PUBLIC transport has never looked so sleek thanks to this fully-electric high speed limo that was once tipped to rival rail travel.
Known as the Superbus, the 15 metre-long, super luxurious EV has been envisioned as the future of commuting… according to Sir Richard Branson.
Designed to carry up to 23 passengers seeking luxury and high-speed travel, the Superbus was built by the Netherlands’ Delft University of Technology under the direction of former astronaut Professor Wubbo Ockels.
F1 aerodynamicist Antonia Terzi, who worked at both Ferrari and Williams in the 2000s, also helped develop the futuristic project.
The idea behind the Superbus was to create a vehicle able to travel at extremely high speeds over long distances in a luxurious, limo-like style.
With a top speed of 155mph, its was thought the electric supercar would drive on special 'super lanes' – but could also use normal roads at normal speeds.
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Rear-wheel steering even helps the Superbus achieve a 24-meter turning circle, perfect for tight roundabouts.
Virgin tycoon Sir Richard Branson certainly seemed impressed when he took a test ride in 2011.
Writing in his blog at the time, the British entrepreneur even said he thought the technology could take on the rail business one day, matching it for speed while trumping its convenience by dropping commuters off at their front door.
According to its makers in the Netherlands, where the vehicle is said to be road-legal, Superbus was even designed to be energy-independent.
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Using the United Arab Emirates as an example, it was thought long days of intense sunshine could charge the Superbus using energy from solar power, all with enough range to complete the 75-mile journey between Abu Dhabi and Dubai in only 30 minutes.
Unfortunately, the Superbus prototype model currently sits in the Netherlands Transport Museum, with the project seemingly on hold after the death of Ockels in 2014.
Meanwhile, Mercedes-AMG are poised to begin development of its first electric sports vehicle as an alternative to the legendary Mercedes-AMG GT.
The Vision AMG will arrive in 2025 complete with innovative, UK-developed drivetrain technology.
In other news, a trainee beautician has used a loophole to avoid taking her driving test again after being caught speeding at 68mph in 40mph zone.
The 20-year-old was pulled over in her Mercedes C-Class by a police officer after being seen emerging from a toll booth near the M53 motorway at a high speed.
And Leonardo DiCaprio’s Lamborghini that was destroyed in The Wolf of Wall Street is up for sale for jaw-dropping price.
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