CarSeekBlog

The current economic crisis may prove to be the death of some carmakers and the resurrection of others. From 1999 to 2003, Ford owned a little Norwegian car maker, Think, that produced electric cars. After an investment of about $100 million and the sale of a whopping 400 units, Ford pulled out and sold the company.

Now, however, if Think can pull itself out of the Norwegian version of Chapter 11, the company may bring its Th!nkCity electric coupe to the United States. A bit larger than the adorable Smart, the Th!nkCity runs on lithium ion batteries with a per charge range of 120 miles. The asking price, after tax incentives and rebates could be a truly attractive $20,000.

Those who have driven the car report good acceleration, strong brakes, plenty of comfort options, and a rigid chassis. Certainly the company has put plenty of development dollars and know-how into the upgrade — about $120 million in fact. The trim and electrical parts in the model are from Ford and PSA/Peugeot-Citroen SA.

This one is expected to compete favorably with the electrics in the works from Toyota, Mitsubishi, and Ford itself. Certainly the company has challenges to get out of its financial tangle, but if they succeed and if they get the Th!nkCity to the U.S., they are likely to have a winner on their hands.

Filed under: Buying Trends, Ford by Shorty