MOTORING NEWS - Most city cars are smaller and smarter than your average car, but they're limited by design and manufacturing conventions handed down from larger cars. What happens when you abandon these conventions? Well, Russian company Mirrow has tried to find out and created the Provocator in the process.
Mirrow Provocator is a revolutionary car, which will be the same length as the Smart Fortwo, but for four people plus luggage.
The car body is produced for more than 50% from recycle polymers (synthetic and plastic). Judging by the interior space, dynamic and safety characteristics, Mirrow Provocator could be classified as a business car.
It is not a long car, but not a small one. It's height and width would be comparable with a large SUV. Inside the Mirrow Provocator feels like a minivan, but the driver's position behind the wheel and the front passenger's position are close to a more luxurious German sedan.
The start-up from Russian Alexander Malyshev presented the first prototype of the Mirrow Provocator in October 2016 at the Mondial de l'automobile Paris.
In Paris the company showed the electric version of the Mirrow Provocator. There are also different versions for business use: a compact city food-truck, a logistics vehicle for postal services and a version extended with 70cm as a taxi for six people.
Malyshev said they decided to start with the prototype, but they are still looking for investors and strategic partners. He hopes to see the vehicle actually driving around cities in different countries in the next two years or so.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The combination of high standards of comfort and safety within the short length of the car is achieved by using principles of aircraft space planning with seats located on both sides of the aisle, with a high ceiling and access through one door.
Comfortable access for the driver and passengers is provided by the door at the rear of the vehicle. A special external device will protect the door from being blocked by another car when parked, although the best parking situation is perpendicular to the sidewalk.
The basic version of the car will be equipped with seat belts with three or four attachment points. Optionally available will be the modern active safety systems such as airbags, ABS and ESP.
The single rear door is said to allow a car body with a high level of safety, similar to the powerful safety cage of rally cars.
According to the company Mirrow, the engine would be able to push the Provocator up to 100km in 8,7 seconds on the way to an electronically limited 140km.
The original concept of the car body has optimum safety and also opens the way to a significant reduction in the proportion of metal, instead of which lightweight and inexpensive polymers can be used without torsional stiffness and strength of the car body - although it will more effectively absorb and distribute impact energy during emergency situations.
FOR BUSINESS
A special version of Mirrow Provocator may be useful for the corporate segment: an electric version for car sharing, a normal or longer version of up to 3,4m with six seats for a taxi, or without rear seats for mini food-trucks or delivery.
Inside the Mirrow Provocator the high ceilings and space can accommodate a professional kitchen. The rear door and perpendicular parking will make it convenient to work with customers while taking up minimal space on the road.
Using the Mirrow Provocator for postal or logistics services will help to significantly reduce congestion on the roads and the cargo volume can hold a full day's delivery.
For taxis it would be possible to use the longer version of the Mirrow Provocator with two additional folding side seats.
UPDATE
The exact timing of the appearance of the Mirrow Provocator on the market, final configurations and price, have not yet been announced, but we're sure this Russian city car will make waves when it does test the water.
Sources: www.mirrowcars.com and www.prestigeelectriccar.com
'We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news'
