Detroit 2008: Dodge ZEO BEV sports car
Click the Dodge Zeo for a high-res gallery
Dodge's entry in this year's concept car sweepstakes is the ZEO, a four-seat, battery-powered sports car. The low slung Zero Emissions Operation coupe has 64kWh worth of lithium ion batteries packed between the frame rails. The electric energy is passed to a 268 hp electric motor mounted between the rear wheels. The battery pack should be sufficient for a 250-mile range in the 2,650lb ZEO (more numbers after the jump).
The bold fenders sweep over the 23-inch wheels and the windshield glass sweeps all the way back to the trailing edge of the roof. In typical concept car form, the nearly flat windshield will almost surely be impossible to see out of due to reflections and the tiny mirrors are likely completely useless. On the other hand, if Chrysler were to develop this for production, it would make a cool, somewhat more practical alternative to a Tesla Roadster.
Gallery: Detroit 2008: Dodge ZEO Concept
[Source: Chrysler]
Dodge ZEO Concept
Battery Electric Vehicle technology in expressive "2+2" Dodge sports car style
The 2008 Dodge ZEO -- Zero Emissions Operation – concept vehicle is a four-passenger, all-electric, "2+2" sport wagon that embraces the bold, emotional characteristic of the Dodge brand. With its 23-inch wheels-to-the corners, heroic proportions and muscular forms, the ZEO exhibits a new youthful breed of muscle-machine interface.
Dodge owners and those who will desire the ZEO concept are unquestionably driving enthusiasts. They are less family-oriented, with a desire for things that are high-tech, and place less emphasis on pure practicality. While they boast environmental and overall responsibility, they also exhibit a "need for speed."
"The Dodge ZEO concept is designed to break the paradigm of what an electric car should look like," said Bill Zheng, Dodge ZEO principal exterior designer. "An electric car can be as expressive as any gasoline-powered vehicle. The Dodge ZEO concept proves that point – and then some."
To this end, the ZEO's body has been given an active, three-dimensional form, with the fenders boldly offset to the body.
Dodge ZEO Concept Technology
The advanced propulsion system powering the Dodge ZEO concept is electric-only with a 64 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack capable of at least 250 miles.
Resting in a rear-wheel drive layout, Dodge ZEO's 200 kilowatt (268 horsepower) single-electric motor contributes to a 0-60 mph time in less than six seconds -- which rivals Chrysler's famed HEMI powerplant.
Unlike other such vehicles, ZEO is a four-door, four-passenger vehicle that delivers function as well as environmental responsibility.
Dodge ZEO Concept Exterior
Nestled between the robust circular wheel arches, ZEO's taut, elongated beltline ends with the signature Dodge kick-up at the rear, where the reverse-angle C-pillar is planted directly over the rear wheel arch.
Inspired in part by the architecture of a Möbius strip, Dodge ZEO's rakish A-pillars curve into extended roof rails that twist and converge as they race rearward. The windshield glass continues in an unbroken, curving plane nearly to the rear of the car, giving both front and rear passengers an unimpeded, all-around view while showcasing ZEO's inventive interior.
Other expressive details include "scissor" doors, front and rear lamps treated as separate sculptural forms, and the "ZEO Orange" and dark silver exterior.
"The lit crossbar grille," says Zheng, "is designed to communicate the use of electricity as the ZEO's power source."
Dodge ZEO Concept Interior
Inspired by organic forms and wireless technology, Dodge ZEO's interior is loaded with attitude and intelligence expected by youthful buyers.
"The Dodge ZEO concept is an example of designing for people who are used to a dynamic lifestyle and who are surrounded with information and virtual friends at all times," says Lou Gasevski, principal interior designer of the Dodge ZEO concept.
The entire cabin is treated as if it were a single piece of sculpture.
A broad sloping fabric-wrapped surface in front of the driver curves dramatically into the door and quarter panel. It then sweeps around the back panel to the opposite side quarter and door, ending in a sloping surface in front of the passenger.
This design approach blends the usually separate-looking parts of the interior into a unified whole. A narrow strip of blue LED accent lighting on the doors and quarters lead to the back panel, adding to the sweeping effect. Most of the interior surfaces of the ZEO concept are colored in Super White, adding to the sculptural impression.
A slim center console slopes down from the windshield of the Dodge ZEO, creating a dual-cockpit effect. It then levels off to divide the cabin by continuing clear to the back panel. To avoid visual clutter, customary controls and a viewing screen are set flush with the surface.
Instead of a conventional instrument panel, the steering wheel, column and instruments are treated as a single freestanding design element. The Dodge ZEO concept's steering wheel has two vertical spokes, set closely together, leaving 80 percent of the rim "open" for maximum visibility. The laid-back center hub, containing the driver air bag and auxiliary switches, is stationary, with the wheel rim revolving around it. Left and right horizontal paddle-levers just behind the wheel rim activate the remote radio functions.
The sloping plane of the center hub, which cantilevers forward above the steering column, houses the instruments which are displayed on a thin blue acrylic viewing screen set directly in front of the driver. The entire elegant multi-piece ensemble adjusts with the wheel rim to the driver's needs.
Doors and quarters are bisected by a flaring, wide-to-narrow dark gray panel separating the upper and lower surfaces – with the lower portion of the door and quarter curving inboard to provide an armrest surface. Milled aluminum door pull handles, placed diagonally, act as accents.
