The Bandit9 Monaco. Part 1 - The Concept

The Idea

After a decade of creating some of the world’s most radical motorcycles, it was time we upped the ante and build a car.

The initial idea stemmed from wanting to translate the experience of riding a motorcycle into a car. Many have tried but most solutions revolve around the obvious: making it open-air in various degrees. It helps but it doesn’t quite capture the experience.

Then it hit us: riding a motorcycle is a sport. When you’re riding a motorcycle, you don’t have time for anything! You’re constantly balancing, dodging potholes, pedestrians and cars, and anticipating danger. Your hands, fingers and feet are busy playing with the clutch, gears, brakes and signals. Like any mindful practice, it’s this demand on your body and attention that makes you present and feel connected to the world. It’s the runner’s high, the rush of endorphins, the confidence, empowerment and accomplishment after a workout.

Now, how do we translate this into a car?

Bring the sport back in sports car.

While modern sports cars come packed with features, they’ve also made you useless. It sounds harsh but it’s the truth. You don’t need to know your way around thanks to GPS. You can take your foot off the pedal with cruise control. You can talk on your cell phone. The car alerts you when you’re veering off your lane. Some even drive for you! It requires nothing of you.

So the Monaco does away with all these “features” that have weakened sportscars and drivers alike. And what you lose in comfort, you gain in focus, skill, confidence and presence of mind. It’s the same peace you would find in a motorcycle.