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Test Driving The Zenn Car
It’s no secret that we at Complex love the green stuff. And I’m not just talking about our weekend expenditures. As you know from our April/May issue, we take every opportunity to make our pastures that much greener—reusing water bottles, paying our con-ed bill online, having our breezies rock no panties and bras to conserve laundry water. So you can imagine how quickly we jumped out of our hemp kicks at the chance to drive one of the newest electric rides on the market, the Zenn Car.
Made by Canadian based Zenn Motor Company, the Zenn is a tiny two-seat, three door, Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) which means, thanks to the six 12V Deka batteries that power its drive train, the Zenn is only meant to be driven around your immediate area. This humble hatchback only hits 25 mph and has a range of only 35 miles per charge, so highway use is outta the question. To test out this Low Speed Vehicle (LSV) we whipped it around the one ‘hood where low speed driving is inevitable: Midtown Manhattan. Check out our first impressions (along with a gang of exclusive images) after the jump.
Popularity: 11% [?]
ENV Bike Passes On Gas
If fueling your car with bio-diesel or random waste products isn’t your thing, then a bike that run on hydrogen might spark your interest. At first glance, the ENV Bike looks like an upgrade from those grungy, run-of-the-mill motocross bikes. For starters, the clean design matches its commitment to being emission-free—the baby seals will thank you in the end. No complicated gears on this bike either. The simple button controls make it easy enough for anyone with no previous motorcycle riding experience to hop on and go. See the original concept and a few more photos of the ENV after the jump.
Popularity: 13% [?]
MonoTracer Closes The Door On Motorcycles
Choppers are cool, but it kind of sucks that you have to deal with all the wind and trash and birds flying at your grill. Luckily, Germany automaker Peraves has unveiled plans to release the MonoTracer. This two wheeler isn’t quite a car, but it isn’t quite a motorcycle either. Technically, this bad boy is called a Cabin Cycle. The Tracer can reach speeds of 155 miles per hour, thanks to its 130-horsepower BMW K1200 engine. You can pick one up when it’s released later this year for $82,350. Ater the jump, watch a video and view some more pictures of the MonoTracer.
Popularity: 12% [?]
Carbonyte’s Stretched-Out Smart Car
When it comes to the limo game, your options are pretty cut and dry. You either roll like a Diplomat in a Lincoln TownCar or your roll like Former President Carter in a Mayback 62. Looking to change all that is Carbonyte, a bespoke vehicle company known for its HotFusion composite, which is both lighter and equally strong when compared to materials found in cars today. Last year, the UK-based company made headlines with its 400hp, 170 mph, Ferrari 360 Modena eight-passenger limo. And now they’re back at it with their Carbonyte Smaaart concept.
Designed as a promotional vehicle aimed at soft drink advertisers, the Smaaart rocks a 20:1 scale Red Bull looking soda can complete with ring pull between the front seats and the rear section. And because the materials are so lightweight, the Smart’s original 80 hp motor can easily power it on the highway. But they ain’t stopping there—Carbonyte has plans to stretch the Lamborghini Murcielago, Bugatti Veyron and a the Koeniggsegg CCR. Wanna get your own custom stretch? Just fork over $50,000 plus the cost of the car. You gotta pay the cost to be the boss, playa! After the jump, watch a video that takes you inside the Smaaart stretch.
Popularity: 10% [?]
The New Maybach Is Obscenely Expensive
If you’re one of those chumps who bought a $400,000 Maybach, we may have to revoke your ball pass.
It was recently announced that the new Maybach 62 Landaulet will cost a whopping $1.35 million when it arrives in America. This is one of the first times that a luxury car has been marked with a price tag to rival the Lambos and Bugattis of the world. According to the VP of Maybach’s operations, “The Landaulet is for a superrich individual who wants something that is extremely extraordinary and enjoys being driven in a car with acres of sky above them.” See some more shots of the Landaulet after the jump.
Popularity: 10% [?]
India Colonizes England’s Luxury Cars
After England came in without asking and ran their country for 100 years, its nice to see Indians taking back some power through the business world. Today it was announced that Tata Motors, the biggest car manufacturer in India, has finalized its purchase of not one but two high-end British luxury car brands: Jaguar and Land Rover.
This is the second international coup for Tata, who already bought South Korea’s Daewoo truck division in 2004. But Tata is probably most famous for recently creating the Nano, which claims to be the least expensive car in the world at only $2,500. If only we could get a fresh Land Rover for that much, our fleet would be stocked. Watch the unveiling of the Nano after the jump…
Popularity: 31% [?]
The General Lee Could Be Yours
Looks like the original car from the The Dukes of Hazzard is going on sale next month.
Luxury car buyer’s guide the Dupont Registry recently announced that the one-of-a-kind 1969 Dodge Charger, which was painstakingly restored over a 16-month period, will be listed for sale in their April issue. It’s worth noting that there were 309 cars used in the filming of the show, but this is the actual first General Lee that was used in the opening credit sequence. Check out General Lee Enterprises for more information, and watch the car in its element after the jump…
Popularity: 26% [?]
Harley Davidson Rolls Out The Cross Bones
The new Cross Bones, announced back in January, has finally rolled out onto show floors around the country. The latest bike in the Dark Custom series sports an air-cooled 1584cc Twin Cam 96 B engine, a mini ape-hanger handlebar and not a whole hell of a lot of chrome. Every bike in the series shares the same dark detailing meant for getting dirty. It’s a design philosophy almost a decade in the making. Willie G,Harley’s VP of Styling spotted a trend in riders looking to get away from the chromed out bikes.
Popularity: 27% [?]
Mazda Rolls Out Rally Concept
Like you, we want to wrap the Mazda “zoom-zoom” kid in duct tape and stuff him in the trunk of a ‘84 Buick bound for a watery grave. But that doesn’t take away from our respect for the new Mazda2 Extreme rally concept. Engine mods boost the power to 120-hp and a race suspension tuned by Australian rally mech Murray Coote make the concept race-ready. The four headlights? That’s so you can see the whites of the kangaroos’ eyes as you run’em down. Check out a full gallery of rides at the Melbourne International Motor Show here.
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Popularity: 23% [?]
The Fearless 28, Part Boat, Part Porsche, And All Flaunt
Fearless Yachts and Porsche Design Studio teamed up to create next level yacht that says, “I could buy you,” to any other captain on the water long before you get within earshot. The 28-foot model sports a 625-horsepower V-10 (a cousin to the engine dropped into every Dodge Viper), teak wood accents and a carbon-reinforced hull. For only $300K you can attract gold diggers and Coast Guard cutters looking to bust smugglers like flies to honey.
Popularity: 15% [?]
