# Discovering the Innovative Mika Meon: A New Era for Lightweight Sports Cars


The automotive landscape in Britain has welcomed a fresh contender in the lightweight sports car segment: the **Mika Meon**. This remarkable vehicle has rekindled my optimism regarding the future of **electrification** in this niche market.

## A Visit to the Mika Workshop

During my recent visit to the Mika workshop, I had the opportunity to meet Robin Hall, the visionary behind this innovative design. Hall, a seasoned design engineer, leads Hall Engineering and Design, a company that thrives on cutting-edge computer-aided design techniques for a diverse clientele.

The workshop is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including a 3D printer for crafting prototype components and a 3D scanner for reverse engineering existing parts. This modern approach underscores the forward-thinking nature of the Mika Meon, which is anything but conventional.

## Custom Engineering for Optimal Performance

“Typically, niche sports car manufacturers rely heavily on off-the-shelf components,” Hall explained. “For the Meon, we’ve sourced some standard parts where it makes sense, like ball joints and minor cabin components. However, we prioritize designing our own parts whenever possible. This allows us to create exactly what we need without compromising on performance.”

For instance, the Meon’s brake calipers are custom-designed and machined on-site, while the front hub carriers are proprietary creations, giving Hall complete control over the vehicle’s attachment points and front-axle geometry. His previous experience includes designing front hubs for the iconic R50-generation Mini hatchback.

## Craftsmanship in Every Detail

Mika’s chief technician, Dave Watt, provided insight into the meticulous process of assembling the Meon’s chassis and axles. The workshop buzzes with activity as lengths of steel tubing and box sections are transformed into a finished chassis through a combination of cutting, bending, bolting, and welding—much of it done by hand.

“Creating wishbones is the most intricate part of the process,” Watt noted, demonstrating how he cuts steel with precision and forms it using a specialized tube bender. “I can weld an entire chassis faster than it takes to fabricate a complete set of wishbones.”

The welding process is particularly captivating. Most of it occurs on a custom-designed chassis jig that occupies a significant portion of the workshop floor. This jig, reminiscent of classic 1950s racing machinery, features cutouts for easy access to joints and rotisserie-style mountings for optimal maneuverability.

## Exceptional Strength and Lightweight Design

Watt meticulously assembles each chassis member, initially using spot welds to prevent warping during cooling, followed by larger seam welds for added strength. The result? The Meon boasts a torsional rigidity four times greater than that of a typical Lotus Seven-style sports car, all while maintaining a total weight of under 700 kg, even with batteries, seats, wheels, and trim included.

## A Bright Future for British Automotive Innovation

With passionate individuals like Robin Hall and Dave Watt at the helm of Britain’s cottage industry car business, there’s a promising future ahead. Their dedication to craftsmanship and innovation ensures that remarkable vehicles like the Mika Meon will continue to emerge, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of lightweight sports cars.

In conclusion, the Mika Meon is not just a new model; it represents a significant leap forward in the realm of electric sports cars, showcasing the potential of British engineering at its finest.