Why the Norra has no grille

An electric car does not need to breathe through its face, so we let the front go calm.

Detail of the flat aluminium side panel and flush door seam on the Norra

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A grille tells you where the engine breathes. The Norra has no engine to cool at the front, so a grille would only be a costume.

A closed face

We closed the nose and kept a single lighting strip across the width of the car. It makes the Norra look calm and slightly unfamiliar, which is exactly what a small electric two-seater should feel like in a city street.

Fewer parts, fewer gaps

Removing the grille also removed a dozen parts and the panel gaps around them. The front is now one pressed surface, easier to build and easier to repair.

People still ask where the grille went. That question is usually the start of a good conversation about what the car is.

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