Tribrid Micro-Car – The Brazilian OBVIO ! Import By ZAP
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 04.17.06
Small car importer-converter ZAP will showcase a new "trybrid" sports car concept from Brazil at the New York International Auto Show, April 14-23 at the Jacob K. Javits Center. ZAP says its "trybrid" designs run on three sources of energy: gasoline, ethanol, and electricity; and the gasoline/alchohol proportions may be varied at the user's convenience. According to the press release, the OBVIO ! 828, will have an integrated chassis and safety cage using composite materials, a three-passenger bench seat, a computer with Windows compatible platform, GPS navigation, and a continuously variable transmission. ZAP is also exhibiting an all-electric city-car called the XEBRA planned for production and distribution this year. We certainly hope that whoever came up with the Carnival motif paint job will get some US marketing advice before it's too late. The derisive remarks would be hard to overlook with mileage in the advertised 29-city/40-hwy mpg range and a price in the anticipated 14K bracket.
Case in point: this writer had a 1960 Austin Healy Bugeye Sprite like this one, which came in a green pastel (that was painted over in short order with a dark BRG). It got about 44 mpg on average. The body and undercarriage was stamped like an aluminum bathtub and light enough for three or four strong lads to pick it up. Although the ancient bugeye sat only two, and had no computer, an updated version would kick OBVIO's butt in the speed and looks department.
This is a design space where more entries are definitely needed.
Problem is as most british cars, the Austin would probably spend a lot of time in the shop than on the road and if you ever got into an accident, you would be removed from the road with a sponge.
I saw the Obvio and until I see real world crash tests, I will be quite optimistic.
=== author's response follows ====
Agree the bugeye was unsafe by today's standards.
My main point was that for both the OBVIO and the Bugeye, OEM color scheme is/was awful.
Secondary point is that even with "tribrid" propulsion the mileage is still weak by 1960 standards for comparable size/weight class. Can this be chalked up to the added weight of safety devices? Wish I knew.
Check out any US midget racing circuit and there are still many Bugeyes in use, but nicer paint jobs. Current auction rate for a restored bugeye is higher than for a new OBVIO!!
wait.. my 2001 vw beetle TDI gets about 50mpg.. and seats 4.
plus I bought it used for $8500.
I guess I'm not impressed with the ZAP.
It's been a while since I've gone over the OBVIO specs, but I remember being less than enthused. While being a tri-fuel car, small, and if painted right, cute… the engine is based off old iron engine block technology, which makes it heavy, and I imagine that’s not the only heavy component to this car… I mean 29mpg city… in that sized car? With any kind of 4-cylinder engine that is strange.
I will also be surprised if it passes US crash test trials. The old school bench seats, computer display as projectile mounting, and shared passenger/driver foot space are less than encouraging.
I don’t mean to be a downer, I’m actually looking forward to it’s arrival, if only for the fact that more small innovative cars on the road will further the trend, but I hope that future models will be lighter and get much better mpg.
Another thought: About ZAP... they may not be importing models that suit our needs exactly (OBVIO) or models that suit our needs but not our wallets (Smart Car), or for that matter, models that don't suit our needs or our fashion (Zebra)... but they are trying to do something and that is saying a lot.
Another thought: About ZAP... they may not be importing models that suit our needs exactly (OBVIO) or models that suit our needs but not our wallets (Smart Car), or for that matter, models that don't suit our needs or our fashion (Zebra)... but they are trying to do something and that is saying a lot.
now if it came with a hybrid diesel that was ready for biodiesel and got 70+mpg and an Ipod port...
Don't auto manufacturer's understand ? With fuel prices soaring now we need cars that get 55-60+mpg at least!The auto manufacturers could do this in 2 shakes the problem is they dont want to .
Count my vote in favor of the color scheme.
Whadya want? ...red, silver, dark silver or blue? Blech!
I kinda like the color scheme. In fact, its styling (color and door shape) is all its got going for it compared to a New Beetle or a Civic or what-have-you.
It's the same engine as in a MINI.
For such a low weight, low powered vehicle those mpg figures are not very inspiring.
Interesting thought the MINI gets worse gas mileage than the Scion Xb.
EPA says the mini on hwy gets 32mpg
The Scion XB 36mpg
I get 34 MPG hwy with my full size 2000 Bonneville with a V6. A car that small should get 70 MPG minimum.
The OEM's are afraid to risk their capitol and be the first one.
back during the last gas shortages you could just drop down to toyota and buy a 1200cc econ box dirt cheap.
not today. ( $1500 to $2k)
someone has to break spades.
Zap is trying but their 11k tax is at guarantee of death.
Do not pay attention to the EPA MGP figures because they are only estimate , pending final tests. Ignore them for now , and better yet just ask a real person.
I am researching the raw EPA data , and will post this.
It's virtual greed y'all.There is oil to b still dug up from the ground and a lot of these oil companies don't care about saving the earth.They just care about the buck.They have both the governments and auto companies in thier pockets and I believe not until the last drop of oil is pumped will they ever relinquish this power.
the milage estimates are with ethanol.
ethanol by nature returns lower mpg.
this car is intended to be more of a sport/city car and not an mpg leader.
hopefully other colors will be available.
It's interesting to me in that they don't perscribe this as a "gas saver".If u look at this car it seems like it would get great gas mileage?From just looking at it without the specs anyone would assume it is a "gas saver".The mpg was done with just ethanol only.I think that's sad since ,there is only limited ethanol E85 in the USA.As far as the computer in the car ,I have a desktop here at home and don't need that xtra wieght.I think it handicaps this vehicle's mpg performance?That is just me though ?
Yea E85 is limited in the US right now but the Obvio! 828 can run on any combination of Ethanol and/or gasoline. So if necessary you can fill it up with strictly gasoline. I saw the i-mobile carputer at the New york auto show and it has a really nice navigation system, the fact that it can do anything a laptop can is a nice bonus
I noticed a lot of smaller cars would get good gas mileage but,due to auto companies adding wieght(I.E wood trim and such) it kills any gas mileage gained .I'll give you 2 cars for example :The Mini Cooper and the Scion XB.You would think the Mini beats the Scion XB in gas mileage but,as suprized as I it does not.The XB suprizingly wieghs less than the Mini Cooper also .Yet the XB is a bigger vehicle in size ?I find this really interesting ?"How many unneccessary things to add weight can they put on a little car?",that seems to be the status quo.
Any small car can be made much safer simply by the installation of a rollcage and some extra chassi bracing. When it comes to safety, not much beats a racing cage. I am surprised that so few people are putting them in. Watch a mini stockcar crash and you will see just how well the cage works to prevent death or serious injury. Airbags do save lives, but a rollcage is far superior when it comes to offering protection at high speeds.
If you are talking about how the fuel economy isn't that great they are estimating 40 mpg on 100% pure ethanol which is much less efficient. So an accurate gasoline estimate which is exactly what you would use in America due to lack of availability of ethanol would be closer to 60 mpg.
If you are talking about how the fuel economy isn't that great they are estimating 40 mpg on 100% pure ethanol which is much less efficient. So an accurate gasoline estimate which is exactly what you would use in America due to lack of availability of ethanol would be closer to 60 mpg.
What I have seen and read about the "Obvio", I am very impressed.
Maybe the color scheme doesn't suit "L. A.", but in Vancouver B.C., it would sure livin things up.