MyCar: Italian Designed, Chinese Built
by Jacob Gordon, Nashville, TN on 01.27.06
“Take one of these; little, yellow, different.” Well, it may not be small enough to swallow, but the MyCar is pretty darn small. Scheduled for release to the Italian market late this year or early next, MyCar is a micro in the same class as the Smart car. Designed by the prestigious Italdesign-Giugiaro design firm, MyCar is the product of the Hong Kong-based company, Innovech, and will be manufactured in China. The MyCar website features a gas and an electric model but is a bit short on details. Fuel economy is not stated, but the diminutive vehicle, a mere 8’ by 4’, has a light plastic body shell and will likely have very good efficiency. I’ll take two. :: MyCar via Green Car Congress
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(Sorry in advance for saying the following) I wanted to add a review on Innovech. But realize it wouldn't a new competitor for Smart in the old Europe. MyCar is too slow for this. The biggest cylinder goes only at 85km/h, far lower than the Smart ForTwo and its 135 km/h.
Only drivers without a valid license will have a look at MyCar whereas the others still take their Smart to run on highways. Innovech would be much more a direct competitor of Axiam.
And under European regulation, it's not rare than micro car makers launch their new model both in fuel and electric version. Aixam have already done this for others cars.
But well, the market is shrinking as globalization goes.
It reminds me of Mini Rover.
I used to have one. It was perfect because of the shape and size.
The most microcars i EU is diesel, which make them able to take run uphills well with its 4KW engine.
A gasoline car have problem to compete. Anyhow the overpriced (micro) cars in EU needs competition. As the weight on a microcar is maximum 350 kg it is not easy to get in batteries for more then short trips.
This kind of cars are actually mopeds within EU.