Contrasting colored Copperhead stitching follows the forms of the ZEO's Super White leather seats. For maximum comfort, the four bucket seats sport highly-contoured bolsters on the seat cushions and backs. When in the down position, the slim sculpted headrests nestle neatly into the tops of the upper seatbacks. The seat shells are constructed from milled aluminum, with video screens integrated into the front seatbacks.
With its bold exterior and curving, sculptural interior, the ZEO concept appeals to Dodge brand customers who want value, expressive design and useful technology.
Dodge ZEO Concept Vehicle Specifications
Vehicle Type Battery Electric Vehicle, performance sedan
"2+2" passenger seating
Weight and Dimensions
Weight/GVWR 2650 lbs./3400 lbs.
Length 172.8 inches/4390mm
Width at H-point 68.6 inches/1743mm
Height 50.8 inches/1290mm
Wheelbase 109.9 inches/2792mm
Couple 1-2 29.2 inches/742mm
Front overhang 32.8 inches/832mm
Rear overhang 30.1 inhces/765mm
Track front/rear 64.1 inches/1628mm 65.8 inches/1671mm
Approach angle 10.2 degrees
Departure angle 24.6 degrees
Turn circle 40 feet/12.2m
Maximum width 76.5 inches/1944mm
Powertrain and Suspension
Layout Rear wheel drive
Motor Single electric
Power: 200 kW (268 hp)
Regenerative braking
Battery 64 kWh Li-ion battery pack
Suspension Front – SLA
Rear – SLA
Wheels and Tires
Tire size front P225/40R23x8 30.1 inches/764mm
Tire size rear P255/40R23x9 31.0 inches/788mm
Tire manufacturer Goodyear
Color Scheme
Exterior Orange Metallic
Interior Super White
Key Performance Attributes
0-60 mph 5.7 seconds
Standing ¼ mile 11.0 seconds
Top speed 130 mph
All-electric range 250 miles
Equivalent mpg 120 mpg
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Lad 1:59AM (1/14/2008)
I fear Telsa won't be a competitor. Last I heard they fired their original CEO, hired a hatch man in his place and are cutting back on staff, begging the question: Will they be able to deliver their BEV to the 600 people who have plunked $100,000 down on the barrel head? Also, another question for Tesla to answer: Lotus, the company that builds their chassis is in talks to sell out to another auto company in Malaysia. How will this affect their ability to deliver product?
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Chris M 2:52AM (1/14/2008)
Considering that Dodge wouldn't have even considered an electric if it hadn't been for the big splash Tesla Motors made, I'd say Tesla certainly is a competitor.
While the change of CEOs was badly timed, that will not delay the Tesla Roadster production - the only remaining delay is from an unexpected problem with the transmissions they had ordered. Also, Lotus has been owned by Malaysian automaker Proton for a long time, and it is one of their more profitable divisions. Proton is considering selling Lotus, but neither Proton nor any potential buyer would dare interfere with the Tesla production contract - they would lose the breach-of-contract lawsuit if they did.
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BlackbirdHighway 3:37AM (1/14/2008)
I would put better odds on Tesla surviving than I would on Chrysler. Tesla needed a new CEO, even the old one agreed with that. It's not unusual at all for a new one to want to bring in his own people. Yes, they certainly could have handled it better.
For this ZEO thing, the electric motor is in the back, the batteries are in the floor, so what's that stuff up front, right behind the radiator?
To produce this car at only 2650 lbs would be very difficult, as the batteries alone would be a large part of that. The Honda S2000 two seater is 2850, without heavy batteries. I would think this car would be more like 3300 lbs. It would be easy enough to increase the HP without affecting the weight much, and still keep 0-60 below 6 seconds. Range would be more like 220 miles.
Who knows, this could actually be the Tesla Whitestar.
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kert 6:09AM (1/14/2008)
I bet there is this invisible place where people drive all these concept cars that never materialize. I'd like to live there.
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BlackbirdHighway 7:53AM (1/14/2008)
That would be great: "The Alternate Universe of Concept Cars". It would make a great TV show, maybe on the Spike Channel.
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Tony Belding 8:33AM (1/14/2008)
No photos? Are they actually showing this car, or just giving out drawings of it?
The specifications sound awfully optimistic. I wonder if they have any basis in reality, or if somebody at Dodge just pulled them out of thin air? If this became a production vehicle at a reasonable price, I'm sure reality would intrude and cut those specs down to size.
Despite my skepticism, I'd love to see Dodge go in this direction.
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Dave 9:17AM (1/14/2008)
I really like this car--wouldn't expect it to become reality, but this is where the industry needs to go.
Tony, I'm with you, I think they pulled these numbers out of their A$$, as I don't see anything other than drawings and pie in the sky numbers.
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Domenick 9:30AM (1/14/2008)
There are more pictures on autoblog.
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2008-dodge-zeo-concept-4/
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tankd0g 1:15AM (1/17/2008)
If Dodge built this today, Tesla would be dead and buried toomorow. Fortunately for Tesla, this thing isn't possible. There should be a law against these automakers just pulling numbers out of their ass for these concepts without saying "we hope if could in theory possibly do blank".
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david 5:56PM (1/19/2008)
come on dodge. get it togethr and build this one it's time.some one is going to cash in on the green movement. and hopefully it's the u.s.a. and not japan.the american people are tired of high gas prices.so come on dodge. get your shit together and build this one!!!!!!!! if you don't some one will. with in the next five years. if you build it they will by it!!!!!!!!!
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mike 6:10PM (1/19/2008)
David is right.
It's time the auto industry Lead is something other then Horsepower I can't use.
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