Loremo 120-mpg and all-electric prototypes should be on the road soon
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Loremo
The Loremo was one of the first vehicles we wrote about about when AutoblogGreen started back on Earth Day 2006. The company itself has been around since 2000 in Germany. It's a reality check to note that this initially super-high mpg aerodynamic vehicle and then all-electric vehicle is still nowhere near production. The closest we've come is seeing the look of the high-mpg model back in August (above). Until today.
According to the new Loremo blog, the company is making progress on all the models that it is working on, and we should see three different powertrain prototypes in 2009. The blog post calls this "a major milestone on the way to series development." Here's the short version of where each vehicle is today:
- The base model Loremo: revising downward their earlier estimates, Loremo now says this model will get something like 120 mpg (still plenty to win the Auto X Prize) with a 700 ccm engine that features turbo charging, inter-cooling and exhaust gas recycling.
- The Loremo GT: this is a sportier version of the base model and will use a German-manufacturer-sourced Otto engine (sorry, diesel fans). By using this 850 ccm engine, conversions to CNG or LPG will be possible, something Loremo says customers are already asking for.
- The all-electric Loremo EV: test runs have been started and a roadworthiness certificate issued. Public road tests should take place in March
The three powertrains will all be put into the same body, and Loremo says that the liquid-fuel engines are mature enough that the only real work that remains is on the chassis, interior and shell. If all this is accurate, then we should be seeing all sorts of cool updates - videos and pictures, etc. - in the very near future. Thanks to Michal B. of the Czech EV Club for the tip!
Gallery: Preproduction Loremo
[Source: Loremo Forums]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matthijs 11:34AM (1/22/2009)
They are still alive! Also look at their new forum here:
http://forum.loremo.com/
For now it is running parallel to their old forum.
I really hope Loremo will diliver.
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meme 12:17PM (1/22/2009)
All I want to know is if they'll have an option to have it play circus music whenever you open the door ;)
(Okay, sorry, that was mean ;) Honestly, I welcome as many varied EVs out there as people can make!)
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Mark 1:35PM (1/22/2009)
If this comes to North America..both Canada and the U.S, this thing will be an instant seller. Not only is it fuel efficient, it actually looks decent!
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gulags 2:16PM (1/22/2009)
These are nice-looking cars, but the rendering doesn't give a sense of scale. The first time I saw a photo of one at an auto show with a real, live human standing next to it, I was shocked. I automatically assumed it was Miata-sized, but it's more along the lines of ... I dunno, a theme park bumper car. You'd get concerned tones from Smart Car drivers.
I really like small cars, but I'll take an iQ or MieV over this thing.
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RPM 8:42PM (1/22/2009)
wow..I do like the look of this car and hope production keeps same style and shape..I also would like to see size of scale to this car..hope its not too small.
Any numbers available on the all electric version (top speed and range)?
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Ralph 9:50PM (1/22/2009)
Here...Loremo at an Auto show with real people for scale:
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q236/dotcommodity/cars/loremo.jpg
Tiny and really low. I can name quite a few common vehicles that would have a really hard time seeing this car.
RPM 10:34PM (1/22/2009)
Thanks for the link
Wow..its smaller than i had hoped .. I'm 6'4" not sure how i'd fit in that.
ambush 1:11AM (1/27/2009)
It can't be much smaller than my '85 rx7, the roof of that thing is lower than the hood of a small truck. I'm around 6'3" and I can fit in okay, the only thing that would help alot is a telescoping steering wheel, but its an 85 so no dice. The Loremo is really a beautiful car though.
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