Renault says their electric two-seater Twizy concept is a "precursor to vehicles of the future." If that's the case, cities of the future might look more like electric kart tracks than slow-moving parking lots.
The tiny Twizy is a faster, sportier interpretation of the dowdy NEV. It might not have the sex appeal of a motorcycle, but it does offer comfortable seating for two and about a cubic foot and a half of storage space. It'll never replace the F-350 for hauling horse manure on a farm, but it might just work in congested cities.
"Visibility is excellent as both sides of the vehicle are structure-free," the automaker said in a press release. Ah, the power of positive thinking. It reminds us of a Craigslist ad we saw that advertised, "Four brand new tires were put on after the old ones melted in the engine fire."
All kidding aside, the Twizy may be just right for those city-dwellers who want a private vehicle but aren't quite ready to ride on fewer than four wheels. At 7.87 feet long and 3.9 feet wide, the two-seater Twizy can split lanes, weave around larger traffic and park in virtually any space. Recharging takes only three and a half hours, and range is around 60 miles of city driving. If you live in an urban center and don't want to or are unable to ride a bike or a motorcycle, that's just about perfect.
Two models will be available. First is the Twizy 45, a 5 HP version with a top speed of 28 mph and a price of €6,990 (around $9,586 at current rates). Thanks to European licensing laws, Renault says it's ideal "for those who don't yet have their license or have lost their license." Next up is the €7,690 ($10,524) "regular" Twizy with 17 HP and a top speed of 50 mph. Lithium-ion batteries aren't included in either, but they rent for €50 ($68) per month.
Tooling around a city at 50 mph in a lightweight, open-air vehicle? The future might not be so bad after all.
Photos: Renault
