Look, we have no problem with Tesla and it’s ilk. We are totally on board with electric cars for the sake of less smog and less noise. But we do sort of wish they were a little more…hmm…aggressive. We don’t need every vehicle produced in the next fifty years to look and feel like a four-door mid-sized sedan. That’s why our engines started revving when we saw the Aviar R67. This electric vehicle is a throw-back to the muscle cars of yesteryear: an eye-catching electric coupe with a cherry-red finish, creamy-white trim, combined with the speed and acceleration to make your passenger potentially start thinking about drafting a will.

The Specs

Let’s run the numbers. Do you want power? Try 840 HP. Do you want acceleration? Prepare to subject your face to uncompromising Newtonian physics by reaching 60 mph in 2.2 seconds. The powerful 100 KwH battery will get you about 155 miles down the road. Crank it up to 967 RPM, and when you run out of juice, you can charge your faithful steed at a Tesla charging station–because the Aviar R67 is made with Tesla components and to Tesla specifications. The future is modular.

The future is also carbon fiber. Super-strong and super-light, carbon fiber elements pair with aluminum and other re-enforcing elements for a vehicle that saves energy even as it rips down the highway at ludicrous speeds.

Upgrades

What about that lovely V8 sound? Isn’t half the point of driving a muscle car to get noticed? To that, we say–of course! Aviar has you covered with an external sound system that replicates the rumbling growl of all the classics.

And when you get the Aviar R67 up to high speeds, an adaptive air suspension system will help you maintain control of the car. Speaking of performance, the Aviar R67 features an anti-wing spoiler that extends when you hit 75 mph and returns down when you drop back to 50. And you can lock it out using the car’s built-in Sport and Race modes.

One interesting upgrade to a classic muscle car performance is the all-wheel-drive capability. Aviar installs one motor per axle to allow for superior traction and torque monitoring. Suddenly you’ve got a muscle car that you aren’t afraid to drive in the winter. Forged-alloy wheels made specifically for the R67 also add to the performance and handling capabilities.

The Looks

Performance is only half of a muscle car’s attraction. You know the rest. The powerful lines. The sloping roof. The aggressive crouch. The Aviar R67 incorporates all the classic muscle car styling into this electric beast, and they don’t slouch on the finishing touches either. Dig that glossy-red finish and white leather interior. Plus a sunroof!

The Trimmings

The Aviar R67 has a bunch of stuff your uncle’s half-finished project car never will. Backup camera? Check. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth? Check. HEPA air filtration system? Check. Not to mention the heated steering wheel, voice control, keyless entry, and dual-zone climate control. And don’t forget about the custom seven-speaker audio system, LED-lit interior, or heated seats.

Let’s circle back around to that keyless entry for a second. It’s even better than you think. When sensors in the car detect a key’s presence, they activate sliding door handles to pop out for your convenience.

The Buy

You’ll need to fill out an inquiry form on the Aviar R67 to get information on how to obtain one of these beauties. But if we had the dough to drop on a premium electric car, we’d at least check this one out before going the Tesla route. Let the thunder roll…

Purchase

Segway-Ninebot KickScooter Air T15: Ride Into Your Childhood Memories

A long time has passed since Segway introduced the Segway HT back in 2001. The “HT” model, which stands for “human transportation,” has had its ups and downs as a consumer product. Since the introduction of its first model, consumers have been waiting patiently for a – dare we say it? – segue into a more attractive personal transportation device that doesn’t leave your co-workers questioning your sanity when roll in at work.

Enter the Segway-Ninebot KickScooter, a human propulsion device that you may find more recognizable in today’s scooter environment. This model looks like a highly modified version of the aluminum scooter you rode as a teen that nearly ended your shinbones every weekend. But this scooter comes with a lithium-ion battery and electric motor.

What Makes It Different?

