Electric cars usually take contemporary forms, but there is something to be said for classic auto design. With that in mind, Japanese company Mitsuoka Motors has developed a sleek-looking electric sports cars that is based on the modern Mazda NC MX-5 sports car. The vehicle, called the Himiko, shows that electric cars can hark back to a simpler, and arguably more stylish time.
Named after an ancient Japanese queen, the Himiko is powered by 168 Lithium batteries that allow it to travel 341 miles on one charge. It also has a 2.0-liter DOHC 4 in-line Engine, 6-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive.
According to the manufacturer, “One of these cases contains 21 cells. Usually, there are 7 or 8 cells per pack, but we’ve saved space by stacking them. When we considered how to make battery packs safe, light, and strong, this was the form we came up with.”
“We’ve spent a long time reducing the running resistance of the car, and improving its performance per unit energy. So now, we’re using those advances to fine-tune the car itself. We’ve reached the stage where a range of 500 km is definitely realistic.”
While the car is currently being made in Japan, we certainly hope to see it distributed elsewhere in the world. No price has been mentioned, but you can imagine it won’t be cheap. Click here to see a video of the Himiko being displayed.
Via DVICE
BEAUTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Are those chrome exhaust pipes just ornamental?
Who says you need to sacrifice style for sustainability? Or vice-versa? Cruising in one of these would certainly show you have class and are environmentally responsible. We’d love to take it for a test drive.
Oooooo, roll on the day when they do the same with a classic American car with fins! I’ll be on the look out for a cream and turqouise model, with chrome trim and a cream interior.