Modern Vespa

That's cool, it looks like it would be alot of fun to drive/ride.

I'd hit that.

mmmm, based on the carverone...which is a nice little vechile...i looked into it about a year plus ago...the same time i was hoping to get a VW gx3. the carver costs about 50,000 and is not in the states yet...

i image this will cost more and arrive who knows when

if i have a spare 70 grand sitting around in a year or two i might get one

g

They say it will be "under $20,000". Hope it's WELL under!

They say it will still be classified as a motorocycle, but will have airbags, steel cage/frame, and other safety features. I wonder if drivers will be required to wear motorcycle helmets when driving it?

-Dan

actually if you read the website it says "under 20K".
im not ready to give up the GTS yet, but it was FREEZING cold this morning on my commute to work. it would be nice to ride in something a little more warm-ish but not kill the enviroment.

also, that thing would be amazing to mod out. glitter, streamers, neon lights - all over.

VentureOne is targeting $20,000.

I love it. Leaning trikes amuse me a lot. Plus this is an all weather vehicle. I'd get this over an mp3 honestly...

Here in the U S I can see a lot of accidents happing with that already.
Just watch and see.

Don

Ok, that just looks rediculously awesome. So cool it's not even funny. Pity it's usually other countries that get all the really neat stuff first, if we even get it at all.

why, out of curiosity?

the only thing I can figure is it looks low to the ground.

I'm not quite sure people will get the concept of the vehicle when it comes to leaning.

I can see people having accidents (Ops Sorry ) that what you would hear from the driver

Um.. a lot of accidents can and will happen with ANYTHING!

That's true!

wow...i will be amazed if they come out at that price for either hybrid or electric...the carver one is 50 grand with a regular engine...

g

I want one,
But I'm willing to wait until the optional Stinger rocket kit is offered.

I think the US has more larger vechiles like suv's and trucks. If you go to europe most autos are much smaller. I would assume better gas mileage. Here we supersize everything. So if i'm on the freeway in that car with all the big guys out there. The chances of getting squished are higher. I think that's what runrun mean't. When sitting on my piaggio LT150 ( i'm 5'9'' ) i can actually look down on the mini coopers roof. Mini coopers are much bigger than this car. I wouldn't feel to safe on the highway with it. That being said i like it.

It's not smaller...

from the site,

Fun to see more startups like this. I always had the hots for the Corbin Sparrow and the Merlin designs.

Seems like 'the future' has been promising more interesting vehicles again lately and the cost of manufacturing is finally getting to somewhere that might work for some of these guys to do something interesting.

Problem people face is in making a vehicle in a new category that enough people will purchase for enough more than it "should cost" that they can make enough of them that you'll have spare parts in 2 years when they go belly up.

Heh, gotta love that run-on sentence, my 3rd grade teacher would be so proud.

I emailed them to see what it would take to have one shipped to the US, of course I did not tell me wife. I was sort thinking of the approach like, "Honey, look what followed me home, can I keep it?"

watch the videos on the site.
the feature from Top Gear is freakin' awesome!
If they can seriously produce hybrid and electric models for near the prices they quote, I may never own a real car.

The Venture One is actually made in the US (here in LA) for the American market! The Carver is the European version, but Venture is licensing their design/tech and adapting it for the hybrid 2-seater.

I am seriously considering this as my next "car." The wife has actually given me a definite "maybe, we'll see when it's available." That means yes, right?

Absolutely.

Here is the reply from Carver in regard to my email,

Many thanks for contacting us.

All information about the Carver One is available on our website www.carver-worldwide.com <https> . Country-specific information can be found in the section "our dealers".

Unfortunately, for the time being the Carver One is not available to North American residents.
Due to an agreement with our engine supplier, we cannot export the current Carver One to North America as the engine (a Daihatsu) is not being supported in the USA and Canada.
We initially appointed a dedicated team for the North American market, responsible for the roll out of a nationwide sales and service network. Meanwhile, it has become clear that additional market analysis and funding are required for the launch to be successful, after which we will resume our active marketing efforts.

A dedicated team has started an in-depth analysis of the requirements to make the vehicle ideally suited to the North American market. One of the most important modifications involves the engine. Further planned enhancements include the addition of air-conditioning. We are currently trying to gather the necessary funding for this project. The exact retail price for the North American market is yet to be determined.
Regarding the launch of the Carver One in the North American market, we do not expect to be able to launch before 2008. Any change in timing would be communicated immediately via our website.

Kind regards,


This pretty much what they say on their web site, but is was nice of them to reply anyway.

i've been watching the carver for some time now...kinda feel like it is vaporware for the states...

as for one for 20 thou...i don't see that happening anytime soon...they are 50 thou in europe...they could go cheaper, but i figure them to be 30 grand or more...

it will be a niche market, when and if it comes


but dang they look fun...like a jet fighter for the road

g

BUT, as I said earlier, Carver and VentureOne are not the same vehicle or company. As cynical as I can be, I have faith in Venture to deliver. Because I WANT one. I'm sick of my car... of even owning one. But LA mass transit is lacking and I need some kind of enclosed vehicle. If I can't ride my scoot, I'll "fly the road."

The Bajaj Autorickshaw can be enclosed.