Cars

Strange three-wheeled car for 16 year old driver

TH (according to VnExpress) January 21, 2025 15:45

The Geparda was based on the Volkswagen Up!, which was weaker, slower, but more expensive than the original.

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The Geparda is based on the discontinued Volkswagen Up! city car.

Rather than optimizing for looks or speed, German tuner Geparda focused on making it legal for young people to drive. Based on the now-discontinued Volkswagen Up! city car, the Geparda version has one key difference: it allows teens as young as 16 to drive it.

With a clever rear axle design and revised drivetrain, the vehicle meets the European L5e class, or motorized three-wheeler standard. This allows anyone with an A1 license to legally drive it – two years earlier than the standard license, as citizens can take the test as early as 16.

Unlike basic 4-wheelers in the L6e segment such as the Citroen Ami or Renault Twizy, the Geparda still retains the amenities that users expect from a real car.

One of the most obvious changes to the Geparda is the new rear axle, which features two wheels but is placed close together and in the middle. At first glance it looks like a three-wheeler, but the Geparda actually rides on four tires, taking advantage of a legal loophole. The rear wheel arches, now largely decorative because they are empty, have been covered for aerodynamics. The Volkswagen logo has also disappeared.

To comply with L5e regulations, the Up!'s 1.0-liter, 3-cylinder engine is downgraded to 20 horsepower thanks to an ECU reprogramming. The stock version produces 59-114 horsepower depending on the version. As a result, the Geparda's top speed is limited to 110 km/h, while the stock version can reach 162-185 km/h.

According to the tuner, the Geparda underwent thousands of kilometers of testing before being allowed on the road. To ensure that the car does not tip over when entering tight corners, engineers added H&R stabilizer bars to the front axle and special Eibach springs at the rear. In addition, the throttle settings were adjusted for smooth operation, while the standard safety systems (ESP, ABS and airbags) remained intact.

Another requirement for the L5e segment is that it must weigh less than 1,000 kg – a limit that the standard Up! meets. The interior remains largely unchanged, with features such as air conditioning and heated seats. However, placing the dual wheels at the rear reduces the already limited cargo space of this urban vehicle.

Since it’s based on a discontinued model, the Geparda is essentially a used car. The company’s website currently lists two examples with around 15,000 miles on the clock. The two-door Geparda starts at €22,850 ($23,600), while the four-door model starts at €23,500 ($24,200)—a significant premium over most used Volkswagen Up!s in Germany.

The Geparda isn’t the only small hatchback being modified to target the L5e segment. Another company, Ellenator, offers similar conversions based on models like the Fiat 500, Seat Ibiza, Skoda Fabia, and Volkswagen Polo. In Ellenator’s case, customers can buy a complete car or spend around €5,680 ($5,900) on a conversion kit. It’s a niche market, but there’s still the appeal of making a small car legal for 16-year-olds to drive.

TH (according to VnExpress)
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Strange three-wheeled car for 16 year old driver