First released in 1981, the Honda Motocompo is an immensely quirky folding scooter that was designed to neatly stow away in the trunk of Honda’s then-new compact car, the “City.” Unequivocally boasting cult status today, the Motocompo’s design has come full circle, becoming increasingly relevant in modern times as lightweight e-bikes and folding last-mile vehicles grow ever-more popular. And this is ultimately what has prompted one London-based vehicle concept artist to deliver his own contemporary interpretation of the boxy “Trunk Bike.”
Penned by Allan Williams — a seasoned artist that’s worked for leading UK-based graphic design firms like AllCity Media and Empire Design — the “Motocompo XL” takes ample inspiration from the original model, albeit with sleeker, more modern design language and a larger size. Just like with the original, the Motocompo XL sports a full suite of integrated lighting fore and aft, a monoposto seat, and handlebars that are based on the folding units present on the 1980s bike. Williams has also jettisoned the Trunk Bike’s 2.5-hp 49cc single in favor of an electric powertrain. Williams has also rendered the concept in yellow and red liveries, a clear nod to the Daisy Yellow and Caribbean Red factory paint digs adorning the 1980s model, albeit with some added inspiration from the Akira bike livery. A hub-center-steered front end is also present on the concept, replacing the standard fork arrangement, while a set of aero-disc covers further help to modernize the machine.
Modeled in Fusion 360 and Cinema 4D before being rendered in Redshift and textured using Substance Painter, Allan Williams’ all-electric Motocompo XL concept can be viewed in greater detail on the UK-based designer’s Behance page. And, while it won’t be entering production, the concept makes us extremely optimistic about the future of lightweight two-wheelers.
