Just when you thought the Reliant Robin had been consigned to oblivion, its spirit is poised to make an unlikely comeback.

The company that used to make the Robin is now known as Reliant Parts World. It earns a living selling cars that exploit the same legislative loophole that allowed the Robin to thrive: they can be driven without a car driving licence.

Reliant’s latest offering, the Be Up, is a car styled by Giugiaro, a name more usually associated with cars like the Lamborghini Miura and Lotus Esprit. It’s built in France by Ligier Automobiles and is aimed at young professionals and teenagers. Only three have been brought into Britain so far but the company is confident of selling more when distribution begins in earnest.

“They were designed for use in holiday resorts in southern Europe,” says Stewart Halstead, managing director of Reliant Parts World, “but I thought I’d get three in to gauge interest, and they all sold quickly. Next spring I’ll be getting a whole lot more.”

Halstead reveals that two of the three were bought by Mohamed al-Fayed and Sir Anthony Bamford (of JCB digger fame) — hardly names associated with the Robin.

But the Be Up is just the most recent evidence of an industry that has quietly been putting small, low-powered cars on the road and, unlike the Robin, by no means all of them are jokes. As their “quadricycle” description suggests, they have a full complement of wheels. And many are surprisingly like “real” cars in operation and can be specified with luxuries such as remote central locking, electric windows, CD players and alloys.

So what distinguishes a quadricycle from, say, a Smart City-Coupé, which requires a full car licence? Weight and power are key: if the car weighs less than 880lb and has an engine output no greater than 20bhp, it is categorised by European law as a quadricycle and can be driven by anyone with a motorcycle licence.

There is some confusion as to whether that entitlement extends to those who passed their test after the licensing rules changed in March 2001, but Gareth Hughes, of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, gives us the clear picture. “Anyone who passed the full motorcycle test before 2001 is automatically entitled to drive a quadricycle. Those who passed after that date need to fill in the B1 part of the licence application form to gain automatic entitlement.”

There are three major players: Reliant, whose main product is the Ligier Ambra; Aixam, which sells a range of two and four-seat quadricycles including its Mac 500 convertible; and Microcar, whose Virgo is sold in a dazzling array of specifications. All are powered by two-cylinder petrol or diesel engines of around 500cc and offer performance of around 60mph and 70mpg (with diesel engine), or 70mph and 60mpg (petrol engine).

Because quadricycles are built in low volumes they do not benefit from the economies of scale enjoyed by conventional car manufacturers. As prices start at around £5,000 and rise to almost £8,000, why not just take the car test and drive a Smart or a VW Lupo for the same money?

The answer lies in the avoidance of the car driving test. Peter Leivers, the general manager of Aixam, says: “Most are bought by bikers who are now past their biking days, or who want something for occasional trips where only a car will do. Their average age is 65 so they don’t want the hassle of getting a car licence.”

Others are simply attracted by the cars’ ease of use. Anne Holt, from Blackburn, bought an Aixam 500SL 18 months ago after surgery left her temporarily weakened. “I bought the car just to tide me over, but now I love it,” she says. “It’s so easy to drive — the gearbox only has forward and reverse — and it costs next to nothing to run. I will never go back to an ordinary car.”

Aixam: 01788 553 330 www.aixam.co.uk
Microcar UK: 01789 730 094 www.micro-car.co.uk
Reliant Parts World: 01543 431 959 www.reliantpartsworld.co.uk