Out and about in cheeky charmer

Does it have a bell?’ asked Simon Penfold, deputy business editor of this august organ, as he settled behind the wheel.

Here was a man whose incisive appraisal had been known to make or break many a local business at 20 paces.

I could see the excitement in his eyes as he evaluated the bright orange Scouty to see if it had sufficient gravitas to serve as his company vehicle.

“It’s not for you Simon,” I gently pointed out. “Only us deranged motor journalists are permitted to look this outrageous in public. Business editors must be slaves to conformity and sit sombrely in more conventional carriages.”

But at what cost? I thought to myself.

Point out a small eccentric vehicle to your average conservative motorist these days and you will induce a smile - the sort that says: “Now that looks fun. I wouldn’t mind having a go in that.”

And that’s what you get with the Aixam Scouty - one of the cheekiest little vehicles to roll along today’s roads, though it does cost an astronomic £9,695 to put on the road.

In France ‘micro cars’ are well established and often used by elderly people but they can also be driven by 16-year-olds. Here, the concession is simply that they can be driven by those with a motorcycle licence, so they’re typically suited to former Reliant drivers.

Designed as a leisure vehicle, the eye-catching open top (you can remove the central roof panel) Scouty breaks into a whole new market, with younger customers and anyone who wants a quirky vehicle, in mind.

What parent would not sleep easier knowing that their son or daughter was in a car, offering more protection than a bike? Not only that, just think of how a dashing young blade could impress those girl guides at Jamboree time.

No need for big V8s here - a twin-cylinder, liquid cooled, 505cc Lombardini engine driving the front wheels is all that’s needed to propel the ABS acrylic body mounted on an aluminium frame, to nearly 60 mph.

Twenty bhp does wonders in one of these - but to achieve the claimed 70 mph you would need a stiff following breeze. Weighing in at just 380kgs you can even pick it up and move it into a parking space if needs be.

Being ABS and aluminium, it’s nearly 100% recyclable - but it should never come to that. These little cars will surely last forever because of their simplicity. No fancy electronic systems here - just basic engineering and a rust-free structure. It’s simple to drive too.

Featuring belt drive automatic transmission via variators - just like the old DAF system of yesteryear - you just push the lever forward to go forwards, and back for reverse. Nothing could be easier.

Realistically, a chap can make only steady progress in a Scouty, and the necessary thrashing of that indestructible Lombardy unit means the throttle pedal has to be used like a switch: it’s either ON or OFF - so don’t expect amazing economy. About 50 mpg is about the best you’ll see.

When I ventured onto the M6 I found it best to stay in the first lane with most of the commercial traffic. Bold overtaking is not the Scouty’s forte.

The whole driving experience is a cheerfully entertaining one. A choppy ride because of the short wheelbase is to be expected, but surprisingly, stability on bends is good. Braking, however, is not what you’d expect considering the light weight - but it’s adequate.

Comfort levels are reasonable and you enjoy a warm and cosy cabin - with the benefit of electrically operated windows and a CD/radio - which is difficult to hear above the engine as it sings its heart out.

It’s not the smoothest power plant, but then what twin-cylinder unit is?Ê Best to listen to the radio when going very slowly, I thought.

All creature comforts are there in a little pocket-sized package that’s a breeze to park - and for those concerned about today’s expanding waistlines, I can reassure them that there’s room aplenty for the fuller figure.

Reactionaries, like our very own deputy business editor, may indeed complain that it needs a bell - but true progressives are likely to give a Gallic shrug to adverse criticism and assert their civic minded independence.

National sales manager Mr Bond - Justin Bond - pointed out that it does indeed look like one of 007’s fabled gadgets.

It might not be as impressive a status symbol as the Aston Martin, but it’s as charming as Little Nellie (the autogyro from You Only Live Twice) and certainly packs its own punch.