GM unveils tiny, futuristic concept car for cities

[IDemo]

Source: Associated Press

China seen as ultimate market for electric vehicle with self-driving option



By Elaine Kurtenbach
updated 1 hour, 17 minutes ago

SHANGHAI - It's not quite as foldable as the space vehicle that cartoon figure George Jetson pops into his briefcase as he bops into the office.

But the EN-V concept car, GM's "automobile solution" for the future, just might fit into an apartment foyer.

General Motors and its Chinese partner SAIC will showcase the "Electric Networked-Vehicle" launched Wednesday in their joint pavilion at the Shanghai Expo, which opens May 1 and runs for six months.

The EN-V, pronounced "envy," is GM's latest effort to burnish its credentials as a future-focused, environmentally friendly company and shed its image as the bastion of the gas guzzling Hummer. The automaker is in the process of winding down Hummer after a deal collapsed to sell it to a Chinese heavy equipment maker.



Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36014601/ns/business-oil_and_energy/

[Hawkeye-X]

1. Nice, but no thanks.

I wouldn't be caught dead driving that thing. Family comes first. Watch it go like the Hummers.

[IDemo]

3. I'm thinking more like - watch it go like the Segways

It was built in conjunction with Segway and has about the same performance limitations and restrictions on usage. Good for campus security and getting to the evening bridge game at the retirement village, but not much else.

[Hawkeye-X]

4. Actually I agree.

Personal golf carts are more likely.

[TrollBuster9090]

Don't worry about it...

...because, like ALL fuel-efficient concept cars, they have absolutely no intention of manufacturing it.

The only time GM ever manufactured a practical, fuel efficient car that people actually WANTED TO BUY (the EV1), they only did so because the California govt FORCED them to manufacture it.

[dencol]

12. I've been rear ended recently.

And I probably wouldn't have survived if driving one of those things. I don't think it would do too well when sandwiched by some idiot on a cell phone.

[alfredo]

18. It would probably bounce off, and either end up in oncoming

traffic, up on the sidewalk or the seating area of a Starbucks.

[struggle4progress]

26. Yeah, ya wouldn't wanna meet a standard vehicle in one a those

[The Wielding Truth]

2. I love it. It looks like a running shoe.

[IDemo]

8. Reminds me of a motorcycle helmet

[The Wielding Truth]

21. Oh my. Exactly. Ha.

[Javaman]

28. That's all that will be left if you get into a wreck. nt

[DoBotherMe]

5. It's great!

For a city driver like me. I rarely drive more than 25 miles a week I would buy it. Dana ; )

[LynneSin]

30. I don't know if I'd want that car but I have looked at smaller cars for my next car

I also live in the city and drive about 25miles tops a week. And I park on the street so clearly smaller is better!

[bain_sidhe]

6. What's the grocery capacity?

Because if it'll hold 5-6 bags of groceries, it would be perfect for me, at least most of the time. We'd still have to have a "real" car for trips and carting the dogs to-and-fro, but if we had one of these, we could make do with one "real" car, instead of two.

[tonekat]

31. You'll need the optional matching trailer N/T

[Shining Jack]

7. It's really butt fugly.

[TrollBuster9090]

Never mind.

While the lazy-assed, stupid TEN FIGURE A YEAR executives at GM are taking government handouts and whining that they can't build an electric car because the market isn't big enough for it, NORWAY (with all 5 million people) is going to save our pathetic asses.

Th!nk City, a Norwegian company that's doing a thriving business making and selling electric cars is planning to build a plant in the U.S.A.

http://www.wndu.com/green/headlines/80676977.html

Don't worry, the American entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well! (and living in "socialist" Norway.)

[IDemo]

11. Or California

I'll take one of these

http://www.phoenixmotorcars.com/

[Eric J in MN]

9. My GPS has told me to go the wrong way on a one-way street more than once.

Cars which drive themselves may go the wrong way down a one-way street.

[tabasco]

10. Jesus Fucking Christ.

Why don't the dumb motherfuckers just build a good, small car like an Echo or Civic that somebody will actually buy.

Stupid ass motherfuckers will try to sell this shit and say, "see - nobody wants our fuel efficient vehicle!"

[Javaman]

27. I completely agree...

It's like they enjoy pissing in their own oatmeal.

I wonder if the Dinosaurs ever questioned their own viability?

[midnight armadillo]

13. Or you could drive/pedal one of these...

with electric assist. Already on the road!

http://www.bluevelo.com/Order_from_Europe.html

[daggahead]

14. LMAO! What the f@ck is that? n/t

[dmr]

15. Reminds me of Mr. Garrison

[customerserviceguy]

16. Where's the wind-up key that's supposed to be sticking out of the back?

No way would I even try to fit in that lite beer can...

[alfredo]

19. like this?

[daggahead]

17. I'd rather drive one of these ...

[IDemo]

20. Aptera:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwHm6aefGLQ&feature=related

[MisterP]

23. TOTAL Blade Runner knockoff nt

[corkhead]

22. looks like a Segway in a candy coated shell

[Odin2005]

24. I WANT ONE!!!

[kestrel91316]

25. I'd feel about 100x safer in a Smartcar.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

29. It's been done ...

Maybe a cross between a BMW Izetta



and a BMW C1 scooter

[Uncle Joe]

32. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, IDemo.

[defendandprotect]

33. To replace bicycles?

[formercia]

34. It will still cost you 20K a year to park it.

Cities should be designed to be POV free. Even taxis should be considered ancient history.