OMG! That is so totally my new car! Well, as soon as it goes into production and enough time passes for the price to drop down to about $10,000. So, I figure 8 to 10 years after the first cars roll off the production line.

That is one sexy car. Where's the waiting list?

This is nice, but it's an concept that isn't nearly new. MIT already has working prototypes of the integral components to build a green, folding car for future urban mobility. Check it out: http://cities.media.mit.edu/projects/citycar.html. The same group recently made a working prototype of a scooter version of this concept as well called the RoboScooter

Why for the life of me does this remind me of a cockroach?

Have to admit it's one of the better looking designs that "fold up" vs. what Toyota and Nissan were playing with.

Leave it up to the French to add some spice to the mix.

@Darthur
The folding isn't so new, but the 888 is pretty slick looking.

We wrote aboute MITs City Cars back in the day: http://dvice.com/archives/2007/11/mit_stackable_city_cars_reinve.php

@Wildember
The 888 is by a designer from Norway, though there's a similar car that's French: http://dvice.com/archives/2008/07/french_future_c.php

Thanks for reading!

What about that sting bean cassarole I'm brining to Grandma's on Thanksgiving - Won't it spill when the Car folds ?

I'll bet that by the time something like this is in the mass production it will have some sort Hydrogen fuel system so that big business will still make a buck every 10-20 miles off the consumer after all we wouldn't be consumers with something that didn't need fuel, can;t let the Hamsters off the wheel.

Cool, but where do you put your groceries?

I love this car!
Exposed wheels so you can properly drag people under the car that stand too close to the curb.
Crushable exhaust under the lightest of rear-end taps from someone that can't park very well.
Tapered front end designed to flip your car over if you front-end someone.
And your forced to see what's behind you with your nifty video periscope.
I think I will buy a non-folding, Smart Car instead. Still 2 passenger, yet safe. All this just for a little luggage space?

I would not be caught driving one those, it sure does not look very safe.

Where in blazes do you mount the front and rear License Plates...? Certainly a sleek looking vehicle, and quite sufficient for transporting the near-gaunt, half-starved, avante guarde, Starbucks sipping, psuedo-European chimpanzee...but what about us over-fed, self absorbed, Dunkin Donuts guzzling, capitalist apes in the United States?

I don't think I could use this car without packing some vegetable shortening in the luggage area to lubricate my way in and out of the drivers seat.

It's ok, it is totally safe, this must be for when the world runs on some sort of rail system. There is no steering wheel.

Where the fenders, drive tran, and those tires. Can't wait to see the roads of the future.

P.S. I believe I've seen this before in a PC game.
Halo maybe.

Very interesting design. Reminds me of a cell phone with tires.

SS

@Ahipdude

"Crushable exhaust under the lightest of rear-end taps from someone that can't park very well."

It's an electric car... what exactly makes you think it has an exhaust system?

I think if I drive that it'll have to be at night when I'm wearing my mask and out fighting crime.

I would like to test drive one of these. Were can i see one, or get a hold of one too drive?

4get the waitin' list-----I'll take 1 now!!!! that's a car that was given some serious design thought B4 it was made! Peugeot's got my vote on this smartly-done concept----WELL DONE!!!

4get the waitin' list-----I'll take 1 now!!!! that's a car that was given some serious design thought B4 it was made! Peugeot's got my vote on this smartly-done concept----WELL DONE!!!

You know, I bet Oskar Johansen is some short little f*cker that thinks this concept would work for many, even *most* people. You know the type, the ones who say, "Lose the SUV, get a Prius!". Never mind that those of us of the 6 foot and over persuasion look like Mr. Incredible when he's crammed into the subcompact. Methinks he needs to be disabused of the notion that people want their commute to have seating like airline coach. Perhaps by having a tall man grab Mr. Johansen's ankles, raising them to head height, then releasing arm tension. Repeat until clown-car notions are gone.

"Exposed wheels so you can properly drag people under the car that stand too close to the curb."

Lolz... still can't figure out if its a good thing or not?

Wait...Where's the steering wheel? Are we supposed to communicate with the car telepathically, or what?

what about its mechanics. The people that will work on it.

Global warming aside... For a car designed by a Norwiegian, those are the most paultry snow tires I've ever seen

i love you.

WhenI first saw this "car", I thought it was soem sort of off-road/on-road sports car. Of course, that was before I saw the thing folded in half.

If they make a version that stays flat all the time (doesn't fold),is hydrogen/ethanol Powered, and can do 0-60 in under 4 seconds, I'll buy the first one off the line. Otherwise, I vote FAIL!

This vehicle doesn't pass the Occam's Razor test; to much McGyver and not enough substance

I think it is an awesome idea but what would be a starting price for one of these. I just don't see how this could be a big hit anytime soon because oil companies still have all the power in vehicles and car companies. There needs to be a reasonable pricerange, an actual large production line, and obviously a lot of support for the car for it to even make an impact in the world. Otherwise, this concept is a good idea but i don't know enough about the lithium batteries to understand if that is completely safe though.

I think it is an awesome idea but what would be a starting price for one of these. I just don't see how this could be a big hit anytime soon because oil companies still have all the power in vehicles and car companies. There needs to be a reasonable pricerange, an actual large production line, and obviously a lot of support for the car for it to even make an impact in the world. Otherwise, this concept is a good idea but i don't know enough about the lithium batteries to understand if that is completely safe though.

I think it is an awesome idea but what would be a starting price for one of these. I just don't see how this could be a big hit anytime soon because oil companies still have all the power in vehicles and car companies. There needs to be a reasonable pricerange, an actual large production line, and obviously a lot of support for the car for it to even make an impact in the world. Otherwise, this concept is a good idea but i don't know enough about the lithium batteries to understand if that is completely safe though.

I can't help but noyice that there isn't a steering wheel.

Good idea... but like others before me have said... the big oil barons of the US have too much of a strangle hold on the US government for something like this to even be produced, much less considered for the mass market.

Transformer... will sell well as a R/C toy for xmas.

Impractical technical complexity that costs the earth to manufacture for no real benefit.. The MIT concept [and a few others before them] is simpler. Besides, who is going to be considerate enough to simply save parking space ? More likely the roadpigs will simply find more even less convenient gaps to stuff a 'folder' into..

Maximize the interior , reduce to three covered wheels, cover all the mechanicals , make it auto , be sensible increase the ride height ,and limit the car top speed to the road legal limit +10 ish for safety overtaking.

Carver now, VenturaOne in progress maybe if you want complex and workable

I'll take two of 'em - one to bury, and the second one to cover the first one up with!

Seriously though, when will the engineering masterminds behind these types of creations consult with the "Average Joe" on their feasability before dumping XYZ dollars into such wasteful projects? *sigh*
Perhaps their funding was about to be cut, and they had to come up with something, anything, to justify the time/money already spent?
The "Smart Cars" already being produced truly aren't any better, and IMHO are simply street legal golf carts.
Sure they're economical and Eco-friendly. But don't kid yourself, they lack anything similar to horsepower to be able to safely merge into traffic on the average street.
Factor in their post-accident semblance and lightweight composite materials, and now you have an (somewhat) eco-friendly rolling coffin.

Unfortunately, the "look at me, and look at what I'm driving!" culture here in So Calif will likely be turning in their current middle aged toys to make room for one of these in their driveway. *deep, deep sigh*

WOW, i like the looks of that car!
Can i have one please?

Didn't anyone see "The Terminator"? The "888" is what tracks down humans to kill them.