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Auto Express Car Reviews
Volvo Lining Up New City Car
There's soon to be a new player in the small car market, and its first model could be this wacky two-seater rival to the Smart ForTwo.
12th May 2004
Called the Tandem - because the driver and passenger ride in line - it's being developed by Volvo. The layout has been chosen because the Swedish company believes the future will be geared around narrow cars that can make the most of lane space on congested commuter routes.
Auto Express had the opportunity to drive a prototype, and project leader Doug Frasher told us that this was just the beginning. "We envisage a family of cars like this. We want it to change the way the world thinks about vehicle ownership," he explained.
Frasher used the example of the Sony Walkman, highlighting how it revolutionised the personal audio industry. Despite its compact dimensions, the Tandem promises to be safe. The gullwing doors have space for side airbags and beams, while the engine will be in the rear, allowing the front end to be a deformable structure. Tandem tested here
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