We are all accustomed to seeing cars on the roads that are generally very similar to each other. The modern automotive industry cannot boast of a variety of forms. However, for those who want a car that is unlike anything else on our roads, there are certain developments that stand out sharply from everyday vehicles.
This article describes the most unusual cars in the world that can satisfy the aesthetic needs of even an avid critic and connoisseur.
Honda Puyo
This “bubble on wheels” is absolutely environmentally friendly, because it runs on hydrogen fuel. From the car's cabin, the driver and passenger have a full view, but you will not find a steering wheel. It is replaced by a convenient joystick. Another “highlight” is the soft luminescent body: wherever you poke it, the panel will give way. Honda marketers believe that such a car will especially appeal to modern girls.
Peugeot Honey-B
In the electric “autobee”, passengers will have to sit on a “ladder”, like in the cockpit of a fighter jet, which increases the viewing range and also allows them to maintain personal space. This car has fairly good maneuverability, not only on city roads, but also on dirt roads. There is one electric motor per wheel, and the maximum speed the car can reach is 120 km/h.
Since the release of the first production car, the automotive world has evolved perhaps every decade. Models of a certain era are one way or another similar to each other: in appearance, technical characteristics, the presence or absence of certain options. There are exceptions to this rule, however. In the review on Autonews.ru - 12 of the strangest cars ever produced.
BMW Isetta 300
• Years of production: 1956-1962;
• Number of cars produced: 161,728; • Engines: 0.3 liters (13 horsepower); • Capacity: 2 people; • Acceleration to 100 km/h: no (maximum speed – 85 km/h); • Country of origin: Germany; • Price: $1,000. The three-wheeled Isetta at one time saved BMW from bankruptcy: while competitors were selling more expensive cars, the Bavarians managed to sell 160,000 Isettas and seriously improve their financial position, undermined by the Second World War. The Isetta, which has Italian roots, was primarily distinguished by its modest size and the fact that the only door was located where the hood is located on modern cars: the steering wheel of the model moved with the door.
Mohs Ostentatienne Opera Sedan
• Years of production: 1967-1979;
• Number of cars produced: 6-7; • Engines: 5.0 liters (193 horsepower); • Capacity: 5 people; • Acceleration to 100 km/h: unknown; • Country of origin: America; • Price: $19,600. Mohs owner Bruce Mohs created the Ostentatienne Opera Sedan as an example of what a luxury sedan should be. It didn’t go beyond the concept, but in the two years that the businessman was burning with this idea, he managed to produce 6 or 7 similar cars. The main feature of the car is the absence of doors: you could get inside through the trunk. It opened, throwing down a step and greeting the passenger or driver with a red carpet.
Axiam-Mega MultiTruck
• Years of production: 2010 – present;
• Number of cars produced: still in production; • Engines: diesel (15 hp), electric (12 kW); • Capacity: 2 people; • Acceleration to 100 km/h: unknown; • Country of origin: France; • Price: from $14,000. Axiam-Mega is a French company that initially specialized in the production of subcompact cars and ATVs. However, in 2010, the concern released the MultiTruck light truck, which is designed for people who use commercial vehicles for short-distance transportation and therefore want to reduce vehicle maintenance costs. Whether with a diesel or an electric motor, the model has extremely low operating costs. It looks very strange, though.
Messerschmitt KR175
• Years of production: 1953 – 1955;
• Number of cars produced: 15,000 – 20,000; • Engines: 0.17 (9 horsepower); • Capacity: 2 people; • Acceleration to 100 km/h: no (maximum speed – 80 kilometers per hour); • Country of origin: Germany; • Price: $500. After World War II, Germany was banned from making airplanes for a long time: the Messerschmitt company had to switch to something else. In 1953, the concern's first car, the KR175, was released, which the Germans themselves called a scooter with a cabin. The three-wheeled car had a steering wheel, more like that of a bicycle or motorcycle, and two seats: one behind the other. In 1955, the KR175 was replaced by a new product - the KR200.
Mazda R360
• Years of production: 1960 – 1966;
• Number of cars produced: 65,000; • Engines: 0.35 (16 horsepower); • Capacity: 4 people; • Acceleration to 100 km/h: no (maximum speed – 80 kilometers per hour); • Country of origin: Japan; • Price: from $833. The R360 is the first production passenger car produced by Mazda. The car, which was available with a choice of either a manual transmission or an automatic transmission, weighed only 380 kilograms. The popular model allowed Mazda to strengthen its financial position and, thanks to the fact that post-war restrictions on the export of Japanese products were lifted, it was successfully sold not only at home, but also in other countries.
