Detroit Auto Show: Dodge EV Concept Gets Real Name, New Color

Detroit Auto Show: Dodge EV Concept Gets Real Name, New Color

By John O'Dell January 10, 2009

In what could be a clue as to which of its electric vehicle concepts Chrysler is thinking of moving into its production plan for 2010, the carmaker has given the formerly bumblebee-striped and unimaginatively named Dodge EV a new color scheme, a distinctively Dodge grille and a new moniker.

The Lotus-based two-seater is now the Dodge Circuit, and it has been repainted a color the marketing geniuses at Dodge are calling "tangoreen" but which looks pretty much like the international orange a lot of Dodge muscle cars have sported over the years.

The rest of the package is the same as was shown with the yellow-and-black version at the LA auto show in November, as far as we can tell from material Dodge gave us in advance of the North American International Auto Show's opening media preview session Sunday, where the Circuit will make its debut.

The basics: a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack and 200 kilowatt electric motor good for 268 horsepower; top speed a little north of 120 mph; 0-60 in less than 5 seconds, and range between charges of 150-200 miles, depending on how the car is driven.

John O'Dell:  is an AutoObserver Senior Editor. Follow @AutoObserver on Twitter.