Gordon Murray’s Motiv Reinvented As Electric Autonomous Pod With A Single Gullwing Door

Gordon Murray Design (GMD) has released photos and specifications of its new Motiv autonomous city car.

Developed in collaboration with Delta Motorsport and itMoves, Motiv uses GMD’s patented iStream Superlight technology to produce “a safe and cost-effective autonomous vehicle.” Now, you may recall that Gordon Murray unveiled the Motiv.e city car concept with a Yamaha badge back in 2013.

Well, the Motiv can be considered a successor to that study, albeit a very different one. For starters, it’s a single-seater pod with autonomous capability that has the potential “to significantly reduce congestion and emissions in city centers.” How exactly can it do that? Well, it has two essential characteristics: it’s very small and it features all-electric propulsion.

Flexible autonomous pod able to cover 62 miles on a full battery charge

Motiv is only 2,537-mm (99.9-in) long, 1,310-mm (51.6-in) wide and 1,628-mm (64.1-in) high. As for the fully-electric powertrain, it’s supplied by Delta Motorsport and consists of a 20 kW (27 HP / 27 PS) electric motor powered by a 17.3 kWh liquid-cooled battery pack. This enables a potential driving range of up to 100 km (62 miles).

Its maximum speed is 65 km/h (50 mph), which means it’s only designed for urban and suburban environments. According to Gordon Murray Design, the battery can be recharged from 20 percent to 80 percent in just 40 minutes thanks to CCS charging capability.

Obviously, the Motiv won’t be able to reduce congestion all by itself; it will need to be widely adopted by consumers for that to happen. Gordon Murray Design hopes to convince both OEMs and Mobility as a Service (MaaS) providers with the Motiv’s flexibility, among other assets. In the future, the self-driving pod will be adapted to seat multiple occupants, accommodate a wheelchair user and even for commercial deliveries. The latter variant could offer a cargo volume of more than 1,100 liters (38.8 cu ft).

A quadricycle that’s as safe as a passenger car

Thanks to the use of GMD’s iStream Superlight technology, the Motiv is projected to weigh less than 450 kg (992 lbs), excluding batteries. The autonomous pod features an ultra-lightweight high strength extruded aluminum chassis (iFrame), composite panels and door (iPanel), plus aluminum suspension (iLink).

The low weight enables it to be homologated as a quadricycle – the first of its kind to meet European passenger car (M1) crash safety standards. Being a quadricycle also makes it simpler to produce than a car, resulting in shorter customer waiting times.

Design-wise, the Motiv is described as “contemporary, while also remaining compact and city friendly.” It features a gullwing door for easy access and protection from the elements. Inside, the autonomous pod is said to offer comfortable space with an integrated HVAC system and room to perch a laptop.

So when are we going to see the Motiv on our roads?

Gordon Murray Design estimates the Motiv could be ready for mass production within two to five years. To support the transition to autonomous road use, Gordon Murray Design and its partners aim to collaborate with autonomous technology providers for multiple pilot studies.

“Motiv has the potential to transform future mobility. With Motiv we have used our iStream technologies to create an ultra-lightweight body structure that delivers a vehicle that is compact, refined, safe and versatile, while remaining capable of significant range,” said professor Gordon Murray CBE, Chairman of Gordon Murray Group.

Gordon Murray Design will unveil the Motiv self-driving pod at the MOVE 2020 show in London (February 11-20).