Return of the Bubble Car? (reuters.com) 278
mikeebbbd writes: Back in the 1950s, many European carmakers (some of which are still in operation such as BMW) made tiny cars for one or 2 people that ran on tiny amount of gas. The remaining examples of bubble cars have become sort of a fetish. Now two Swiss brothers, according to Reuters, are trying to resurrect one of the more iconic designs -- the BMW Isetta. One wonders how it could meet any kind of safety standards, but a prototype is shown in the article. Perhaps it might be registered as a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle, which gets it by a few standards? Oliver and Merlin Ouboter have more than 7,200 orders for their Microlino, a modern version of the Isetta which swaps the old single-cylinder petrol engine for a 20 horsepower electric motor but keeps the famous front-opening door. The brothers, whose father Wim made millions from modernized kick-scooters, plan to launch the car in December. "The average modern car is way too big for normal use," said Oliver, the project's 24-year-old operations chief.
deathtrap (Score:5, Funny)
Re:deathtrap (HEAVY METAL UMLAT!) (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:deathtrap (HEAVY METAL UMLAT!) (Score:4, Insightful)
Put on your cynic hat!
Once giant car companies slam their fists about safety features, and useful idiots who have no concerns of regulatory costs, and congressmen looking for political donations start raging threateningly, this already overpriced 12k Euro car goes to 20.
"Three wheels = motorcycle = get away with a lot less? No! The car companies cannot be allowed to slack on safety blah blah blah!"
This car has 4 wheels, not 3 (Score:5, Informative)
Hilarious (Score:5, Insightful)
“We have stripped a lot of the needless instruments out,” said Oliver. “In modern cars you have so many buttons I honestly don’t know what many of them are for.”
And yet you think you're qualified to be a car designer?
Re:Hilarious (Score:5, Interesting)
What does an electric car really need? A little OLED screen to show speedometer, battery charge, and warning messages/turn signals/light status.
A lot of other stuff can be dispensed with. Windows are sliding, so no power needed. Electric chairs in a two-seater are pretty silly. What else? Maybe a USB music player, two dials for fan and air temperature, a reverse/off/forward switch.
The spot for golf clubs in the back (Score:3)
Tiny "neighborhood cars" with electric motors, for driving around the neighborhood, are common in many areas. They are called "golf carts".
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Sounds a tad more than just a golf cart since it can go close to 60MPH. Wouldn't want to go on the interstate but it could be used around town where the speed limit isn't above 45 I suppose (well, I wouldn't want to be in one at all but that is just me).
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I"d just be afraid of a car THIS small on hwy OR regular streets.
You get in a wreck with a SUV or just a regular pickup truck and they'll be cleaning you up with a spatula.
And even on most streets with "default" speeds of 35mph posted, you'll get run over around here doing 45mph.....
I've been thinking the same thing every ti
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This is still a lot safer than a motor bike or scooter, which are currently allowed.
If you had a point, it missed the mark.
Re:Hilarious (Score:4, Funny)
Electric chairs in a two-seater are pretty silly.
you haven't bought a car in texas, i see.
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Ever been in a Tesla Model 3? It's design is minimal. but the screen is not "little".
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Anybody that owns a tesla will have the ski rack on the outside of the car, till summer. I case anybody doesn't know he/she skis.
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Re: Hilarious (Score:5, Informative)
I believe it -- old 1950s VW bugs were that way. So are many motorcycles. When you run out of gas, the motor starts to sputter, and you flip a lever that picks fuel up at a lower point in the tank.
On a standard motorcycle saddle tank, you can't drain the entire tank out of one hole because it hangs over each side of the bar in the middle. So there was a gas line coming from each side which fed into a valve that could be changed to allow gas to flow from either side. One position was "standard" and the other "reserve", but the reality is that "reserve" was whatever it was set on when the other side of the tank emptied. If your reserve switch broke, the fix was to stop and lean the bike over enough that gas would flow over the top into the other side, and you could then get to the gas station.
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Like a motorcycle. Heck, I can fit quite a lot on my bike and it was only $8,200. I do have a gas gauge though :)
[John]
Pity about the Volkswagen 1L (Score:5, Informative)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_1-litre_car
It was a modern version of exactly this concept that would go 100KM on a litre of diesel, hence the name - Euro "mileage" is expressed as liters of fuel used per 100km so 1l/100km. This is an equivalent US mileage of 240mpg.
