Commuter Cars Tango

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The Tango is only 8'5" (~257 cm) long...

...and 39" (~99 cm) wide

The Tango is an ultra-narrow electric sports car initially designed and built by Commuter Cars, an American company based in Spokane, Washington. Production of the first version, at a rate of about 100 cars per year, was set to begin in late 2005. It will be assembled by Prodrive in the United Kingdom. Actor George Clooney took delivery of the first Tango kit on August 9, 2005, which was a major milestone for the company. Clooney appeared in the press with the car, explaining and promoting it.

1 Overview
2 Specifications
3 See also
4 External links
5 References

[edit] Overview

The Tango is thinner than some motorcycles and may be small enough to legally ride side-by-side with other small vehicles in traffic lanes in some jurisdictions. Capable of seating two passengers, though really designed for one, it only takes up one-quarter of a standard parking space and is able to park sideways in many cases. One prototype vehicle has been produced by the company and was shipped to Prodrive in January 2005, where the design will be duplicated for production models.

The first model will be the luxury Tango T600, costing roughly US$108,000. Premium features partially offset the high cost of the early kit vehicles, which are outfitted with a leather-lined interior and a hefty Nakamichi sound system. The T200 model is expected to be released in 2008 at $40,000, while the T100 is expected in 2009 with a $19,000 price tag.

While the vehicle looks top-heavy, it is fairly stable due to its heavy battery pack. About two-thirds of the 3,000+ lb (1360+ kg) curb weight in the prototype—comparable to a standard sedan—is taken up by the batteries, mounted low in the frame. Production models are expected to weigh less, ranging from 2,200 to 2,500 lb (1,000 to 1,130 kg). Propulsion is provided by two electric motors. To extend its range, the Tango can be attached to an optional Genset trailer. [1]

[edit] Specifications

Width: 39 inches (~99 cm)
Length: 101 inches (~257 cm)
Weight: 3000+ lb (1360+ kg)
0–60 mph (0–96 km/h): 4 seconds
¼ mile (0.4 km): 12 seconds @ 120 mph (193 km/h)
Top speed: 150 mph (240 km/h)
Range: 60–80 miles (96–128 km)

[edit] See also

Corbin Sparrow – Another electric car of similar size
William Garrison (geographer) – studied concept of narrow vehicles
Messerschmitt KR200, Messerschmitt TG500 – narrow bodied cars, but with outrigger wheels
Volkswagen 1-litre concept car – wide body but narrow canopy and tandem seating for reduced air drag.