The Venturi Fetish deserves the distinction of being the world's first production twin seated electricity-powered sports car. Considered a symbol of innovation, the Venturi Fetish was unveiled at Geneva International Motor Show in 2002 and did not fail to turn heads. After later being presented at the 200 Paris Motor Show and the 2003 Detroit Motor Show, it was awarded a "Talent du Luxe" plus a "Michelin Challenge Design" award respectively.

Venturi Fetish

The Venturi Fetish concept car gives testimony to the innovation of the carmaker in terms of the core design. Venturi has come a long way since it was created as France's solution to the Ferrari of Italy, in 1984. It was only in 2001 when Gildo Pallanca Pastor purchased Venturi that the decision to concentrate on an electric motor was taken which ultimately led to the Fetish model. Parisian designer Sacha Lakic created the car's futuristic design. The Venturi Fetish made a mockery of the public opinion that an electric car had to be ugly and weak at it turned this preconception on its heels.

The Venturi Fetish can boast of a boatload of technology, engineering and design features that make it one of the most coveted cars worldwide. The engine position is ideal as it is in the rear central part of the automobile. In addition, the presence of a monocoque carbon chassis plus the architecture as a whole make it worthy of comparison to a racing car.

The technical specifications of the car are impressive. The car produces an approximate 250 bhp (nearly 180 KW) peak output making the acceleration of the car comparable to a normal internal combustion engine (ICE) sports car. The capacity of the car to reach 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds is proof to its amazing acceleration just shy of that of a supercar. The Venturi Fetish has a less comparable top speed of 100 mph, a respectable option taking into account the fact that it has only gear.

The Venturi Fetish has a maximum torque of about 220 Nm. The electric motor is responsible for one other significant attraction and that is the availability of the full 220 Nm torque at all speeds as compared to cars that have internal combustion engines, which hit their peaks at different RPMs.

The specifications by the company are for a range of 150 miles. Since lithium-ion accumulators are used as batteries, they offer a very quick overall recharge in only 1 hour. This is made possible due to the Venturi Fetish's onboard charger. Some may see the 1 hour recharge rate as prohibitive for long-distance trips, but past owners of other electric vehicles such as the GM EV1, will see this as a vast improvement from the 6 to 8 hour overnight charge times that they had grown used to having.

The car is retail priced at around $460,000, which will suit any rich treehugger with a need for speed. Now produced in Monoco, the production of the Venturi Fetish is limited to just 25 new vehicles per year making it one of the most rare and sought after specialty cars in the last 10 years. A sports car to the core the Venturi Fetish can be driven with passion, desire and a yearning the open road and new technology.