Wrightspeed "SR-71" will deliver 0-60 in 2.5 seconds
Ian Wright is a name familiar to many electric car enthusiasts as the man who turned an Ariel Atom into the Ferrari-beating Wrightspeed X1 prototype. It's been a while since we've heard from Mr. Wright, who has been working on engineering a hybrid system for heavy duty pick-up trucks, but now there is news from the former Kiwi. And if you are still disappointed Wrightspeed didn't bring the X1 to market, the news is good. According to Michael Kanellos over at greentechmedia, the builder of the world's quickest electric car wants to produce a conveyance that's even quicker, with a 0 to 60 mph target of 2.5 seconds.
You see, back when Wright was visiting different tracks embarrassing Porsches, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, it seemed there was one gas guzzler that still could best him, the infamous 1001hp Bugatti Veyron. The X1 came up about a half second short from 0-60 mph while his 0-100-0 time of 11.2 seconds was a full second and a two whiskers behind that of the W16-powered supercar. With luck, 18 months from now will see a newly-fashioned, battery-powered bolt of lightning, code-named the "SR-71", destroy the Bugatti, leaving in its wake only salty $1.4 million-dollar tears. To show he's not such a bad chap, Wright will then be able to turn those frowns upside-down by offering this new machine up for sale.
Though sanctioned tracks may be the only asphalt the first "SR-71"s will be licensed to circulate, thoroughly road-ready machines, quite possibly featuring enclosed cabins, will follow after an additional 18 months. Hit the jump to watch a few videos of the original creation, the Wrightspeed X1, take on all comers.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
BlackbirdHighway 2:14PM (5/23/2008)
Not that it matters, but the Veyron is a W16, quad-turbo monster, not a V16. It's like two V8s placed side by side and merged at the crankshaft. Kind of an interesting arrangement.
Looks like a fun toy, I hope he doesn't get sued by Lockheed for naming it the SR-71 (!)
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Domenick Yoney 2:28PM (5/23/2008)
@Blackbirdhighway:
Thanks. Fixed.
SR-71 is the code name (like Whitestar). I think it will be changed before production.
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armmat 2:32PM (5/23/2008)
Wow...more viagra pills on 4 wheels.
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Ghoulsharks 3:39PM (5/23/2008)
WOW, This is really cool stuff. Though ive seen this car many times before and it is DEFINATLY out dated news.
Cool none the less.
Samiam, where can i find more information on this vehicle, how about what company is going to invest in their technologies.
Anyone know the SR-71's Range?
Tesla is probably shaking in their boots after seeing this monster.
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fnc 4:21PM (5/23/2008)
It's an impressive display, but not really fair to pit those particular Ferraris and Porsches against something purpose built for performance and performance alone when the other cars have to meet the requirements demanded of a normal road car (enclosed cockpit, windshield, the associated wipers, etc.). A Ferrari or Porsche that had shed any thoughts of comfort or convenience could put up a much stiffer fight.
I was more impressed years ago at the tZero smoking 355's AND at least being reasonable for an extended drive as long as you could live without air conditioning (they offered a range extending trailer if I remember correctly).
That said, it's very interesting that Tesla is getting some competition, and hopefully Wright will have a model on the street someday that helps further demonstrate that electric cars are viable.
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Joseph 5:01PM (5/23/2008)
It kind of sounds like his next electric car won't be coming out for
a while. Still, I'm excited about this. I hope it is a "real" car so
to speak. (You know, doors, a hood, windows!)
I'm 100% confident he can make an EV faster than the Bugatti. But,
it's a little bit unfair comparing the Bugatti to an EV that won't
meet federal safety regulations, since those regulations add weight.
Still, it is an amazing feat that I'm sure he'll beat.
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why not the LS2LS7? 7:18PM (5/23/2008)
Completely ridiculous. Anyone can make any car (gas or electric) faster by taking stuff off. Racers have been doing this for years on relatively low budgets.
The tough part of making a car is making it usable, and they aren't even trying.
As to the cars that can paste this thing, I can embarrass it in my family car just by challenging it to a race for 30 mins. His battery will be flat in 15 mins at which point I will rapidly gain on him.
If I made a gas car that only ran for a short period, in one type of test and had absolutely no comforts including a windshield, it would also be very very quick.
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armmat 7:44PM (5/23/2008)
Still...if they could make these cars with even 0-60 times of 6-7 seconds, costing say around 15K, and a little smaller in size, what the hell is would I need for going and coming to work and taking myself and my wife out? I can count on one hand how many times I've needed 5 passengers in the whole year....so it's retarded to drive anything else for everyday driving.
