A project from Saint Petersburg envisions a maxi scooter DieselPunk powered by a V4 automotive-derived engine. The engine already exists and works, while the rest of the vehicle currently exists only as a rendering
The term dieselpunk refers to a science fiction subgenre set between the 1920s and 1940s, imagining a society projected toward a future of growth and development but ruled by powerful entities of dubious morality. This gave rise to low-class yet deeply human heroes who battle dark, seemingly invincible forces, making use of futuristic technologies and vehicles with a postmodern look often clashing with contemporary aesthetics. Within this framework, the diesel engine became a “punk” motor—countercultural compared to the Otto cycle engines that dominated the era.
The genre inspired numerous books and films, and more recently several role-playing games, ultimately becoming one of the most appreciated sci-fi subgenres among its enthusiasts. Drawing inspiration from this aesthetic, a team of Russian customizers called Saint Peter’s Builds, based in Biker’s World, Saint Petersburg, has designed the look of a future maxi scooter. Its style draws on the hovercraft scooter imagined by Ukrainian designer Alexey Lipatov, known for blending minimalist industrial design with pulp characters set during World War II.
At this stage, the vehicle is only a digital project brought to life through renderings. However, its powertrain is real: it is powered by a 1,200 cc V4 engine taken from a ZAZ 968, a small Soviet economy car produced from the 1970s to the 1990s, delivering between 40 and 50 horsepower. The power is managed through a CVT belt transmission salvaged from a snowmobile.
Time will tell whether the project will ever be realized—and if so, whether this oversized “XXL Lambretta” will prove capable of fulfilling its mission: navigating the heavy traffic of today’s major metropolises.
Title: Scooter DieselPunk from science fiction to reality
Translation with ChatGPT
