Russian hybrid vehicle maker Ë-Auto has been trying very hard to establish itself in the business of green vehicle making with some fervor and the firm is now ready to make a grand splash at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show with a public unveiling of its latest innovative new concept. Christened the Ë-Concept, the vehicle will definitely stand out from the crowd not because it does a better km-to-the-hour than the rest, but because it features a set of never before seen doors.
The highly imaginative door do not open with the regular tug-on-latch-and-pull mechanism that we see on regular car or even like the uber cool gullwing doors but rather do a Transformers-style dance where the windows drop and then we have the doors sliding backwards and then folding over each other and settling over the boot. Think something like a bird’s wings only the doors flop down on themselves while sliding back like a mechanical bird’s feathers.
As hypnotic as the feature is, it does contribute to one helluva massive C-pillar blind spot on the machine although if your car does THAT every time you get in and out, you wouldn’t have to worry about cars blocking your way on the street because the show would be enough to stop traffic within the visible distance of the vehicle for sure.
The Ë-Concept is set to remain just a concept for the time being with the preview being nothing more than just a hint of things to come from the stables of the Ë-Auto. The company is set to get its first three vehicles- a van, a coupe-type crossover, and a hatchback model- into production by the second half of 2012. All three will initially be powered by traditional IC engines, with future models using a petrol or natural gas-run swing-piston engine that will either power two electric motors or deposit a small charge into a bunch of capacitors.
With over 151,000 pre-orders already under their belts, the three vehicles that start retailing at 350,000- 400,000 Rubles (approx $11,300-$13,000) are all set to get the firm off to a great start.
Via: Car Advice
