Electric Car: Pininfarina Designs Electric Car Future

Miles XS500 electric

Pininfarina: Italian car design house is getting into electric car business, the target until the year 2010 later can sell 15000 cars per year with target market Europe, Japan, and United States.

Pininfarina will focus marketing efforts on leasing the cars, at a monthly cost of about $730. Drawings of the Pininfarina EV have not yet been released, but Pininfarina's design heritage and the relatively high price tag conjure up images of luxury and style.

On a more practical note for EV shoppers, Pininfarina also recently provided the design for the Miles XS500 electric four-door sedan— which promises to be a more affordable mass-produced vehicle. The style of the XS500 is decidedly dressed down, showing little of the design cues from Pininfarina’s signature work. According to Miles Electric Vehicles, the Miles XS500 can travel at a maximum speed of 80 miles per hour, and achieve a range of more than 120 miles. The company plans to offer the vehicle for approximately $30,000, with production targets of 38,000 units in 2010 and approximately 100,000 units in 2011.