EcoVelocity 2011 @ Battersea Power Station

[Dragonthing]

Well I just got back from a fantastic day at Battersea with a friend, and I've got a lot to show you once I rescue my photos from his camera. For now, I'll give you a teaser of the best couple I took on my mobile...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/64135371@N03/sets/72157627627062416/

I'm guessing you all noticed the Mugen Honda CR-Z there...it's a one-off prototype model sporting carbon fibre hood and doors and a nice big wing. The engine is a stage 1 supercharged 1.5l with 200bhp that'll still do 60mpg in eco mode oh...and since it's bespoke, that's about £160,000 worth of pure eco-sex

And then there was the Mia. Yes, that funny little box there...definitely the coolest thing there besides the Mugen, it's a hand-built French electric car with a central drivers seat like the Mclaren F1 it's almost a TARDIS inside, and has a great open feel to it, I got to do a lap round the perimeter in one the acceleration is fun, top speed is apparently 100kmh too so it's definitely a city car. And as you can see, there's a longer one with a bigger rear seat, and a van version too! The doors are fantastic too, you press in the flower to slide open the electric door, which makes it very easy to get into any seat.

And then there are the bonus photos first is the Lightning McQueen VX220 Turbo with a fantastic aero kit, there's only one photo because as you can see something fantastic caught my eye.

That there is an '87 Alfa Romeo Sprint, with the top spec 1.7 boxer engine and that awesome badge...and don't forget the Cloverleaf! Not that I'm obsessed with classic Alfas

I'll update this thread with a ton more photos and stuff as soon as it isn't early morning and I'm not on my HTC I'll also post up some short reviews of the few cars I also got to test drive

 

[homeforsummer]

And then there was the Mia. Yes, that funny little box there...definitely the coolest thing there besides the Mugen, it's a hand-built French electric car with a central drivers seat like the Mclaren F1 it's almost a TARDIS inside, and has a great open feel to it, I got to do a lap round the perimeter in one the acceleration is fun, top speed is apparently 100kmh too so it's definitely a city car. And as you can see, there's a longer one with a bigger rear seat, and a van version too! The doors are fantastic too, you press in the flower to slide open the electric door, which makes it very easy to get into any seat.

I agree, the Mia is great. Had a good look around one at the Geneva show earlier this year. People will immediately dismiss it for the styling but it's certainly very clever. The small version is barely larger than a Toyota iQ but has vastly more space inside and more boot space, and you can hop in and out either side of it which is great in a city where you may not always be parked on the same side of the road.

The bigger versions really do have a lot of space inside, and I'm a fan of plastic-bodied cars because they're easy to swap panels on and won't ever rust. Light weight, too. Hopefully I'll get a drive in a Mia at Frankfurt.

I'm a fan of the regular CR-Z but not keen on the Mugen because the styling is way too Fast & Furious for my tastes...