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REPORT: Dodge Circuit production hints, possibly coming in 2010

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Dodge, Lotus, Electric

Dodge Circuit EV concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

With all of the recent upheaval at Chrysler, it's no surprise that the fate of the very cool Dodge Circuit is not exactly certain. In May, Chrysler assured everyone that the program was not DOA, and Chrylser ENVI president Lou Rhodes recently said something similar to Car and Driver. Rhodes even gave C&D a few details about how the program is shaping up.

Chrysler's plan involves having the vehicle produced by Lotus in the UK (sounds familiar) and then shipped to the U.S. for the electric powertrain. Chrysler's sales target is 100,000 EVs in order to benefit from economies of scale for all the expensive EV bits. By selling that many vehicles, Chrysler's efforts could make the Circuit "tens of thousands" of dollars less than the somewhat similar Tesla Roadster. The Circuit is still likely to be Chrysler's first EV, and could start production next year.

Gallery: SAE 2009: Dodge Circuit quick drive

Photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Car and Driver via All Cars Electric]

REPORT: Dodge Circuit production hints, possibly coming in 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Driving the Dodge Circuit, now with video

Sebastian Blanco — Mon, 11 May 2009 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green, Videos, Dodge

Click the image above to view the video after the jump

A few weeks ago, we had the chance to step into the Dodge Circuit for a quick spin around downtown Detroit. During the course of the drive, we shot some video of our time with Chrysler's EV while getting the run-through on the Circuit's technology from John Myers, the EV's project lead and ENVI employee. The bumpy roads weren't quite long and straight enough for our liking, but we did get the chance to learn a bit more about Chrysler's EV strategy and why the automaker thinks its ENVI battery program is better than Tesla's. Hit the jump to watch the video.

Gallery: SAE 2009: Dodge Circuit quick drive

Continue reading Driving the Dodge Circuit, now with video

Driving the Dodge Circuit, now with video originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 May 2009 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2009: Dodge Circuit EV, now with cross-hairs

Sam Abuelsamid — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Green, Chrysler, Dodge, Lotus

Click the Dodge Circuit EV for a high-res gallery

In spite of the large Dodge EV branding that was on this car when it first appeared last fall, it was obvious to all that it was simply a Lotus Europa. In spite of Chrysler's seemingly inexorable drive to insolvency in recent months, the engineers and designers in Auburn Hills have continued to try make the best use of the time they have left with a paycheck. The electric sports car now known as the Circuit EV has been the beneficiary of cross-hair nose job that is actually an improvement over the Lotus original. The tail has also been revamped and the plug socket has moved from the passenger side to the driver's side flank.

The specs haven't changed so the Circuit is still a bit slower than a Tesla Roadster with a 0-60 time of under 5 seconds. The range is also estimated at 150-200 miles. It's anyone's guess what the real world range would be though since no one outside Chrysler or Lotus has thoroughly tested the Circuit yet. The other guess is whether Chrysler LLC will be around long enough to actually sell the Circuit to customers. Maybe we should start a pool to see which company will hold longer, Chrysler or Tesla?

Gallery: Dodge Circuit EV

Continue reading Detroit 2009: Dodge Circuit EV, now with cross-hairs

Detroit 2009: Dodge Circuit EV, now with cross-hairs originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Dodge EV caught late-night testing

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Hybrid, Green, Chrysler, Dodge

Now that Chrysler has heard that it's likely to get an extra shot of green from the Feds, development of its green Dodge EV can continue on as planned. Fortunately for us, spy shooters have managed to snag some shots of the new electric sports car out testing late at night. Although the ISO has been boosted through the roof in an effort to capture the cars in the dark sans head lamps, we can clearly see that Chrysler's been busy adding Dodge-specific styling elements to the Lotus Europa bodyshell that was used for the EV concept. The front-end of the car now looks like it rolled out of the Pentastar styling studios with the corporate crosshair grille present and accounted for, which makes the EV look more like the Demon concept from Geneva in '07. With the help of Lotus, which is donating its engineering expertise to Chrysler's project, and UQM Technologies, which is supplying the electric powertrain, Chrysler may actually be able to shock the world by bringing an electric sportscar to market in 2010.

[Source: Left Lane News]

Spy Shots: Dodge EV caught late-night testing originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Dodge EV vs. Dodge Challenger

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Hybrid, Performance, Green, Videos, Dodge

Click above to watch video after the jump

A few days ago we showed you some pics of the Dodge EV concept at a local car show in Southern California. It appears that the Dodge-branded, battery-powered Lotus Europa made a few other stops in the area as well, one of which was at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Alongside the EV, the Dodge boys were displaying, among other things, a Challenger SRT-8. Well, one thing led to another and before long a battle between '60s retro muscle and modern electric power was underway. Lucky for us, someone was there with a video camera to capture the fraternal pissing match. This impromptu drag race doesn't give us any clear indication of times, but you can definitely see the EV's advantage of light weight and instant-on torque from a stop. The concept electric vehicle jumps ahead at the start, but the Challenger hangs on. Just when the big HEMI seems to be getting a full head of steam, however, they run out of space. We've embedded the video for you after jump. Check it out and let us know how you think this battle would play out on a real 1/4 mile drag strip.

