EVLN(ZipZaps: more environmentally friendly than the EV1)
[The Internet Electric Vehicle List News. For Public EV
informational purposes. Contact publication for reprint rights.]
--- {EVangel}
World's Ultimate Compact Car Launches in Los Angeles;
ZipZaps Pocket-Sized Radio Controlled Racers Now Available
at RadioShack
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- The ultimate compact
car was launched at a press conference in LA today with the
ultimate miniature -- Verne Troyer, Mini Me from the Austin
Powers series -- chauffeuring in the inaugural design.
Smaller than the Mini Cooper, more environmentally friendly
than the EV1 and designed after some of the hottest sports
models on the market, this revolutionary new car line comes
from a surprising source, RadioShack, a company that
actually has decades of experience in compact car design.
In addition, this new car line targets a younger driver than
any of the new youth oriented car designs out today, the 8-
to 15-year-old set. And, it's at a price point no other
manufacturer can touch, an MSRP of $19.99 for the base model
starter kits.
The new brand is ZipZaps and it is the first line of micro
radio controlled cars, or micro-RCs, available for mass
market distribution in the United States in time for the
2002 holiday season. Fashioned after the hottest toy craze
in Japan and Hong Kong, ZipZaps, sold exclusively at
RadioShack nationwide and at www.radioshack.com , are
pocket-sized, full-function radio controlled sportsters that
are customizable, with a wide variety of parts and
accessories so owners can tune their cars to their own
specifications.
"Micro-sized radio-control cars are all the rage in Hong
Kong and Japan. It's a grassroots craze that is as popular
in classrooms and playgrounds as it is in offices and in
boardrooms," says Don Carroll, Senior Vice President,
General Manager, Connecting Things, RadioShack. "We knew
the excitement would translate to the United States so we
designed ZipZaps to realistically capture the cars that are
hot here. Kids of all ages, from 8 to 80 years old, can
collect them, race them and show off their customization
skills."
The ZipZaps Starter Kit comes with the Ford SVT Mustang
Cobra, Porsche 911 Turbo, Honda Civic or Chrysler PT Cruiser
body top and all the parts needed to zip the car together,
zap it on the charger and then zoom away! The zippy racers
charge in less than a minute and move with great speed and
dexterity. There is even a collector's trading card included
for each car type and a Web site, www.zipzaps.com , with a
showroom, tuning tips and downloads.
"When introduced to the concept of micro-sized cars, our kid
testers told us that they wanted more realistic body types
and the ability to fine-tune their favorite car," said Joel
Carter, Vice President, Marketing, Connecting Things,
RadioShack. "We secured licenses from the top automakers
and from some of the hottest entertainment properties. We
also developed a system of customizable motors, gears,
suspensions, tires and even hubcaps to ensure that we
deliver on the ultimate in personalization and fast-paced
entertainment."
The most exciting ZipZaps action takes place "under the
hood" as RadioShack created a broad assortment of
accessories and upgrades. The Performance Booster Upgrade
Kit allows owners to tune up their motors and gears, adding
more zip to their starter kits. And ensuring that ZipZaps
burn rubber in style, the Custom Tire and Hubcap Upgrade Kit
offers a variety of wheels and hubcaps.
Street racing fans will line up for The Fast and the Furious
Body Kit, which offers models of the Honda Civic Coupe and
Toyota Supra Turbo from the hit movie. The Fast and the
Furious Street Tuner Upgrade Kit takes things up another
notch with the Mazda RX7 Turbo and Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX
body tops and other options inspired by the film.
The American Favorites Body Kit salutes two American
Classics. This kit enables owners to collect the hot Ford
SVT Mustang Cobra as well as the sleek Chrysler PT Cruiser
body tops in both custom colors offered per model.
Younger racers can get into the spirit with the SpongeBob
SquarePants Starter Upgrade Kit, inspired by the hit
Nickelodeon series SpongeBob SquarePants. This kit comes
with a body top featuring SpongeBob as well as one for his
goofy starfish sidekick, Patrick. And just as The Wild
Thornberrys Movie hits theaters nationwide, The Wild
Thornberrys ZipZaps Kit Upgrade will feature collectible car
tops and accessories celebrating family and friends featured
in the wacky Nickelodeon hit.
RadioShack is also offering the Grand Prix Race Track
Barrier Wall Kit, with an assortment of curves and
straight-aways that snap together for hours of racing fun.
The Rally Course Racing Kit offers traffic cones and barrels
to practice precision driving.
The ZipZaps line offers everything the serious
racer/collector could need. The Tool and Cleaning Kit has
all the equipment needed to tune ZipZaps and to keep them
running smoothly. The sturdy Pit Kit Carrying Case has
divided sections for cars and parts so it's like a portable
ZipZaps garage! Finally, the ZipZaps Trading Card Collector
Book can display up to forty trading cards.
With ZipZaps Starter Kits priced at a reasonable $19.99, and
accessories and upgrades priced from $1.99 to $12.99,
ZipZaps are poised to become this fall's hottest toy line.
About RadioShack Corporation
ZipZaps is an exclusive brand of Fort Worth, Texas-based
RadioShack Corporation, the nation's most trusted consumer
electronics specialty retailer of wireless communications,
electric parts, batteries and accessories as well as other
digital technology products and services. With more than
7,200 stores nationwide, it is estimated that 94 percent of
all Americans live or work within five minutes of a
RadioShack store or dealer. The company's knowledgeable
sales associates and brand position, "You've Got Questions,
We've Got Answers," support RadioShack's mission to
demystify technology in every neighborhood in America. For
more information on RadioShack products and services, visit
our e-commerce web site at www.radioshack.com .
The Fast and the Furious is licensed by Universal Studios
Consumer Products Group, a unit of Universal Pictures, a
division of Vivendi UNIVERSAL Entertainment (VUE)
(www.universalstudios.com ), the U.S.-based film, television
and recreation entity of Vivendi Universal, a global media
and communications company.
The car and motorcycle action sequences depicted in The Fast
and the Furious film are dangerous. All stunts were
performed in controlled environments with professionally
trained stunt crews on closed roads. No attempts should be
made to duplicate any action, driving or car play scenes
portrayed therein.
SOURCE RadioShack Corporation CO: RadioShack Corporation;
Universal Studios Consumer Products Group; Universal
Pictures; Vivendi UNIVERSAL Entertainment ST: Texas,
California SU: PDT CHI http://www.prnewswire.com 09/25/2002
07:00 EDT
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. http://geocities.com/brucedp
. EV List Editor & RE newswires
. (originator of the above EV ascci art)
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