I HAVE long been dismissive of small single seat cars believing that those who might buy one would almost certainly rather be riding a motorbike.
I still think this is the case and that such cars as the smart - ugly as it is – do have their place.
But times are changing, and I can see that my thinking on single seat cars may have to change.
VW certainly thinks so and has come up with an electric concept of its own to prove the point.
Called the NILS – must be an acronym for something in German, unless it’s just a nickname – the company claims it has the performance of a sportscar with zero emissions.
The tiny car, which has very narrow tyres and gull-wing doors, is built mainly from aluminium so is very light.
VW’s description coins the word ‘micromobility’ but I still think that a two seater would have been just as easy to produce.
It has a range of 40 miles, a top speed of 80mph and very good acceleration to 60 miles an hour.
Interior
It has stability control, automatic distance control and there’s even a small boot. The instruments are all in a seven inch display which gives speed, range, and energy flow.
And a second display is a removable information and entertainment system with touch screen control of navigation, radio, media, telephone and trip computer.
FAST FACTS
Volkswagen Nils
Price: n/a
Mechanical: 15kw electric motor driving the rear wheels via a single speed manual gearbox
Max speed: 80mph
0-62mph: 11 seconds
Combined mpg: 0
Insurance group: n/a
CO2 emissions: 0g/km
BIK rating: n/a
Warranty: n/a
Marks: 7/10
Main rival: None