Most every major auto manufacturer has announced plans for some sort of electric or electric-hybrid production model for future production, but to date there are still only a handful of hybrid models on the road.
A few months ago in keeping with trends, Chrysler unveiled the Dodge Circuit, a Lotus Europa-based electric car that would be faster than an SRT-8 Challenger while running purely on electric power. But that was before Chrysler declared bankruptcy, and now word has come through the grapevine that the Circuit may already be dead, even after Chrysler published an ad a few weeks ago about “A new car company” which predominately featured the Circuit.
By Jo Borras •
January 12, 2009
This has been a Lotus/Chrysler-heavy blog in the past few days, but let’s face it: if you’re talking advanced automotive technology and lightweight engineering, you’re talking about Lotus Cars - and if you’re talking highly-anticipated new electric vehicles at Detroit’s 2009 NAIAS auto show, you’re talking about Chrysler’s ENVI electric-vehicle program.
The car shown above is the Dodge Circuit, which Chrysler promised would be a real step forward from the concept Dodge EV they showed last summer (a UK-only Lotus Europa powered by a 200 kW electric motor that Dodge painted yellow and decorated with cheap vinyl stickers). I won’t keep you in suspense: it ain’t.
More - including Chrysler’s official press release and some official photography - after the jump.
