California Commuter? a Micro Car That Is No More?

 In the past, I came across vehicle called the California Commuter. It was designed and made to have an incredible amount / high MPG. It seems their site - that sold plans for it and other things - is no longer there (at least I have not found it, yet?).

As the photo shows, it was a single person vehicle that was extremely small. What it didn't show was the single cylinder engine that powered it or how it was steered.

Here is the top and side views of the CC.

Here is the inside view; top and side.

This shows how it was steered. It is unique in that there isn't a steering wheel but two levers. 

Here is the electrical system of the CC. I always wondered if this could be used in other peoples homebuilt vehicles? 

Here is what could have been but never was. The CC2. It seems they had designs for a two seater that never seem to have come to fruition. It is a shame since it looked really nice. 

It was true and funny back when this was put out. I think this would probably be more appreciated now. I wonder how many would drive such a small vehicle on todays roads with all those huge SUV's and PU's. 

Reva NGX - Modern Micro Car?

 

Here is the Reva NGX. I think of it as a modern micro car. It is an electric vehicle (IIRC). 

I think it would be better as an ICE vehicle. I think with it being an ICE vehicle, one would not have to worry about range, about how long it would take to recharge and the higher cost (IMO - it would cost less since it won't have the expense of a huge battery pack). I think it would have great MPG since it is aerodynamic, refuel faster and have a longer range. 

It does remind me of the Obvio 012 (which I don't remember if it was ever made). The 012 was supposed to be gas powered (3 cylinder engine) then battery powered. I don't remember seeing any photos of an actual 012. 

With it small size, it would make for an excellent city car. Its small size would mean it could get through traffic easier and be easier to park and find a parking space. 

As an uniquely shaped vehicle, I doubt it would be good for someone trying to blend in. It is great for someone who likes attention and want to stand out. 

A couple of articles on the Reva NGX

Reva NGX at Concept Carz.

Reva NGX at Serious Wheels.

Reva NGX at Auto Express.

I wonder how many cool cars out there that have companies showing that they are coming but never become reality. I don't know if this one was ever put into production. 

Perhaps it became reality in the country it was created but not coming to the USA. There are other cool cars that never seem to get to the USA. I think this is one of them. It would be cool to drive one. 

It is nice to dream of those dream cars. It would be nice if some of them became a reality. 

It does remind me of the Obvio 012. I don't remember seeing it put into production. It is a little longer than the NGX.

Serious Wheels - 012.

TomLeeM

2024 / 01 / 29

TomLeeM at Cafe Press.

A New King Midget Car?

 

This is a copy of a page in the Collectible Automobile magazine dated October 1994. It was part of an article on the King Midget cars. This was a design for a 'series 5' of cars. If one clicks on the image and zooms in, one can read the article that tells of this car. 

As far as I know, it was never made. It would be cool if it was. It would be a modern take on the older King Midge car designs. 

I always wondered how it would be made with existing parts from other vehicles. The original had one back wheel that was powered. It had a small air cooled engine that was located in the back of the vehicle. For more details on the King Midget cars, one can visit the King Midge Owners Club website where they have photos and information on all the models.

The below is just me 'thinking out loud' as to how a newer King Midget car could be made.

As for a transaxle, I think one that is from a rickshaw or other similar vehicle would be great. They are not a big vehicle but neither is the King Midget. I think it would improve handling since it would power both back wheels instead of just the one (which causes the little car to pull to one side). 

For the transmission, I think a CVT from a high end scooter would be great. It would have the economy of a manual transmission and the ease of an automatic. Since the newer KM would be a lightweight vehicle, I think it could work. There might be some who disagree but this is just me thinking out loud. 

Or an alternative would be the engine and transmission from a Secma Performance vehicle which small and light weight (I am not sure how it would compare to the KM but I think it is similar in size). The KM is rear engine and rear wheel drive. I believe the Secma Performance is also rear engine and rear wheel drive (I have to check again to be sure).

