ZAP to Import "Obvio" Cars from Brazil
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11.23.05
ZAP and Obvio have agreed to collaborate in the design and manufacture of high efficiency, high performance urban cars. See this previous article for more information on ZAP. Obvio, based in Brazil, intends to manufacture two models for export to the U.S. the Model 012 (shown here) and the model 828. Both cars are small and fuel efficient (see this link for detailed stats).
ZAP will serve as the exclusive representative and distributor for Obvio in North America. The 828 is expected to be available for delivery in the third quarter of 2006 and the 012 in the last quarter of 2007. :: ZAP Press Release via Energy Blog
so how does this compare with a prius? (which is cheaper and has better gas milage) does it come in diesel?
hey I love the Zapsters as much as anyone... but let's hope they do a better job with this vehicle than they did with the smart (didn't the Daimler head with the furry moustache say there was no way in hell that Zap would ever sell a smart in America?)
i f you want a full breakdown of whatthe Obvio is good for, go to Green Car Congress. Personally, I'm not that blown away by 30MPG and think that if your company is caled "Zero Air Pollution" and you sell 30MPG gasoline burning cars... then maybe it's time to look at the corporate vision and mission statement again (yeah i know.. picky picky.. must... support.. the...baby...steps!)
Nossa! I'm brazilian and NEVER heard of them O.o . It seems they'll price their cars in USD$, making it impossible to the mere brazilian mortal to buy them - see, 14,000 dollars probably is an affordable price for a car, for someone who earns in dollar, but with 61.000 reais, the projected price to br market, I can even buy a small apartment!
It's always like this, the best we produce here goes to export. Our better coffee, our better fruit, our better cars.
The car is being manufactured for sale in the U.S. I dont think they have finalized what its MPG will be but the Zap website www.zapworld.com lists it at 40 MPG. It looks a lot better than the prius and is more powerful. It does not come in diesel but can run on ethanol or gasoline or any mixture of the two
I don't think this Obvio company has produced a single car, and this is two years after they were marketing themselves as the next thing. I wouldn't hold my breath that this company will every produce more than the prototypes that they have been showing around. I would be very interested in an electric version of this car, but I think this company is all smoke and no pancake.