[FAO] Hiriko, The Future Car

The Hiriko, a tiny electric car that can fold itself into a more compact shape, is set to go on sale next year, meaning you'll never again have to worry about finding a parking space  

The diminutive car, developed by researchers from the Changing Places group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in collaboration with the Basque Center for Innovation, can cleverly fold itself up into a more compact shape, enabling it to squeeze through tight gaps and, of course, into tiny parking spaces. 

Hiriko means "urban car." It is derived from two Basque words -- "Hiri" (urban in Basque) and "Ko" (coche or car). The first two-seater production models should be on the streets in Spain next year. 

Those of you who often have to drive into a busy city will know all too well how much time can be wasted looking for a parking space, especially if parking lots are scarce or full and you’re left looking for a gap on the street. 

You can drive for ages before you find a space, only to discover – once you’ve pulled up alongside it – that your car’s too darn big for it.  

The modern automobile sets us free and ties us down all at once. It takes us wherever we want to go -- but it gets caught in traffic, is a pain to park if you live in a city, and pollutes the air. 

This computer generated images shows how Hiriko car fold is able to shrink its footprint to fit in to tiny space. 

The Hiriko Fold is an ultra-compact electric car that is small enough to fit in the smallest spaces. And for those spaces that are just a little too tight, it can even fold in on itself to squeeze in. 

The two-seater vehicle, which is capable of travelling up to 75 miles between charges, is even equipped with zero-turn radius wheels that allow it to move sideways - making parallel parking a cinch. 

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