Microcar Virgo History
History
Introduced in 1996 (sold as the Virgo 1), the Microcar Virgo replaced the earlier Lyra and quickly became the company's volume model. It was a heavy quadricycle under French law — driveable on a motorcycle licence without a full car licence — and targeted the growing 'voiture sans permis' market of young drivers and urban commuters.
The Virgo used a 505 cc Lombardini twin-cylinder petrol engine paired with a CVT, producing around 21 hp. Weighing under 400 kg, it was claimed capable of 70 mph and 65 mpg — respectable figures for a licence-exempt vehicle of the era. Three successive versions (Virgo 1, 2, and 3) kept the model fresh; the Virgo 3 continued until approximately 2003.
A Virgo Luxe trim and various cosmetic updates appeared across the generation's run. The model established Microcar's reputation for practical, fuel-efficient urban transport and laid the commercial foundation for the MC-series that followed.
Generations
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Virgo 1
Photo: “Microcar Virgo vr.jpg” by Norbert Schnitzler / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Launch version with Lombardini 502 engine; established the Virgo line as Microcar's flagship (the exact 1→2 cut-over date is not well documented; ~1998).
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Virgo 2
Photo: “Microcar Virgo 2 vr.jpg” by Norbert Schnitzler / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Mid-cycle evolution with detail refinements; continued the same Lombardini petrol drivetrain.
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Virgo 3
Final Virgo variant before the MC-series; available in standard and Luxe trims.
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2001 Photo: “2001 Microcar Virgo Premier LX Auto.jpg” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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Body styles
- Hatchback
Related models