The golf kart has been utilized by “unkers” worldwide since a long time ago. Robbie Williams even used it to chase people in “Old Dogs”. But using this cute little kart outside golf fields is rather pondering for me, as its abit too big to be used in the cramped pedestrian lane, and there’s no lane for it on the road. Still, it’s a very ‘noble’ idea to bring it out from the golf field.

Market watchers estimate a huge pie of over 70% vehicles to be electric vehicles by the year 2012, and so it’s not surprising that many companies are trying to create their own gold mine by investing in this booming market. That’s where the Garia Luxury Golf Car comes in.

The Garia Luxury Golf Car, manufactured at the same factory that builds the Porsche Boxster and Cayman, is also manufactured as an LSV (low speed vehicles). Built base on the highest standards of the automotive industry, The Garia features a Formula 1 inspired front suspension, a drive train built by an Italian company that also produces Ducati gearboxes, and aluminum profiles made by the same company that supplies aluminum profiles to Aston Martin, Jaguar and Volvo.
All these names scare the hell out of me, as I can imagine the sky high price of this ‘fun kart for unkers’. But the dashboard sure looks sweet and simple for a kart. Though I think some youngsters won’t mind zipping around with this kart for a change, instead of driving their fuel guzzling sports cars.

Made available in August 2010, The Garia LSV is fitted with street legal safety equipment such as seatbelts and side mirrors, and it also has a hydraulic brake system. But then, base on the looks, Frankly speaking I don’t really see how safe it can be if you put this electric kart near the roads. But then these aren’t meant for spirited driving in the 1st place. I just hope there’s no dogs barking and chasing the driver like how they chase the bicycles.

Its small size makes it rather swift to drive around city area, and with tax-based incentives in many countries and an increasing number of states and countries that allow LSVs to be operated on roads with speed limits of 35 mph (50km/h) or less, LSVs no longer belong to the future market they are the market.

The idea of selling it outside of the golf court is simple, the Garia LSV is ideal for short trips and recreational purposes as it is possible to drive directly from your home to, for example, the golf course. This is something some people will appreciate, and it makes The Garia LSV a unique product says Anders Lynge, Creative Director of Garia A/S and designer of The Garia. I can imagine my mum having fun driving this oversize toy car to the market in the morning.

The LSV version is still a concept, though you can still contact them www.garia.com. Maybe its coming sooner than we know?

For high-res images of the Garia Golf Car and Garia LSV Concept Car:
www.garia.dk/high-res-photos-of-garia-lsv
www.garia.dk/high-res-photos-of-garia-golf-car