Well, the micro/city-car bug has bitten the two wheeler manufacturers after all.
At the EICMA show late last week, they showed a three-seat small car concept for markets such as India, Vietnam and South East Asia. Called the NT3, the concept measures no more than 2.4 metres long, making it shorter than even the 2.64 metre long Mahindra (Maini) Reva. Three powertrains have been designed for the NT3. A basic 200cc motor, a more powerful 300c motor that uses technology from the Piaggio Mp3 three-wheeled scooter and a 300cc hybrid motor that mates the internal combustion engine to a electric powerpack form the triumvirate of options. The latter is designed to travel at top speed of 80 kph, with the electric pack designed to solely run the car at speeds of 30 kph or under. The rest of the car is pretty much traditional small car in construction using McPherson struts at the front and "Omega" suspension at the rear that also acts as the load bearing carrier for the powertrain.
Late last week, Italian scooter maker Piaggio busted out its low-cost, three-seat NT3 concept at the Milan Motorcycle Show. Piaggio conceived the NT3 concept in India and envisions it as a competitor to bargain-priced vehicles like the Tato Nano and some of the entry-level offerings from Maruti Suzuki.
The NT3 concept is loosely based on Piaggio's three-wheel Ape, a commercial vehicle offered in pick-up, panel van and tipper (tilting bed) configurations. The NT3 was conceived as a multi-purpose vehicle with several task-specific configurations.
Piaggio Concept NT3. At Eicma 2010 Piaggio Group introduces the NT3 Concept. An extraordinarily innovative vehicle, designed to meet mobility needs in areas with the highest development rates, specifically in India, Vietnam and South East Asia.
NT3 is a result of Piaggio Group's innovation and technological capabilities which - together with a unique design - give life to a four wheeled, three seater vehicle never before seen on the market inspired by the basic characteristics of the ape. NT3 is a compact, safe, flexible, maneuvrable and attractive vehicle as well as being highly competitive thanks to its contained costs.
Concept NT3: key characteristics
- Compact size: thanks to a length of only 2.4 metres, NT3 moves about easily in traffic and is easy to park.
- Load capacity: In the people carrier version, optimisation of the spaces guarantees full accommodations for three people thanks to the innovative three seat configuration with centre driving position.
- Respect for the environment: the reduced weight allows consumption and emissions to be contained. NT3 can be available with high efficiency and low emissions power drives, including hybrid Piaggio HyS technology.
- Modular: NT3 is a vehicle conceived to allow various transport solutions, such to configure a complete and diversified range of products.
Style: tradition and innovation
Tradition and innovation come together to clothe this Piaggio concept vehicle, completely unique on the mobility scene thanks also to various technical and architectural solutions which Piaggio has covered with specific patents.
Versatility and transformability are two other fundamental characteristics of the NT3 project. Technical characteristics
Vehicle architecture: The use of a spaceframe with crashbox, conceived in high resistance steel, guarantees the safety of the occupants. On the NT3 concept the integration between powertrain and rear suspension allows the operational space of the mechanics to be contained and the vehicle's centre of gravity to be lowered, which translates into excellent stability. Accessibility: the formed deck allows comfortable