What is Digg?102 Comments
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+37I have to ask. Why arent vehicles like this all over the road? I dont mean exactly like this, but I mean innovative, creative and unique designs. Every car on the road today looks almost exactly like every other car - inside and out. And every year they get bigger, heavier and less fun. This looks like a land version of a SeaDoo and looks fun as hell.
BMW could probably mass produce this thing for less than 10 grand. Hell, I'd buy one at that price, even if it didnt get 188MPG. - SpoBo, on 10/12/2007, -2/+24hmm .. perhaps they got their inspiration from a dutch company called carver ?
http://www.carver-europe.com/
Rather far from innovative imo. - nblsavage, on 10/12/2007, -5/+25ilyag - I'll agree on the expensive parts arguement but "pretentious prick"? Moreso than someone who drives - I dunno - a H2?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12What do you think you can go to a Ford dealer to buy parts for a Honda? Do you think that a Civic transmission is the same as an Accord?
Thats ridiculous logic. You already need "THIS specific window" "THIS specific transmission".
Your logic makes no sense, thats probably because you're using too much of your brain worrying about what might make you look like a pretentious prick (see your last post). - Wardvark, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12They look awesome and I would love to get one. But people dont like change, look at that civic that was on here a few weeks ago, another more conventional car that will never make it to North America. The problem for me is the winter, I dont know how one of these would work on ice.
- aOenEz, on 10/12/2007, -4/+13Pretty cool car, if you could call it a car. o_O. And the reason one of these will never make it to the U.S. is because this whole country is controlled by the media (I live in the U.S., so don't hate on me). If all of a sudden this thing was on ever single channel available in the states and broadcasters proclaimed it as the best and most innovative and "coolest" car in the world, then in about a month these things would be all over the road. Then after that, all it would take is one celebrity to get one, and then all of his/her fans would get one, and from there it would just spread. America has turned into a very corrupt nation. Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson are probably turning over in their grave as we speak.
*Note* This is not meant to insult Americans. As I said, I'm also an American, I'm just telling it how it is. And I openly admit, I'm part of that demographic as well. Unless this got popular, I wouldn't buy one for the sake of not having everyone look at me as I drove places.
+Digg for innovative concept. - Yorn, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Car designers in the US need to get rid of the mantra -- "No one will buy it unless it looks like an automobile". It's not that a different look is what prevents us from buying it, it's just the price. Most US car buyers like me are looking for a cheap vehicle that gets good gas mileage. We're not going to find it in overpriced hybrids (the initial cost is too high) and that's why we almost always settle on used vehicles.
I'd buy something like this if it was more in the range of 5k. Right now, 10k is just way too much, even new. For 10k I can buy a new KIA POS. It might be crap, but it's new and while it might not get 188 miles per gallon, it's big enough that I don't have to worry about dying.
The original write up is a bit askew. It says that it got safe crash-test ratings. 3-star ratings are not safe. Maybe for a motorcycle-class vehicle, but not in general. - Bradasaurus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7What is old is new again. This thing was front and center for EXPO 86 in the GM pavilion.
"http://www.troisroues.com/gmleanmachine.jpg" - Nowheredan, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6If they could make these things go 65mph, and thus freeway capable (even if not recommended) it would be much more practical. There are so many places - my office, for example - where it's nearly impossible to get to without taking the freeway.
- bbene, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Not all states require a helmet to be worn, one of them being Wisconsin.
- Zippo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Unfortunatly, "concept car" is often synonymous with "will never be mainstream".
- isny, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4My home has natural gas piped to it. I'd be willing to bet that a majority of homes in the US have it as well.
- silkworm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I think, it can go much faster than 65mph. Carver one http://www.carver-europe.com/ which is already for sale can do 115mph.
- Nessguy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5No, but 188 mpg might be worth $10,000 to me.
- chazzy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3> Might get 188 mpg, but all BMW's use 91 octane.
... even this one that runs on compressed natural gas? Good luck filling yours. - SpoBo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3well, allright I didn't read the ending. The carver also has a lot worse mileage + costs 40 000$ I think. But 10 000$ ? Sounds rediculously cheap to me. If that realy is the price this thing might catch on in big cities like Paris for example.
- UNL1M1T3D, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7"ilyag - I'll agree on the expensive parts arguement but "pretentious prick"? Moreso than someone who drives - I dunno - a H2?"
Well said. - generalleoff, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4It is a bike. At least in the US. Any powered road vehicle with 3 wheels or less is classified as a motorcycle in most states and you would be required to wear a helmet while driving that.
- webcrumb, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4"The parts would be very EXPENSIVE"
If they use BMW bike parts (see the K and R 1200s), then no. Only a few of the parts would be bespoke to the vehicle (windscreen etc.), and these parts would be expensive for any vehicle. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Did you not read the bottom of the article?
- imightbewrong, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4the front kinda looks like the AKIRA bike ( which is the coolest thing on the planet)
- electronicmaji, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3/r/ high res pictures for computer wallpaper
- beasty_dave_Mk2, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5jesus, I had a poster of this thing on my wall in '92. Took them long enough.
- arizonagroove, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3expect it's not on the planet on account of being fictional.
