The newly refurbished Santiago Bernabéu stadium located in the northern part of Madrid is breathtaking. The fabled football ground recently underwent a transformation costing £1.5 billion, and it now sports a retractable roof and striking metal facade.
It’s amazingly grand, yet as I cruise past the home of Los Blancos, it’s not the stadium that is turning heads – it’s the tiny electric quadricycle I’m driving.
The Silence S04 has quietly been making a name for itself in Europe, having been sold in select markets for more than a year, but it will soon be coming to the UK with help from Nissan.
The Japanese car maker partnered Silence last year and has been selling the S04 Nanocar through its dealer network in France, Germany and Italy.
Founded in 2014 by former motorcycle racer Carlos Sotelo, Silence claims to be the biggest specialist EV manufacturer on the continent and is best known for its range of electric scooters.
With the exclusive distribution rights to the S04 (available in L6 and L7 forms), the model line-up – which includes a new entry-level option and a cargo version – will arrive on UK roads early next year.
But why does automotive giant Nissan, which sells more than three million cars globally each year, want to get involved with quadricycles?
“Bringing in a product that we don’t build, that is complementary to our product range, is the perfect opportunity for us,” explains Gareth Dunsmore, Nissan’s e-mobility boss for Europe. “To be successful in the car industry right now, and over the next few years, you can’t wait to be a disruptor; you have to go out there and do it yourself.
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I bought my Silence 04 in April 24 and have very pleased overall. As a "city car" it was ideal and could live with the a hard ride - 35 years on old motorbike was nothing !
However ..... to loss of the original UK supplier (who were very good with the few problems as the Mk01 gave us) meant that as more and more problems arrived ---- there is NO HELP, and a lot of problems have NOT been sorted, including the lack of service and Warranty.
While "Noddy" is still driving around in the West Midlands, the following are not sorted, since last Autumn.
The faulty right side window cannot be put down and the the switching had to be disconnected.
The RH door panel is held in tape.
Faulty USBs don't work.
The Clock insists that (Spanish time ?) is all 1 hour early.
A update was promised in time for Winter : at -1c, the vehicle has the electric brake LOCKED. ("EPB error - STOP vehicle" That gave me so fun in January !)
Other little items like the RH window that stopped down; the RH indicators failed, loose trim - was sorted some time ago.
Now, the LH doors leaks in the rain.......
But ..... I love "Noddy" ........... If only Silence would even contact me. Have you tried to get info from Spain ? !
This vehicle comes across as being 'actually clever' - contrast that with the, not so clever, Ami.
What times we live in, when a tiny thing like this costs 15 grand...
A coffee and a piece of cake could cost you £20.00 also.