The Shrinking, Expanding, City-Conquering Transformer
Image Credit: City Transformer.
I'm about to introduce you to a microcar that makes the Smart car look like a hulking SUV. Meet the City Transformer CT-2, a shape-shifting, tandem two-seater that's ready to take on the urban jungle – and perhaps your patience.
This little Israeli wonder is the second generation of City Transformer's vision for the future of city driving. In its "City" mode, it's a mere 3.3 feet wide and 8.2 feet long, perfect for zipping through narrow streets and parking sideways in a regular parking space. Imagine the look on people's faces as you reverse into a spot they thought was too small for a bicycle!
But here's where things get a little... interesting. As anyone who's tried balancing a pencil on its tip found out, narrow things aren't exactly known for their stability at high speeds. So, the CT-2 has a "Performance" mode, where it stretches its wheels out to a wider 4.3 feet and unlocks a top speed of 56 mph. Not exactly a speed demon, but it'll keep you from getting completely run over on the highway.
Still, I can't help but picture myself in this tiny thing, with a semi-truck bearing down on me, and let's just say it doesn't sound like a relaxing commute.
Image Credit: City Transformer.
If you're not into the whole tandem seating thing, you can ditch the back seat and turn this microcar into a micro delivery van with a cargo volume of 15.9 cubic feet (450 liters). That's nearly as big as the trunk of a VW Golf, so it's like a tiny, Tetris-playing champion of cargo space.
The top speed and battery range (56 mph and 112 miles, respectively) are the same as the first-generation City Transformer we saw back in 2021. The main differences are a slightly narrower wheel track, a prettier exterior, and regular outward-opening doors instead of the scissor doors that would've made it even more maneuverable in tight spots. A bit of a head-scratcher this one.
And speaking of head-scratchers, remember when this thing was supposed to be in production in 2022? Well, plans tend to change. Now, thanks to partnerships with CeComp and Bosch, production is slated for the end of 2026. They've got over 2,000 pre-orders, but with a standard price of $17,760, I'm curious to see how many of those will stick around.
There's no other way to put it - that's a hefty price tag for a microcar, especially compared to the Renault Twizy, which was around $12,900. Maybe the shape-shifting ability is worth the extra dough.
So, there it is. The City Transformer CT-2: a tiny, transforming, city-dwelling EV that's either the future of urban mobility or a quirky, expensive experiment. If you see one on the highway, give it a wide berth and maybe a little wave of encouragement. It's a tough world out there for a microcar.
