Metro Buddy: A Modern Citicar?

[SVOboy]

The Metro Buddy, a tiny electric car from Norway, seems to have a lot of the same design inspiration as the Citicar, which was built in the U.S. up until 25 years ago.Despite its small size, the Metro Buddy will be able to get up to 50 mph and have a range of 50 to [...]Related posts:

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[TomO]

He doesh not know he ish tiny!

I like Gooold (ones)!

But will it be available in the U.S.?

[MazdaMatt]

Why do they have to be so ugly? Why can't anybody make an econo car that doesn't look so stupid? There is no mass market appeal for a stupid looking car.

Goldmember was dutch, not norweigen.

[dcb]

Originally Posted by MazdaMatt

Why do they have to be so ugly? Why can't anybody make an econo car that doesn't look so stupid?

Thats kind of a shallow and nasty thing to say. I'm sure citicar and eco car people don't appreciate it. I like vehicles (like this) that put function before form myself, and hope other people can start to see the practicality in such an approach, insted of horking up subjective knee jerk crud that doesn't do anything but reinforce shallow ways of thinking.

If you don't like it because you are worried about your girlfriend not liking it then that would be a really sad state of affairs for you "Help, I don't have any redeeming qualities besides a nice looking car!!" lol

[UfoTofU]

High-end cars, like the Roadster, seem gaudy

[MazdaMatt]

dcb, not the case at all. How is this function over form? Don't we nit-pick to great ends about the aerodynamic qualities of cars? So this ugly wedge hits the market with no thought to form OR function, only an electric motor, and we're all supposed to cheer? It makes "us" (the people who want green cars) look silly. I'm all for that sweet looking canopied electric tandem trike from australia, but it was a prototype, not a production model. (I would link, but i can't find it right now. The point is, there are e-cars that look awesome, this one does not).

[dcb]

Originally Posted by MazdaMatt

dcb, not the case at all. How is this function over form? Don't we nit-pick to great ends about the aerodynamic qualities of cars? ...

citi cars are, as the name implies, meant for urban transportation, takes a lot less room, goes slow so aero isn't a big deal, but a smaller frontal area does help. Designed to be affordable and thus economically in reach of more people. Runs on electricity. It's function is not hauling boats or gumball rallys. All that aero can take up a lot of parking room.

[MazdaMatt]

And yet it is designed for 50mph travel. I regularly drive 70km/h in my city.

At least the shape and styling of a Smart ForTwo (also city-oriented with aero not a main focus, but better than this thing) isn't hideous.

I love that they are bringing a 50mph e-car to the market. I am dissapointed that it will be a huge flop because it looks ugly. You really CAN have the best of both worlds.

[UfoTofU]

I think this design costs less to manufacture

[MazdaMatt]

Definately!