View source for Voiturette

[[Image:Delage Voiturette.jpg|thumb|[[Delage]] Voiturette, ''ca'' 1906]]

'''Voiturette''' is a word mostly used to describe a miniature automobile; however, it has several nuanced meanings, depending largely on the usage date.

==History==
The term was first used by [[Léon Bollée]] in 1895 to describe his new motor tricycle and in the early years of the motor industry was used by many makers to describe their small cars. The word comes from the [[French language|French]] word for "automobile", ''voiture''.
Between [[World War I]] and [[World War II]] the term was also applied to light-weight racing cars with engines limited to 1500&nbsp;cc such as the [[Alfa Romeo 158/159 Alfetta]], the [[Bugatti Type 13]] and the original [[English Racing Automobiles|ERAs]].

In France, in the years after World War II it came to refer to a type of small three-wheeled vehicle. 

In the 1990s the word was revived for a French vehicle weighing less than 350 kilograms (770&nbsp;lb) empty and carrying a load (i.e., passengers) of not more than 200 kilograms (~440&nbsp;lb). The top speed is limited to 45&nbsp;km/h (~30&nbsp;mph) and engine size to 50&nbsp;cc or 4 kilowatts for an engine of "another type" for example an electric car. Such vehicles are sometimes also called "motor quadricycles" or "motor tricycles". The [[driver's license]] for them are available to people over 16 years and are in category "B1" and are valid, subject to restrictions, in all [[European Union]] countries.

==Renault's 1898 Voiturette==
{{main|Renault Voiturette}}
French maker [[Renault]]'s first car was simply called [[Renault Voiturette|Voiturette]], instead of the common usage then (it would have been called Renault 1¾ CV). The 1900 model (Voiturette C) was considered the first ever sedan (a car with roof) and it is largely seen as a predecessor for today's [[Renault Clio|Clio]] or the smaller [[Renault Twingo|Twingo]].

==Other automobiles so described==
*[[Dalifol]], manufactured in 1896 in France
*[[Dalifol & Thomas]], manufactured from 1896 until 1898 in France
*[[Esculapeus]], manufactured in 1902 in England
*[[Damaizin & Pujos]], manufactured in 1910 in France
*[[David & Bourgeois]], manufactured in 1898 in France
*[[Denis de Boisse]], manufactured from 1901 until 1904 in France
*[[De Riancey]], manufactured from 1898 until around 1901 in France
*[[Guerraz]], manufactured in 1901 in France
*[[Guerry et Bourguignon]], built in 1907 in France

==See also==
*[[Microcar]]
* [[List of car brands]]

==References / sources==
{{reflist}}

==External links==

* [http://www.lepermis.com/Permis/PermisB7.htm Description of Light Vehicles (in French)]

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[[Category:Car classifications]]


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