Porsche designers switch to two wheels instead of four, and win

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

It comes with the most basic air-conditioning system going. The engine hasn't changed much since its invention and the brakes still work by hand.

But it turns better than a polo pony and the view from the driver's seat is the best in the business.

It's a bicycle. But not just any two-wheeler. It's called Bike R, a 6.8kg high-performance road-racer (pictured) from Porsche.

And it has just won an award from the International Forum Design in Hanover, Germany.

It was the first time the German sports car company had entered the awards, in which 1900 products from 100 participants in 35 countries competed for prizes.

The entries were judged on design and production quality, functionality and degree of innovation.

Bike R won the IF Silver Award. Another Porsche product, the Slalom Carver, a carving ski, won the IF Design Award 2002 for design excellence. Yet another, the FS mountain bike, won a minor category, as did a foldaway aluminium snow sled and a Porsche golf bag.

Bike R costs $11,530 in New Zealand. The FS mountain bike costs $9895. The other wheeled products Porsche is known for, the ones with four wheels, are considerably dearer.