Russo-Baltique Impression
• Years of production: 2006;
• Number of cars produced: 1; • Engines: 6.0 liters (555); • Capacity: 4 people; • Acceleration to 100 km/h: unknown; • Country of origin: joint production of Russia and Germany; • Price: $1.8 million. In 2002, the A:Level studio decided to revive the famous Russian brand Russo-Balt and created a car design in the style of the 40s of the previous century. The owner of the Russo-Balt trademark, Viktor Taknov, even invested $2 million in the project, and the studio was renamed Russo-Baltique. The only car - Russo-Baltiqe Impression - was released in 2006 in collaboration with craftsmen from the German company German GErg GmbH and presented at the Geneva Motor Show. Then the price of future small-scale models was even announced - 1.8 million US dollars. However, production of the model was never launched.
Daihatsu Midget II
• Years of production: 1996 – 2002;
• Number of cars produced: unknown; • Engines: 0.65 (30.5 horsepower); • Capacity: 1-2 people; • Acceleration to 100 km/h: no (maximum speed – 50 kilometers per hour); • Country of origin: Japan; • Price: $6,800. The second - more car-like in the modern sense of the word - generation of the Daihatsu Midget was not as successful as its three-wheeled predecessor, in the first year of production of which more than 80,000 copies of the model were sold. The car, which looks like a rhinoceros because of the spare wheel located on the hood, was presented in 1993 at the Tokyo Motor Show, but entered production only in 1996. Depending on the layout, the model could be a two-seater or designed only for the driver.
Peel P50
• Years of production: 1962 – 1965;
• Number of cars produced: 50; • Engines: 0.05 (4.2 horsepower); • Capacity: 1 person; • Acceleration to 100 km/h: no (maximum speed – 61 kilometers per hour); • Country of origin: Great Britain; • Price: $560. The Peel P50, equipped with one door and accommodating one person, weighed only 59 kilograms. The car was equipped with a handle at the back, thanks to which the car could be manually turned around or pulled into the house or garage. The fuel consumption of the model is only 2.8 liters per 100 km. In 2010, Peel released a limited edition P50 with an electric motor.
ZAZ-965A
• Years of production: 1960 –1969;
• Number of cars produced: 322,166; • Engines: 0.75 liters (23 hp), 0.9 liters (27 hp); • Capacity: 4 people; • Acceleration to 100 km/h: no (maximum speed – 90 kilometers per hour); • Country of origin: joint production Russia; • Price: from 15,000 rubles. ZAZ-965A, popularly nicknamed the “humpbacked Cossack”, according to legend, was created according to the patterns of the Fiat 600. The car had rear-wheel drive and “gills”, which became the “feature” of this model for many years. In fact, this design element was of utmost importance - it cooled the engine and protected it from overheating. Another interesting fact is that the ZAZ-965A was the last Soviet car with doors that opened against the direction of travel.
Renault Twizy
• Years of production: 2012 – present;
• Number of cars produced: still in production; • Engines: electric motor (6.1 Kilowatt); • Capacity: 2 people; • Acceleration to 100 km/h: no (maximum speed – 75 kilometers per hour); • Country of origin: France; • Price: from $10,900. Twizy is not technically a car, but a heavy ATV. The length of the model is only 2,300 mm, and the width is 1,130 mm, while the car can accommodate two passengers: the passenger seat is located behind the driver’s seat and can even be adjusted in height. The range of the electric motor in ideal conditions is about 100 kilometers. A full charge from a regular outlet takes approximately 3.5 hours.
Bong Bug 700E
• Years of production: 1970 – 1974;
• Number of cars produced: 2,270; • Engines: 0.7 l (29 horsepower); • Capacity: 2 people; • Acceleration to 100 km/h: 23.2 seconds; • Country of origin: Great Britain; • Price: $1,500. The two-seater three-wheeled model had one top-hung door. Essentially, to get inside the car, you had to lift the top of the body. Despite its modest dimensions, each car was equipped with a spare wheel. Several Bong Bug 700E were produced specifically to advertise the Rothmans tobacco company.
Twike
• Years of production: 1992 – present;
• Number of cars produced: still in production; • Engines: electric motor (7.4 Kilowatt); • Capacity: 2 people; • Acceleration to 100 km/h: no (maximum speed – 85 kilometers per hour);; • Country of origin: joint production of Germany and Switzerland; • Price: from $22,300. Twike (a compound of “twin” - double and “bike” - bicycle) is a hybrid car that can move either thanks to an electric motor or a person. There are pedals installed in the cabin, by turning which you can make the 246-kilogram car move. According to the manufacturer, physical exercise warms a person up so much that a car, for example, does not need a stove. The power reserve of the electric motor is from 50 to 300 km, depending on the type of batteries installed.
