Any cabriolet EV/PHEV coming up?
Discussion
Bit of background - my wife's A3 cabriolet is at the end of it's PCP and she fancies a new car, and electric or plug-in hybrid will suit what she uses it for just fine but it has to be a convertible/cabriolet as she no longer wants a 'car with a roof'.
Only problem is I can't see that anyone makes one apart from the i8 roadster but over £100k is a bit out of our price range!
Does anyone know of any that are coming out in the not too distant future?
Audi seem to be introducing PHEV from top to bottom of the range and have got down to A6 at the moment, do we know if the A5 is going to get a PHEV drivetrain soon?
Only problem is I can't see that anyone makes one apart from the i8 roadster but over £100k is a bit out of our price range!
Does anyone know of any that are coming out in the not too distant future?
Audi seem to be introducing PHEV from top to bottom of the range and have got down to A6 at the moment, do we know if the A5 is going to get a PHEV drivetrain soon?
I wonder how a pure EV will work without a roof structure and glasshouse to brace it?
Will a PHEV, on an ICE platform, with true foldaway roof have the room for engine and hybrid motor and hybrid battery and the roof stowage?
I'd imagine that little Fiat 500 retains some rigidity with those roof rails and, assuming, a metal rail across the top of the windscreen to brace it. Also it'll probably have room for curtain airbags in the roof rails.
Will a PHEV, on an ICE platform, with true foldaway roof have the room for engine and hybrid motor and hybrid battery and the roof stowage?
I'd imagine that little Fiat 500 retains some rigidity with those roof rails and, assuming, a metal rail across the top of the windscreen to brace it. Also it'll probably have room for curtain airbags in the roof rails.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I don't see it as an issue at all, often a "drivetrain tunnel" is created even in FWD cars to add structural rigidity. Tesla seems to have removed these completely as the battery pack is rigid enough.The floor being a lot thicker, I could imagine a battery pack being rigid enough to put an entire car on without roof structure.
ZesPak said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I don't see it as an issue at all, often a "drivetrain tunnel" is created even in FWD cars to add structural rigidity. Tesla seems to have removed these completely as the battery pack is rigid enough.The floor being a lot thicker, I could imagine a battery pack being rigid enough to put an entire car on without roof structure.
Thanks for the replies, it looks like we may have to get petrol this time and see where EV is in 4 years' time 
In terms of rigidity - there is a BMW i8 roadster so I guess it's physically possible to do, whether it's economically possible to do lower down the price range we'll have to wait and see!
In terms of rigidity - there is a BMW i8 roadster so I guess it's physically possible to do, whether it's economically possible to do lower down the price range we'll have to wait and see!
https://mynobe.com/
Too bad it should be half the price.
Too bad it should be half the price.
Edited by ZesPak on Wednesday 30th September 05:46
I just want a half-decent sports car full stop to come out, something to replace a 911 in 3-4 years time. Like a 3-door model S or something, coupe or convertable. The Roadster at 190k is well beyond my budget, and the Taycan is more Panamera which isnt my bag.
As many have said, the i8 could have been it, but I guess BMW and the rest are looking at mass market first. A Halo car does help to market these things though.
I've got to say, I really like the Nobe above, that could be a really really funky weekend car!!!!
As many have said, the i8 could have been it, but I guess BMW and the rest are looking at mass market first. A Halo car does help to market these things though.
I've got to say, I really like the Nobe above, that could be a really really funky weekend car!!!!
dgswk said:
I just want a half-decent sports car full stop to come out, something to replace a 911 in 3-4 years time. Like a 3-door model S or something, coupe or convertable. The Roadster at 190k is well beyond my budget, and the Taycan is more Panamera which isnt my bag.
Over here the 911 starts well over 100k already.The Taycan is pretty close to a 911 already, it might be a large 5dr but inside it's cramped and not much bigger than a 911, in between a Panamera and a 911 I'd say.
But yes, both the Taycan and Roadster are really expensive.
The Model 3 is a very competent car though, but it looks a bit dull maybe. A 2dr model 3 convertible would be on pre-order immediately.
dgswk said:
I just want a half-decent sports car full stop to come out, something to replace a 911 in 3-4 years time. Like a 3-door model S or something, coupe or convertable. The Roadster at 190k is well beyond my budget, and the Taycan is more Panamera which isnt my bag.
As many have said, the i8 could have been it, but I guess BMW and the rest are looking at mass market first. A Halo car does help to market these things though.
I think Lotus's roadmap will eventually give you what you want, but their initial halo car is a bit on the pricey side As many have said, the i8 could have been it, but I guess BMW and the rest are looking at mass market first. A Halo car does help to market these things though.
They plan to do one more ICE car next year and an electric sports car end of 2022. I suspect that might slip.
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/lotus/352492/lotus-a...
Medium spec 4S / 'Turbo' Taycan (not the £140k+ Turbo S!!!), loose the back doors, make it a wee bit smaller and knock a few quid off, I'd have a look.
Basically an electric 911 / Cayman then
Dont tell anyone on the Porsche forum.....
Have seen 3-4 on the road in the last few days, rear looks very 992 (I like), front not quite so sure but could get used to, side on, looks like a limo, really dont like.
Back on thread, no real convertible / sports options yet then, guess these things will come in time, happy to stick with our 911 and our new 50kw Zoe ATM as a compromise at opposite ends of the spectrum.
Basically an electric 911 / Cayman then
Dont tell anyone on the Porsche forum.....Have seen 3-4 on the road in the last few days, rear looks very 992 (I like), front not quite so sure but could get used to, side on, looks like a limo, really dont like.
Back on thread, no real convertible / sports options yet then, guess these things will come in time, happy to stick with our 911 and our new 50kw Zoe ATM as a compromise at opposite ends of the spectrum.
I like the Nobe car too, well the concept and some of the styling elements.
I hope EV will allow more startups to think a little outside of the box.
Isn't another way of extending range to moderate the weight or the payload of a car? So limiting a car to two or three seats and having minimal storage, but maybe making the passenger and storage space interchangeable?
The Uniti One seems an interesting concept as it seems to do exactly that. Whether that will ever come to fruition?
I spend the majority of my business driving time alone in my car with a laptop and a briefcase. Most of the time I really don't need much of the space that our cars allow me. I'm keen to see more cars of a really compact size, maybe something a little more substantial than a Twizy and something that's really characterful. I wonder what others think?
I hope EV will allow more startups to think a little outside of the box.
Isn't another way of extending range to moderate the weight or the payload of a car? So limiting a car to two or three seats and having minimal storage, but maybe making the passenger and storage space interchangeable?
The Uniti One seems an interesting concept as it seems to do exactly that. Whether that will ever come to fruition?
I spend the majority of my business driving time alone in my car with a laptop and a briefcase. Most of the time I really don't need much of the space that our cars allow me. I'm keen to see more cars of a really compact size, maybe something a little more substantial than a Twizy and something that's really characterful. I wonder what others think?
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Didn't Tesla make a Lotus Elise looking thing?
Their first car circa 2008 was the Tesla Roadster which to reduce development costs was based heavily on the Elise chassis, so it was definitely more than just 'Elise-looking'. It was to all intents and purposes a BEV Elise.anonymous said:
[redacted]
That's exactly what I see in the Nobe.Too bad the ones that already exist like that are just so expensive at this time.
That said, cars got bigger with safety equipment as well. I'm not saying that Nobe is unsafe (from what I've seen, I'm willing to bet that it's a lot safer than it looks), but I wouldnt want to have a crash in it vs a Renault Espace.
Gassing Station | EV and Alternative Fuels | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff