Wednesday, Dec 14, 2005
By Nermeen Elkady, Staff Reporter
Dubai: Bike enthusiasts and drivers looking for an alternative to motor around streets in the Middle East will soon have another option.
The Carver One is part bike, part car. The three wheel twin seating vehicle is the first of it kind and is making its regional and global debut at the Middle East International Motorshow.
The Gulf region is a prime market for this vehicle said Erwin Blomsma, communications director at Carver Europe, because of consumer buying habits.
"Around here there are a lot of people who buy huge sports cars, they want to have a lot of fun. With this vehicle if you drive the speed limit you get the feeling and adrenaline rush as driving a faster sports car," said Blomsma.
The Carver One has a large price tag for its size- retailing for 35,000 euros (Dh152,000), Each vehicle is hand made accounting for 50 man hours of assembly and a 10 week delivery time. "These vehicles are more exclusive than any Lamborghini of Ferrari there are only a few hundred built worldwide every year," added Blomsma.
The one door vehicle has a technologically advanced hydraulic system that allows the front end to tilt around corners at a 45 degree angle. It steers like a car and banks like a motorcycle, the four cylinder engine has a top speed of 185 km/hour, so a motor enthusiast can enjoy driving.
The Carver One may also be an alternative to the larger, gas guzzling cars said the company official; making suitable for commuting
"It has an ecological benefit, because everyone is driving around now with several thousands of kilograms of steel and of the time they are alone in there. The Carver is low in running costs, easy to parking and agile in traffic."
Twenty-four pre-production vehicles have been built and four are already circling around the UAE. The company is in discussions with two local distributors for rights to import the vehicle and deliver to the region. Commercial global rollout is planned for March 2006, and a Dubai showroom will also be opened the same time.
The one door vehicle has a technologically advanced hydraulic system that allows the front end to tilt around corners at a 45 degree angle. It steers like a car and banks like a motorcycle. The four cylinder engine has a top speed of 185 km/h.
Gulf News 2005. All rights reserved.
