Change is in the air and the streets of Paris will never be quite the same again. This is because French microcars have suddenly gone sexy, with wide-eyed headlights, bulging fenders and even convertible tops. For decades, French micros have looked like telephone booths on wheels, but a new day has dawned at last.
These new haute-couture city cars are meant to appeal to young, hip urban dwellers. The popularity of the Mini and even the Smart Fortwo has reminded carmakers that the best examples of cheap, economical runabouts have always been as big on charm as they were small in size, just like the long-departed Citroën 2CV.
Of course, with their plastic bodies, tiny engines and rudimentary safety equipment, these modern French microcars are best suited to congested city centers or rural back roads. Even in Europe, many of them are banned from high-speed motorways.
But if you think that's the end of the story, think again. While these French companies are looking for younger buyers at home, they are keeping a careful eye on the U.S. market, waiting to see if Americans warm to the tiny Smart Fortwo when it arrives Stateside later this year.
City driving "sans permis"
As the leading European manufacturer of microcars — or quadricycles, as they're technically known — Aixam-Mega celebrated a record sales year in 2006, putting more than 12,000 examples on the street. Though elderly country dwellers have routinely been the majority of Aixam's business, the company is now targeting trendy city dwellers.
The company's new Scouty R is a flared-fendered wild child of the quadricycle. Technically classified as a VSP (vehicule sans permis, "vehicle without a permit"), these tiny vehicles have strict limits on overall length, curb weight, horsepower and top speed. In France, adults and kids as young as 16 years old can drive them without any sort of license. In Italy, the age limit is only 14.
On the streets of Paris, our Scouty R's chunky body cladding, bright orange paint and removable hardtop drew plenty of attention from cool teens and twentysomethings, who gave nods of approval while looking over the car's aggressive appearance. They certainly had a long time to look, since the Scouty has a 5.4-horsepower, 400cc two-cylinder diesel engine that doesn't power the car so much as propel it. A 20-hp, 505cc gasoline-fueled twin-cylinder is optional.
In keeping with the French government's quadricycle regulations, the top speed of the license-free diesel version is limited to 30 mph. At least the diesel manages a frugal 67 mpg, so even its tiny 4.2-gallon fuel tank can deliver a cruising range of 270 miles.
Once it's rolling, the 771-pound Scouty is very agile, while the ride is composed and comfortable — especially considering the Scouty measures only 105.2 inches, more than 3 feet shorter than a new Mini. The two-seat interior is plasticky but roomy, and the dials and gauges are easy to read. Options like a CD player and power windows take away some of the sting caused by having to eat the dust of the popular 1.2-liter Renault Twingo when the traffic lights turn green.
The Lilliputian dimensions of the Scouty mean that any gap in traffic or postage-stamp-sized parking spot can be yours for the taking. The 6.7-inch front brake discs and 6.2-inch rear drums do a fine job, but the drivetrain feels pretty crude. If you step into the gas too aggressively, the car bucks and heaves, while reversing with dignity requires a feather-light touch with the gas pedal.
Despite this, the Aixam-Mega wins back our enthusiasm with its clever removable hardtop, which slots neatly into a surprisingly cavernous trunk that has 14.1 cubic feet of capacity. The Scouty R is perfect for rolling slowly (very slowly) along the Champs-Élysées with the top down.
Fun in the French countryside
After the thrills and anxiety of driving in Paris, our next destination took us 100 miles northeast to the sleepy town of Aniche, the home of Secma vehicles. Secma (Société d'Etude et de Construction Automobile) prides itself on selling microcars that don't sacrifice fun for frugality.
To drive the point home, every Secma even has "Fun" in its name. The Fun Quad and Fun Buggy are the workhorses, meant for durable all-terrain utility. The Fun Quad has handlebar steering like an ATV, while the Fun Buggy looks like a scaled-down Baja racer. Each is available with a 21-hp, 340cc single-cylinder engine.
Our raison d'etre for this visit, however, is to drive the Fun Extr'm and Fun Runner. The Extr'm is a goggle-eyed, pocket-size sports car that measures only 98.4 inches long. Powered by a 21-hp, 505cc two-cylinder engine mounted behind the passenger compartment, the two-seat Extr'm can be driven with a motorcycle license.
The Extr'm proved to be a riot on the winding country roads of Aniche. The twin-cylinder Lombardini-built engine snarled and snorted while hauling the 868-pound Extr'm to its top speed of 68 mph. The car feels predictable, stable and reassuring, as the double-wishbone front suspension and trailing-arm rear suspension do a good job of keeping the 13-inch tires on the asphalt in the corners.