The car itself had modern safety standards and good visibility, but was never mass produced, due in no small part to the cost, though the per unit costs would have fallen considerably if it was mass produced.
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Volkswagen - "diesel-powered plug-in hybrid" - 2015 - "and produces emissions of 21 g/km of CO2" - $146,000
my guess is that they realized they couldn't sell that particular lie at that cost.
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Actually that was truthful. The emissions scandal if you recall focused on NOx emissions being greatly under-reported, not CO2.
Easy (Score:2)
" One wonders how it could meet any kind of safety standards, "
Easy, no side windows and it's a Quad. Just like the electric Renault Twizy.
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It's defined as a quadricycle -- a light 4-wheel car for street use in the EU that has to adhere to lower safety standards than larger cars.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
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It's defined as a quadricycle -- a light 4-wheel car for street use in the EU ...
except, from the image, this one is a 3-wheeler.
It's cute. I'd get one for bopping around town. Most of the time I don't need the big five-seater sedan.
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" One wonders how it could meet any kind of safety standards, "
Easy, no side windows and it's a Quad. Just like the electric Renault Twizy.
And the driver's legs are the impact crumple zone.
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" One wonders how it could meet any kind of safety standards, "
Easy, no side windows and it's a Quad. Just like the electric Renault Twizy.
And the driver's legs are the impact crumple zone.
Consider it motivation to drive defensively instead of like a rage-aholic asshole.
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So if this is unsafe, I assume you are thoroughly opposed to motorcycles going faster than 15mph?
Safety standards... (Score:5, Informative)
As to how safety standards can be met: EU has a safety category for light 4-wheel vehicles known as "quadricycles." They have to meet the same (lax) safety standards as three-wheel motorbikes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
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It appears to be a 3 wheeler.
In many US states it would qualify as a motorcycle. Few safety standards apply. Personally I think that certain 3 wheeled bikes are much sportier, sexier, more fun--and who cares about fuel consumption in that case? OTOH, shy persons may prefer this wimpy ride.
The MP3 SPORT 500 HPE is one example: http://www.piaggio.com/us_EN/m... [piaggio.com]
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Sure, sure....
No one has ever designed a sexy, sporty tricycle.
Honest.
http://www.indycycle.net/media... [indycycle.net]
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I wonder if they could use external airbags. Cars rely on crumple zones, but if it could reliably sense an impending collision maybe an airbag would work
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Think how much fun kids would have throwing snowballs at that car!
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Why not just put a cover on a go-cart or golfcart? (Score:3)
No need for a complex design. Hell, retirees down in Florida have crazy pimped-out golfcarts already. No need to reinvent the wheel.
Want to address gridlock? (Score:5, Insightful)
Charge everybody a hefty fee for driving large personal gas guzzlers downtown in major cities. Provide exemptions for cars like this, electrics and delivery vehicles. They do a limited version of the tax in London already, but it's more of a money grab than a real control on traffic. Even so, it's had an effect.
Not going to happen (Score:2)
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I'm afraid you'll have to explain how London's Congestion Charge came to be, then. It's about $25 US per day, which isn't trivial.
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If you provide exemptions for cars like this, you've still got gridlock. Just provide free public transit with free parking just outside the congestion fee zone.
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There's no need for any new, "driving a huge vehicle" tax because that kind of control is already in place: a national gas tax.
Just raise that $0.18 tax up to $1.00-$2.00. After millions of us pissed off and angry Americans try getting around that social engineering by getting larger electric cars (which would surely appear to fill that newly minted market segment), just slap a new federal vehicle registration fee on all trucks, vans, and full-sized SUVs - regardless of propulsion method - to be collected b
We had one (Score:5, Interesting)
It was great fun. The front opening door was really practical - you drove up to the kerb, front on, and us kids got out safely. Visibility was great - although large trucks might find it hard to see you. Mostly it was driven under the same rules as a motor bike. Had a motorbike type gear change as well, but the Heinkel had a reverse gear, I believe the Isetta did not. I think they should not be allowed on motorways though.
A friend of mine had a Messerschmidtt (the car, not the fighter) - not nearly as good, and much less safe. Electric is definitely preferable to a 1950's 2-stroke engine in almost any way you can imagine.
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You'll get my two stroke lawnmower from my cold dead fingers. You will have to fight my heirs for it. Bring a weapon if you want it.
