sure they're "hybrid" so they can get slightly better fuel mileage, but they aren't really alternative since they have to fill up with the same gasoline nearly every other car on the road uses.
When it comes to true sports cars (and by "true sports cars" I mean stripped down, bare minimum, performance first, everything else second rides... not sporty cars, or sport sedans, or other such fun vehicles) that are propelled by something other than gasoline, there are currently only two options... an electrically powered Tesla from California, or an LPG motivated Beira from Breckland Motors in the UK. A few other companies have very nice renderings and concept cars... but as yet, nothing to truly show if they can kick it around a track or not.
Also, diesel power will likely be found beneath the hood of some sports cars in the very near future too, courtesy Audi and likely Porsche... but for now, it's one or the other of the two I just mentioned.
Batteries Included! The Tesla is a very small roadster based on a Lotus Elise powered by a brushless electric motor that provides peak torque from zero to 13,000 RPM! Not only is it beautiful to look at (unlike some electrics)... but it also gets the equivalent of 256 miles per gallon (that's less than 1L/100km), goes from 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds, and does it all silently, without a clutch, a gearbox, or any other moving mechanical parts.
Another significant fact about this EV... it gets well over 200 miles of range per charge! General Motors could afford to take note of this detail... their upcoming EV, the Volt, is expected to have an electric range of just 40 miles, with a supplementary range of 300-something on it's gas engine. Excuse me?!? An EV that needs a gas engine to travel any significant distance?!? Brilliant EV planning there boys.
You can read more about the Tesla, as well as see a bunch of great photos on the official site of Tesla Motors.
Future TVR? The other non-gasoline sports car out there now is the Brecklands Beira. Again, it's a small roadster, this time based on GM's Miata-chasing Kappa platform (which you likely see every day on the road in the form of the very sexy Pontiac Solstice or Saturn Sky).
However, in the case of the Beira, instead of an anemic 4 cylinder (turboed or not... that car is a little overweight) Breckland instead opted to use GM's 6.0L V8, which puts out a nice round 400 horsepower while running on LPG.
Unfortunately, I can't find an "official site" for Breckland Motors. In the mean time, you can see a few more pics of the Beira at the evo website HERE.
Lastly, you canseeboth in action at Goodwood this past summer, courtesy Fifth Gear:
I got some more info about this coming weekend's Rallye R.E.A.L.
