Ladybird-Tiger Electric Roadster
Cracking 150 mph isn't a big deal these days, but back in 1926 it was enough to make a Sunbeam Tiger called Ladybird the quickest car on the planet. A British design student has paid tribute to that remarkable car by reimagining it as an all-electric roadster.
The concept car envisioned by Ryan Skelly would commemorate the 100th anniversary of the car Henry Seagrave drove to a record-setting 152.33 mph on March 21, 1926. It's purely a styling exercise, but we like what he's done with it.
"From the outset of the project, I wanted to create a successor to a small car from a dormant British car company," Skelly told Wired.com. "It wasn't until my friend pointed out the Tiger that I fell in love with it and restarted my project on the original 1925 vehicle. It's such an amazing little vehicle with so much heritage and a testament to the British motor industry."
The futuristic Tiger designed by the Coventry University student would be as quick as it is cool.
Seagrave made his record-setting run at Southport Beach, England, in a supercharged V-12 Tiger. Skelly updates the drivetrain in Tiger Tribute Concept, envisioning a car capable of 0 to 60 in 2.8 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 160 mph. The 342-horsepower (255 kilowatt) motor would be powered by a lithium titanate battery with a four-hour recharge time and a range of 800 miles.
The concept car envisioned by Ryan Skelly would commemorate the 100th anniversary of the car Henry Seagrave drove to a record-setting 152.33 mph on March 21, 1926. It's purely a styling exercise, but we like what he's done with it.
"From the outset of the project, I wanted to create a successor to a small car from a dormant British car company," Skelly told Wired.com. "It wasn't until my friend pointed out the Tiger that I fell in love with it and restarted my project on the original 1925 vehicle. It's such an amazing little vehicle with so much heritage and a testament to the British motor industry."
The futuristic Tiger designed by the Coventry University student would be as quick as it is cool.
Seagrave made his record-setting run at Southport Beach, England, in a supercharged V-12 Tiger. Skelly updates the drivetrain in Tiger Tribute Concept, envisioning a car capable of 0 to 60 in 2.8 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 160 mph. The 342-horsepower (255 kilowatt) motor would be powered by a lithium titanate battery with a four-hour recharge time and a range of 800 miles.
