The Naro for Urban Transport

2 February 2005

WorldChanging points to the Naro—a two-person vehicle which combines motorcycle and car design elements in order to provide a mix of comfort, maneuverability, and efficiency.

Its high centre of gravity means that it must be leaned like a bike to go round corners, but unlike a bike it has four wheels and the two occupants (one driver and one passenger) sit enclosed within a body with all the comforts of a car.

Weighing only about 300kg, less than a third of most city cars, it is expected that the Naro will be powered by a small petrol or diesel engine giving up to 100mpg or by a new generation of fuel cell engines running on hydrogen. While designed primarily for the city, the aerodynamics of Naro means that it would be more than capable of motorway speeds.

The Naro seats two in a jet fighter-style cockpit, providing enough room for a small bit of cargo; one of the first intended applications is as a single passenger taxi.

The developer of the Naro is Prodrive, a British motorsport company which makes its money providing cars for racing teams. Prodrive licensed the development of the Naro to the appropriately-named Narrow Car Company in mid-2004. 

“Previous urban concept vehicles have been low to the ground to maintain stability, but in traffic this can leave the driver feeling very vulnerable,” said Damian Harty, Prodrive chief dynamics engineer and creator of Naro. “Recent taller, leaning designs have used three wheels. However, we believe that if the motoring public is to accept such vehicles that four wheels is the best way forward.“

Sales of the Naro will initially be in Europe.