Unlike the scooter that you aggressively kicked up hills in your youth, this battery-powered wonder will propel you up a 15% grade with ease. It makes the grocery run that much easier when you’ve frantically realized you forgot one key ingredient in tonight’s dinner. As you wheel back down the hill to your apartment, cilantro tucked neatly into your shopping bag, the wheels charge your waning battery, an innovation known as regenerative braking.

Wait. What? How Fast Can I Go?

When it comes to cross-town cruising, and you’re not in a pinch for time, you have the luxury of utilizing four riding modes, which allow the rider to switch between Pedestrian Mode, Energy-saving Mode, Standard Mode, and the coveted Sport Mode. These modes will generate a forward momentum of 3.7 mph, 6.2 mph, 9.3 mph, and 12.4 mph, respectively.

The Fine Print

There is, of course, a smart app that controls it all. The Segway-Ninebot App is available on iOS and integrates via a Bluetooth connection. The app gives you the option to switch up the LED ambient light colors (to match the night’s outfit, of course), live riding stats dashboard, and cruise control. The built-in front and rear LED lights will keep you visible during late-night rides. And after you’ve spent the whole day out on this thing, having the time of your life, you’ve got to recharge it. Another upside of the KickScooter is that it collapses down into a package the size of a large umbrella, and docking it into its charging station – made of recyclable materials – makes it only marginally larger.

Let’s Get Down to Business

At an entry-level price of only $569, this Kickstarter ware is a bargain. It can potentially fix much of your commuting worries and saving you time, all while giving mother nature a slight reprieve from resource-wasting traffic congestion. If cycling or driving in a big city doesn’t sound appealing, the Segway-Ninebot KickScooter Air T15 is a substitute for traditional transportation methods.

Not only that, but the fond childhood memories recalled on each ride will perk up every day.

Purchase

What is it about flying cars? We’ve been trying to make them since we switched over from horses. The flying car is about as close to visual shorthead for “the future” as one can get. 

According to Gonzalo Espinoza Graham, founder of Watfly, it’s all about democratization. Flight, he says, is limited to the wealthy – especially solo flight. And so the dream of flying cars is, “…an aircraft that is similar to a car: affordable to most, as easy to pilot as cars are to drive, as safe as commercial air travel, and with convenient, practical use.” 

Watfly’s first product, the Atlas, aims to take a step in that direction. This electric single person vehicle will be powered by four powerful electric rotors, capable of vertical take-off and landing, and promises 60 minutes of flight time. 

Graham calls his engines “Electric Ducted Fans.” If you’ve ever driven a hybrid car, you know electric equals quiet. The EDFs register 87 dBA from 15 meters away. And while that’s not exactly silent (it’s about as loud as a gasoline-powered lawnmower) it’s still a lot less noisy than a prop-plane or a jet engine. 

An active gimbal suspension, carbon fiber frame, and powerful onboard battery complete the design, while the cockpit provides 180 degrees of visibility. And you’ll have plenty of time to look around because an onboard computer will be doing the flying for you (Graham calls this autonomous flight, or AF). 

In fact, you won’t even need a pilot’s license to fly the Atlas. It’s a Certified Ultralight Vehicle, so no years of training or expensive courses needed (Watfly has a tailored training course to help you learn the ropes). You will have to stay in Class G airspace though – no urban flying allowed. But that’s fine – the storage compartment is perfect for skis, snowboards, or other oblong outdoor toys. 

Watfly knows the Atlas doesn’t exactly promise on the dream of the flying car. By their own admission, it’s too limited, too expensive, and too bourgeoisie to appeal to the masses. But they consider the Atlas their Model N – the automobile Ford produced just prior to the famous Model T. In other words, it’s the technology just before the technology that changes the world. 

All revenue generated from sales of the Atlas will go towards research and development of Watfly’s next model – a two-seater licensed for controlled airspace. It’s with this next model, produced on a scale designed to drive consumer costs down, that Watfly hopes to revolutionize travel. 

Until then, we can keep dreaming – and maybe put in an order for the Atlas. 

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