Perhaps one could make it an electric vehicle? One could use the rickshaw transaxle and use an electric motor attached via a CVT. One could have the batteries under the hood? It would be a lot of batteries (or have a small gas engine under the hood attached to a small generator that powers the motor? - similar to the diesel electric trains?). 

Of course all of the above is just what I think could happen. I don't have a degree in anything that would be related to the above (I have a degree in theology but none of the courses covered in designing or building a car).  If anyone tries the above, the success would be on them and how they adapt my ideas to reality (it would be neat if someone did try). 

TomLeeM

2024 / 01 / 13

Carice; Electric Sports Car?

I came across a New Atlas article on the Carice electric sports car. New Atlas - Carice. 

I found their website; Carice Cars. Actually, there was a link to it in the New Atlas article. 

TC2

TC2

I think this is a really cool looking car. It reminds me of sports cars of years ago. It would be neat if this was adapted and sold as other vehicles (perhaps as a Crosley Hotshot? - it would be cool and retro looking and bring back an old automobile company - even it if it just for the one model temporarily ). 

While I think it is a really cool looking car, I think it might have a problem being an electric vehicle. I have read of a lot of electric vehicles not being sold. Whey they say that electric vehicles are the future, I am not sure there is enough of a market to make them worthwhile. Perhaps the reason so many companies are pushing electric vehicles might be a mandate for them to do so? I have read of a lot of people not wanting an electric vehicle because of the cost to buy one and/or the cost to replace the batteries. 

I think - as an alternative to it being an electric vehicle - an option would be either a hybrid vehicle, gas (ICE) powered vehicle or as a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. 

    I think a hybrid vehicle could extend the range of it plus extend the appeal. I have read of small cars being a hybrid vehicle. It could have a small battery pack with the gas engine only running a generator or a small battery pack with a gas engine taking over when the battery is low or higher speeds are needed.

    I think a gas powered option would be great. I think a small but powerful gas engine would be great for this small sports car. It would put the sports back into the sports car. I have seen small gas engines that have a really good range and MPG. It would also give that sports car sound to it too. 

    I think a hydrogen fuel cell would make even more sense than a battery electric vehicle. The hydrogen could be refilled in about the same time a gas powered is refueled. I think it could give a longer range than a battery vehicle plus reduce range anxiety. It would be greener than battery electric vehicles since it wouldn't have a big battery pack to replace and the emissions would be water vapor / water (with some indicating that water vapor is a green house gas but - IMO - am not so sure about that). 

There are videos of the Carice on YouTube. 

    caution: there might be some content that comes up that 

    might not be very good to see. 

TomLeeM

2023 / 12 / 31

The Bianco S; Brazilian Sports Car?

Silodrome has an article on the Brazilian sport car company called Bianco S. It might not be modern as it might not still be made but it seems a lot newer than the original micro cars of many years ago. 

From the Solodrome site. 

I know that the new Beetle has a front engine front wheel drive layout. Perhaps if one could use this engine and transmission but put it in the back of the newer Bianco S sports car? (this is what I call 'thinking out loud'). I have seen cars that use the engine and transmission from an older Mini Cooper (Morris Minor?) that put it in the back of the vehicle (shown at the Maximum Mini website and Maximum Mini book 2009 [newer edition? 2017-]). 

Some Articles on the Bianco S Sports car

Solodrome - The Bianco S: An Unusual Brazilian Sports Car.

The article is very informative and has a lot of great photos on the car. It looks really nice.

Automobile Fandom - Bianco Cars. 

There aren't any photos of the car at this site but they do have a good information on it.

Classic Driver - 1979 Bianco S

There are a lot of great photos on it. They do have some information on it. 

Motor Head 101 on Facebook - The 1977 Bianco S Coupe from Brazil.

They have a short post on it with a couple of nice photos of the car.

Top Classic Cars For Sale - 1979 Bianco S Series 2 Coupe

They have some detailed information on the car. I think it is very informative.

