Microcar Virgo 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.