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Aixam

 
Wikipedia: Aixam
Aixam motors
Founded 1983
Headquarters France Aix-les-Bains, Savoie, France
Industry Automotive microcars
Products Automobile
Website [1]
Aixam 400
City Sporty

Aixam - Mega is a French automobile manufacturer based in Aix-les-Bains, Savoie. It was founded in 1983 to make microcars in the old Arola factory after that company failed.

In 1992 they started making a range of standard sized cars under the Mega brand, but by 2002 this brand was just being applied to a diesel and electric range [1] of microvans and light utility vehicles.

The company currently produces the Aixam A.7XX series (powered by Kubota diesel engines), a microcar comparable with the Smart. A notable difference is that some of the smaller models are restricted to 45 km/h (30 mph) and can be driven without a driver's licence in some European countries (including France, Italy, Portugal and Slovenia, but not the UK).

In Britain they are classified as a quadricycle (quad bike) because of their weight and power output. This requires either a full car licence or a full unlimited capacity motorcycle licence to legally drive them.

They can be thought of as a sort of modern "2CV", not fast (about 100 km/h or 60 mph), but economical (often over 90 mpg or under 2.6 L/100km ), and with a roomy body made from a strong alloy frame covered with plastic panels (no rust). The low-emissions Kubota engines plus the automatic CVT transmission make them exceptionally "green" vehicles; and it is now possible to get various electric car versions.

Aixam-Mega is currently (2006) Europe's largest producer of microcars and its products are available in the following countries:

Austria, Belgium, Finland, Greece, the Netherlands, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Contents

Aixam-Mega vehicles

Mega MultiTruck
  • Aixam Crossline/A-series (berlina quadricycle): crossline (diesel or gasoline, top speed 45 or 93 km/h), A-721 (diesel, 45 km/h), A-741 (diesel, 95 km/h), A-751 (diesel, 78 km/h).
  • Aixam Scouty/Scouty-R (convertible) (diesel or gasoline, 45 or 93 km/h).
  • Aixam Crossline (SUV-style) (diesel or gasoline): top speed 45 or 93 km/h.
  • Mega City (electric), top speed 64 km/h, in collaboration with NICE [2]
  • Mega Moskito Micro Pick-up
  • Mega MultiTruck (diesel or electric)

Former vehicles

  • Aixam MAC
  • Aixam Berlines
  • Aixam Minivan
  • Aixam Pick-up
  • Aixam Microcar
  • Mega Concept
  • Mega Monte Carlo (sports car)
  • Mega Track (sports car)

Other microcar producers

Competitors in light electric vehicles

References

  1. ^ Voiturette sans permis – Aixam le premier constructeur de voitures sans permis
  2. ^ http://www.nicecarcompany.co.uk

External links


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Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Aixam" Read more