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TVE released its first production model in 1972 with the three-wheeled Citadine electric car. The Citadine’s exterior design was inspired by earlier “bubble cars’ like BMW’s Isetta, although it’s front-opening door was hinged at the top. Like the Isetta, this was intended to ease entry and exit from the vehicle directly onto the curb. The […]

Hans Glas and his son Andreas began producing scooters in their agricultural repair shop in Germany shortly after World War II. Their first product, the Goggo scooter, named for Hans’ youngest son, was an instant success as it met a demand for low-cost vehicles in the economically depressed country. This success helped pave the way

TVR’s tumultuous history began in 1947, and continues to this day, albeit after many management, ownership, and location changes. Founder TreVoR Wilkinson started TVR in Beverley Grove, Blackpool, building sports cars based on Alvis chassis. Like Lotus, TVR specialized in fiberglass body-on-frame sports cars using many off-the-shelf components from other manufacturers; unlike Lotus, TVR never

Saab’s Model 93, introduced Dec. 1, 1955, was only the company’s second automotive model, and was the first to be exported in significant numbers – most came to the US. The 93 was designed by famed Swedish industrial designer Sixten Sason. Sason was best known for his designs for Saab, (Saab 92, 93, 95, 96,

The Ardea, introduced in 1939, was a “luxury utility” model a size down from its big brother, the Aprillia. The car is similar in layout, but simpler in design, with a solid rear axle and no trunk opening. The name followed Lancia’s convention of models named after Roman Empire coastal towns and roads; Ardea, Aprillia,

Moretti Motors began building motorcycles in 1925, and introduced their first conventional production car, the Cita, in 1946. During the late 1950s, in an effort to maximize profits, Moretti ceased designing and creating their own vehicles. Instead, they switched to building special-bodied Fiats, using existing Fiat engines and chassis.During the 1960s and 70s, rugged utility

Michio Suzuki began producing weaving looms for Japan’s then-thriving silk industry in 1909. In an attempt to diversify the company, Suzuki began producing a small motorized bicycle, the 36cc “Power Free”, in June of 1952. In March of 1955, the company’s first motorcycle, the 125cc Colleda, was introduced. Suzuki’s first car came in October of

Conceived as a more practical car than its other offerings, Lotus introduced the Evora in 2009 as a competitor to the Porsche Cayman. The Evora is Lotus’s first all-new car since the introduction of the Elise in 1995, and keeps the Lotus tradition of naming models starting with the letter “E”. “Evora” is an acronym

The Honda S660 is the spiritual successor to the 1990’s Honda Beat, itself a descendent of Honda’s first sports car, the 1963 Honda S500 roadster. The result of a four year competition between 400 engineering graduates at Honda, the winning design was first seen as a prototype at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, entering production