Eliica Eight-Wheeler Without Doubt the Weirdo Wheels Winner

The Japanese project car sports eight 100 horsepower electric motors mounted within each of its eight wheels, no transmission

The project car sports eight 100 horsepower electric motors mounted within each of its eight wheels. (Photo: Eliica)

and the ability to suck driver and passengers back into their seats with the force of 0.8 Gs.

So what are the Eliica's drawbacks? Well, while brightly colored and airy the cabin is quite small, but not, of course, compared to those vehicles which come closest to matching its performance capabilities. The biggest negative, compared to that 911 Turbo for instance, is the need to recharge it for an impractical 10 hours when fully drained.

Most would find its projected $380,000 ($320,000 USD) price tag a bit depleting too, although when factoring in all the joy its

Designer Shimizu should be remembered for showing all electric cars needn't be boring. (Photo: Eliica)

owner would bring to those driving in adjacent lanes or fortunate enough to be walking down the sidewalk when the Eliica went by, no doubt leaving all who saw it in hysterics, it is priceless.

No one can doubt that Shimizu has vision, and in the spirit of the innovative Dutch-Jewish Parisian André Citroën the unorthodox Japanese engineer deserves the opportunity to see his Eliica, or his next project make it to production. For this to happen he will need the backing of a major automaker, or at least funding from a philanthropic investor. Most likely the Eliica will go down in history as just another automotive oddity, but Shimizu should be remembered for showing all electric cars needn't be boring.