New highway-speed Miles electric sedan to be unveiled next week
by Sebastian Blanco on May 27th 2009 at 2:24PM 
On June 3rd, Miles EV will unveil their new, highway-speed all-electric 4-door sedan and offer up the first test rides. A new strategic partner for the automaker best know for its low-speed vehicles will also be named. Miles EV CEO Kevin Czinger will make the announcement in Santa Monica, and discuss future plans for the car, which won't carry the Miles EV name, and the company's new high-speed EV brand. The rebranding of the full-speed EV has been a long time coming (see here and here). For the history majors, Miles first mentioned a highway-speed sedan back in 2007 with the name Javlon XS500 and an expected price of $30,000.While many details of the new car are still secret, we've heard rumors that the car will cost around $45,000 when it becomes available in limited quantities in early 2010. By the end of 2010, full sales should start, and Miles hopes to sell 20,000 units annually starting in 2011.
[Source: Miles]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Matt 2:57PM (5/27/2009)
$45,000? dang! At least it's highway speed capable (hopefully that means 80 mph+). Is that $45k after gov't rebates, or before? If it's before, then we can expect to only shell out around $35k, which is much more enticing. Come on Miles, make it happen.
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Chris M 3:44PM (5/27/2009)
If it ends up costing almost as much as a Tesla model S, it won't sell well, as the model S will probably have better performance, better reliability, and of course, much better looks.
Matt 3:52PM (5/27/2009)
Yeah, no way I'm dishing out $45 grand for one of these with the Model S in that range.
A. I just don't have it
B. I'd need more style points for $45,000 if I did
It would be a better competitor for the Volt I think, although I might still go for the Volt ceteris paribus.
downtoearth 3:18PM (5/27/2009)
I hereby declare the question whether electic cars need air intakes or not as answered.
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leonjoramos 3:35PM (5/27/2009)
They need them.
The electrical components still needs cooling, that's why your laptops have a grilled bottom: For letting cool air go in and hot air go out.
Even so, there must to be some water cooled electrical systems that may need a radiator and it's respective air intake
With the thermal expansion, electrical components loose efficiency and are prone to problems. Having a fully enclosed, air intake-less electric car, running at 80 mph sounds like a recipe to disaster to me.
One advantage of the electric car is that several components can be placed in the best position for the cooling air flow.
Chris M 3:41PM (5/27/2009)
Note in the model shown, small air intakes just below the front bumper panels.
downtoearth 3:46PM (5/27/2009)
leonjoramos, yes, electic cars need air intakes but efficiency of electic motors show the scale of how much less cooling they will need.
Internal combustion engines waste ~70% as heat. Electric motors... about 15%.
Matt 3:53PM (5/27/2009)
It does kinda look like it needs some nostrils doesn't it.
alexacoon 4:15PM (5/27/2009)
I think the reason this car looks bad without a grill as it appears to be no more than a reworked ICE car; if this were designed for electric why would it need such a long, tall hood? there should be little need for anything over bumper hight with a gradual rise to the windshield; that should look a little better than this.
As far as needing a gril for any car what happened to intakes below the bumper nearly unseen, remeber the early saturns, some firebirds and corvettes to name just a few.
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Rob 7:17AM (5/28/2009)
The elevated front end on this and all other (new) cars is dictated by gov't regulations related to pedestrian impact safety.
Rishard 5:00PM (5/27/2009)
At 30k I would probably buy it. . . 35 I would proabbly still buy it especially if u can get the 7k credit. At 45 I will wait for the Volt.
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lne937s 5:03PM (5/27/2009)
This is a photochop (and a poor one)- it is not a picture of an actual car. Look at the hood opening near the nose. I would not take this as an indication of how much cooling the electric needs...
For what the Chinese car this was based on looks like (albeit in black), look up higher on the blog for today for the post about the Chinese cash for clunkers progran.
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Chris 5:19PM (5/27/2009)
You can get a brand new Mercedes-Benz for under $45k.150 miles? Whoopty do.
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Jimmy 6:52PM (5/27/2009)
Who is the strategic partner? China? They try to make it sound like it's an American car, but Miles is basically a sales organization for a Chinese company...
Buying one of these cars just sacrifices more american jobs! Where do you think the money goes? It goes in some bankers and lawyers pockets and the rest goes to China...
If you buy one of these, don't forget to run to your neighbor and slap him or her in the face...
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GoodCheer 10:40AM (5/28/2009)
It's only 'sacrificing' American jobs if there are American companies making comparable products. Are there?
If there are not, then buying this car is sending a market signal that there should be.
ozyran440 10:30PM (5/27/2009)
Let's hope they don't pull a GM with this and crush it.
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ISLAND DON 11:17PM (5/27/2009)
If that ugly thing is what it takes to save the planet, I guess I'll be looking at bicycles soon!
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Ernie 5:40PM (5/28/2009)
No my friend, this is not an ugly car.
This is an ugly car.
Or this.
Or this.
The Miles? It's just boring. Like a Toyota Camry, which just so happens to be one of the best selling cars around.
I think you're just looking to bash any electric car as ugly by default, and this one is the first that came up on your browser today.
Ernie 5:44PM (5/28/2009)
Grr... these are the links:
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/05/22/metro-buddy-officially-launched-will-invade-europe/
or this:
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/08/sunmotor-to-release-electric-car-beat-it-with-ugly-stick
or this:
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/05/22/americans-need-big-trucks-says-sen-hatch/
ISLAND DON 7:35PM (5/28/2009)
By the first 2 standards, you're right it doesn't seem that unsightly. Those two cars are basically ridiculous and absurd looking(in that order), whereas the CONCEPT of the Hummer is just plain stupid. I guess it's like putting Meryl Streep next to Ugly Betty...she looks pretty hot. Put Meryl next to Halle Berry...well I'm sure you know where I'm going!