The American Roadster by Eco-Fueler seats one-and-a-half men
Well let's start with the technical stuff before we laugh about the styling.... I'm sorry, I can't wait. It looks like the 2008 Car of the Year for GayWheels.com. Did you ever see the Ambiguously Gay Duo? They put their car into production! Okay, that'll do me for the moment. The American Roadster is powered by a compressed natural gas (CNG) engine that achieves 70 mpg. That's all I've got - no horsepower or performance figures, but at least we know at first glance it's rear-drive. Burning CNG, which, if you can get your hands on it, is significantly cheaper than gas, at 70 mpg sounds pretty sweet.
But look at it. If you thought the '59 Firebird II concept was phallic, you were wrong. Well, you were right, but this thing has got it beat. And they're actually planning in producing it - in mass quantities. In their current factory, they can only expect to be able to build 100/month, but at their new 200,000 sq. ft. factory they're acquiring, they expect to construct 240,000/month! I'm sorry, I just don't think they can sell that many. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the forward thinking and battering-ram style to getting a product to market, but did it have to look like a... like that?
More color commentary after the jump.
Gallery: American Roadster
[Source: Eco-Fueler]
According to John S. Greene, the creator, on the Eco-Fueler website, taking away a wheel classifies it as a motorcycle, thus dodging "billions of dollars" in federal safety testing, like the Zap! Xebra. This, apparently accomplishes Greene's dream:
Create a company that is "Made in the United States of America," that produces a "vehicle" unfettered by regulation, and that runs on fuel that is produced in the United States of America.
Unfettered by regulation? Umm, I think that raises a flag, there. Aren't those pesky little regulations there to protect the general obese American public? They cost a lot because they're important. True, safety is lower on my priority list than style and sport, but if there's no research being put into keeping the fabulous occupants safe in the vehicle, chances are much better that I would be caught dead in it, no matter how much I may not want to. Actually, I would like to drive this for a laugh, but how much do you not want to be the guy in the back seat, who I can only assume straddles the driver? Yes, the price is meant to be under $20,000, but the price you pay extends far beyond that.
The roadster is supposedly planned to run on hydrogen at some point as well, but that will definitely be more expensive, if it ever sees the light of day. As it stands now, it can strut proudly for 450 miles on a tank of compressed gas, but no matter how far you drive, you're still displaying your manhood in a quite embarrassing way.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
john 3:05AM (1/27/2008)
Some of us at the Ecofueler factory really got a great laugh out of the comments, especially the ones by Alex who is apparently a Jaguar dealer and who must be having trouble selling gas hogs and has become angry.
The people who have seen the Ecofueler in person at some of the shows all comment on how good looking it is, and we are sure Alex would fall in love with it if he saw one in person.
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Judd Meyers 9:26PM (3/23/2008)
I figured the guy who wrote this article was in desperate need of some male enhancement products and probably is driving the largest SUV he can fit in his garage. If we are going to make it in the 21st century, we are going to need a lot of forward thinking grass roots companies producing vehicles like this. God knows the american companies have refused so far. I'm not waiting for $300 a barrel oil to wake up. I want one, and I'll be laughing at the idiots paying $100 a tank, because they're driving tanks!
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Chris M 11:49PM (3/20/2008)
Shane, can the irrelevant snarky comments, it's unprofessional, and this isn't a comedy club.
Between the PT Cruiser and Chevy HHR, the "neo-retro" look market is saturated. Eco-Fueler won't sell many on looks, but might sell OK on those fuel economy numbers.
If I were looking for an efficient two seater, I would prefer the more sleek and efficient Aptera or the more stylish and fun Venture One
I looked at the photos. I'm wondering where they are getting the old air cooled VW beetle engines from? Supply of those engines could be a problem if they ramp up production.
I doubt they will ever produce roadsters burning H2 fuel, as it would nearly double the price and cut the range in half, and natural gas will always be a lot cheaper than H2 fuel.
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Ron Moore 8:00AM (7/24/2008)
I have a natural gas well and free gas on my property. Who is laughing now. The cost to convert a gas vehicle is more than this one new. The included compressor makes it a real value. This shows that the author of the article is suffering from excessive stupidity. But hey it is a free world to say what you think but think before you say. I applaud their efforts and want to figure out how to purchase my own model.
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jeff b. 3:35AM (8/22/2008)
Readers take note: this article was written on Nov. 12 2007 when oil was $85.00 a barrel. On July 11, oil hit $142.27. Just today oil went up another $5.62. This Roadster not only consumes CNG which is currently around $2.39 a gallon (versus $3.99 for petrol), but the car comes with a home fueling device allowing the owner to fill up at home for around $.99 per gallon. So, while you're filling up for $5.00 a gallon and more and calling our car "gay" we'll be driving in the carpool lane and getting more like 280 mpg compared to petrol. Laugh now homophobes. You won't see me anywhere near a petrol station.
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Dave 9:44AM (11/12/2007)
If anyone producws a 3 wheeler in those numbers, the Feds will quickly move to make them subject to the same emmissions and crash test regulations as 4 wheelers.
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Please grow up 10:34AM (11/12/2007)
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/gender_society/68660
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MarkR 11:10AM (11/12/2007)
Shane,
I agree with other posters. GROW UP!
BTW: I'd drive it sooner than I'd drive a MINI, a Zap or a VW bug. This Car just looks like an enclosed Trike.
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fnc 4:35PM (11/12/2007)
I guess people see what they want to see. Congratulations on turning twelve, by the way.
Looks quite practical for someone who doesn't have much to haul besides themselves. It's probably more sellable than an open bike or trike, and represents the kind of thinking America had better start doing unless we want our way of life to be held hostage by foreign dictators who happen to sit on the black gold.
Or we could just continue to worry about our 'image', or what people will think of us when they see our car. Thank god at least some Americans like these guys are thinking about digging us out of the oil-dependence hole we're now mired in instead of just snapping up gigantic steel gas guzzlers cause they're worried people will think they're 'gay'.
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Alex 9:36AM (11/13/2007)
lighten up you bunch of Nancy boys. just because someone is taking a step in the eco direction doesn't mean we need to fall on our knees in praise of them.
the car looks like shit (a penis too) and CNG or LPG conversions are all over the market. there is nothing special about this car. you could make a kit car exactly like it for half the price.
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