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Weird or wonderful, these European cars still deliver plenty of smiles per miles.
European carmakers have been churning out cars longer than there have been four on the floor or a V8 engine up front. It stands to reason then, that some cars turned out a little quirky. We're not talking about the cheapies built down to a budget or purpose, either.
France gave us the quirky but practical Citroën 2CV, but it's not exactly weird or wonderful. Likewise, Volkswagen gave us the Beetle that morphed into the Karmann Ghia, and even a Porsche or two. None, though, were on the same level as the bewildering VW Thing.
Weird, wonderful, or plain crazy, every one of these European cars has its allure. We'd love to drive these oddballs even if it's a one-time only deal.
The first motor car arrived in 1885 followed by the Wright Brothers' first powered flight in 1903. It was inevitable that someone would take the best of both and mash them together in one package. The brainchild of Frenchman Marcel Leyat, the Helica was born in 1921. Several of these weird machines would emerge in the years to come.
Lighter than Ford's Model T, the Helica featured an 18-hp engine and propellor capable of 100 mph. Despite Marcel's best efforts, the Helica failed to catch on. Even with the addition of a prop guard, the two-man starting procedure was lethal.
Meeting the weird rule down to a tee, the Egoista was Lamborghini's take on the jet-fighter for the road remit. Both ugly and fast the Egoista utilizes the V10 engine and running gear from the Gallardo.
Production numbers and years remain single-digits. That is more than we can say for Lamborghini's $117 million valuation. Chances are, no mere mortal will ever drive the Egoista in public. Lamborghini keeps the sole example on permanent display in Sant'Agata.
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The Fiat Turbina ignited a spark of genius unlike any Fiat has demonstrated since. The story began in 1948 with a low-drag body boasting a world-beating drag-coefficiency of 0.14. By comparison, a modern Tesla lags way behind at 0.26.
But, it's the engine that makes the Turbina special. Traditional combustion engines made way for a gas turbine producing 300 hp at 22,000 rpm. The mid-mounted turbines high running speed wasn't suitable to drive the rear wheels. Fiat instead opted for a reduced gear set-up in place of a transmission.
On appearances, the Gibbs Aquada could pass muster as the Mazda MX-5. On the move you'd also be hard-pressed to tell anything was amiss. Yet, take a peek under the body, and you'll find a smooth under-tray enclosing the drivetrain. At the rear tell-tale propellors finally give the game away.
On dry land, performance errs on the side of adequate, topping out at 99 mph. But, taking to the water is where the Aquada comes into its own. Drive in, flip a switch, and the road-wheels lift out of the water leaving a boat-like hull. UK-based Gibbs claims a watery top speed of 45 mph, which is enough to pull a skier.
James Bond and Wet Nelly teamed up in The Spy Who Loved Me for one of the most adventurous car conversions ever. The bad news is, Q-Division couldn't make it work. But, Swiss-based Rinspeed has the answer. And, again Lotus is at the forefront of the car meets undersea conversion.
This time around it's the Elise that takes to the ocean depths with some subtle changes. Out goes the Rover K-Series engine in favor of a single 54 kW motor for street use. Once under the waves, the sQuba uses a pair of 800w motors with a pair of bow thrusters for tight maneuvering. Who said the Swiss don't like their cars?
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Three-wheeled cars are usually a bad thing. Less grip and stability are a precursor to an unscheduled hospital stay. But, what if the chassis remained flat and the body tilted, canceling out mid-corner wobbles? This is where Carver Europe comes into the picture, the "One" looking like an upscaled trike.
The One with its deep-vee body profile and quirky mismatched wheels doesn't look fast or agile. Yet, take one for a spin, and the clever suspension set-up proves its worth with surprising agility. Despite the crazy handling, performance isn't what you'd expect. A four-pot 660 cc turbocharged engine putting own 65 hp calls time at 125 mph. The One feels much faster.
Never to leave the concept stage the chances of taking the AI:Trail for a cross-country jaunt are slim. However, as Audi has taken the tentative steps of building a working concept, we'll keep hoping. As an EV all-terrain vehicle sporting space-age looks, the AI:Trail errs on the side of wonderful.
The four chunky off-road wheels each have their own electric motors cranking out a combined 429 hp. But, the Audi promises more than a mere mud-plugging experience. Tired of driving? No problem; let the AITtrail takeover and enjoy the hammock-style rear seats.
Welcome to the future of Ariel Cars. The UK-based Sportscar maker has announced the Hipercar will enter production. Good news for Ariel fans with an eye on green, mind-bending performance. Unlike earlier cars, the Hipercar is not a collection of steel tubes and an engine. Instead, the Hipercar is a Hybrid capable of astonishing speeds.
The hybrid part is optional, a 35kW catalytic generator topping up the car's 800v battery pack. At full charge, Ariel claims a range of 150 miles in either two or four-wheel drive modes producing up to 1180 hp. Weird or wonderful, the Hipercar sprints to 60 mph in 2.09 seconds. Ariel claims production cars will be even faster.
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Weighing in at 10,000 lbs who wouldn't want to experience the brute force of the Karlmann King? Despite its F-117 Stealth Fighter styling, this insane luxury SUV is not American-made, nor does it hail from the oil-rich Middle East. The King is Italian, at least for the time being. Karlmann plans to build nine of these titans, before shifting production to the US.
Waging war with the King's immense bulk is a Ford 6.8-liter V10 cranking out 367 hp. With a claimed top speed of 87 mph, the King is far from fast. But, with an interior dripping in gadgets and entertainment, who cares?
Two for the price of one. British carmaker's love of three-wheelers hasn't enjoyed much success. Yet, both the Bond Bug and Peel's P50 micro car deliver thrills where you'd least expect them. They all boast simple designs, smaller engines, and a lightweight body. The Bond Bug based on the Reliant Robin used a quirky hinged canopy to separate itself from the crowd. That, and a lurid orange paint scheme.
The Peel P50 took downsizing to another level. Small enough to drive into buildings. The P50 long held the record as the world's smallest production car. Neither would be much fun to drive on a daily basis. But, for the sheer quirkiness and simplicity, they are hard to resist even if they are a touch weird.
Raised in a car-obsessed environment from an early age ensured a keen interest in anything car-related. first and foremost an F1 fan, but also an avid follower of other motorsports. Professional background working closely with a well established UK based Supercar manufacturer in recent years.