Chatenet CH26: the French’s idea of a ‘smart’

Advertisement

Chatenet CH26

I don’t blame you if you think this is what happens when a Chinese car company cannot decide whether to rip off the MINI or the Alfa Romeo MiTo and decided to just do both at once. But no, this is actually a product of a French company, and the car is called the Chatenet CH26.

I’m sure you are wondering where did this Chatenet company come from. Automobiles Chatenet currently only has one other car for sale called the Barooder. That particular car is a tiny two-door with a 505cc engine that makes just over 20 horsepower. There is even a convertible version.

Chatenet CH26

The new CH26 however, is powered by a diesel engine (looks like there’s no turbo) and apparently it puts out just over 5 horsepower from a 523cc diesel? Even with a kerb weight of about 350kg that still seems awfully low. It measures 3065mm long, with a wheelbase of 2054mm.

Look after the jump for more pix of the abomination.

Chatenet CH26 5
Chatenet CH26 9
Chatenet CH26 2
ch_26_choix_gris
Chatenet CH26 6
Chatenet CH26 8
Chatenet CH26 7
ch_26_choix_bleu
Chatenet CH26 10
Chatenet CH26 11


Related stories you might be interested in reading:


About the Author

After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.

Comments

  1. V8 says:

    Smart? i would say it's a smart mini though.

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  2. Nutty says:

    Ahh…looks cute in a way…

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  3. yop says:

    First!

    weird car…

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  4. mitlanevo says:

    5hp????? u gotta be kidding…….

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  5. Julian-Lee says:

    BMW 1-series better than China crap car

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  6. below100k says:

    not 5 lar..additional 5hp ftom other model..means 25hp..if 5hp, better buy ex5

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  7. mystvearn says:

    IMHO its very ugly. The front end that is. Rear, fine.

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  8. ali38hak says:

    i think this a new 'no driving licence need car',

    in france there is allowed to drive with no licence if its drives less then 25(or 35) Km/h

    very normal there, i saw a lot of them in france, and my friend in france has had one, they are very loud :)

    but its populer by older ladies and gentlemens in the city..

    P.S.: Actually not the correct place but

    i think my love to proton is going down very fast :(

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  9. dp says:

    watcha gonna do wit tat man. let 10 yr old play wit it? 20hp is not todays world. remind me of fiat 500

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  10. dd says:

    mini look-alike

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  11. Gajen says:

    too light no good…very unstable…esp if its a small car…the shape is really weird..

    ill take toyota IQ anytime…

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  12. csv says:

    5 hp from a diesel?

    lets calculate. 350kg x 3= 1050kg. (estimate)

    5hp to move 1050kg, seriously underpowered.

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  13. csv says:

    opps, i mean 15hp to move 1050kg.

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  14. natkid says:

    gotta admit, it's quite cute..

    but 5hp?

    it'll go faster if there're 2 slaves carrying d car

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  15. wonderful small dies says:

    Small diesel engine car nust be very economy. It is a right time to sales in the present bad economy situation.

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  16. droll says:

    0-100 in 35 hours? LOL!

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  17. bahtosaius says:

    what a weird car…..how come the french start copycatx10 like china car maker???

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  18. Fiziks says:

    worst than china car, completely rubbish

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  19. awak says:

    got character

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  20. raybrig85 says:

    [quote comment="244478"]BMW 1-series better than China crap car[/quote]

    wtf u alwiz compare all cars with bmw…

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  21. raybrig85 says:

    ugly version of mini

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  22. lazyf says:

    eventhough it looks weird…but i like it…

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  23. mibs says:

    wahhhh!! if this car has P1 name on it.. sure kena hemtam kaw-kaw punyaa more than 30 comments for sure

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  24. azrai says:

    Maybe our local car manufacturer should name their car with Chedet to pay tribute. :-)

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  25. the stik says:

    rear light macam Mito.. sape agree?

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  26. initial R says:

    BMW mini cooper wanabe.

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  27. icyd says:

    looks like it's got aircond.i estimate the aircond only gonna sap 2 hp.so left only 3 hp to move the car?

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  28. mkrafz says:

    ya..

    the front is from Mito,

    and would u look at the rear end…!

    a ferrari rip off…!

    copycat..!

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  29. Ezal says:

    looks like it's design and made in China… lol…

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  30. John Ash says:

    I would very much like to know were i can buy one of this car, and also the cost of same

    Reply Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

Like us? Show some support! :)




Leave a Comment

Want a picture next to your comment? Register for a Gravatar account with the same email you use to comment!

Previous Story: All-new Jaguar XJ: Bowers & Wilkins teaser clip
Next Story: Mercedes-Benz ESF 2009 Safety Innovations