I discovered the Hiriko collapsible car after a flash day-dream I had where I imagined myself folding up a car and storing it in the closet alongside my vacuum cleaner.
As we are in the age of imagination, innovation and instant manifestation, I merely had to Google search ‘Collapsible Car’ to discover such an invention has already been made, perfected and prepared for the mass markets.
The Hiriko collapsible electric city car was developed out of an idea imagined at MIT’s media lab known as ‘the city car.’ A commercial version of the vehicle was recently released in Brussels, and so far 20 vehicles have been built for the 2013 project launch program.
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The stackable car was developed to fulfill the need for ‘off-the-grid’ personal transportation that is also spatially convenient enough for storage in the teensy limitations of the modern city. The two-seater vehicle is so streamlined it does not contain any doors or windows, and is entered through the windshield that swings up like a garage door.
Some of the cars respectable features include a zero-turn radius which enables the car to spin in place without taking up any additional square footage. The stackable technology is enabled because the car's motor is spread out amongst its four wheels, meaning the car’s motor, steering, braking and suspension is split up and located in the four wheels, so nothing is smooshed when the car is collapsed.
The Hiriko’s driving range is 60 miles, and it is slated to be priced at $16,335.
I personally think such technology should be most people’s standard of transportation, especially as we all move to more localized urban-centric lifestyles. Or at least the Hiriko should replace those New Yorkers who insist on driving their Range Rovers five blocks to Whole Foods only to waste $22 in gas.
I quite fancy the idea of scooting along the city’s streets in a glamorized, four wheeled inflated roller skate. Though I did wish the car collapsed into a chic pinky ring, and you could unfold it like a Captain Planet kid activating a mission.
What about you? @execdigital
Video: Hiriko Collapsible Car