Gallery: Dodge EV in the wild

[Source: ALLPAR]

Continue reading VIDEO: Dodge EV vs. Dodge Challenger

VIDEO: Dodge EV vs. Dodge Challenger originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dodge EV takes to the streets

Frank Filipponio — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 18:33:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Hybrid, Green, Dodge

Click above for hi-res gallery of the Dodge EV in the wild

While a lot of the legwork was done for them by Lotus, we still have to give Chrysler a little credit for getting an electric vehicle prototype on the road so quickly. When we first saw the Dodge EV a couple of months ago, it looked like it was ready to roll, with a Tesla-like blend of Lotus platform and electric powerpack. Soon after we heard that the car was likely to make it to production, with a delivery date that would challenge the Chevrolet Volt. While it had appeared that Chrysler was way behind its domestic rivals in developing an electric car, we know that through their GEM subsidiary, Chrysler has actually accumulated a lot of EV expertise and become the nation's leading electric car seller in the process.

The Dodge EV is essentially a Lotus Europa, but uses lithium batteries and a 268 hp electric motor in place of the standard 2.0L four cylinder engine and transmission. It promises a range of 150-200 miles and a 0-60 time of under 5 seconds. It's a full-blown, plug-in EV, just like the Tesla Roadster, and should require a 4-hour recharge from a 220V outlet or 8 hours on a 110. To help launch Chrysler's new ENVI electric car division, the Dodge EV has been traveling the show circuit, but today we spotted it at one of our favorite local cruise-ins.

It attracted quite a crowd. Not surprisingly, many folks at the show mistook it for a Lotus until they saw the Dodge badges. Even then a lot of people figured it was some type of joint venture between the two firms. Most were amazed to learn the car might be in Dodge showrooms by 2010. Try as we might we couldn't wrestle the keys from the Chrysler reps. Hopefully the car and the company make it through our current economic crisis so we can sample one when they hit the streets.

Gallery: Dodge EV in the wild

Dodge EV takes to the streets originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 16 Nov 2008 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler LLC debuts Dodge EV, Jeep EV and Chrysler EV

John Neff — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep

Click above for high-res gallery of Chrysler's three new EVs

As we learned this morning from Bob Nardelli's appearance on CNBC, Chrysler LLC is getting into the electric vehicle game and plans to have something on the market by the end of 2010 - the same time GM plans to start selling the 2011 Chevy Volt. The vehicle in question will be one of these three EVs, all of which are powered fully or in part by electrons.

The first and perhaps most exciting is the Dodge EV, which is an all-electric sports car like the Tesla Roadster. In fact, Chrysler seems to have taken a few pages from Tesla's playbook, which is evident by the fact that its EV is wearing the body of a Lotus Europa at the moment. Lotus also worked with Tesla on the development of its Roadster and is probably offering its expertise in electronics and lightweight vehicle design to any automaker willing to pay for it.

Chrysler says the Dodge EV uses a 200kW or 268 equivalent horsepower electric motor mated to an "advanced lithium-ion battery pack and an integrated power control module". Peak torque is 480 lb-ft, which helps propel the lightweight Europ... Dodge EV to 60 mph in less than five seconds and a 120 mph top speed. Its range is pegged at between 150 to 200 miles with recharge times of 8 hours for 110-volt outlets and four hours using a 220-volt.

Gallery: Dodge EV, Jeep EV and Chrysler EV

Continue reading Chrysler LLC debuts Dodge EV, Jeep EV and Chrysler EV

Chrysler LLC debuts Dodge EV, Jeep EV and Chrysler EV originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Breaking: Dodge EV sports car, range-extended Town & Country, Wrangler previewed

Alex Nunez — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:08:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Minivan/Van, Performance, SUV, Green, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep

CNBC's Phil Lebeau got a sneak peek at the new EVs Chrysler is developing, and it looks like Auburn Hills is pulling a Tesla, among other things. The yellow Dodge EV you see here is basically an electrified Lotus Europa. Presumably equipped with lithium ion battery power, the Dodge EV has a reported operating range of 150 - 200 miles and can be plugged in to household 110 or 220 outlets. Figure a four-hour charge on the latter, and 8 or so on the former. Zero-to-sixty is said to be under 5 seconds. Like we said, this is basically Chrysler's Tesla, right down to the Lotus-sourced donor vehicle.

We'll see the Dodge EV introduced formally later this afternoon, along with range-extended EV versions of the Chrysler Town & Country (can you say, "killer app"?) and Jeep Wrangler. With regard to timing, Chrysler says it would like to have "at least one" of these vehicles on the market by the end of 2010, the unofficial official year of the electric/plug-in car.

Look for all three prototypes to head to D.C., where they'll be showcased for Congressional leaders who have a say in whether or not Washington will show Detroit the money they've been asking for.

For now, you can watch the preview unveiling of the cars on CNBC by watching this video. Chrysler's got something planned for 1PM today, so we expect to have a lot more info and photos then. Stay tuned.

UPDATED: Full details now posted here.

Gallery: Dodge EV, Jeep EV and Chrysler EV

[Source: CNBC]

Breaking: Dodge EV sports car, range-extended Town & Country, Wrangler previewed originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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