As cars get heavier and heavier, check out the world’s lightest models, below 700 kg.
« Light is right »Said Colin Chapman, founder of Lotus, which has become THE benchmark brand for lovers of small light cars. It must be said that this type of philosophy offers many advantages, both in terms of driving pleasure and in terms of more pragmatic and serious CO2 emissions. More maneuverable, more efficient and less greedy, light cars only have advantages. This is all the more true nowadays, when the government plans to put in place a penalty indexed on weight from next year, set at € 10 per additional kilo, from 1.8 tonnes, from January 1. Enough to revive the interest of motorists and brands for featherweight vehicles, which are becoming increasingly rare over the decades. Blame it on the many safety standards, with equipment always adding more weight, not to mention massive electrification, with batteries still very heavy.
Pleasure models
It is therefore difficult at the present time to find cars below the tonne bar, and it will be necessary to turn to small sports cars, such as the Mazda MX-5, one of the lightest on the market with a weight displayed at only 996 kilos. However, looking back a bit, examples of ultralight models are plentiful, whether from general manufacturers or those specializing in the development of dynamic small cars. Of course, it is impossible not to mention Lotus, with its Seven Serie 1, displaying only 329 kilos or even the legendary Elan, with only 584 kilos on the scale. Overall, the English have always had a particular appetite for lightweight models, since we can also mention the Caterham R500 (488 kg) or the Ariel Atom, with its 456 kg. Finally, we also think of the first generation of the Mini, with a maximum weight of 580 kilos.
Among the French too, we know how to make light cars, and the Citroen 2 CV is a perfect example, with a weight not exceeding 495 kilos. But we can also talk about the Renault Twizy, displaying only 450 kilos, thanks to an ultra small endowment and a contained template. In the same vein, the Citroën Ami, an electric quadricycle that can be driven without a license also has its say, then not exceeding 500 kilos.
Also read on Auto-Moto.com:
Too heavy cars soon to be limited to 90 km / h?
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As cars get heavier and heavier, check out the world’s lightest models, below 700 kg.
« Light is right »Said Colin Chapman, founder of Lotus, which has become THE benchmark brand for lovers of small light cars. It must be said that this type of philosophy offers many advantages, both in terms of driving pleasure and in terms of more pragmatic and serious CO2 emissions. More maneuverable, more efficient and less greedy, light cars only have advantages. This is all the more true nowadays, when the government plans to put in place a penalty indexed on weight from next year, set at € 10 per additional kilo, from 1.8 tonnes, from January 1. Enough to revive the interest of motorists and brands for featherweight vehicles, which are becoming increasingly rare over the decades. Blame it on the many safety standards, with equipment always adding more weight, not to mention massive electrification, with batteries still very heavy.
Pleasure models
It is therefore difficult at the present time to find cars below the tonne bar, and it will be necessary to turn to small sports cars, such as the Mazda MX-5, one of the lightest on the market with a weight displayed at only 996 kilos. However, looking back a bit, examples of ultralight models are plentiful, whether from general manufacturers or those specializing in the development of dynamic small cars. Of course, it is impossible not to mention Lotus, with its Seven Serie 1, displaying only 329 kilos or even the legendary Elan, with only 584 kilos on the scale. Overall, the English have always had a particular appetite for lightweight models, since we can also mention the Caterham R500 (488 kg) or the Ariel Atom, with its 456 kg. Finally, we also think of the first generation of the Mini, with a maximum weight of 580 kilos.
Among the French too, we know how to make light cars, and the Citroen 2 CV is a perfect example, with a weight not exceeding 495 kilos. But we can also talk about the Renault Twizy, displaying only 450 kilos, thanks to an ultra small endowment and a contained template. In the same vein, the Citroën Ami, an electric quadricycle that can be driven without a license also has its say, then not exceeding 500 kilos.
Also read on Auto-Moto.com:
Too heavy cars soon to be limited to 90 km / h?
The fastest cars in the 0 to 100 km / h (RANKING)
The most expensive cars auctioned (slideshow)
