Besides the premieres from established automakers at the 2021 IAA Motorshow, we also have some interesting debuts from newcomers. One of these is the City Transformer, a fully electric small car that has the ability to change its width between 1 m (39.4 inches) and 1.4 m (55.1 inches) for maximum agility in the city, thanks to its Active Width Adjustment technology.
According to the creators of the City Transformer, data shows that 85 percent of the time people use their cars to commute in the city and to speeds of up to 24 km/h (15 mph).
Read Also: ACM City One Is A Budget-Friendly EV Designed For Fleet Use With Swappable Batteries
As a solution to the problem of traffic congestion and limited parking in city centers, they came up with the City Transformer which combines the footprint of a motorcycle with the safety of a car. The vehicle is measuring 2,500 mm (98.4 inches) in length, 1,000 – 1,400 mm (39.4 – 55.1 inches) in width, and 1,580 mm (62.2 inches) in height, with a wheelbase of 1,800 mm (70,9 inches).
When in City Mode, the City Transformer is so narrow that four of them can fit in a single parking space (perpendicular parking). While on the go and for a more car-like driving experience, the driver can choose the Performance Mode where the front and rear tracks expand together with the fenders for better handling. Moreover, the City Transfomer has a modern design with LED lighting, tiny overhangs, a panoramic sunroof, and scissor doors while it can fit two passengers inside the cabin.
The City Transformer is fitted with two electric motors producing a combined 20 hp (15 kW / 20 PS). Thanks to the low weight, it needs 5 seconds for the 0-50 km/h (0-31 mph) acceleration and can reach a top speed of 90 km/h (56 mph). It has a range between 120-180 km (75-112 mph) and using fast chargers, the battery can reach 80 percent of its full capacity in 30 minutes.
The company claims that the City Transformer will be the safest vehicle in its category, although it is not clear if it classifies as a heavy quadricycle like the Citroën Ami and Mobilize EZ-1, or as an A-Segment car such as the Smart eq fortwo.
The company has already started taking pre-orders. The starting price is €12,500 ($14,845) for early customers and will then rise to €16,000 ($19,002).