Lightning GT entering late prototype phase

Lightning Car Company GT - Click above for high-res image gallery

In February 2009, UK-based Lightning Car Company announced that it was intent on building and selling its electric GT sometime in 2010. Well, the year is almost over and Lightning, as one might expect of any fledgling automaker, is running behind schedule. The company claims that its battery-powered GT will enter a "late prototype" phase soon and hopes to have the vehicle production-ready by spring of 2012.

Since unveiling the GT in 2007, significant changes have been made. The proposed in-wheel motors have been ditched in favor of a rear-drive setup sourced from an unnamed German manufacturer. Performance numbers have been modified to account for changes made to the drivetrain and electric motors. The GT is tipped to run from 0-60 miles per hour in five seconds and range is expected to exceed 100 miles. With a projected price now soaring to £180,000 ($290,628 U.S. at the current exchange rate) we'd have to admit that selling even 250 electric GTs annually (Lightning's own projected production volume) seems more than a bit optimistic.


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[Source: Autocar]

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