This is the Zap! Xebra prototype that first showed up at the San Fran auto show. It's built by a Chinese concern by the name of Qinqi (pronounced "Kin-Key" or "kinky" by some, according to the rep). We posted on it once before but Chris’s account of it and Zap itself from CES is priceless. I’ll let him speak…
“Zap! promises an MSRP of about $9K for this ungainly little trike. 'Powered' (if that is the word) by six 12-volt battery packs, this pure electric will canter at up to 40mph, and will go 40 miles on a charge. A full-charge takes 8-hours, while a 75% charge is available in 'only 5 hours.'
Interior (see pics after jump) was dreadful, with the strong odor of resins and epoxies. Plastics and switchgear that a Yugo owner would turn their nose up at. Lovely.”
Follow the jump for more of Chris’s take on Zap, including the company's import of the Brazilian designed Obvio!...
“As you'll remember Zap! is the Santa Rosa, California-based firm who took all those orders for Smart ForTwos it was planning on federalizing, but DCX announced that it wouldn't supply them with cars. The Zap! rep maintained that this was a 'misunderstanding' of sorts, and that they were (and are) planning on fulfilling orders by buying cars directly from European dealers. Unclear as to whether any customers had taken delivery of their Smarts yet.
“Also displayed a couple of more conventional pure electrics, including a small three-wheeler (like a cross between a kid's scooter and one of those back and forth sit-n-skates.
“Zap! is promising to deliver the first tribrid car that runs on gas, electricity and alcohol. The Obvio 828/2, as it is called will reportedly come from Brazil and offer a choice of 170hp and 250hp Tritec Motors (four-cylinders). Said to include CVT tranny with six-'speed' steering-column paddle shifters, and weigh only 1648 lbs).
“Didn't have one on hand (convenient, eh), but the photo they had looks like a reconstituted Smart ForTwo riding on some old Porsche 'Phonedials'. I don't know if I'd let these guys make me toast, let alone a 'trybrid' automobile.”
“Zap! promises an MSRP of about $9K for this ungainly little trike. 'Powered' (if that is the word) by six 12-volt battery packs, this pure electric will canter at up to 40mph, and will go 40 miles on a charge. A full-charge takes 8-hours, while a 75% charge is available in 'only 5 hours.'
Interior (see pics after jump) was dreadful, with the strong odor of resins and epoxies. Plastics and switchgear that a Yugo owner would turn their nose up at. Lovely.”
Follow the jump for more of Chris’s take on Zap, including the company's import of the Brazilian designed Obvio!...
“As you'll remember Zap! is the Santa Rosa, California-based firm who took all those orders for Smart ForTwos it was planning on federalizing, but DCX announced that it wouldn't supply them with cars. The Zap! rep maintained that this was a 'misunderstanding' of sorts, and that they were (and are) planning on fulfilling orders by buying cars directly from European dealers. Unclear as to whether any customers had taken delivery of their Smarts yet.
“Also displayed a couple of more conventional pure electrics, including a small three-wheeler (like a cross between a kid's scooter and one of those back and forth sit-n-skates.
“Zap! is promising to deliver the first tribrid car that runs on gas, electricity and alcohol. The Obvio 828/2, as it is called will reportedly come from Brazil and offer a choice of 170hp and 250hp Tritec Motors (four-cylinders). Said to include CVT tranny with six-'speed' steering-column paddle shifters, and weigh only 1648 lbs).
“Didn't have one on hand (convenient, eh), but the photo they had looks like a reconstituted Smart ForTwo riding on some old Porsche 'Phonedials'. I don't know if I'd let these guys make me toast, let alone a 'trybrid' automobile.”
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