[pics] Kalashnikov unveils its own electric car

[Arthur]

😲

 

Source: Kalashnikov (via Electrek)

 

Kalashnikov, better known as the maker of the AK-47 assault rifle, has been dabbling in electric vehicles lately.

 

This week, they unveiled a new fully electric retro-looking car which it is using as a test platform to develop an all-electric powertrain, and they claim it competes with Tesla.

 

They unveiled the new vehicle at the weapons forum ‘Army 2018’ yesterday.

 

Sofia Ivanova, director of communications at Kalashnikov, told Russia’s RBC:

 

"We are talking about competing precisely with Tesla because at present, it is a successful project in the field of electric vehicles. We expect to at least keep up with them."

 

Based on what they released about the vehicle, that’s quite a delusional claim.

 

It’s no more than a conversion of a soviet IZh 2125 "Kombi" with a 220 kW electric motor and unspecified battery pack, which they claim enable 350 km (217 miles) of range and an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6 seconds.

 

Those are all the specs that they released about the vehicle, which is called the 'CV-1', along with a few pictures:

 

 

[mikeprice]

😲

 

Source: Kalashnikov (via Electrek)

 

 

 

 

 

Yup - Tesla must be quaking in their boots

 

How on Earth can they upgrade their cars enough to compete with that???

[southhamster]

Is it April the first already?

[Norphy]

Possibly they’ve been sampling a bit too much of another one of their products?

 

http://www.beersofeurope.co.uk/kalashnikov-vodka

[3s-gtech]

Just when you think Russia is quietly developing to be perceived as less of an industrial backwater, stuff like this and their new 'robot' gets unveiled, and you realise they're still 30+ years behind. Reassuring though.

[tg12]

Wonder if you’ll be able to strip it down in 12 seconds like their other famous product...

[Dos_Box]

Do they not have access to a wind tunnel when designing that?

It looks like it is powered by 'D' cell batteries!

[3s-gtech]

Do they not have access to a wind tunnel when designing that?

It looks like it is powered by 'D' cell batteries!

 

Russian D cells, so larger, heavier, and carry enough charge to power a 5w bulb for three minutes.

 

I mock too much, but things like this really don't help the perception.

[Vasriel]

The front end reminds me of the old Lada cars you used to get back in the 80s

[mikeprice]

The front end reminds me of the old Lada cars you used to get back in the 80s

 

The back end also looks like one of the Eastern European cars - I just can't remember which one

[elsiegee40]

The front end reminds me of the old Lada cars you used to get back in the 80s

 

That was my immediate thought too!

[mikeprice]

Just been reading an article about it

 

apparently it is 'Retro'

[Norphy]

Tbh, it brings the mk2 Escort to my mind. From the front anyway.

[elsiegee40]

Tbh, it brings the mk2 Escort to my mind. From the front anyway.

 

And that was Mr gee40’s view:D