The Venturi Fétish was the first electric sports car in history, built by Venturi in Monaco in the early 2000s. Only 25 were planned, the design came from the Parisian designer Sacha Lakic, and the car went on sale for the first time in Japan in November 2004.
Venturi Fétish at a glance
| Maker | Venturi, Monaco |
|---|---|
| Production | 2004–2007, 25 cars; updated version in 2010 |
| Body | two-seater sports car |
| Designer | Sacha Lakic |
| Motor | 180 kW (241 hp) electric; 220 kW (295 hp) from 2011 |
| Torque | 220 N·m |
| 0–100 km/h | 4.5 seconds claimed; about 4 seconds for the 2011 car |
| Top speed | 171 km/h; 200 km/h from 2011 |
| Transmission | single speed, 9.58:1 reduction |
| Battery | lithium polymer |
| Range | 340 km at 90 km/h; 160 km driven hard |
| Recharge | 3 hours at 20 kW, 6 hours from a 230 V socket |
History of the Venturi Fétish
The Fétish was unveiled as a concept at the Geneva Motor Show in 2002. That first show car was a petrol version, fitted with a Renault engine and shown again at the Paris Motor Show in 2002 and at the North American International Auto Show in 2003. The electric production model followed, and the first customer car was delivered in Japan in November 2004.
The car was built by Venturi in Monaco, by then owned by Gildo Pallanca Pastor, who had decided to concentrate the company on electric vehicles. The design was by Sacha Lakic. Venturi committed itself to building only 25 cars, and production of the first version stopped in 2007; a new version was launched in 2010.
The original car used a 180 kW electric motor with 220 N·m, and Venturi claimed 4.5 seconds to 100 km/h and a top speed restricted to 171 km/h. For 2011 the motor was replaced by a 220 kW unit, and the claimed figures rose to about four seconds and 200 km/h. The French article gives a price of €297,000 excluding tax in July 2010, and notes that by October 2014 about fifteen cars had been sold.
Design and features
- First of its kind: the Fétish is described as the first electric sports car in history.
- Instant torque: the electric motor delivers its pull from standstill, with no clutch or multi-speed gearbox.
- Single-speed transmission: a 9.58:1 reduction and a top speed limited by the motor’s reach.
- Lithium polymer battery: rechargeable in three hours from a 20 kW three-phase supply or six hours from a 230 V socket.
- Rarity: 25 cars promised, never mass-produced, and about fifteen reported sold by 2014.
Venturi Fétish versions
- 2002 concept: petrol-engined show car with a Renault engine, Geneva, Paris and Detroit.
- Fétish (2004–2007): the first electric version, 180 kW, 25 cars.
- 2010–2011 version: new 220 kW motor, 200 km/h and about four seconds to 100 km/h.
The Fétish was the first electric model from the company that later built the Venturi Eclectic. Its combustion-engined predecessors were the Venturi Atlantique and the Venturi Coupé. More cars are in the Venturi collection.
Sources
- Venturi Fétish, English Wikipedia: history, motor, performance, production
- Venturi Fétish, French Wikipedia: transmission, battery, range, price
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