I've got thermal underwear on, jeans, waterproof trousers, a T-shirt, a shirt, a woollen jumper, a gilet, a down jacket, gloves, a scarf and a full-face helmet. And I'm still freezing cold.
Matt Prior is obviously made of tougher stuff because it doesn't look like there's quite so much ice coursing through his veins, but then that's because he's used to this frigid transport malarkey, on account of his bike licence.
The reason we are suffering for our art, dear reader, lies underneath us, as Matt and I are sitting in the Polaris RZR and Segway Villain respectively, two off- and on-road buggies that are aiming to change the way we feel about these previous farm and forestry workhorses. We're here to answer a very simple question: in the age of ever costlier cars and ever more crowded roads, could these be the Sunday 'cars' for the 2020s?
There's no doubt that they do offer something different, as evidenced by their specs. The Segway Villain is the all-new offering, from the same company that built the funky two-wheeled 'personal transporter' of the early 2000s - but if you're expecting something electric with a clever gyroscope, you'll be disappointed.
It hails from the US, like all these things, and is most definitely not powered by electricity. Not if the raucous engine noise is anything to go by. This is a 1000cc four-stroke twin-cylinder petrol developed and built by Segway. It doesn't produce much power or torque (104bhp and 69lb ft, fed through a CVT transmission with high/low ratios) but then it weighs only 860kg.
Besides, acceleration and top speed aren't what these are about. No one is going to commute in a Villain, especially not with the usage conditions (see accompanying story, p53).
Bu hikaye Autocar UK dergisinin February 15, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Autocar UK dergisinin February 15, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
THE DRAMATIC ITALIAN THAT MARKED THE END OF AN ERA
When the Huracán bowed out, the curtain fell forever on Lambo's V10
HOW EV MAKERS CAN WIN THE RACE TO 5.0MPKWH
Manufacturers are honing every detail to close in on big efficiency goal
MASERATI MC20
We bid a sad farewell to a handsome supercar that was easy to live with
The quickening
Instant acceleration is part of the appeal of an EV, but is it all getting a bit much for unwary and inexperienced drivers? JOHN EVANS investigates
Inside track
Watching an F1 race with live access to engineers and telemetry is the stuff of dreams for racing fans. ALEX WOLSTENHOLME makes a day of it
WHOLE IN ONE
The Volkswagen Golf has been all things to all motorists for half a century. At the wheel of a classic Mk1, VICKY PARROTT charts the eight-generation history of one of the world's most successful cars
DACIA DUSTER
Mk3 model gains digital tech, ADAS, slicker looks... Is this mission creep?
MAZDA CX-80 PHEV
Another look at Mazda's hefty SUV, this time in plug-in hybrid form
VAUXHALL GRANDLAND ELECTRIC
Newcomer looks to ease the average family SUV driver into EV motoring
BMW X3 20 XDRIVE
Fourth generation of brand's best-seller arrives with base petrol engine