Perhaps you once took a weekend trip to San Francisco or New York, or any densely populated urban area, and you decided to rent a super economy vehicle as a mobile base of operations from which to explore the city. You have seen these right? They are essentially large eggs with wheels, like something out of a bad yet critically acclaimed 1970s sci-fi series. Granted these vehicles are largely novelty items built for tourists, but they are also built as what some engineers may see as the simplest personification of a car, or, as some have complained, a safe and ugly looking version of a Vespa.
The part about this sordid state of affairs that the average urban motorists should find discomforting is the fact that when it comes to actual full time use super economy vehicles, well, the automotive design outfits have not done much better than a giant egg with wheels. But it looks like someone over at General Motors has noticed this ugly predicament as well, thus we give you the 2011 Opel RAK concept vehicle.
The Opel RAK E-Electric concept is a narrow four-wheel vehicle built around a steel space frame. The Opel, shockingly, looks very cool, like something from a good 1990s critically acclaimed sci-fi series. Designed from the ground up with an eye toward inexpensive materials, the RAK e is an incredibly lightweight 838 lbs(some people bench that much), and is being marketed as a vehicle that Opel says even the youngest, or most frugal, of buyers could afford. I would add onto that: People who live in a dense urban area such as Central Phoenix, and people who are concerned about their carbon footprint.
The RAK E-Electric concept powers itself from a 49-horsepower electric motor that draws juice from a five-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Range is listed at up to 62 miles and operating costs are claimed to be only one $2.19 per 100 miles. I am listening.
Phoenix Valley auto enthusiasts can view and test drive any current production model General Motors vehicle, which hopefully will soon include the Opel Rak-E Electric, at any Phoenix Valley GM affiliated dealership, the largest of which would be Chevy. Phoenix Valley auto enthusiasts should plan on attending the Phoenix Arizona International Auto Show to learn about the most recent concepts and innovations from cutting edge design outfit like those found under the General motors umbrella, as well as the rest of the auto industry, taking place at the Phoenix Arizona Convention Center over Thanksgiving weekend.
