First Look
ZAP-X
Who revived the electric car?
The special relationship that extends from one side of the Atlantic to the other has borne yet another fruit. The ZAP-X Crossover Electric Car is a joint venture between American company Zap and everybody's favorite fiberglass sports car maker, Lotus. Sounds sparky too, with 644 bhp and a top speed of 155 mph. ZAP-X uses all-wheel drive, has a 350-mile range and its batteries can be recharged in just 10 minutes. It's based on Lotus' award-winning APX (Aluminum Performance Crossover) platform, and propulsion comes from in-hub electric motors. So the space where an engine would go can be given over to batteries and stowage. The platform is, as you'd expect, light and strong and endows the vehicle with a lively power-to-weight ratio. Zap provides the battery and electric motor technology and is looking to sell a production version in the United States, but there's no word on time frame or pricing at the moment.www.grouplotus.comwww.zapworld.com