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Kevin Nugent 11:02PM (5/23/2008)
Interesting article . I LOVE THE BUGATTI VERYRON , what i do not like is its inability to shut down atleast half of its cylinders to get slightly better fuel economy even though a car with 16 cylinders will get garbage fuel economy anyway. But i would plant 200 trees to offset my carbon foot print just to drive that car for a day. That car is sooooo ridiculous .
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Chris M 11:53PM (5/23/2008)
There is one other that might best the X1, and that is the Ariel Atom - but only if driven by an expert. The X1 was built on an Ariel Atom chassis.
I'd expect the SR71 to be a lot more aerodynamic than the Atom/X1, that open framework produces a lot of drag.
Wrightspeed isn't much threat to Tesla, as Tesla is in production and has much more funding. The Wrightspeed SR71 will be faster than the Tesla Roadster, but it will also be more expensive.
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Charlie 5:50AM (5/24/2008)
No, the SR-71 won't give Tesla a run for their money, but... I think the Fisker Karma might. No, it's not a pure electric vehicle, but it's got a better range in hybrid mode, has a 50 mile range in fully electric mode and is cheaper than the Tesla Roadster. However, it's not as quick in the takeoff either.
Regardless, a little competition will be a GREAT thing for the electric car world and I'm looking forward to what Ian can come up with. Let the games begin! :-)
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Peabody 7:30AM (5/24/2008)
It would be by far more interesting and relevant to see this car put up against Ferrari's Formula One racer, seeing as how the Atom was inspired by Formula One.
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TomtenT 8:31AM (5/24/2008)
But ? ... Hallo ... ?
It's A DEMONSTRATION !
Not "a race" ( who came up with that phrase ? ).
A race has to be fair, per definition, but a demonstration doesn't.
I think it's great w demonstrations like this, that
SHOWS THE PUBLIC THAT EVs ARE VERY POTENT ALTERNATIVES, and NOT just
ridiculous golf-carts.
To beat the horrible Bugatti would
a) prove a point, and
b) provide an interesting approach for reporters to compare the
environmental aspects of the two.
The real 'Race' seems to be within the EV world, re. who will be first to get going any
significant rate of production ?
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Lee 5:52PM (8/13/2008)
I think it's great w demonstrations like this, that
SHOWS THE PUBLIC THAT EVs ARE VERY POTENT ALTERNATIVES, and NOT just
ridiculous golf-carts.
Amen to that.
This also opens the mind to being able to live off grid in the boonies and drive like hell off the power from your roof.
Giacomo Graziosi 9:45AM (5/24/2008)
LOL. Tell them to do some tests with this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrari_F2007 . :°D
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BlackbirdHighway 11:29AM (5/24/2008)
I'd much rather see an electric car that can beat the Camry or Accord.
Not in a race for speed, but as an affordable and practical mainstream transportation appliance.
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Adam 12:49PM (5/24/2008)
Why will it take 18+ months for this thing?
Surely it's just a matter of good old fashioned money.
Tesla has, well, they've proven you can get bogged down in politics
and grand schemes instead of bringing a viable, cost-effective
solution to market in a timely fashion.
But why not just create a shopping list of parts, publish the list
and offer tech support on a Web forum to help people build their own
SR71? Just solve the simple logistics of having 1000lbs of "stuff"
arrive at my house (give or take batteries, which would be a separate
choice of cost and performance) then I assemble the thing, share with
others over the forum and offload the work to the collective instead
of waiting for one individual to work in a serial fashion.
Surely demand for the Ariel Atom has slowed down (and it looks like
Brammo has sold his interest in it) so I imagine the rolling chassis
is a simple assembly process -- so the focus of the work would be to
get the electric drivetrain, some sort of regenerative braking etc.
etc.
Then in CA be one of the lucky 500 folks each year to get an SB100
or, in my case, just have it as a track car and a practical exercise
in learning about using electricity for propulsion (and make use of
all that solar PV stuff on the roof ...)
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peter 12:46PM (5/24/2008)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovNkwiHJCIA
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dp 5:33PM (5/24/2008)
speed isn't the challenge with electrics, energy storage is. it takes 600lb of the best Lithium-Ion battery, costing over $20K, to hold the equivalent energy of just ONE gallon of gas (36KWh). and despite all the hype in the industry, this basic fact isn't going to change anytime soon.
with electrics you can go fast, far or affordably - pick any two (at best).
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shane king 9:35PM (5/24/2008)
Or you could just get a motorcycle....
Cheaper, faster and arguably (to some) more fun.
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