A unique electric car concept is generating excitement and catching the eyes of passersby at the North American International Auto Show, even though it is tucked away in a back corner.
This isn't the first time "Prototype 9" has been seen in public, so it isn't front and centre, but the car probably should be anyway. It is truly a work of art.
The car is a reimagining of a 1940's race car. It is sleek, and silver, and gorgeous, and under the hood beats the heart of the all electric Nissan Leaf. Yes, this is an electric car that produces 148 horsepower in electric form. It's the same drive train that powers the Leaf.
That 148-horsepower electric motor, produces 236 pound-feet of torque, from a 30kWh battery, which powers the rear wheels through a single-speed transmission.
This car may not be the fastest vehicle on the planet, but it will still go 106 MPH, and has a zero to sixty time of just 5.5 seconds. You'll only be running for about 20 minutes at that speed, but what a rush. A big part of what a car is revolves around how it makes you feel, and just looking at it gives you a feeling of speed, power, and most of all freedom.
The Infiniti Prototype 9 is an experiement in design, and it uses Nissan’s newest EV technology under a flowing beautiful body, mixing old style and new technology. So what if the car resembles something for the 40's. It doesn't matter that Infiniti didn't exist until 1989 as a brand. The car is beautiful, and all car companies reach back into the past of all automotive design to find inspiration for current and forward looking vehicles. Even though it harkens back to the race cars of long ago, Infiniti's designers have incorporated design cues from Infiniti's current line up of vehicles. The front grille definately says Infiniti yet looks completely at home in this almost art deco automotive design.
Of course the design reaches so far back into the past there is no question this is a car that will never ever be produced for sale. Too bad.
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