ZAP Alias prototype built; the Obvio disappears
A while back we were telling you that ZAP was looking for an engineering firm to help make their Alias three-wheeled electric car drawing come to life. It seems Applied Technologies, Inc. has taken up that challenge and, according to the Toledo Blade, there were plans to show off the powertrain-less prototype to the public for a few hours on Monday before it was shipped to ZAP headquarters. We were hoping we could show you a picture from the historic event but, not only is the Internet seemingly bare of Alias photographs at this time, there isn't even a press release from ZAP! marking the occasion. It's all very strange. The next thing you know, the Obvio will disappear from their products list.
Holy Spicoli! The Obvio is no longer on the Zap! product list. Maybe the new chairman of the board and heavy-duty investor is trying to regain some lost respectability for the company and actually produce a promised vehicle. In any case, expect to see some prototype pictures soon. Hopefully.
*Alerted by a commenter, we noticed that although the Obvio is not listed with most of the ZAP! product line, it does have its own little paragraph down the page that states that Obvio is expected to deliver vehicles to ZAP in 2008. The Obvio website says it is "currently facing serious trouble in its operational schedule" because of the demise of its motor supplier and subsequent sale to Fiat.
[Source: Toledo Blade]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
BLBdriver 5:08PM (6/17/2008)
A cool concept car to be sure.... but I'm not seeing a lot of normal Americans driving something that looks like a freakomobile. This is a perennial problem with electric propulsion designs. There's too much focus on turning in nifty art projects and very little focus on what people actually....(get this)....want.
Reply
Doug 5:38PM (6/17/2008)
Actually, the "OBVIO!" is still on that product list page you link. Just scroll down a little.
I don't understand the design of the Alias. Where's all the air that enters that huge split front grill supposed to go?
Reply
stevefazek 6:18PM (6/17/2008)
I havent seen Obivo on thier site in months
Reply
Kardax 7:30PM (6/17/2008)
If nobody's seen it, and if the "prototype" is just a painted cardboard box, is it truly a prototype?
Reply
Ryan 10:35PM (6/17/2008)
Is that Boba Fett's helmet on wheels? Maybe it's just me.....
Reply
Carlos 10:04AM (6/18/2008)
Óbvio! is not a car manufacturer. It is, as ZAP, a company that creates news via press releases and then sues serious companies. Like Daimler in the case of the 1Billion Smart order, or Óbvio!, saying they would buy the BMW/Chrysler engine factory (sold to FIAT), bidding a better price, obviously without one cent in cash to pay for it!
Be smart, americans. Enough with all this BS from these companies. Look for a very long article in WIRED about people loosing money believing in this kind of companies...
Reply
GoodCheer 10:26AM (6/18/2008)
"if the "prototype" is just a painted cardboard box, is it truly a prototype?"
Hey, if it works for the Volt, why shouldn't it work for Zap? I was at a conference in DC last week that had a "Volt" on display. Not only was there no drive-train (obviously), but the whole interior was literally made of cardboard!
Don't get me wrong, I'm excited to see Volts AND Aliases in the showrooms, but GM's ratio of product development to press releases really does cross the line into the audacious.
Reply
Terry Hannon 10:57AM (6/18/2008)
You cannot group the GM Volt into the same category as the Zap Alias. At least GM has Volt mules (Mali-Volts) with the same drivetrain and batteries that will be in the production Volt. What does Zap have?
Reply
jay 8:48AM (6/25/2008)
Prototype pictures @ http://www.nbc24.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=147728
and now it's sitting in the showroom at ZAP Corp, Santa Rosa, CA...
LOL H8trs...
Reply