The phrase "Commuter Cars Tango" refers to the Tango T600, an ultra-narrow, high-performance electric car produced by the American company Commuter Cars Corporation. Founded by Rick Woodbury in Spokane, Washington, the company aimed to create a solution for urban commuting challenges, particularly traffic congestion and parking, by developing a vehicle that could fit into half a standard parking space.
History and Development
Commuter Cars Corporation was established with the vision of revolutionizing personal urban transportation. The Tango T600 was the result of this vision, conceived as an electric vehicle (EV) designed for efficiency and agility in dense city environments. Development of the Tango began in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with the first production models delivered in the mid-2000s. A notable early customer was actor George Clooney, which brought some media attention to the niche vehicle.
Design and Features
The most distinctive characteristic of the Tango T600 is its extremely narrow profile, approximately 39 inches (99 cm) wide, making it roughly a quarter the width of a typical compact car. Despite its narrowness, the Tango is designed as a tandem two-seater, with the passenger seated directly behind the driver. This layout, combined with a low center of gravity and a heavy battery pack located in the floor, contributes to its stability, countering concerns that its narrowness might make it prone to tipping.
Key features of the Tango T600 include:
- Electric Powertrain: Powered by an all-electric drivetrain, the Tango T600 utilized two electric motors (one for each rear wheel) and a lead-acid battery pack (later models offered lithium-ion options). This setup provided impressive acceleration.
- Performance: Despite its small size, the Tango was engineered for high performance. It could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) in approximately 4 seconds, with a top speed electronically limited to 150 mph (240 km/h). This performance was a deliberate choice to ensure it could keep up with, and even surpass, conventional traffic.
- Safety: The vehicle featured a robust roll cage and a carbon fiber body, designed to provide significant occupant protection in collisions.
- Charging: The Tango could be charged from a standard 220-volt outlet, with charging times varying depending on the battery type and capacity.
Market Niche and Impact
The Tango T600 was positioned as a premium, niche vehicle, not intended for mass market adoption due to its high price point (initially around $108,000 for the first production model). Its target market included individuals seeking an unconventional, high-performance electric vehicle specifically for urban commuting, where its narrow design offered advantages in traffic lane splitting (where legal) and parking. The Tango, while not commercially widespread, represented an early and ambitious attempt to rethink vehicle design for urban environments and showcased the potential for high-performance electric powertrains in compact forms. It remains an example of innovative approaches to sustainable transportation and urban mobility solutions.