D Art D-Face

[Rusty Chrome (Malcolm Parker)]

Remember the fictional Electric Isetta from a few years back?

http://www.d-art.jp/d-face/index.html

http://www.just-auto.com/news/the-bubble-car-is-back-fit-for-the-21st-century_id144966.aspx

[AndrewG]

Now, call me fussy - but I reckon if I had a car with a front door, I would want to see a seal between the door and the body.  But I guess that's the sort of detail that stymies the creative inspiration of a designer (or what used to be more accurately called a 'stylist').

[Rusty Chrome (Malcolm Parker)]

Windscreen wipers are extra as well.

[Jim Janecek]

Windscreen wipers are extra as well.

Well, that is a deal breaker for me then.

also- the Press Release mentions it was "inspired" by the front-opening doors of such cars as the Messerschmitt Kabinroller and Peel Trident?
The only vehicle I am aware of that had a front opening door like this was the Dornier Delta (precursor to the Zündapp Janus)
oh wait, there is another, an industrial truck…..I forget the name

[Big Al]

Repetitive ignorant PR perpetuating a story that hides so much. Be interesting to see how they get on with a car of more limited use than an Isetta!

[blob]

there is another, an industrial truck…..I forget the name

It's the french EV Teihol Citadine: http://www.3wheelers.com/teihol.html

They also produced other models which included a mini truck. Scroll down... http://www.rumcars.org/forum/index.php?topic=1350.30

[marcus]

Various others with frontal doors too, like the bottom-hinged Smyk.
It really does seem that virtually every year another young design re-designs a KR or Isetta which is then never seen again. I suppose the 80s Suzuki was more Heinkel-Trojan inspired than Isetta, but design originality seems to be dead.

[steven mandell]

The steering wheel and binnacle pivoting with the side mounted door of the original Isetta was a more efficacious and elegant alternative to the obstructive protuberance provided in this flight into fantasy.