The Geparda petrol hatchback, developed in Germany, can be driven from the age of 16, for this purpose the design of the original Volkswagen up! a number of changes had to be made, including remaking the rear axle and reducing engine power.
In Germany, teenagers over 16 years of age can obtain an A1 driving license, which gives access to a range of low-powered two- and three-wheeled vehicles. Geparda belongs to the L5e class, which includes three-wheeled vehicles with a power of no more than 15 kW (20 hp) and a weight of no more than 1000 kg. The beauty of the L5e class is that its speed is not limited to 45 km/h, as, for example, in the L6e class quadricycles such as the Opel Rocks-e, for which teenagers need an AM license, but in Germany you can get an AM license already in 15 years.
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In short, at the age of 16 in Germany you can drive an almost full-fledged passenger car — you just need it to comply with the L5e class. Geparda GmbH from Bad Homburg (Hesse) is adapting the Volkswagen up! hatchback, which was discontinued last year, to the L5e class. Moreover, the idea itself is not new: the company Ellenator GmbH from the Bavarian Westendorf has been doing the same thing with the Fiat 500 hatchback for three years, it’s just that now it has a competitor.
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The Geparda hatchback is based on a used Volkswagen up! with a naturally aspirated 999 cc three-cylinder petrol engine and a 5-speed MPK. Engine power was programmatically reduced from the original 60-75 hp. up to 20 hp, and the standard rear suspension gave way to a narrowed axle with a pendulum-type suspension, to which two wheels are attached: they are installed very close to each other, thanks to which the car corresponds to the L5e class, that is, de jure it is considered a three-wheeler.
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Geparda can accelerate to 111 km/h, that is, it can be used even on the autobahn, while the level of safety, unlike quadricycles like the Opel Rocks-e, is quite adult, like an automobile: there is a durable body, four airbags and an ESP system. The interior retains all the original amenities and four seats, but the trunk is reduced due to a box that acts as a central wheel arch. Geparda weighs 908 kg. Tire size — 165/70 R 14.
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Geparda developers especially emphasize that Volkswagen's handling is up! was not greatly damaged due to the installation of a narrowed rear axle, the chassis was completely reconfigured, the front suspension was equipped with a thick H&R anti-roll bar from the racing Volkswagen up! cup. Videos shot by Geparda show that the hatchback of the same name is quite stable in sharp turns and when braking in mixed mode.
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The only inconvenience of owning a Geparda hatchback is that due to the design features of the rear axle and new side panels cannot be washed in automated washes, only in manual ones. Well, no independent changes to the design can be made, otherwise the operating permit will become invalid.
Geparda costs just under 20,000 euros, the specific price depends on the mileage and equipment of the original Volkswagen up!< br />
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