Vauxhall Trixx
Could it be the car that outsmarts Smart? That's what Vauxhall is aiming for with its radical Trixx - and Auto Express has driven it.
There's no doubt the Trixx could be a success, especially with its ability to switch between passenger car and city load-lugger in an instant. If it gets the go-ahead - which insiders say is almost certain given its reception at motor shows so far - it will change the face of city motoring.
Could it be the car that outsmarts Smart? That's what Vauxhall is aiming for with its radical Trixx - and Auto Express has driven it.
At less than 10 feet long, and wearing the badges of parent firm Opel, the Trixx packs in more clever ideas than any other city car we've seen. Unlike Smart's ForTwo, it's front-driven, freeing up room for versatile loading and passenger carrying innovations.
In passenger mode, the Trixx carries three adults and a child. As well as the two front chairs, it has a clever inflatable seat fitted to the rear bulkhead, which also conceals a flip-out child chair.
Fancy a solo trip to Ikea to pick up some flatpack furniture? Fold the child seat, deflate the rear one and collapse the front passenger chair into the footwell. This provides a flat floor, allowing loads up to five feet to be laid out and stacked three or four high. But if your luggage is too long, the rear section of the roof slides forward to let objects stick out - not ideal in winter!
Behind the oddly shaped steering wheel is a silver pod housing all the instruments and switchgear. The Fiat-sourced diesel fires with a starter button, and the semi-auto gearbox offers manual shifts via a switch on the steering. The large glass area adds to the Trixx's airy feel, while the driving position is commanding.
On the road, the car is agile. The wide track gives it a more planted feel than a Smart, and its 1.3-litre engine is also better than the ForTwo's growling petrol unit.
