Basically a cross between a scooter and a small car, the Scoot Coupe appears comfortable on its three wheels.  It offers many important safety features like emergency flashers, rack and pinion steering, seat belts, overhead bars, and disc brakes on all three wheels.

In addition, Panther Motors calls the Scoot Coupe “easy to operate” and “the coolest scooter you’ll ever own.”

The coolness factor is definitely high with this vehicle.  Just as renting an exotic car will turn heads, so will the sleek looks of this scooter.  It can really only be described as “cute.”

The Scoot Coupe is available in four very bright colors:  red, blue, yellow, and the aptly named “mantis green.”  Other cute features include a small trunk for luggage or groceries, a car-shaped front end with slanted headlights, and fancy colored stripes on the upholstery.

Despite its small size, the Scoot Coupe claims to be comfortable for drivers as tall as 6’3”.  Two passengers can fit comfortably in the vehicle, but there is no back seat.

Technically, the Scoot Coupe has many advantages over typical commuter transportation.  Its 4-stroke, 1-cylinder engine is capable of speeds up to 45 miles per hour and gets about 70-80 miles per gallon.  In addition, the small size of the vehicle, just 96” long, makes for easy parking and remarkably easy car storage in Fort Worth or wherever you may reside.

There are two models of Scoot Coupe available:  the P50 and the P150.  The primary difference between the two models is the maximum power of the engine.  The P50 gets 1.9 horsepower at 3000 RPM, and the P150 gets 9.28 horsepower at 7000 RPM.

While these stats don’t even begin to compare to the horsepower you get when you rent a Lamborghini or other exotic car, the vehicle would still make a decent and head-turning commuter car.  The gas savings alone would help pay for a classic car rental like the BMW Isetta if you want to experience driving a gas saver from the post WW II era.

Panther Motors, the manufacturer of the Scoot Coupe, is a Florida-based company that began in 2004.  The company is devoted to producing high-quality three-wheeled scooters for commercial and private use.

The Scoot Coupe is manufactured in the United States and retails for $6300 to $6600.

The good news — many new technologies that are coming online today can help alleviate the pain at the pump by delivering fabulous gas mileage. The downside is that the cost to produce the cars powered by hydrogen have not yet benefited from the economies of scale and a hydrogen car like the Honda Clarity will still costs quite a bit, even to lease.

The Honda Clarity is a hydrogen fuel cell car that is now for lease in Southern California. The good news is that the Honda Clarity is about 3-times as efficient as a standard gasoline-powered compact car and roughly twice as efficient as a standard hybrid. The downside is that it isn’t exactly easy to find compressed hydrogen to fuel the car. And then there’s the cost. For the privilege of being one of the first to lease the Honda Clarity, you get to pay $600 per month. Although this amount isn’t much to the average Californian, remember that you’re basically getting a Civic that tops out at 100 mph.

Expect to need to be on the A-list to get a shot at leasing the Clarity—the program is starting with only 200 cars available. “People are willing to shell out some extra money to show that they are doing their part to combat global warming,” states Texas luxury car rental agency owner and serial entrepreneur Ron Sturgeon.

“However, it is difficult for the Clarity to get serious traction without motorists being able to readily find a place to refuel them,” says the Fort Worth public speaker, author, and business consultant. “It looks like Honda engineers are hard at work on a Home Energy Station that might solve the problem that has kept Hydrogen cars off the road for so long,” says Mr. Sturgeon.

We shall see.

Written by G.D. Gregory. If you are interested in having me write stories for you or seeing my portfolio, please contact me at ggpsu@yahoo.com. Pictures in this story courtesy of Honda.

The diminutive two-seater looks like something a dozen clowns would hop out of during the course of a circus more than something you would see putting around boulevards in Dallas or any other Texas city. However, with ever increasing consumer consciousness of emissions and increasing gas prices, super economy cars are actually gaining a foothold where Hummers and Navigators once roamed.

The 2008 Smart Fortwo Pure will seemingly stick to the gameplan of the prior models. You will still get the same 38 mpg and incredible “parkability.” However, the 2008 model will be a little more appointed in the luxury department (Smart cars are made by Mercedes after all).

