Three wheels good

This space-age Aptera could take some beating in the green car stakes. And it’s on sale already in California – if not actually on the road quite yet. Even before Christmas, 400 people had put down a $500 deposit for one of these goody-goody bad-boys. The three-wheeled two-seater Typ-1 is shortly to go into production in an all-electric model with a range of 120 miles, and a hybrid version that claims 300mpg.

Capable of zero to 60mph in ten seconds, with a top speed of 95mph, it would leave Del Boy and Rodney for dead in the old Reliant Robin. The gulf between them is underlined by the mod cons (on-board computer with GPS navigation, CD/MP3/DVD player, ‘complete vehicle diagnostic system’). And by the price. The deposit is fully refundable, but you’ll ultimately need $30,000 to get the ‘keys’, which of course come in the form of a stylish smart card.
– David Howells

7 January 2008

David Howells