Ligier Cars Begin Their Third Incarnation

Currently second only to Daimler's "SmartCar,"history and legend, Ligier acquired "Microcar," a
the Ligier line of X-Too mini-vehicles stands poisedpocket-sized Euro-friendly family of tiny cars and
to dominate the Continental mini-car market, andtrucks. Son of the founder, Phillipe Ligier serves as
forecasters predict Ligier cars have the power tothe company's Chief Executive Officer, promising
create a major sensation in North America. Givento restore Ligier cars' reputation for
a big financial and technological boost in 2008, thestate-of-the-art technology and breath-taking
bold venture into the mini-car business marksinnovation.
Ligier cars' third incarnation as a forward-thinkingLigier's X-Too family includes open-air roadsters
French auto manufacturer.reminiscent of the company's glory days on the
The early lives of Ligier carsracing circuit, and it features small commercial
First, Ligier produced some of the finest Formulavehicles ideally suited to super-economical use in
One racing cars ever to compete on the circuit.major urban areas worldwide. Anchoring the
Founded by Guy Ligier, an accomplished FormulaX-Too line, the two-passenger Ligier Ambra
One driver and celebrated rugby player, Ligierbecome the green vehicle of-choice for young
cars consistently contended for the championshipsParisian professionals and other environmentally
from 1976 to 1996. In 1977, a Ligier racer wonconscious French consumers. Ambra also has
the Grand Prix-still one of the greatest Frenchbecome something of a green fashion statement
victories in Formula One History.in London.
While building the brand on the racing circuit, LigierPowered by a 505cc gasoline engine, Ambra will
cars entered the European consumer market withchug along at 65mph, delivering 65mpg regardless
the JS2, an impressive mid-engine sports carof driving conditions. In defiance of JS2's amazing
powered by a blow-you-back-in-the-seat Maseratipower-to-weight ratio, which delivered remarkable
engine. One of the few mid-engine sports carsacceleration, Ambra weighs a little too much for
outfitted with a V6 engine, auto enthusiastsits microscopic power plant, going from zero to
considered the Ligier JS2 a technologicalsixty in eighteen seconds...approximately half an
masterpiece. Built for performance rather thaneternity. Ambra has no gearbox, running instead
economy, the Ligier JS2 fell victim to the severeon a constant velocity transmission for more
energy crisis of the early 1970's. One later model,steady power and better performance in heavy
the JS11, surpassed the JS2's technologicalcity traffic. Ambra does allow plenty of elbow
wizardry but could not compete againstroom, and it offers ample behind-the-seats
Ferrari-neither on the track nor on the market.storage for the standard collection of everyday
Ligier cars reincarnatedparaphernalia.
In 2008, marking a radical departure from its