But the real news coming out of Smart is that they plan on releasing an all-electric version of the Fortwo Pure. No official date has been set, but it looks like 2010 is the target.

The all-electric Fortwo Pure will reach maximum speeds of around 70 mph and travel a little over 70 miles on a single charge. A full charge will require eight hours plugged in to 230V outlet. It is worth mentioning that a four hour charge will render the car capable of 80% of its range.

The popularity of the Smart Fortwo and other similar cars further demonstrates that consumers are taking the environment and their budgets more seriously these days. Even performance car junkies are finding ways to be budget and environmentally sensitive, while still enjoying the exotic car driving experience they love.

“We get a lot of people who can’t justify, for many reasons, owning a high-performance automobile,” states Ron Sturgeon, proprietor of a slew of businesses serving diehard petrolheads. “Our businesses help our clients maintain their connection with exotic cars without having to worry about all the hassles that come from owning and maintaining them.”

Sturgeon’s exotic car club, for example, allows members to purchase a specific amount of drive time that can be used to access the club’s extensive exotic car garage.
Similarly, Sturgeon operates a company the specializes in exotic car rental in Fort Worth TX. This business is ideal for the businessman that may need the occasional “wow” car for a special client or social occasion, but still wants to drive a more sensible car for the daily commute.
This Dallas classic and luxury car rental agency offers a broad selection of exotic cars and offers internet and Dallas wedding car rentals.

Finally, for those who are looking for an exotic car fantasy driving experience, Sturgeon hosts half and full-day exotic car tours. These tours allow participants to sample five exotic cars throughout Texas’ most scenic roadways.

The increased popularity of both Smart and Sturgeon’s businesses shows that people may be practical, but they are never going to forsake their love of fine cars.

Written by G.D. Gregory. If you are interested in having me write stories for you or seeing my portfolio, please contact me at ggpsu@yahoo.com.

Many drivers want the people making the Aptera Typ-1 to succeed. I, for one, would love to make the trip to the gas pump much less frequently.

The 1500-pound two-passenger vehicle reportedly gets 300 miles per gallon. You read that right.

The vehicle is technically a 2+1, but the website claims that the third is for a center infant seat, so three passengers only works for baby-on-boarders.

“I am thrilled to see American entrepreneurs finding ways to develop highly efficient ways for people to commute,” says Ron Sturgeon, a Dallas car collector and owner of an exotic car rental company in Dallas.

The Aptera Typ-1 is capable of about 95 miles per hour, and can travel 120 miles on a charge, double the range of many plug-in vehicles.

Technically, the Aptera Typ-1 isn’t a car at all. It’s classified as a motorcycle, but it exceeds many of the safety requirements of passenger cars, including rollover strength and door strength.

The interior of the Aptera Typ-1 features too roomy bucket seats and a wrap-around windshield that provides excellent visibility. The car does not have side mirrors. Instead, it has a central video monitor that assists drivers in avoiding accidents when backing the vehicle.

The Aptera Typ-1 features solar panels on the roof, which gather the sun’s energy to run the vehicle’s air conditioning system. Way Cool!

The fully electric Aptera Typ-1 will reportedly retail for around $27,000. The company is planning to release a hybrid model soon, which will retail for just under $30,000.

The Aptera site has excellent photos of the vehicle and gives those interested an opportunity to sign up for a newsletter about the Aptera. The company also is taking $500 deposits to reserve Apteras from California residents.

The company that will make the Aptera Type-1 is privately held. Initially, the vehicles will be available only in California because the Carlsbad-based company has the capacity to service buyers in that state.

“What is happening in the automotive industry right now is as exciting as any time in the thirty years that I have been involved in aspects of it,” says small business consultant and public speaker Ron Sturgeon.

“For those of us who believe passionately in capitalism and in the ability of entrepreneurs to solve America’s most pressing problems, the Aptera Typ-1 is exciting news,” said the Dallas luxury car rental agency owner.

The company website (http://www.aptera.com) has excellent videos of prototypes and of the celebration of the entry of the vehicle into the manufacturing phase.

Kate Miller-Wilson is a freelance writer living in the Twin Cities. Visit her website or email her for information about her freelance writing services.