Not even the recession can slow this supercar. The Revenge Verde is an American-made supercar that its designer believes has great export potential. The car is the result of Revenge's search for American-made supercar components, assembled in America, built for supercar enthusiasts – not just in America. Sourcing the “best from the best” parts helps keeps the price of this beast within reach of many muscle car owners – around US$200,000. Among the mid-engined Verde’s supercar features are three drive chain and power train options, including the Ford 605hp motor, the GM 638hp motor, or an HP2g V8 engine that runs on E-85 ethanol fuel and yet still impresses with its figures: 400hp, 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds, a top speed of 200mph+ while achieving an amazing 100mpg!
The Verde is the brainchild of Australian-born Peter Collorafi, the CEO/President of Revenge Design Inc, who says his company’s previous efforts have focused on vehicle enhancement projects – making slower-selling cars more appealing to would-be buyers. He enjoyed great success in Australia, from where he lived until four years ago.
Collorafi says his car would cost at least double if he had created his own components or chased them from Lamborghini or other supercar brands. Instead, he has collaborated with some of America’s best car producers to use their components, such as the new Ford Corvette clutch (about US$30,000 cheaper than the Lambo’s).
But not many, if any, supercars can boast mileage and horsepower like the Verde. Collarafi explains how this achieved: “We use carbon fiber batteries that are recharged as the car travels under gas power – usually only under acceleration. When the car reaches its cruising speed it only needs around 15hp to maintain it, that’s when the batteries kick in and the engine shuts down – no fuel consumption and no emissions. Drivers can still lay rubber with 400hp at their disposal, but once they’ve reached their cruising speed, say 55mph, the car runs on its own power.
“There’s no 200-mile limit like on some electric vehicles, and having to search for a charging station. This car, with its Brail carbon fiber batteries, charges itself.” Collorafi explains that the batteries work like magnets, powering the car but using no fuel. Coupled to the HP2g motor he says its easy to see how the car can achieve such great mileage.
The HP2g engine runs on E-85, (a green alcohol-based fuel) that significantly reduces green house gas emissions. In testing, HP2g has exhibited ultra-high fuel economy and outstanding horsepower upon demand. The HP2g is EPA approved and the first production vehicle to utilize the HP2g technology is the Revenge Verde.
Plenty of features
Other features include a six-speed paddle or stick shift gearbox (by Roush) while Pratt Miller Engineering is responsible for the power train. The Verde will feature aluminum black chrome 20-inch wheels (9" front and 12" rears, tires from Michelin). Braking is controlled by four piston Brembo brake calibers mated to carbon fiber rotors and aluminum center hubs.
A special feature of the car is the easy entry for driver and passenger. “Part of the roof opens with the door to allow bigger guys to get in and out of the car easily,” says Collorafi. “Too many muscle cars have these tiny little doors that make it almost impossible not to bang you heading getting in and equally impossible to exit the car. Not in the Verde, though.”
Hood, trunk lid and doors are constructed from aluminum panels and the rest of the body is lightweight and super tough carbon fiber.
The car will be built by Roush.
“The car has similar specs to the Ford GT,” says Collorafi, “but it looks strikingly different.” It’s tri-colored paintwork will come in seven colors if you don’t like green."
Collorafi plans to sell 3000 Verdes over the next four years and already has orders from inside the US and around the world, including Europe and even the Ukraine.
The first ones will start appearing towards the end of this year.
Plans are afoot for a four-door model once the two-door mach is up and running.
GASP! Within the reach of Arab Sheiks maybe...
And do you have even a LITTLE bit of scepticism? Batteries that work like magnets? Uh, ever hear of physics, as in laws thereof? Hey, I\'ve got a perpetual motion machine you can write about, too!
And E-85 is nice, if you happen to live near one of the 17 E-85 pumps in the U.S.
The Volt, with a much more efficient gas engine, barely gets 100 mpg on the EPA cycle, but we\'re supposed to believe that this gets 100 mpg? Give me a break.
Oh, that fancy \"carbon fiber\" battery? It\'s nothing but a standard lead-acid battery in a fancy case. It looks like it\'s a nice lead acid battery, but in terms of energy storage efficiency and weight, lead acid is obsolete. NiCad batteries, as used in the Prius, are far more efficient, and most modern electrics and hybrids are being designed with LI (lithium ion) batteries, which are much more efficient than NiCad. The Plug in Prius is expected to go about 7 miles on battery alone. The volt, about 40 (without AC or heat, btw). With lead acid batteries, this thing ought to get out of the driveway on the batteries.
I will give Collorafi credit, though. He\'s likely to make a boatload before declaring bankruptcy and walking away with the deposit money from gullible folks like you.
The HP2G "engine" and the claims surrounding it tend to be a bit fanciful, and the so-called "SkipFire" system doesn't sound any more likely to be more than eyewash. Pelmear hasn't presented himself as the most reliable of presenters in the past, and nothing we're seeing here - including his participation with this project - makes him look any better than he ever did.