Hello Monaco magazine Winter 2018 - issue HM02 | Page 111

MADE IN MONACO
The decision in favour of the buyout was , eventually , motivated by my desire to do something important in the electric domain . eng
The Company

The metamorphosis of Venturi started after its emergence as a French luxury sports car , which had intermittent success in the 1980 ’ s . But in the year 2000 , Monegasque Gildo Pallanca Pastor bought the failing company and moved it to Monaco . He had radical changes in mind — going electric ! That was the perfect solution to revive the image of the bankrupt Venturi . Within four years , he introduced Fétish , the company ’ s breakthrough electric sports car model . Fétish was the first publically sold sports cars in the world to be entirely fuelled by electricity . Sacha Lakic , the French designer , created the design of the car , which housed a 300 horsepower engine that could do 0-100 KM / H in four seconds . Venturi has also positioned itself as a respected cleanengine supplier , participating in France ’ s 2007 postal service tender for the supply of 250 electric engines for their delivery vehicles . In 2011 , they also participated in Nice ’ s Côte d ’ Azur Auto-Bleue program , partnering with Citroën and Peugeot for the first 100 % electric carsharing service .

Truly one of the most innovative electric vehicle producers , Venturi developed Antarctica , the first electric transport vehicle that can both support scientific research and at the same time operate in extreme Antarctic conditions . With this project , Venturi is making an important contribution to global environmental projects .
The Electric Grand Prix
Another significant ‘ first ’ was realized in December 2013 , with the creation of the Venturi Grand Prix Formula-E team , which is partly owned by the actor Leonadro DiCaprio . HSH Albert II fervently supports the Formula-E race , showing his interest in their latest projects and in the results achieved by the Venturi team . Today , the success of the company sees no limits . They see « challenges » in pushing the limits of electric vehicle capabilities . Antarctica , Africa and land speed are all challenges that Venturi is marking off their list . In 2013 , Prince Albert II was in attendance for the Buckeye Bullet 3 ( VBB-3 ) presentation at the Bonneville Salt Flats in the United States of America . In 2015 , the VBB-3 won the world land speed record at 386.757 kilometres per hour ( 240.320 miles per hour ). The following year , they did it again , setting the world speed record at 341 MPH with the American driver Roger Schroer . What stands behind the fastest electric vehicle in the world ? And what is the recipe for its success today ? Read on for our exclusive interview with the founder , Gildo Pallanca Pastor .
I would like to keep the concept of flying cars for science fiction .
Hello Monaco – Winter 2018 / 109