Moo, say the cows. [Re:We had one] (Score:2)
You'll get my two stroke lawnmower from my cold dead fingers. You will have to fight my heirs for it. Bring a weapon if you want it.
You can have my lawnmower for free. I hate it. Ick. Noisy and dangerous.
Who the heck invented the idea of lawns that need to be mowed, anyway?
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Hah! You expect to keep a two-stroke engine that long? I have a bridge to sell you!
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Mine took two pulls to start once.
Yamaha motor, it will live practically forever and weighs half what the 'equivalent' new mower does.
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But you're not selling it...can't blame you.
My Toro is going to last my lifetime anyhow.
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The 2 strokes in from 50's had longer range than this car, so not worse in all ways.
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Should we infer from the fact that you didn't make the same distinction with respect to the Heinkel that your family vehicle in the 60s was an He 112?
Won't work in the US. (Score:3, Insightful)
I've noticed that US auto buyers are quite good at justifying the car they want.
I predict most buyers will consider this car to be too unsafe, or too small, or too under-powered.
It doesn't matter if none of this is true for the driver's purpose. Cars are an extension of the self for Americans, and few people would feel secure enough to drive this.
Niche markets are still markets Re:Won't work ...] (Score:3)
...I predict most buyers will consider this car to be too unsafe, or too small, or too under-powered.
If 95% of Americans agree and won't buy one ... that's still sales over 300,000 per year.
Which is the sales of the Honda Accord.
It would if it had an Apple logo on the hood (Score:2)
With the right marketing, I think this vehicle could be very successful.
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To be fair, it probably is a deathtrap if someone hits you
It is. It's a death trap if someone hits you, it's a death trap if you hit someone else, it's a death trap if you crash into anything with enough velocity. There is a direct correlation between the mass ratio of passenger to vehicle and the rate of injury and fatalities clearly evident in the actuarial record of insurance companies; smaller vehicles injure more severely and kill more frequently than large vehicles.
The only credible rational for polices that drive people into smaller vehicles is that the
Suffers from the same problem as Smartcars. (Score:2)
Even if you made the whole thing out of a carbon fiber bathtub, like an F1 cockpit. Getting hit by a 3000lb car would send it flying down the road, like a ping pong ball...
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Unimogs are cool! I want two. An old one and a new one. I'll daily drive the new one.
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Those would both be downgrades of my current 4x4.
If it ain't going up the Rubicon trail, I'm not interested.
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My 2016 Fiesta ST (Score:3)
is already a bubble car with 200hp. No need for smaller as it serves both as a tiny car and easy parking and I can drive it comfortably for 1000km and have power to have fun.
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Needs a small block chevy.
Still one more current year (Score:2)
with the 3 cylinder which is faster than the 4 cylinder model but does't look as good.
That price tag! (Score:4, Insightful)
12,000 euro's or about $13,600, you might as well buy a real car for that much.
The good thing about it is (Score:3)
If the car breaks down, you can carry it home.
Steve Urkle! (Score:4, Informative)
It's Steve Urkel's clown car!
Reminds of of an old sit-com (Score:2)
Top speed 90 km/h... (Score:3)
I understand it is not a sports car but 90 km/h is ridiculous for a grownup's car today. A good portion of my daily commute is done on road with a 110 km/h speed limit. And I am not even talking about highways, where that car may not even be legal.
A car like the Smart Fortwo is barely larger but it is at least capable of highway speeds, which means it can be used to access any kind of road safely.
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Horns (Score:2)
As long as it has lots of horns. You can never find a horn when you're angry.
It's huge (Score:2)
Looks about the same length as a Smart Fortwo
Massive compared to a BMW Isetta
Isetta: 2.29m
This thing: 2.4m
Smart fortwo: 2.5m
like we need the "The Homer" who should I short (Score:2)
like we need the "The Homer" who should I short be for they roll it out.
AMC Pacer. (Score:2)
So they are bringing back the Pacer?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMC_Pacer
What is this gas you go on about? (Score:3)
Only a fool pays for fossil fuel cars anymore. Electric cars use 1/2th the maintenance expense, and in most of the West cost 1/10th the cost to fuel.
There's your bubble. It's a bubble caused by reliance on grandpa's kerosene fueled Model T.
Wake up and smell the clean green 2020 world that gave up on your carbon intensive and expensive tax-subsidized lifestyle, gramps!
