It's a design study, not an actual car (yet), but it's too cool to pass up: the Peugeot 888, a folding electric concept vehicle that Next Energy News is calling the "personal vehicle for the future Metropolis." The 888 wouldn't be able to carry all that much: two people and some luggage just about fills it up. But who could deny the advantages of a folding vehicle in tightly crowded cities, and one that works in both day-to-day driving and weekend outings?

The 888 was designed by Oskar Johansen of Norway. During city driving, the vehicle has the ability to "shrink," the report said. "The center of the cars profile has a hydraulic tilting system that rises the car, making the distance between the wheel axis decrease. This results in a rised up cockpit which enhance the drivers traffick overview. The short wheel axis distance will also increase the manouverability in narrow places making the car able to take a sharp u-turn. A short wheel axis distance also makes it easier to find a suitable parking space."

Out on the open road, the 888 lowers itself into a closed shape, which allows for a longer wheelbase and a lower center of gravity for greater stability at speed. Plus, the cockpit is lower to the ground, giving the driver a more conventional (and perhaps very cool) view of the road. The seats have joints in them so that they move as the car folds one way or the other. The car features a separate electric engine for each wheel, powered by lithium-ion batteries stored in the trunk, itself covered in solar cells to aid in charging. Well, I'm sold.