Paris Motor Show 2010 - Venturi America [video] - AllCarIndex
VENTURI INVENTS THE MODERN ELECTRIC CAR
Launched in 2004, the VENTURI FÉTISH was presented on the occasion of the brand's 20th Anniversary, with the intention of casting a look, not to the past, but to the future of VENTURI.
The journalists and personalities who were able to drive it discovered for the first time, 6 years ago, that an electric car could not only be very alluring but also offer the same performance as a car with a heat engine.
In this respect, VENTURI thus truly invented the modern electric car.
Thanks to its many innovations which have defined the main technical principles for electric vehicles to come, VENTURI thus changed mentalities and served as inspiration for the entire automobile industry, from small craftsmen to major manufacturers.
VENTURI has since become a group, actively pursuing its development in several different sectors, from battery electronics to electrification of vehicles for large-scale production.
Endurance, speed, extreme conditions, the VENTURI GLOBAL CHALLENGES are real exploits at both human and technological level, fantastic adventures which have adopted the world as their testing-ground in order to demonstrate the superiority of VENTURI achievements, from Shanghai to Paris, on the Bonneville salt flats in Utah and, soon, in the Antarctic.
On the strength of its technological leadership based on 10 years of specialisation in electric propulsion, VENTURI is now presenting two highly sporty models in world premières : the new VENTURI FÉTISH and VENTURI AMERICA, both benefitting from the most advanced technologies currently available.
VENTURI AMERICA : "HIGH VOLTAGE" BUGGY
The VENTURI AMERICA combines both the values of traditional America and those resulting from new awareness of ecological issues.
This new American dream is embodied by this new model from VENTURI : a high-riding electric sports car that one can see oneself driving, one's hair in the wind, through the fantastic scenery offered by this vast continent.
Equipped with the same motor of over 300 hp as the VENTURI FÉTISH, this new-era "buggy" is, in fact, a high-powered lightweight vehicle with a chassis specially designed to suit its particularly high body. The AMERICA is nevertheless an acceleration car that symbolizes "cool green attitude" while being a luxury technological product.
In fact, there is nothing today that is anything like this fantastic vehicle, half sports car, half buggy, but it is well worth betting that VENTURI has once again come up with a model that will enter the annals of history.
The AMERICA also marks a new milestone for VENTURI which has just launched VENTURI NORTH AMERICA in Columbus, Ohio. In parallel to its sites in MONACO and FRANCE, this new unit will enable VENTURI to pursue its technical and commercial development in the United States.
VM300 : A NEW-GENERATION ELECTRIC MOTOR
The AMERICA has borrowed its motor from the new FÉTISH, the VM300, which, with over 300 hp (+220 kW) and torque of 380 Nm, is the most advanced electric motor ever designed for an automobile.
To get the very best out of such a motor, a new 54 kWh battery pack has been developed (LIV-10 Lithium Ion Polymer batteries) whose electronics (Battery Management System) have been entrusted to Ventec, the leader in the field.
The AMERICA offers a real range of up to 300 km. Thanks to its on-board charger, it can recharge using a standard electrical socket or fast charge terminals (see Specs).
A SPECIAL CHASSIS
The first chassis specifically designed to house a large volume of batteries, the carbon monocoque developed by Venturi provides exceptional protection for its occupants : the body is in fact completed by two deformable cells positioned at the front and rear of the vehicle. This concept guarantees the security of the battery pack in the event of an accident and provides a level of safety never before attained in an electric car.
With the same aim, the chassis of the Venturi AMERICA has been designed and tested to protect passengers from electromagnetic emissions from the vehicle's batteries.
Derived from that of the new FÉTISH, the AMERICA's chassis has been treated to specific development.
EXTREME VERSATILITY
A real synthesis of two exclusive automobile worlds, the AMERICA is both an electric sports car and an all-terrain leisure vehicle. This "mix" approach ensures extreme versatility in use.
Its performance, balance and sports car road-holding, combined with its particularly high body and specific tyre mounting, ensure that it is equally at ease on steep paths as on the highway.
This electric "Buggy" offers the possibility of venturing off the beaten track while respecting the environment in terms of both noise pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
THE AMERICA'S DESIGN, BY SACHA LAKIC
“Design of the AMERICA, signed Sacha Lakic
Some dreams stay with us forever, and become clearer over time.
That of driving a fast, modern and silent sports car through amazing scenery is one of them.
The AMERICA was born for the great outdoors.
Just as comfortable on the secondary highway network in the USA as on narrow mountain roads in Europe, or even fast earth tracks, this car of a new kind offers unique driving pleasure comprised of precision, acceleration and gliding.
It has the Venturi ADN. This is indeed an innovative sports car, hi-tech and refined. Behind the wheel, the absence of any noise and a panoramic field of vision give an impression of total freedom.
The AMERICA is a contemporary sculpture in movement, both simple and sophisticated, and charged with emotion : the purpose of each one of its curves is to give both visual and tactile pleasure.”
| Type: | |
| 2-seater roadster | |
| Rear wheel drive | |
| Electric motor: | Max power: 220 kW, central rear mounted |
| Max torque: 380 Nm from 0 to 6000 rpm | |
| Max rating: 12,500 rpm | |
| Liquid cooling | |
| Transmission: | Differential gear reduction with limited slide, direct hold |
| Ratio: 1/8.5 | |
| Batteries: | Technology: Lithium Ion polymer |
| Energy: 54 kWh | |
| Weight of battery system: 450 kg | |
| Liquid cooling | |
| Battery life-span: over 1,800 cycles | |
| Regeneration system via deceleration | |
| BMS (Battery Management System) developed by VENTEC | |
| 80% recharge: | With external charge booster (20 kW): 3 hours (220 V-32 A T) |
| With onboard charger: 8 hours (230 V-16 A) | |
| Cost of a complete daytime recharge: about 6 € VAT included | |
| Chassis: | Central unit: composite materials, carbon sandwich / aluminium |
| honeycomb, pressure-sealed. | |
| Front and rear mesh: aeronautic steel | |
| Bodywork: | Carbon fiber |
| Suspension: | Front suspension: super-imposed triangles with combined shock |
| absorber spring | |
| Rear suspension: super-imposed triangles with combined shock | |
| absorber spring | |
| Brakes: | Front : ventilated discs, diam. 405 mm * 34 mm – 6-piston calipers |
| Rear: ventilated discs, diam. 380 mm * 32 mm – 6-piston calipers | |
| Performance: | Range: 300Km (at 90km/h stabilized) |
| (190 miles at 56 mph stabilized) | |
| Top speed: 180 Km/h (on race track) | |
| (112 mph) | |
| Dimensions: | Length: 4120 mm |
| Width: 1900 mm | |
| Width (overall): 1965 mm | |
| Height (to roll-bar): 1390 mm | |
| Front gauge: 1568 mm | |
| Rear gauge: 1600 mm | |
| Wheelbase: 2670 mm | |
| Ground clearance (center): 285 mm | |
| Ground clearance (axle): 190 mm | |
| Front and rear tyres: Michelin Latitude Sport 255 45 | |
| Front wheel rims : 8,5 ‘’ J 20 | |
| Rear wheel rims : 9,5‘’ J 20 | |
| SCx : 0,92 | |
| Front/Rear distribution : 45 / 55 | |
| Total weight: | 1,350 Kilos |
Source: Venturi
Pictures: Venturi
Video: Venturi
