Michel Gitano Pinoymade HYBRID sports car

[niky]

Interesting news coverage:


Michel Motorsports Gitano debuts with EVDrive range-extended craziness

Michel Motorsports has chosen the SEMA 2011 convention to debut the Gitano, its first original design effort. The Filipino company has spent its first 23 years building replicas of classic sportscars, and that history has clearly influenced this rear-wheel-drive coupe. But lift the long hood and underneath you'll find a beating heart unlike anything found in its faux-Lotus Sevens – a 150 kW (200 horsepower) electric motor with sundry supporting components. If that sounds somewhat underwhelming, consider that it can pump out 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) of torque continuously from 0 to 5,000 RPM. Good times, yes?

EVDrive Drivetrain under the hood og the Michel Motorsports GitanoBut wait, there's more! Open the trunk and you'll find a 25 kW (34.53 hp) range-extending rotary engine ready to take you 250 additional miles past the 100-mile all-electric range. About the size of a spare tire and able to burn a number of combustible fuels, it runs at its peak efficiency to pump energy back into the battery pack during those long distance drives.

The power plants and their associated bits come courtesy of EVDrive. This outing represents their first foray into the commercial market as well, after spending the past few years developing their secret sauciness. AutoblogGreen actually covered their original electric dirt bike project back in 2008.

In addition to the system in the Gitano, the San Diego-based firm also has on display an all-electric version that's specifically engineered to be used in conversions of BWM E46 series vehicles. They say it should be available in the 2nd quarter of 2012 and be the first of a whole family of modular systems with outputs ranging from 65 to 1,000-plus hp.

As for the Gitano itself, there's no word yet on the pricetag or when it is expected to begin rolling out the door. The first examples will be constructed in Britain and die-hard petrolheads will be pleased to learn that the electric drivetrain isn't the only available option. The company says it can offer offer a variant powered by an LS-series gen IV V8 capable of 430 hp and 424 lb-ft of torque.

Interesting that they're going with the rotary range extender... and that's some serious hardware on the electrical side... and it seems like it will be available for use in other kit projects, too.

[Ry_Tower]

^ Any idea on the possible pricetag? Even they are clueless yet.

Anybody here has experienced with one-ofs and/or custom cars?

[niky]

None yet... but considering production will be done in the UK, expect it to cost an arm and a leg to bring here. If it were to be built here, however, with the zero percent tax on hybrid and electric components, the price could go down a whole lot... but don't expect much. The electrical controller that they're using, by itself, is 500k pesos. Add batteries and motor, that's probably 1.5 - 2m in electrical and hybrid hardware.

[ghosthunter]

None yet... but considering production will be done in the UK, expect it to cost an arm and a leg to bring here. If it were to be built here, however, with the zero percent tax on hybrid and electric components, the price could go down a whole lot... but don't expect much. The electrical controller that they're using, by itself, is 500k pesos. Add batteries and motor, that's probably 1.5 - 2m in electrical and hybrid hardware.

Years ago, we already did the basic pencil-pushing for the costing to convert an existing car (example: Corolla GL 16v) to electric and it was not viable compared to typical cost of cars. It is doubtful that the "pinoy-made" spors car would do any better.

[frag]

after talking to the guys an michel, it looks like the car will be assembled in the philippines. the chassis, however, will be designed in the UK (not sure if they will just send the designs here for assembly or if it will be imported as a whole chassis), while the engine will come from the US. the body and interior will be totally manufactured here. The car, however, will not target the local market primarily. rather, it's target markets are europe and the USA. in SEMA, all three times i dropped by the michel booth, there were people there talking about the car with interest. in fact, the last time i went, a group of japanese people were discussing the possibility of having one spec'd up for japan.



i mention it briefly in my SEMA report, as well. hope you guys enjoy it:

http://pinoypetrolheads.blogspot.com/2011/11/sema-2011-report-part-5-pinoys-at-sema.html

as for a car for local consumption, that is in the works (i don't have any details on this yet), but it likely won't be the gitano.

[cripple_rooster]

Michel Motorsports Gitano debuts with EVDrive range-extended craziness



Interesting that they're going with the rotary range extender...

Audi is also going with a rotary range extender for the A1 e-tron. BTW it's nice that the Gitano also has a regular non-hybrid version. I'm not too much fascinated about electric drive systems, altough it's actually an interesting technology and has its advantages...

[ghosthunter]

So what is the update on this car project? It's been three months.

[uls]

i was thinking the same thing

it's always press release and hype first

[Burai]

grabeng back read hehe!
this reminds me of the old devil Z at the back and the maserati gran turismo at the front.
way to go para sa team na gumawa nito. hoping to see more of the interior shots.

[marg]

i was thinking the same thing

it's always press release and hype first

Just like the PhUV