Happy Birthday To Me

First off, I would like to thank Richard "Dick" Cheney for failing to attack a country on my birthday, and of course my wife and the friends who plied me with great Thai food, liquor, cake and good company last night.

And here, as soon as one is available, is a little gift to myself: the Lotus ZAP-X. It's nothing much, really...just an all-aluminum, fully electric four-wheel drive, Porsche-clobbering conveyance, with seating for 5, plus 2 kids.

It'll go from 0-60 in 4.8 seconds. Top speed 155 mph. 644 horsepower drive four electronic hub motors placed directly behind each wheel. Huge in-board lithium batteries give it a super-low center of gravity, so it'll handle like a go-kart. 350 mile range per charge. 10 minute re-charge time. On-board touch screen controls with high-def video, Wi-Fi, Blue-tooth, Firewire, USB2 and Mini USB ports. Regenerative braking, photo-voltaic windows and windshields, bio-metric entry and ignition. All those and a trip to Baskin Robbins for about seventy grand. That, and walking down your block saying, "It's alright, Jonses, do not squint from the dazzle, we are but mortals like you. Rise, and walk on your feet as us."

So, when can I get one? Not quite clear yet, but Lotus is the same company making the Tesla Roadsters which have been reserved by George Clooney, Dennis Haysbert, and a bunch of rich hipsters. Teslas are slated for delivery in fall of 2007. Below is a picture of the ZAP-X prototype shown at the National Automotive Dealer's Association.