Wanna Know: The Venturi Volage Roadster

Thursday, October 16, 2008

The Venturi Volage Roadster

Amongst all the incredible vehicles at this year’s Paris Motor Show, one of the biggest head-turners was the Venturi Volage vehicle. A fully electric roadster with serious engine power, the Volage boasts 295 horsepower and 171 pound-feet of torque, propelling it from 0-60 in less than 5 seconds. It also features a revolutionary suspension/propulsion system that fits two electric motors within each of its wheels!

MIchelin has outfitted the Venturi Volage with a new breed of in-wheel tech that it calls Active Wheel Technology. The idea is to fit as much as possible within the wheel envelope - in this case the entire active suspension, electric motor and brakes . This frees up enough space for a slim and lightweight carbon-fiber chassis that weighs in at 2,369 pounds. It also means that each wheel will be independently powered, which provides for a significant amount of additional control over the vehicle.

Of course, that is not the only impressive thing about the Volage. It is, after all, a fully electric roadster with a top speed of nearly 160mph and a range of 200 miles. And it is very cool looking. The Venturi Volage is currently planned for production in 2012.