Lightning Working on Three New Electric Cars

After presenting the 120,000 pound Lightning GT, the manufacturers of the electric sports car are working on three more models powered by similar electric powertrains. The GT sports car was officially shown to the world at the 2008 London Motor Show and is expected to enter production sometime next year, with the first models likely to find their owners in the summer of 2010.

The car is powered by no less than four electric units, developing 161 horsepower each. The engine is connected to a 36 kW battery, raising the final output to no less than 700 horsepower. The car could reach sixty from a standstill in no less than 4 seconds, with the maximum speed electronically-limited to 130 mph (210 km/h).

"The Lightning GT should be ready for sale in spring 2010. We have deposits, and we're pushing ahead with our plans," Ian Sanderson, Chairman of the Lightning Car Company, was quoted as saying by autocar.co.uk.

"It's our intention that it is the first of a number of models. A limo-sized model is planned, as we think a high-end chauffer-driven car with electric power would work well for executives travelling around cities. We are then looking at possibilities for an SUV and a smaller sportscar. These are some way off because we want to concentrate on the Lightning GT, but the plan is that all the derivates will use the GT's powertrain, meaning we can roll them out quickly when we are ready."

Sanderson said that one-third of the deposits are sourced from the United Kingdom, according to the aforementioned source, while the remaining come from buyers overseas.

"We want to promote the fact we are proud to be British, and use our technology to build knowledge for Britain and eventually create jobs for the UK economy," he said.