Bricklin is Back - With a Plug-In

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Where would you like to start? That we do the engineering right. That we test it sufficiently. That the battery factory capacity doesn't produce flaws. That we find ways to check all the components of the electric system to make damn sure everything goes in perfectly. That the Chinese pay attention and give us the kind of quality we demand. That I don't die too soon. That the ships with the cars don't sink in the sea.

It seems that you're blending two marketing ideas. You're going after a luxury product, but one that has great fuel efficiency. What gives you the indication that luxury buyers care about fuel efficiency?

I don't care if they do. I'm building a car that when you see it, and when you sit in it, and when you drive it, you would pick our car over a comparable car assuming that it didn't have any environmental or mileage gains. Those are just a plus. I'm not trying to sell you a car because it's environmentally good. I'm trying to sell you a car that's so damn good that there's not a reason you're buying it except that it's so damn gorgeous, and you want to have it. And it's such a good value.

It's taken seven years for hybrids to reach 2% of the new-car market. Are you concerned about the market adopting something that's so new?

First of all, there were only a limited number of hybrids available. Number two, they aren't very dramatic. To go from 25 to 32 mph, who gives a damn? The Toyota (TM) Prius, which was a cool idea, is a lousy looking car.

We're not asking anybody to make a sacrifice or pay more. And I believe when people see our vehicle and drive our vehicle, and with the warranty that we're going to put on it, I think our problem will be that we can't build them fast enough.

Are you saying that all the vehicles you produce are going to be plug-in hybrids?

Yep. That's what I'm going to do.

What's your vision for transportation in the year 2030? How do you see it playing out?

I would tell you what I'd like. Except that I can't find any technology that will do it. I've always wanted to build an air car that goes 18 inches off the ground, so we get rid of roads on top of everything else. Tires and frames and all the other crap. The only problem is that I can't find anything that will push it off the ground that doesn't create all sorts of noise, not to mention serious wind and stability problems.

In the meantime, I think the electric hybrid is going to be the next serious replacement of the combustion engine.

Berman is editor of hybridcars.com .