With the batteries below the floor pan, the car's centre of gravity has been lowered, which improves handling.

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The lithium-ion batteries are liquid cooled and packaged in a 4-inch thick slab that covers the entire floor pan of the car for a low center of gravity and a near 50-50 weight distribution.

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It will be interesting to see how the American luxury car wars pan out over the next couple of years.

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You would not, it is true, want cellulose acetate butyrate on either your car or your frying pan.

ECONOMIST: Monitor

After dismantling its brake drums, carburetor, motor head and oil pan to sand off the rust, he gave the refurbished car to his mother in exchange for lifts on his newspaper route.

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Naturally, besides owning this fabulous car, Cornelius Whitney managed to be a brilliantly productive man, both founding Pan Am Airlines and co-producing Gone with the Wind.

FORBES: Vehicles Feature