07 October 2009 - 11:00
The hard cell
BMW's C1 - that bulbous scooter with a roof and a screen - has gone electric. A favourite among softie bikers, the C1 was designed so they could leave their helmets at home. But the UK government rained on that idea and refused to change the law to allow scooterists to ride about with naked heads.
Other countries, though, allow helmetless riding. Which is why BMW has taken the C1 a step further and fitted it with some lithium-ion batteries so you can, erm, charge around without the annoying buzz of a tiny little engine.
Most of the safety features remain, including seatbelts and rollover hoops and side-protection bars, so that if you're swiped by a bendy bus, you will simply slide along the road without bashing your head. Though you might look a bit daft as you hang from your belts, at 90 degrees to the tarmac, with your cheeks and other wobbly bits sagging limply towards the road.
What an excellent concept! And it is indeed a concept, as BMW is still considering whether to take the battery-powered C1 into production.
So stay tuned, scooter fans. We'll keep you posted.
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I think that this one has potential. Quite like it actually. Shame it has 2 wheels too few *runs from horde of marauding biking Vikings*
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OMG are they still making those? I thought they died year ago. I wouldn't havebeen surprised if they had, either. This is the ideal vehicle for hippies who hate cycling. Electric, and all safe and soft for the eco-wimp inside. Looks like a bit of a high riding position, though, like you'd have to lean quite far to put your foot on the ground.
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What. Utter. Rubbish. Why did I have to ruin my Ferrari happyness to look at that.
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What a stupid vehicle, although they are very popular abroad. Foreigners are pretty dumb though.
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What a smart vehicle, they are very popular in any crowded larger city abroad. You should just visit Paris, Rome not talking about Asia. Foreigners are as smart as people in our country though, or maybe smarter?
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I can see the logic in it, I just wish I did not have to look at it. Is there anybody at BMW who can still design something that looks good? Or hell even Normal anymore?
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I'll stick to Jay Leno's logic for this one: it may well be that sensible yet totally non-thrilling transport solutions like these will save interesting cars from extinction. So: keep them coming.
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wow!!!! it reall looks cool.................. i am definitely gonna buy one! ;)
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What's wrong with BMW? Losing in F1 constantly. Nissan's GTR is miles faster than the M3. The M5 is slower than the Cadillac CTS V on the Ring. And they never really caught up to Honda/Suzuki/Yamaha/Ducati/Aprilla in motorcycling/motogp.
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As far as i know BMW stopped selling the C1 long time ago because of... disappointing sales. And this in Italy, the country where scooters reign and they're made for. Anyway, the C1 was too heavy for his tiny combustion engine (I'd imagine it'll be even more with a heavier e weakier electric one) and the windscreen/roof arrangement was ill conceived so it caused so many drafts and showering that it totally defeated its own "raison d'etre".
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o no BMW GOOD LUCK SALLING THAM HAHAH
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tohafat commented on this article
07 October 2009
First, possibly only comment. Seriously Top Gear, why put that of all thing in the news.
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