A do-it-yourself hybrid has been unveiled by U.S design company, Robert Q. Riley Enterprises. The XR3 Hybrid is a two passenger, three wheeled, hybrid capable of 225mpg and a maximum speed of 80mph.
Weighing just 671 kilos, the plug-in hybrid, it can drive on battery power alone for up to 40 miles. The car (pictured) is also stylistic statement, claims designer, Robert Riley;
“Once we decide on the basic architecture of the vehicle, styling is the first thing that’s done,” says Riley. “It’s the most intangible quality of the design, but it provides a visual marker for what we are trying to achieve through mechanical design. Styling makes an implied promise, and then it’s up to the mechanical designers to deliver on that promise.”
Safety should not be an issue either, as the front and side portions of the car are foam filled.
Construction instructions, the XR-3 Deluxe Plans Package costs $200 and will show customers how to build their own. Construction costs vary as mechanics can adapt plans to suit their budget. A hybrid would cost around $25,000 (£14,074) but a diesel only version can be constructed from $10,000 (£5,631).
Plans can be ordered from www.rqriley.com
