Posted on 10/26/2025 7:02:35 AM PDT by Donbue
The Advanced Design Center opened four years ago after a $71 million investment by GM and housed concept vehicles like the California Corvette Concept and lithium-ion batteries that have turned into a nightmare for firefighters. Experts explain that when one battery cell overheats, a chain reaction known as thermal runaway can take place, creating heat, flames, and toxic gases.
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Smores anyone?
Some things should NOT be messed with. The C8 is a fine machine. Build on that. If you must have a performance EV, come up with a new name, or revive one without the same heritage.
Maybe Fiero, given their tendency to ignite unexpectedly.
The car with the IC engine will still be near the starting line spinning its wheels as the EV crosses the finish line.
I think high end sports cars, which are basically toys, are the perfect application for electric vehicles. From a strictly performance standpoint gas cars can’t hold a candle to EV’s. It is range and recharge time that make them impractical. Cars that purposely put performance over practicality will naturally move to EV, no incentives required.
Ain’t technology grand Moe.
Range and recharge time are performance metrics, as is safety. When airlines buy airframes they evaluate more than just speed and acceleration. The C-130 is still superior to almost any jet for what it does well, and so is the Corolla.
A spokesperson for the Pasadena Fire Department called it “one of the largest structure fires we’ve had in Pasadena in many, many years.”
Impressive!!
Off-the-line is one scenario that marketers for battery powered vehicles really pushed, but Launch Control solved the wheel-spinning quite some time ago.
In addition, a car with an internal combustion engine gets lighter during a race as it burns fuel. An electric vehicle drags the full weight of depleting batteries around for the whole race. The longer the race, the greater the advantage to the internal combustion engine.
The LAT left quite a bit out in the headline and buried the lede.
Scroll down for the important part.
| Powertrain | Fastest Car (2025) | 1/4 Mile (sec) | Starting Price (USD) | Typical Range (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric (EV) | Porsche Taycan Turbo GT Weissach | 9.23 | $239,400 | $232,000 – $245,000 |
| Hybrid | Ferrari SF90 Stradale | 9.6 | $524,814 | $524,000 – $600,000 |
| ICE | Bugatti Chiron Super Sport | 9.4 | $3,825,000 | $3.8 – $4 million |
True but once a breakthrough in battery technology comes along, the dead weight of hauling a depleted battery 500 miles will be offset by the IC engined vehicle still having to make pit stops for refueling.
The battery storage could be segmented now in such a way that the EV car goes in for a pit stop and the depleted segment is quickly pulled and replaced or just pulled leaving a lighter vehicle to reenter the race.
Ultimately, I'd put my money on a revolutionary new battery technology coming available before significant improvements in IC engine efficiency are made.
I love IC engines and can't imagine ever getting the thrill of hearing the announcer say "Drivers, turn your start switches to the on position.
However, longer term, EVs with a future generation battery tech are the way to go.
Bottom line: Other than the niche market, most people simply do not buy EVs. Ford and GM which have invested billions in the research, design and manufacture of EVs are drowning in debt and cannot sell what they produce. If not for the strong demand for their ICE pickup trucks and light vehicles , they would be bankrupt.
EV’s will fade into the past as an utterly failed trend. Nothing about EV is sustainable except the propaganda. The electricity costs more and pollutes more than fossil fuel, the EV’s become hazardous wastes, and are remarkable fire hazards in the interim.
WH
The Corvette Zora should be out soon, if it’s not already out. It’s a hybrid for low end torque, not so much gas mileage.
I think they had an all-electric planned but I’m not sure.
Lit with lithium.
You may be correct but it won't be the first time a new EV tech blossomed and died out. Current generation battery tech has proven to be an advancement over lead acid and NiCads which themselves were advancements over the old Edison batteries that powered EVs circa 1900.
Some new storage tech will come along offering very high power-to-weight and fast charging. This future storage tech will force a new generation of EVs that may supplant IC technology as king of the road.
Oversized electric golf cart fanbois hardest hit.
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