RAN
10-09-2008, 09:55 PM
From AutoblogGreen: (http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/10/09/paris-2008-heuliez-michelin-and-orange-wrap-a-revolution-in-a/)
Paris 2008: Heuliez, Michelin and Orange wrap a revolution in a plain package
Posted Oct 9th 2008 at 6:32PM by Domenick Yoney (http://www.autobloggreen.com/bloggers/domenick-yoney/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2008/10/heuliez-michelin-orange-will.jpg
French coachbuilder Heuliez, along with Michelin and Orange™ (http://www.francetelecom.com/en_EN/), have brought with them to the 2008 Paris Motor Show (http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/paris-motor-show/) a most unremarkable-looking car. (My apologies to fans of the Opel Agila (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel_Agila)) And that's the point. The WILL (pictured above) is meant to seem "familiar and friendly" even though its makers believe it is the embodiment of the future of automotive design. The technology that makes this claim plausible is the Michelin Active Wheel system which we previously saw on the Venturi Volage (http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/10/02/paris-2008-venturi-volage-revealed/). It incorporates a motor, brakes and "a revolutionary electric suspension system" inside the wheels. Heuliez has constructed the WILL around the system which has allowed them to offer a lightweight 5-seater with two trunks that is built for safety and stability. With no engine under the hood, the front end is designed around absorbing impact. The active suspension in the two front wheels can quickly sense any pitch or roll and instantly adjust, which is said to offer "unprecedented levels of comfort and road holding."
Orange, the France Telecom brand, brings connectivity to the project. WILL has the usual navigation with real-time weather and traffic. It offers emergency call service as well as high-speed internet access to driver and passenger (no Googling while driving, please). It can also allow remote monitoring for theft protection and fleet tracking. The WILL should have three different lithium ion battery configurations offering 150, 300, or 400 Km of range. (That's 93, 186, or 249 miles). They also mention the possibility of a fuel cell. The first vehicles will begin testing this Autumn and should be available for professional drivers, fleets and municipalities in 2010. The general public may have to wait an extra year. The current price target is being reported as between €20,000 ($27,344) and €25,000 ($34,180). Check out the bonus video in French for glimpses of the WILL at the factory and read the press release after the jump.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Click the link at the top for more info.
The Michelin active wheel system may be the success story that has eluded PML Flightlink. The Venturi Volage is a mega dollar endeavor à la the Lightning GT, but the Heuliez will actually be affordable. For a closer look at the Michelin AWS, see the post under "Batteries & Hybrid Technology (http://flytheroadclub.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=19)"
Paris 2008: Heuliez, Michelin and Orange wrap a revolution in a plain package
Posted Oct 9th 2008 at 6:32PM by Domenick Yoney (http://www.autobloggreen.com/bloggers/domenick-yoney/)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2008/10/heuliez-michelin-orange-will.jpg
French coachbuilder Heuliez, along with Michelin and Orange™ (http://www.francetelecom.com/en_EN/), have brought with them to the 2008 Paris Motor Show (http://www.autobloggreen.com/category/paris-motor-show/) a most unremarkable-looking car. (My apologies to fans of the Opel Agila (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel_Agila)) And that's the point. The WILL (pictured above) is meant to seem "familiar and friendly" even though its makers believe it is the embodiment of the future of automotive design. The technology that makes this claim plausible is the Michelin Active Wheel system which we previously saw on the Venturi Volage (http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/10/02/paris-2008-venturi-volage-revealed/). It incorporates a motor, brakes and "a revolutionary electric suspension system" inside the wheels. Heuliez has constructed the WILL around the system which has allowed them to offer a lightweight 5-seater with two trunks that is built for safety and stability. With no engine under the hood, the front end is designed around absorbing impact. The active suspension in the two front wheels can quickly sense any pitch or roll and instantly adjust, which is said to offer "unprecedented levels of comfort and road holding."
Orange, the France Telecom brand, brings connectivity to the project. WILL has the usual navigation with real-time weather and traffic. It offers emergency call service as well as high-speed internet access to driver and passenger (no Googling while driving, please). It can also allow remote monitoring for theft protection and fleet tracking. The WILL should have three different lithium ion battery configurations offering 150, 300, or 400 Km of range. (That's 93, 186, or 249 miles). They also mention the possibility of a fuel cell. The first vehicles will begin testing this Autumn and should be available for professional drivers, fleets and municipalities in 2010. The general public may have to wait an extra year. The current price target is being reported as between €20,000 ($27,344) and €25,000 ($34,180). Check out the bonus video in French for glimpses of the WILL at the factory and read the press release after the jump.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Click the link at the top for more info.
The Michelin active wheel system may be the success story that has eluded PML Flightlink. The Venturi Volage is a mega dollar endeavor à la the Lightning GT, but the Heuliez will actually be affordable. For a closer look at the Michelin AWS, see the post under "Batteries & Hybrid Technology (http://flytheroadclub.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=19)"