Car and Driver (Jan. '07) has an article about a British firm that has built a 640-HP Cooper. They did it by putting "power wheels" at all four corners replacing the normal wheels. These are wheel-hub electric motors that weigh on 53 pounds each and make 160 hp each. The article estimates the 0-60 time at 4.5 sec.

The firm purchased a new MINI and removed the engine, transmission and brakes. The engine was replaced with a 300-volt lithium plymer battery pack. Under the rear floor is a 250cc twin cyclinder go-kart engine that will recharge the batteries if necessary.

The cost to produce the car was $350k, but that was due to the hand made motors. It was estimated that only two motors would be necessary to drive this and the mass producing the motors would bring the cost down considerably.

The company is looking for a car manufacturer hoping to invest in the electric-car business.

Imagine the next MINI model as the R-12/24v.

BMW, are you listening???

 

Thanks for mentioning this Red...I'll stop by the newstand after work today. It sounds like a great read.

 

Here's a link to a different article on the same car, in case you're interested.
640 bhp MINI.

 

Here's a link of it, when visiting Japan.
Yokohama visit.

 

Repost of a repost of a repost......You get it, but it is definately saweet.

 

crazy amount of HP!

 

The best bit though is max torque for an electric motor is at 0 rpm.