News Source: topspeed.com

Venturi Automobiles  started its life as a Monegasque-based manufacturer founded by former Heuliez engineers Claude Piraud and Gerar Godfroy. The company’s initial purpose was to create a grand tourer capable of competing against Ferraris  and Porsches.  Although Venturi never achieved that goal, it did roll out a couple of exciting, mid-engined coupes  powered by V-6 engines mated to Renault  -sourced gearboxes. Its most notable creations are the 260 Atlantique, the 300 Atlantique, and the 400 GT. Following a brief venture into endurance racing, Venturi was aquired by Monegasque millionaire Gildo Pallanca Pastor, who decided the company should focus on building electric cars.  The move spawned the Venturi Fetish, the world’s first two-seater electric sports car.  The futuristic-looking Fetish preceded the Tesla Roadster  by two years. The fetish was followed by a range of innovative concept cars, culminating with the America, a full-electric, two-seater, "all-road sports car."

Unlike its predecessors, the America is set to become a production model, with assembly to begin in 2015. Moreover, the "high-voltage buggy", as it’s described by its creator, is an unusual proposition to the EV market by combining sports car-like performance with the ride height of a crossover  and the appearance of a buggy, cut-out doors and a T-top roof included. Read on to find out more about this out-of-the-ordinary electric car.

The exterior design of the America is particularly interesting, as it blends cues normally seen on a lightweight sports car with those of a buggy. The carbon-composite body is mostly clean to look at, but it becomes rather dramatic around the sides thanks to its muscular fenders and unconventional doors. The front fascia is as modern as it gets, incorporating large bumper dams, a small V-shaped grille and headlamp clusters that remind me of the Alfa Romeo 4C.

The rear end is much simpler visually, highlighted by a large diffuser-like piece that goes halfway into the fascia. The same triangular emblem is mounted in the center, with a pair of simple, round taillights placed toward the edges. When viewed from the side, the America’s buggy-like shape become more obvious. The short overhangs, the massive wheel arches, and the cut-out doors contribute to its sturdy appearance as well. Rounding off the exterior is a T-top roof, making the Venturi America the most exotic-looking production EV this side of the Tesla Roadster.

Venturi didn’t release any interior specs as of this writing, but the official photos show the company focused on providing an ergonomic and user-friendly cockpit. The tall center console that separates the two seats has no buttons and switches whatsoever, meaning the driver communicates with the vehicle via the touchscreen infotainment system exclusively. A digital instrument cluster displays all the vital information such as speed, revs and battery data, while the steering wheel is as simple as it gets.

There is no mentioning of premium features such as leather or Alcantara, but it seems the sporty seats are quite cozy and ready to provide extensive support for both track hooning and off-road driving. Five interior trims are available. Customers can opt for either a full-black cockpit or a combo in which the black surfaces are complemented by more lively colors, including white, mauve, orange and red.

Motivating the Venturi America is an electric twin-motor unit that delivers 401 horsepower and a maximum torque of 354 pound-feet to the rear wheels. Tipping the scales at 3,362 pounds, the buggy can hit 62 mph from a standing start in 4.5 seconds and 124 mph in 14 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited at 137 mph, which is not bad for a full-electric vehicle.

The 53 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery backing the electric motor enables the America to travel up to 155 miles on a single charge. Once the battery pack is drained, it can be recharged through a 22 kW on-board charger in three and a half hours.

The EV comes with three distinct driving modes: Cruising, Sport, and Supersport. As you might have already guessed, Cruising provides the best driving range, while the Supersport setup allows access to the vehicle’s solid performance figures.