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A LOOOONG time ago BMW made a bubble car, the Isseta. It opened at the front and it was cute and effective.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ck_-_Lumix.jpg
Now, a pair of Swiss brotheres are going to try to do it again :)
https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-sw...-idUKKBN1L11NN
https://f1.blick.ch/img/incoming/ori...icrolino09.jpg
not bad huh?
Trouble is, the copies are never as good as the original - because they were of their time.
Mini, Beetle, - all good cars in the modern form, but not as iconic as the originals in their day.
How is the crash protection in the newer one?? I would imagine having one door might not help in that situation??
FIPS - Front Impact Protection System :)Quote:
Originally Posted by CAT-THE-FIFTH
The car was an iItalian design, built by Iso SPa. The BMW version was built under licence.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isetta
Seen several similar designs previously, but only on the likes of Top Gear... clearly they didn't take off back then, either.
TBH, I think the Smart Car is really the way people ought to be going, especially if they're whatever city-dwelling suburbanite types are the target market for this new Bubble.
However... reading that article:
You mean even a girl can park better than you?Quote:
“The average modern car is way too big for normal use,”
And I say this having only just been WhatsApped a hilarious photo, by a friend who really failed to park her Yarris this morning!!
OK, at this point I demand, at gunpoint, that this frappucino-loving flip-flop and his sockless hipster brother surrender their Man Cards right now, I really do!!Quote:
“In modern cars you have so many buttons I honestly don’t know what many of them are for.”
Seriously??!!
Firstly, the only person I know who cannot tell me what all the buttons in their car do is a similar hipster type, who works in IT support for MTV and is pretentious enough to deliberately affect as many unfashionable technophobic luddite characteristics as possible, which is basically wilful ignorance and so doesn't count, especially given his job.
Secondly, there are so few buttons nowadays, as it's all automation, touch screens and centre-console jog-dials. If you're struggling to understand that, despite the car having an owners manual that explains everything, then perhaps you shouldn't be driving.... Most of those buttons are there for a very good reason!
Perhaps Merlin should go look at the interior of a Vector W8 and then talk to me about too many buttons...!!!
I think you are missing the point of that comment of cars being too big. Whilst being smaller would help saving space with on-road parking, I think it's more of a comment that a lot of people don't have more than two people in their car most of the time; a lot probably only have one for their commute. Therefore, as a second car at least just for commuting, having something small makes sense. But I agree I would prefer the SmartCar to this. A cross between a motorbike, but with the comfort and more stability of a car would probably be more ideal. Something like a Twizzy, but better.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ttaskmaster
Looks more like something that you would ride round the golf course on,
Sun roof would be handy for pulling out your clubs.
you lot are souless, and dull.
honestly... thats a cute clever design.
It might be, but it’s still a copy, and not as iconic as the original. (And the same goes for the modern Mini and Beetle)Quote:
Originally Posted by Zak33
I actually like the latest Beetle because the body shape looks much more like the original. Watching a lot of Herbie when I was young probably also helps appreciate a bit more!Quote:
Originally Posted by peterb
Oh yes, its an OK car - basically a golf with a different body shell - but the original Beetle with its flat 4 air cooled engine and fairly minimalist design was an affordable classic of its time. The original Mini was innovative in its day - tranverse engine, front wheel drive - hydro-neumatic suspension. It was by no means perfect, but it was innovative.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gerrard
The new one is basically a BMW 1series in a different body shell.
However I wouldn't want to drive the originals in today's driving conditions, but they are unlikely to achieve the icon status of the originals.
No, just being my usual flippant self... ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Gerrard
Something like the Carver?Quote:
Originally Posted by Gerrard
Basically everything the Quasar should have been.
Better yet, the PAL-V One with the option of flying to work and bypassing the traffic queues!!
I still think the SmartCar is better... One day I might even drive one, to see what it's like.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zak33