Indy 500 Carb Day Practice To Franchitti; Dixon Takes IZOD Pit...

Volkswagen Golf R Cabrio Patent Photos Revealed

2013 Cadillac XTS Configurator Launched
BMW Zagato Coupe Unveiled At Villa d'Este

New Firestone Indy Lights Formula For 2014

Lotus F1 Tells Raikkonen, 'No Rally!'
Lotus CEO Dany Bahar Suspended For 'Conduct'

2013 Cadillac XTS: First Drive

Eric Clapton's Custom Ferrari SP12 EC Officially Unveiled

Riley’s 225MPG XR-3 plug-in hybrid

James Martinez

Author

LATEST ARTICLE
First Ferrari Hybrid Likely To Be A V-12
Governments around the world are bowing to public pressure to reduce levels of greenhouse gases... Read More

N/ALEADERBOARD RANK
893ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED
100COMMENTS POSTED

949 views Mar 20, 2007

Riley’s 225MPG XR-3 plug-in hybrid

Enlarge Photo

Arizona based Riley Enterprises will introduce the new XR-3 plug-in hybrid in less than three months, a streamlined three-wheel sports car that its maker claims achieves a 225mpg fuel economy rating. Riley will be selling the new vehicle in kit form or as plans for a do-it-yourself version.

Powering the XR-3 is a simple hybrid system that features a three-cylinder diesel engine driving the front wheels, while an electric-motor run by a lithium-ion battery spins the rear. The two axels aren’t connected by any electronic or mechanical hardware, and instead spin independently of each other.

When running on diesel alone, the XR-3 is said to manage about 125mpg but when combined with the electric motor, this figure jumps to above 200mpg. A button on the center console allows the driver to switch between battery-only, diesel-only and hybrid driving modes. With only the battery and electric motor running, the XR-3 can travel over 40 miles. Since the XR-3 is available as a kit, we’re sure it could be sold in markets outside the US.