- UNL1M1T3D, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Unfortunately I hate to agree, but have to (I am also American). Not all of America is like this, but it seems like a lot of it is. Heck look at what happened to the Escalade, it showed up in a couple of rap music videos, and now it seems like a lot of people who own them are teenage gangster wanna Be's. Back to the BMW car thing it looks very sweet. The only downfall I can see is that it's not very roomy on the inside, and it only goes 65mph. I can't remember when I went less then 65 mph on the expressway. I also think it would be cool to give it handle bars and have the throttle be on the handle bars, like on a real motorcyle. Very cool idea though. Anyone who hasn't watched the video has to.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Hopefully Honda will see the value in this and make one. 10k? Naw 5 - 6k .ok
- arestme, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Top Gear review of the Carver said it was around 40k and this ones only 10k hmm
- Ecoli, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3The article said they expect it to cost $10,000. Not bad for a city car w/ such good mileage IMO.
- psbp, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I'm so tired of concept anything. They show us all these amazing things that we can do that make everything so much better. But it is never going to be on the market.
- Mousse, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Actually, a real life replica has been made:
http://www.burningart.com/meico/moto/akira/ - dangson, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2It might work better for a larger city. In Chicago, for example, the freeway is always backed up during the morning and evening when EVERYONE is on it. Taking that tiny thing through one of the side streets would probably be faster.
- AdverseEntropy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2It's because the major car companies can't afford to experiment with innovation - they are too greedy to break ground. That's the problem with the auto industry. Absolutely no room for small businesses.
- Nessguy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2These might be worth buying after a few generations if they become slighlty cheaper, safer, and faster. I'd buy it for $10,000 only if it could handle freeway driving (65 mph) because otherwise you won't see your savings from the high mpg for quite a while.
- Hellomoto, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3old news it was on top gear a long time ago but still dig
- dachicken, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2its not about if its like a sports bike, but rather the target audience. I drive a "regular car" but have no real interest in motorcycles anymore, not because they not fun but grew out of it. But this is more similar to a car, in regards to steering mechanics and operation, (has steering wheel, with traditional brakes and gas, and normal sitting posture)
Moreover, the mechanics of riding a bike, how to brake, shift, accelerate must be learnt, whereas this looks like anyone without motorcycle experience can drive.
that is why i am interested in it.
The traffic i can possiblely drive around is the main reason, the 188mpg is just the kicker - the_witch, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Nice idea, I would love to test drive one....
Thanks for posting the Top Gear review of the Carver, I remember seeing that at the time, but man did it make me laugh all over again. - kinapuffen, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Just get another SUV cause they're safe, for everyone IN THEM. What about the civic the SUV just crushed to penny?
- rhettardo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1this isnt the first time something like this has been made, the earliest i can recall of one is from the 60's
heres a pic of the merc version
http://www.tonyfoale.com/gallery/Trike/images/Mercedes01_jpg.jpg
url to the carver
http://www.carver.nl/ - muyuu, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11: because people don't want to risk a big-ish investment, which for most people 15000$+ is.
2: because most people don't want to look too original. Same as clothing.
3: because mass production usually makes standard cars better value. - 4answer2, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Honda sold a scooter in the 80's that has three wheels and leans. I worked at a bike shop then, kinda fun to ride. Never owned one though.
http://www.jacksscootershop.com/images/Honda_50/86_Gyro_red.jpg - stevester, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1People won't buy this simply because it isn't safe, atleast not in southern California . What happens when the guy driving his raised Ford F-750 standing 12 feet off the ground hits you? They'd rather contribute to the problem of rising gas prices and the destruction of our environment by buying an even bigger car just too keep their kids safe....
- Harlequn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I can just see the guys at the Department of Transportation looking this thing over. Every vehicle (truck, automobile, motorcycle, scooter, etc) sold in the states has to first get DOT approval. The approval process is long and costly. So before a mfgr brings a vehicle to this country, they want to be sure they are going to recoup those DOT fees, and after that they want to be sure they're going to make some kind of profit.
On the positive side - the Sparrow electric car was DOT approved and it was a three wheeled vehicle. - jeffburg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1i didn't read every comment, but in reply to the first one. the reason all cars looke the same is because everyone is so afraid of dying. remember, in the 40's and 50's when every car looked different and had a different style? no one cared about safety back then. But now there are so many safety considerations that every car has to follow that stuff like this could never pass. There are also emissions regulations that limit the mechanical aspects of the drivetrain.
- silkworm, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Well, it is not a motorcycle exactly. You can hardly use motorcycle for going to work. Imagine going to work on a motorcycle in a suit while raining.
- test5477, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I beginning to see a pattern that auto innovation is not coming from the US. I would like to see the US companies make their research more public.
- lbdwag, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I think that the 50MPH limit will hurt this if it were ever to be made. 65 should be the imposed limit since that is well above most speed limits for most states (some have 70/75 on some highways). I'm sure that someone would be able to mod the speed limiter out either way.
I would get one... maybe.. well can't really use it during the winter so I guess it wouldn't be very useful as a single car. - scriabinop23, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1actually, it'll go swiftly under the F750 unscathed..
- Quake120, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Damn that looks like fun! I'll have to agree with an earlier comment on why these kind of vehicles aren't already on the road.
- ricree, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1That's just a matter of PR. The accepted look for cars is based pretty much on convention and publicity. It would definitely be difficult to get these mainstream, but with a good enough PR campaign it would be possible.
- ShadowVlican, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1amen
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