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The Mazda Suitcase Car was a prototype suitcase vehicle created in 1991 by the Mazda company. The suitcase opened up to reveal a functioning three-wheeled gasoline-powered vehicle with working lights. The vehicle, which resembled a go-kart, was created by Mazda engineers and showcased in the United States and Europe at auto shows.
The Mazda Suitcase Car never made it to production; it was built for car shows in Europe and the United States. The idea for the car came from Mazda engineer Yoshimi Kanemoto. In 1991 Kanemoto along with other Mazda engineers from an internal company research group, created the vehicle as a company contest called Fantasyard. The contest challenged employees to design a creative product which is a moving machine. The car had stubby handlebars with a twistgrip throttle like a motorcycle, and three wheels. The cost to build the prototype was US$5,000. In 1992 The Associated Press published a photo of a Mazda executive driving the suitcase car through Times Square ahead of the 16 April 1992 New York International Automobile Show.
The suitcase weighed 32 kg (71 lb) and it was 57 cm × 75 cm (22.4 by 29.5 inches). The design began with a Samsonite suitcase and a pocket bike. The power plant was a 33.6cc 1.3 kW (1.7 hp) two-stroke engine. The suitcase car was designed to go up to 30 km/h (19 mph). There were slots in the case where the rear wheel axles could protrude and a slot through the case for a front wheel. The car was equipped with turn signals and brake lights. The car also had carpeting, disc brakes, headlights and a horn. No tools were needed to assemble the vehicle.
There were only two known examples of the car but it is thought that there is only one Mazda Suitcase Car left. One of the prototype suitcase cars was accidentally destroyed after the 1991 Fantasyard event.
Mazda Suitcase Car - Wikipedia
SPECIFICATIONS
OVERVIEW
• Manufacturer: Mazda
• Country: Japan
• Year: 1991
• Type: Street car
• Tags: #Road car, #Midship
ENGINE
• Engine: Two-stroke engine
• Power: 1.7 HP / --- rpm
• Torque: --- Nm / --- rpm
• Engine location: Mid
• Displacement: 33.6 cc
• Aspiration: Naturally Aspirated (NA)
PERFORMANCE
• 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) Time: Not possible
• Top Speed: 30 km/h (19 mph)
• Power-to-weight ratio: 0.05 hp/kg
DRIVETRAIN
• Layout: MR
• Drive: Rear wheel drive
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT
• Lenght: --- mm
• Width: --- mm
• Height: --- mm
• Weight: 32 kg
