The car that can fold itself up to fit a parking space - and it goes on sale next year

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By DAMIEN GAYLE

PUBLISHED: 14:00, 16 August 2012 UPDATED: 15:14, 16 August 2012 

 City dwellers know the most difficult part of urban driving isn't the mental minicab drivers or suicidal cyclists, but finding a space to park the car once you have safely arrived at your destination.

But now a solution is at hand in the form of a revolutionary new car that can actually fold up to fit itself into the tiniest of gaps.

Researchers from MIT's Changing Places group, working in collaboration with the Spanish Basque region's development agency DENOKINN have developed the Hiriko Fold, a convenient, eco-friendly car for city commuting.

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 This computer generated image shows how the Hiriku Fold is able to shrink its footprint to fit into tiny spaces

On sale from next year: This computer generated image shows how the Hiriku Fold is able to shrink its footprint to fit into tiny spaces

The Hiriko Fold is an ultra-compact electric car that is small enough to fit in the smallest spaces. And for those spaces that are just a little too tight, it can even fold in on itself to squeeze in.

The two-seater vehicle, which is capable of travelling up to 75 miles between charges, is even equipped with zero-turn radius wheels that allow it to move sideways - making parallel parking a cinch.

Prototypes of the Hiriko Fold are already on trial in European cities for testing and it's now been confirmed that the vehicle is expected to go on sale in 2013 for around £10,000.

 

 

Hiriko's makers describe it as a 'new solution for the new urban mobility as conceptualised under the “Citycar” concept'.

They said: 'This corporate Project will transform the initial concept of the “Citycar” and turn it into an innovating industrial Project consisting of the development of the initial prototype and its industrialisation by means of an innovating production and distribution model.

'The HIRIKO Project is born with a clear vision of transforming and regenerating the industrial grid in both Alava and the Basque Country, and for this purpose it counts on the participation of companies from the automotive sector that are in charge of manufacturing and developing each one of the modules that compose the “Citycar” concept.'

 
'The solution to the crisis'? The revolutionary new design, a joint effort between MIT researchers and the Basque region's development agency, has been hailed by European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso

'The solution to the crisis'? The revolutionary new design, a joint effort between MIT researchers and the Basque region's development agency, has been hailed by EC president Jose Manuel Barroso

Earlier this year, Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, hailed the Hiriko as the 'solution to the crisis' which has rocked Europe's economies.

He said: 'Projects such as the electric car by HIRIKO play an important role in responding to the crisis, for it combines new business possibilities with the creation of employment and social innovation.'

Mr Barroso explained that 'budget control is essential when it come to fighting this crisis', but he added, 'projects such as the Hiriko car are part of the solution to the crisis.

'Hiriko is an example of how to resuscitate traditional industrial sectors and lead them to new challenges, such as urban mobility.'

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