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Maybe a leaf. Teslas aren't going to live past the end of their warranties. _Insane_ repair costs.
I wouldn't be caught dead (Score:2)
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Oh.. *that* kind of bubble car (Score:2)
When I hear "Bubble Car" I think of the wonderful, mad, mad mad cars Japan built in their economic bubble.
The 90's Rx-7. The 90's Supra. The Autozam AZ1. The Mitsu 3000GT.
*sniff* Ahh, the good old days.
Re:Size... (Score:5, Insightful)
Who gets to define what "normal use" is?
Anyone with eyeballs. Just watch cars go by. 70-80% have a single occupant. That is "normal use".
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Anyone with eyeballs. Just watch cars go by. 70-80% have a single occupant. That is "normal use".
That car will be quite usable, quite comfortable, to drive under all conditions, save the occasional wildfire fire, flood, earthquake, blizzard and so on. When you need passenger or cargo space, it will be there. When you need range, speed or acceleration, it will be there.
Re: Size... (Score:5, Funny)
Ever see a F150 get hit by a dump truck? That's why I drive one! My average Dump Truck is way bigger. Finding parking though is a bitch.
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Ever seen a regular dump truck get hit by a Belaz 75710? That's why I drive one! Finding parking is fucking easy, I just run over everything and just stop wherever I want.
Re: Size... (Score:4, Funny)
You don't need to find a parking spot with a dump truck. Just bring some traffic cones and block off an area like it is going to be under construction. Bonus points for bringing one of the construction barriers with the blinking orange light. No cop is going to give a ticket when they think someone is doing emergency road repair.
Re: Size... (Score:5, Insightful)
It only works if everybody drives small cars.
This car is for driving on neighborhood streets at low speed. It is also focused on the non-American market, where people drive slower, shorter distances, and in smaller cars.
A car like this could work well in China, India, South-East Asia, Japan, and much of Europe.
If they are made available on-demand, like Ofo and Mobike do with electric scooters, this could be a really big deal.
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In Manila something like this would be wonderful if they can get the price down a bit. Nobody goes over 30-40 MPH, anyway, and the roads are terribly crowded. As it is, motorcycles rule, but not everybody wants to ride one.
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If they are made available on-demand, like Ofo and Mobike do with electric scooters, this could be a really big deal.
Exactly what I was thinking. This fits right in with bike / e-bike / electric scooter sharing when people 1. want to be covered from the rain/cold and/or 2. need to transport a couple bags of groceries or similar.
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I can't wait for the Russian videos where someone in a bubble car brake checks a semi.
"What was that Ivan? Did you feel a bump?"
[John]
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Too many drive F150s for commuting who don't need to. People should stop choosing cars based upon which one makes them look manly. The argument that you might be killed unless you surround yourself by two tons of wasted steel is a stupid argument. May as well say that you should not even walk or ride a bike in your neighborhood because you might be hit by a mini.
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No, you do not need to OWN different cars for different uses. You just need to USE different cars.
You don't need to drive an F150 to drop off an envelope at the post office. Nor do you need to own a four ton truck just in case you may need to haul something someday.
When I am in Shanghai, and I need to go to a local shop, I can grab a bicycle for one RMB (about 12 cents) or hop on an electric scooter for 10 RMB ($1.20). It takes about 2 seconds to scan the QR code, and then I am ready to go. I see no rea
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Check your math.
Check your reading.
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Well, a lot of people used to do that. My grandparents had trucks for the ranch but they didn't take the truck to the grocery store instead they took the car. Of course, this was in the days when trucks were bought to do actual work and weren't silly status symbols for wannabe cowboys. I know people who have a big SUV because they might someday need to carry something heavy, even though they've never needed to do that. You may as well rent a truck for the 1 day a year you need it, the gasoline savings w
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Mom's don't 'like to drive', they just need all the seats within easy smacking reach.
These 'cars' are just restyled minivans. No ground clearance, open diffs, AWD at best.
How many hatches do you want? The real hot hatch is what's hard to come by. I miss CRXs.
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my average trip is closer to 80 kliometers
You ever hear the phrase "different strokes for different folks"?
Well: different cars for different people.
Re:Bubble Cars are for cows. (Score:5, Insightful)
These is so much nicer than the offtopic trump-bashing and democrat-bashing posts we've been getting.
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Nothing wrong with a smart car a Hayabusa engine doesn't fix!