Barn Finds - Bianco S Series 2.

There are some nice photos of the car plus some information on it. I find it informative.

The Duck Duck Go search results for 'Bianco Car'. 

One can use your own preferred search engine. I do not know if the search results would be the same.

TomLeeM

2023 / 11 / 01 

New Messerschmitt Cabin Scooter?

 There was an older micro car that was called the Messerschmitt KR 175 / 200. It was really cool. It was made by the company that made fighter planes but couldn't after the war. They made these cool and cute little three wheel cars. 

Messerschmitt KR200 - Wikipedia. 

from the Wikipedia on the Messerschmitt KR200. 

There seems to be a new company that is making them again. It is the same vehicle with slight variations. The company is Messerschmitt Werke. I think it is really cool. I believe it the older vehicle with modern technology inside. They have both a gas version and an electric version; KR202 Sport - Piaggio, KR 202 E Sport (5 KW), KR 300 Record Breaker (coming soon per their website) and 12 KW KR 202 E Sport . 

As one can see, they kept the older style of the Messerschmitt KR200 while updating the inside. 

There are some articles on it.

Electrek. 

Since they are site that talks about electric vehicles, they concentrate on the electric version. I think a 50 mile range isn't bad since one probably drive it locally and not going on long trips with it (unless it is on a trailer behind a car or camper). 

Motor1.

I like how the include both the gas version and the electric version. While it is not a long article, it is fascinating and informative. 

Car Buzz. 

They talk about the electric version. I am more inclined toward the gas version. It - IMO - is more like the original. I think the electric version is good too. 

Motor Trend. 

They give a lot of details on the vehicles. I like how they mention both the gas and the electric versions. They have both videos and photos of the little car. 

Auto Blog. 

I like how detailed they went into describing the little car. I think it is a must read for those interested in the retro cool little car. 

There are more articles on it. One just does a search using 'new Messerschmitt car'. 

Duck Duck Go search engine results. 

the older car logo

They have a little shop for things with their name on it. Fan Shop. I am checking it out. 

TomLeeM

2023 / 10 / 06

Toyota Mini Land Cruiser? a modern micro car of sports utility vehicles?

 It indicates it is a mini. Another site indicates it is a compact sport utility vehicle? I am checking it out. Perhaps not exactly a modern micro car but it is modern. It is definitely not a micro car when cars of the past that started the micro car trend. 

This is an article on it by Drive of Australia. It shows what is coming out by Toyota; a mini Land Cruiser? Perhaps not a true micro car but perhaps a small one when compared to the full size Toyota Land Cruiser? 

Perhaps the trend is more compact sport utility vehicles since gas prices are going up and a smaller sport utility vehicle just makes more sense than a full size one while still being bigger than sedans? I wonder if people like sport utility vehicles since they are roomier and easier to get into and out of than sedans? Perhaps the trend for big sport utility vehicles is something pushed by car companies since it makes them more money? I think higher gas prices might hamper the desire for a bigger vehicle? 

I am not sure this is it but the other site indicated this is the compact (mini?) Toyota Land Cruiser.

There are other articles on it; 

Auto Blog. 

Top Gear Car News. 

There seems to be other sites on it. Perhaps too many to list here. A simple search will find them. 

I wonder if it will be about the same size of a Jeep Renegade? One site indicated it will be a Jimney killer? Perhaps similar size to the Jimney? 

The size seems very similar. I guess the only way to truly know if they were parked next to each other. Since the Toyota has not come out yet, it might be difficult to do till then. 

the Suzuki Jimney

Since the article is in the Australia site, I wonder if it will come to the USA? There are a lot of cool cars that don't seem to make it to the USA. Perhaps this will be one of them. One can hope. I hope I will see it on the roads here in the future. Then again it might not appeal to Americans since so many prefer the full size sport utility vehicles instead of the smaller ones. I prefer the smaller vehicles but I seem to be in the minority. 

TomLeeM

2023 / 10 / 02