Re: the Tango--

I'm certainly no expert, but I'm deeply suspicious of its claims. I can think of few designs more foolish than an upright, 4-wheeled vehicle with a less-than 36" track that supposedly will do 0-60 in 4 seconds and has a 150mph top speed. Unless this thing has a hidden gyroscope or is made of flubber, the first time that it goes around a corner at speed it's gonna roll. Yes, I know they have a half-ton of batteries down in the middle, but it's not just a question of CoG, it's also what those little wheels can handle.

Also, Tango's website claims in one place that it is "...6" narrower than *many* motorcycles..." and elsewhere that it is "...5" narrower than the Honda Gold Wing..." (which is the widest bike on the planet). Quibbling over inches aside, I don't think that an 39" wide, enclosed vehicle is sensible to lane-split in, as they suggest. I ride a motorcycle or scooter every day and-- even at more than a foot narrower than the Tango, I'm taking my life in my hands.

The Tango's performance specs seem optimistic. I don't know of any electric motor that produces enough torque to move a 2,500 pound vehicle at anything like the speeds they claim. The two motors they use--Advance DC FB1-4001s--produce 29 bhp each with "80 peak hp". I would guess that they've calculated this "peak hp" based on torque, but I don't see how even a huge amount of torque is going to get a box like the Tango up to 150 mph and keep it there. That doesn't even begin to address the question of where on earth it's practical to go 150 miles an hour on 13" wheels!

Frankly, I just don't understand why the company that's developing this is putting so much effort into making a tiny, rather ugly car with supercar performance. Is that what they think the market wants? It seems to me that developing an EV--even with the same footprint and shape--that was inexpensive and lightweight would make more sense. My guess is that the Tango is going to be this year's Segway, which was last year's Corbin Sparrow: just one more episode in a long line of expensive electric flops.