Next we took a drive in the smiley-faced Fun Runner with its comparatively huge 75-hp, 1.3-liter, Peugeot-built four-cylinder. Like the Extr'm, the midengine Fun Runner comes with a five-speed manual transmission, rear-wheel drive and disc brakes at all four corners. Two of those four corners are rather close together, since Secma discovered a legal loophole that allows the narrow-track rear end to qualify the car as a trike — and therefore subject only to motorcycle laws and licensing requirements.
Though the Fun Runner is incredibly odd-looking, it's nevertheless outrageous to drive. The narrow-track rear tires refuse to break loose unless you really push hard — and trust us, we had fun trying! In terms of acceleration, the Fun Runner has sporting credentials, reaching 60 mph in 6.8 seconds on the way to a top speed of 110 mph.
OK, the gaps in the body panels are huge, the wind noise reaches cyclone-scale levels and the whole experience is downright loony at speeds near 100 mph. Work also needs to be done on the five-speed transmission, as the shift action feels gritty and stiff. Yet on a thrill-per-dollar basis, the $25,011 Fun Runner ranks with the best.
Big plans to match big style
Other French manufacturers have joined in the microcar business, too. Chatenet now offers a 20-hp chopped-top model, named the Speedino. This Smurf-sized roadster adds some sparkle to Chatenet's regular lineup, which (like those of Aixam-Mega) has often failed to attract slick urbanites, who have been put off by the upright styling and stuffy image of traditional quadricycles.
Acrea goes one step further, with the pared-down, no-frills Zest. Acrea tells us that the Zest is "a little countrified roadster dedicated to jaunting." Translated from marketingspeak, this means the Zest is meant to be a summer vacation car, meant for cruising along the beachfront, not the morning commute.
But whether any of these little cars end up on American shores remains to be seen. Philip Colançon, president and CEO of Aixam-Mega, says that his company is actively "discussing the U.S. market," with regard to selling an electric-powered version of the Scouty or 751.
Secma is also looking to the States, too, with the manic Fun Runner the leading candidate for American export. Pricing could be an issue, since even the most basic Aixam quadricycle costs $11,500. The Acrea Zest is also a not inconsiderable $13,800.
Still, if the Smart Fortwo proves to be a hit in the U.S., don't be surprised if France's microcar revolution spills onto the streets of America.
These new haute-couture city cars are meant to appeal to young, hip urban dwellers. The popularity of the Mini and even the Smart Fortwo has reminded carmakers that the best examples of cheap, economical runabouts have always been as big on charm as they were small in size, just like the long-departed Citroën 2CV.
Of course, with their plastic bodies, tiny engines and rudimentary safety equipment, these modern French microcars are best suited to congested city centers or rural back roads. Even in Europe, many of them are banned from high-speed motorways.
But if you think that's the end of the story, think again. While these French companies are looking for younger buyers at home, they are keeping a careful eye on the U.S. market, waiting to see if Americans warm to the tiny Smart Fortwo when it arrives Stateside later this year.
City driving "sans permis"
As the leading European manufacturer of microcars — or quadricycles, as they're technically known — Aixam-Mega celebrated a record sales year in 2006, putting more than 12,000 examples on the street. Though elderly country dwellers have routinely been the majority of Aixam's business, the company is now targeting trendy city dwellers.
The company's new Scouty R is a flared-fendered wild child of the quadricycle. Technically classified as a VSP (vehicule sans permis, "vehicle without a permit"), these tiny vehicles have strict limits on overall length, curb weight, horsepower and top speed. In France, adults and kids as young as 16 years old can drive them without any sort of license. In Italy, the age limit is only 14.
On the streets of Paris, our Scouty R's chunky body cladding, bright orange paint and removable hardtop drew plenty of attention from cool teens and twentysomethings, who gave nods of approval while looking over the car's aggressive appearance. They certainly had a long time to look, since the Scouty has a 5.4-horsepower, 400cc two-cylinder diesel engine that doesn't power the car so much as propel it. A 20-hp, 505cc gasoline-fueled twin-cylinder is optional.
In keeping with the French government's quadricycle regulations, the top speed of the license-free diesel version is limited to 30 mph. At least the diesel manages a frugal 67 mpg, so even its tiny 4.2-gallon fuel tank can deliver a cruising range of 270 miles.
