Car with motorbike fuel efficiency coming from Wales

A CONGESTION BUSTING, ENERGY EFFICIENT CAR OF THE FUTURE IS UNDER DEVELOPMENT IN WALES

Hugh Kemp , a former product director at Lotus Cars responsible for the Elise range, has formed a new company to produce a revolutionary, energy efficient vehicle with features of a motorbike and the comforts and safety feature of a car, and delivers 100 miles per gallon. It has a patented roll and steer system .

A revolutionary new vehicle with the dynamics of a motorbike but the comforts of a car is under development in Wales utilising unique technology that is due to be tested on a mule vehicle later this year.

The NARO Car is a fully enclosed two seater vehicle where the driver and passenger sit in tandem. It drives like a motorbike and has to be leaned into corners but has four wheels and as the safety facilities of a car.

Being just one metre wide it also has all the benefits of a motorbike when it comes to overtaking in traffic jams or parking.

The original concept for the NARO car evolved from initial research carried out by Prodrive one of the world ' s leading motorsport and automotive groups.

Hugh Kemp, who worked on the project at Prodrive, has licensed this work and established The Narrow Car Company in Wales to develop the concept through to production. He is now based in Abercynon (Abercynon is in The Taff Valley in south east Wales).

The Company has received SMARTCyrmu funding to research the technical feasibility of the car ' s unique roll and steer control system which underpins the vehicle 's stability. This is now patent protected.

Additional funding from SMARTCymru has been provided to develop a working demonstration rig.

Andrew Davies, Minister for Economic Development and Transport, said the fact that Hugh Kemp chose to establish The Narrow Car Company in Wales was an indication that the entrepreneurial culture now evident in Wales was being recognised in the UK.

" This is supported by the Accelerate automotive programme which is providing a dynamic network for new technology development and commercialisation of innovative ideas.

"The NARO car is an exciting concept involving novel technology and we are delighted this revolutionary new vehicle is not only being developed in Wales but that manufacturing may follow.

" It is also pleasing to see entrepreneurs coming to Wales specifically to develop their ideas and products here. The R&D element brings added value to the economy and we have the skills, expertise and support mechanisms to help develop projects like these."

Hugh, a former product director at Lotus Cars responsible for the Elise range, said the NARO car represented a radical change in car design, involved novel technology and was aimed at a niche market.

"We are still in the research stage at the moment and will test the technology on a mule vehicle later this year. Our aim is to manufacture the commuter vehicle in Wales and licence the platform for development as a single passenger taxi cab and a city deliver vehicle. "

He said experts at Cardiff University Centre for Automotive Industrial Research have predicted the UK market for the ~sub " car sector will grow to 20,000 vehicles a year by 2012.

"W e are confident there will be a market demand for cars like NARO, particularly in our cities and the concept has been driven by the increasing problems of congestion, the scarcity of parking spaces and concerns about pollution levels. " The NARO is a third of the weight of a typical saloon car , occupies a third of the space of a conventional car and uses less than half the fuel and will be capable of 100mpg ,making it an attractive cost effective proposition. "

Initial design work was carried out by Coventry University School of Art and Design but the styling and layout work has been undertaken by Matt Reeves, while at Swansea Institute School of Industrial Design, who is now working for Prodrive.

NARO has been further supported by the WDA by developing the supplier base through the Accelerate New Vehicle Cluster programme and by Venture Wales.

Hugh Kemp said he would be looking for financial backers in order to launch the NARO in 2008 with plans to produce 1500 units a year in South Wales. It will target the city commuter market and sell for around £5200. ($9,400)

For more information contact: Shan Ekin-Wood Tel. 02920 828693

Notes to Editors:

* * * * *Swansea Institute 's School of Industrial Design is one of only four centres for automotive design in the UK and the only one in Wales

* * * * *SMARTCymru is a comprehensive pan Wales Research and Development (R&D) programme that provides assistance to companies wishing to explore new product and process development.

* * * * *Managed by the WDA on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government, the SMARTCymru programme is operated by two dedicated teams located in St Asaph and Cardiff.

The Welsh Development Agency is a Welsh Assembly Government Sponsored Public Body whose purpose is to promote the economic prosperity of Wales. The Agency 's roles include promoting employment and the growth of business, encouraging greater competitiveness through enhanced technology and innovation and improving the environment by land reclamation and urban and rural regeneration. Since 1983, the WDA has been responsible for attracting inward investment into Wales and has achieved a track record of outstanding results. Full information about the Agency and its activities is available on its website at www.wda.co.uk