Latest Car Extreme

February 26, 2008 Riding the wave of interest started by the Piaggio MP3 and Gilera Fuoco three-wheelers, French scooter importer Sidam is planning to try its luck with a new bike that turns the concept backwards. The Xnovo gives the tilting triangle wheelbase concept a much less fun, more utilitarian application than its Italian forebears, acting like a mini-minivan with huge carrying capacity, a hard roof, windscreen and twin driven rear wheels each on its own swingarm. And while it probably handles like a barge, the Xnovo may well find a niche as a traffic-busting courier/delivery vehicle.

Three different types of Xnovo scooters are on the drawing board: a fully petrol version fitted with a 500cc Piaggio engine, a hybrid version with a 200cc petrol engine and electric backup, and a fully electric version with brushless motors mounted to each rear hub.

In the petrol version, the Xnovo's rear wheels are each belt-driven from a motor that is centrally mounted to provide for maximum carrying capacity in the bin between the rear wheels. Several body shapes appear to be under consideration, from a sporty-looking twin-seater to the far less glamorous micro-minivan in our lead photo. See the photo gallery for the full range of design sketches we've seen.

We can't foresee a huge market for a sports scooter with twin rear wheels - motorcycles rely primarily on the traction from their front wheels in order to stop and turn with any authority, the rear wheels being more or less along for the ride - but the concept might have genuine legs if it's pitched as a small-footprint, economical delivery mule.

We'll wait to learn more as the Xnovo moves towards a launch date rumoured to be late 2008. Price is expected to be around €8000 for the 500cc model.

The diesel version of the X5 isn’t the obvious choice for a tuner like Germany’s Lumma, who is more likely to modify a big-cube petrol engine, but its latest car is in fact based on the more mundane diesel six. Lumma’s previous works include modified versions of the M5 and M6, in the form of the CLR 500 RS and 600 S models, and now engineers have focused their skills on squeezing the most out of BMW’s brilliant 3.0L twin-turbo diesel.

Lumma has lifted output of the diesel engine to 330hp and 660Nm of torque, up from 286hp and 580Nm in the stock version. The slight bump in output is courtesy of a recalibrated ECU, high-flow exhaust system and sports air filter.

Complimenting the engine mods is a series of body enhancements including a new aerodynamic kit, white powder-coated 22in wheels and increased chassis stiffening. Lumma’s new bodykit is composed of a front spoiler with integrated fog lamps, a new rear bumper and diffuser, and pumped guards both in the front and back. Optional extras include a roof spoiler, carbon-fiber hood, new aero mirrors and headlight covers.