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Bertone Slim

When Mercedes' Smart car was first unveiled in the mid-Nineties, people gasped in disbelief. Surely a car this small couldn't be practical? But the Smart wasn't the first to take the downsizing route - as far back as the Fifties bubble cars were being touted as the next 'big' thing, and in many ways they made more sense than the Mercedes because of their tiny width.

March 2002

When Mercedes' Smart car was first unveiled in the mid-Nineties, people gasped in disbelief. Surely a car this small couldn't be practical? But the Smart wasn't the first to take the downsizing route - as far back as the Fifties bubble cars were being touted as the next 'big' thing, and in many ways they made more sense than the Mercedes because of their tiny width.

This fact hasn't escaped the notice of the Italian styling house, Bertone. Famous as the designer of classics such as the Lamborghini Countach, and currently building the Vauxhall Astra Coupe, the studio now has its sights on the city car market. Its aim is to combine the traffic-busting ability of a motorbike with the comforts of a car. One answer is a two-seater, in which the passenger sits behind the driver. With this layout, the tiny vehicle can slip into small gaps and tight spots.

This idea has borne fruit in a car which lives up to its name - the Slim. The model's proportions are unusual to say the least. It is longer than a Mini but 310mm narrower at only 1,100mm, and its design resembles the cockpit of an aeroplane, with twin curved Plexiglas covers much like the original bubble cars. They slide back, for access and ventilation. Getting in is like climbing into a canoe. You stand with your head poking out of the roof and feet each side of the seat, then lower your body on to the narrow squab and stretch out your legs.

The dash has a monitor on both sides, one on the left for the navigation system, the other on the right displaying everything else: speed, fuel level, water temperature and the output of an on-board computer. A video camera films the driver's face and beams it to a small monitor so that the occupants are not isolated from each other. Driving this wacky machine on the streets of Turin, we caused quite a stir. The locals bombarded us with questions: How much? How fast? What engine? Do you need a licence? Are you mad? The answers were easy. The car has no price yet as it is still a concept, but it would cost less than a Smart if produced. The Bertone is powered by a 500cc two-cylinder engine producing only 19bhp, which unfortunately proved to be its Achilles' heel. The unit shudders violently and is extremely sluggish. A claimed top speed of just 59mph simply isn't enough out of town, either. Plans are afoot for a new 24bhp engine, but this doesn't promise a great improvement - even a 390kg city car like this could do with a bit more muscle.

However, the low power does have one plus in that enables it to be driven with only a motorcycle licence. In town, we had plenty of fun sliding into gaps and watching the reactions of drivers as we overtook whole lines of traffic on single-lane roads. At large in its natural habitat, the Slim is quite a slick operator. But its success will depend on its versatility; it needs more power to let it roam out of town.

Motorcycles are the quickest way to get around town because you can weave through narrow spaces in traffic and find extra lanes to get you out of a jam. But they expose their riders to the elements and to danger. The Bertone Slim's tandem layout seems to be the perfect solution. There is no doubt it is the fastest thing on four wheels across a city, despite its horrible, under-powered engine. It may look daft, but as you sweep past lane after lane of traffic, you'll agree this is a great town vehicle.

At a glance

* Two-seater city car with passenger behind driver

* Inspired by Fifties Messerschmidt bubble cars

* 19bhp engine from a cement mixer makes it legal to drive on a full motorcycle licence

* Ultra slim (1,100mm) for traffic-dodging action

* Would cost around

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