Cityhop, NZ’s first car share company, has introduced the Mitsubishi i-car to its fleet of car share vehicles. Now here is a car that really does run on the smell of an oily rag.
Car of the year in Japan, it’s narrow, light and has the most amazing turning circle. The engine is just 660 cc and it’s turbo charged. See the Press review in the above link.
As quick and frugal as a hybrid, the best thing about the i-car is that it’s cheap to buy and cheap to run. It does 5.4 litres per 100 km.
For the car nerds, it has eco-friendly qualities like an aerodynamic drag reducing underbellyand a lightweight aluminium engine that delivers as much power as an engine double its size. See below James, Cityhop’s Ops Manager and Victoria Carter with the i-car.
MIVEC (Mitubishi Innovative Valve timing electronic control) technology gives reduced emissions (50 per cent lower than that required by current NZ regulations) and increases the car’s fuel efficiency.
With great visibility and dual airbags the i-car gives you multi directional structural protection against impacts with its RISE ( Reinforced impact safety evolution) frame. The front where the engine usually is is a big crush zone designed to absorb and disperse impacts. The fuel tank’s placement in the middle of the car keeps it safe while the rear-mounted engine provides protection against collisions from behind.
So you want to try it? Join Cityhop, car share. Reduce your car costs and only use a car when you need one.
Have all the best bits of using a car -without any of the bad bits. Have all the convenience of a car when you want one but none of the on-going costs, worries and hassles- the regular payments, upkeep; regular maintenance, cleaning, WOFs, annual registration, even regular checking the oil, water and tyres when you may not use or need your car that often. That’s what car share is all about – convenience, ease of use and cars all over the City ready and waiting for you.
Don’t live in Auckland, don’t worry, car share is coming to Wellington and Christchurch. By June we will have cars in these centres. Got a car park let us know – we might put a cityhop in it. Go to the site and email us your suggestions.