Nikolay Zagvozdkin
Photo: manufacturing companies, Wikipedia
BOMBARDIER EMBRIO/2025
While you can’t touch it with your hands and rush along the highway - the project is at the development stage, but this unicycle can already be called the transport of the future. The appearance of the first models is planned for 2025. The large wheel contains gyroscopic balancing technology, and the small one is designed for stabilization or can be used as a parking chassis. To make a turn, the driver just needs to lean in the right direction.
Car made of wood
The finish is wooden, and the filling is sporty. The car took longer than six months to create. The creator is farmer Yu Zhitao from China. About 16 thousand dollars were spent on the implementation of the project, it fully justified the efforts: although not fast (only 30 km/h), it still drives. Quite acceptable for urban conditions.
The restlessness of automakers is amazing and admirable. There are so many cars in the world! Pompous, glamorous, futuristic, ultra-modern, archaic. Any model is a source of inspiration for subsequent developments.
- Author: Loria
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Nissan Pivo 2
The cabin of this small car can rotate 360 degrees, and the wheels can rotate 90. That is why the car can drive not only back and forth, but also left and right, which makes parking much easier (especially for the fair sex). Nissan Pivo 2 runs on lithium-ion batteries, and a robotic assistant in the shape of a funny monkey is provided as a guide.
MESSERSCHMITT KR200
As it turned out, the Messerschmidt aircraft manufacturing company did not fold as a result of the Second World War, but simply re-profiled itself a little. For example, I started making these funny little cars. Three wheels, bicycle handlebars instead of traditional ones, light weight. Strange, but quite effective.
We also believe that you would be interested to know about the most expensive and rare cars that can still be found somewhere in private collections.
Photo source: Pinterest
Ferdinand GT3 RS
Porsche has always been associated with speed and great design. However, the concern's designers can also surprise. This “miracle” was the Ferdinand GT3 RS, which is the slowest car the company has ever produced: the thing is that this car does not have an engine, but is driven by an elongated four-wheeled bicycle. The appearance is also deceptive: the body is made of ordinary plastic tubes, which are wrapped in gold tape.
Cars with the most unusual appearance
Today, many cars are being created in the world that have an extraordinary and shocking appearance.
The most prominent representatives of such transport can be considered:
The car is a shoe
The car is made in the shape of a woman's high-heeled shoe and can claim first place in the category “the strangest cars ever made in the world.” It has widely spaced motorcycle wheels located in front and rotating. There is only one rear wheel and is located directly under the heel. A regular low-power motorcycle engine is also installed here.
The vehicle is a concept, is not mass-produced and is not intended for everyday use. Does not meet the safety requirements in force in the country of origin and therefore cannot be registered in government databases. The shoe car must be driven at a minimum speed, as the stability of the unusual prototype leaves much to be desired.
ZIL - dragon
A one-piece car produced on the basis of ZIL-133. Made by order of one of the public associations of the Russian Federation. Outwardly it resembles a dragon. It has a forward metal bumper, fangs, a modified cabin and body. Equipped with a suitably styled container for transporting liquids. The car has a rather “scary” and respect-inspiring design that matches the post-apocalyptic theme.
The technically modified truck has also been improved. A more powerful engine, additional fuel tanks have been installed here, and the gearbox has been replaced. The operation of an unusual car takes place on public roads.
Batmobile
The Batmobile is a vehicle made specifically for filming films about the superhero Batman. It was made in several copies. The concept was based on Lincoln future, Buick Riviera and Chevrolet Caprice at different times.
Two out of three such cars were stylized as a bat. The latest version of the Batmobile is more reminiscent of a military transport. All Batmobiles are excellent representatives of the caste of the most unusual and extravagant cars on Earth.
Harley Davidson Limousine
Limousine = luxury and beautiful life. But what if you remove a few wheels and add some shock value? Then you get something between a car and a motorcycle. This is exactly the kind of limousine presented by the Harley Davidson concern. Despite the leather interior, built-in bar and all kinds of audio and video systems, the car still remains an untamed beast, which not everyone will decide to drive.
Tankmobile
This is Magnitogorsk, baby! Pavel Shavrin, an engineer from this Ural town, invented and designed a real tank car based on the VAZ-2105. The caterpillar was made at one of the factories according to his individual order. Assembly of the car took only six months. The car is not afraid of either snow or dirt, however, the traffic police did not understand the idea, and the vehicle did not pass inspection. Therefore, Pavel does not travel far from his house in the village.
Lawn on wheels
All environmentalists should have such a machine, because it is completely covered with living turf, which, however, requires constant care: the “clearing” must be watered, otherwise the grass will dry out and turn yellow, and also be trimmed periodically. Perhaps the only negative about this car is that due to the layer of turf, real tropical heat reigns in the cabin.