Once it's rolling, the 771-pound Scouty is very agile, while the ride is composed and comfortable — especially considering the Scouty measures only 105.2 inches, more than 3 feet shorter than a new Mini. The two-seat interior is plasticky but roomy, and the dials and gauges are easy to read. Options like a CD player and power windows take away some of the sting caused by having to eat the dust of the popular 1.2-liter Renault Twingo when the traffic lights turn green.
The Lilliputian dimensions of the Scouty mean that any gap in traffic or postage-stamp-sized parking spot can be yours for the taking. The 6.7-inch front brake discs and 6.2-inch rear drums do a fine job, but the drivetrain feels pretty crude. If you step into the gas too aggressively, the car bucks and heaves, while reversing with dignity requires a feather-light touch with the gas pedal.
Despite this, the Aixam-Mega wins back our enthusiasm with its clever removable hardtop, which slots neatly into a surprisingly cavernous trunk that has 14.1 cubic feet of capacity. The Scouty R is perfect for rolling slowly (very slowly) along the Champs-Élysées with the top down.
Fun in the French countryside
After the thrills and anxiety of driving in Paris, our next destination took us 100 miles northeast to the sleepy town of Aniche, the home of Secma vehicles. Secma (Société d'Etude et de Construction Automobile) prides itself on selling microcars that don't sacrifice fun for frugality.
To drive the point home, every Secma even has "Fun" in its name. The Fun Quad and Fun Buggy are the workhorses, meant for durable all-terrain utility. The Fun Quad has handlebar steering like an ATV, while the Fun Buggy looks like a scaled-down Baja racer. Each is available with a 21-hp, 340cc single-cylinder engine.
Our raison d'etre for this visit, however, is to drive the Fun Extr'm and Fun Runner. The Extr'm is a goggle-eyed, pocket-size sports car that measures only 98.4 inches long. Powered by a 21-hp, 505cc two-cylinder engine mounted behind the passenger compartment, the two-seat Extr'm can be driven with a motorcycle license.
The Extr'm proved to be a riot on the winding country roads of Aniche. The twin-cylinder Lombardini-built engine snarled and snorted while hauling the 868-pound Extr'm to its top speed of 68 mph. The car feels predictable, stable and reassuring, as the double-wishbone front suspension and trailing-arm rear suspension do a good job of keeping the 13-inch tires on the asphalt in the corners.
Next we took a drive in the smiley-faced Fun Runner with its comparatively huge 75-hp, 1.3-liter, Peugeot-built four-cylinder. Like the Extr'm, the midengine Fun Runner comes with a five-speed manual transmission, rear-wheel drive and disc brakes at all four corners. Two of those four corners are rather close together, since Secma discovered a legal loophole that allows the narrow-track rear end to qualify the car as a trike — and therefore subject only to motorcycle laws and licensing requirements.
Though the Fun Runner is incredibly odd-looking, it's nevertheless outrageous to drive. The narrow-track rear tires refuse to break loose unless you really push hard — and trust us, we had fun trying! In terms of acceleration, the Fun Runner has sporting credentials, reaching 60 mph in 6.8 seconds on the way to a top speed of 110 mph.
OK, the gaps in the body panels are huge, the wind noise reaches cyclone-scale levels and the whole experience is downright loony at speeds near 100 mph. Work also needs to be done on the five-speed transmission, as the shift action feels gritty and stiff. Yet on a thrill-per-dollar basis, the $25,011 Fun Runner ranks with the best.
Big plans to match big style
Other French manufacturers have joined in the microcar business, too. Chatenet now offers a 20-hp chopped-top model, named the Speedino. This Smurf-sized roadster adds some sparkle to Chatenet's regular lineup, which (like those of Aixam-Mega) has often failed to attract slick urbanites, who have been put off by the upright styling and stuffy image of traditional quadricycles.
Acrea goes one step further, with the pared-down, no-frills Zest. Acrea tells us that the Zest is "a little countrified roadster dedicated to jaunting." Translated from marketingspeak, this means the Zest is meant to be a summer vacation car, meant for cruising along the beachfront, not the morning commute.
But whether any of these little cars end up on American shores remains to be seen. Philip Colançon, president and CEO of Aixam-Mega, says that his company is actively "discussing the U.S. market," with regard to selling an electric-powered version of the Scouty or 751.
Secma is also looking to the States, too, with the manic Fun Runner the leading candidate for American export. Pricing could be an issue, since even the most basic Aixam quadricycle costs $11,500. The Acrea Zest is also a not inconsiderable $13,800.
Still, if the Smart Fortwo proves to be a hit in the U.S., don't be surprised if France's microcar revolution spills onto the streets of America.
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