The Volkswagen Gueparda is not made for you, but teenagers can drive it

Car modifications are quite common, because some users want to adapt the car they already like even more to their tastes. But sometimes modifications are made to adapt the use of the vehicle to the specific needs of a segment of the population. That is how we find the Volkswagen Gueparda, a tricycle based on a car already known from Volkswagen, adapted so that it can be driven by teenagers, provided they are 16 years old.

It is based on the Volkswagen UP!, which was discontinued a few years ago. This model offers the possibility of driving for those over 16, two years before being able to obtain a driving licence. The model has had its engine power reduced and its rear axle replaced. Instead of two wheels at the ends, it now has two wheels on the rear axle, but in a central position , under the vehicle.

These modifications place it in the L5e category, which is above the L6 models, such as the Twizzy and the Citroën AMI. The Gueparda retains an interior identical to the car it is based on, so it keeps the comfort and convenience of that car. In terms of bodywork, it is very similar to the VW Up!, but the rear wheel arches have been covered over, since there are no wheels there. A decorative vinyl has been fitted and the arches have been sealed.

The VW Up! offered a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine with a power output between 49 and 114 CV, depending on the configuration. The engine ECU has been modified to reduce power to 20 CV. A very restrained power output that still allows a top speed of 110 km/h.

To make it a safe car to drive, a stabiliser bar has been added to the front axle and it has undergone several tests before obtaining road homologation. The safety systems ESP, ABS and airbags have also been kept, so it feels like a “real” car.

It also offers air conditioning, heated seats and other features found on the VW Up!, but this means its price is quite high. The Volkswagen Gueparda is priced at 22,850 euros for the two-door version and 23,500 euros for the four-door version. The company that modified it currently has only two units, as it is a conversion of a model that is no longer on the market.

There are other companies that have worked on models such as the FIAT 500, the SEAT Ibiza and other similar models. That said, these conversions considerably increase the price, and it is not very common to buy a “pure” car to convert it into a vehicle to be driven by a minor.