Ligier

Ligier
	Ligier logo Passion for car
Type	Subsidiary
Industry	Automobile & Formula One
Founded	1968
Founder	Guy Ligier
Headquarters	Abrest, France
Parent	21 Investimenti Partners
Website	Ligier.fr

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Ligier is a French automobile maker created by former racing driver and rugby player Guy Ligier.

History

The firm entered the automobile business with the Ligier JS2, a mid-engined sports car for the road initially powered by a Ford V6 and from 1971 by the same Maserati V6 engine as the Citroën SM. The JS2 was considered by many as a well-designed car with a very good power-to-weight ratio^{[citation needed]}. The Ligier motorcars were all designated with the prefix "JS" in honour of Ligier's great friend and cohort Jo Schlesser who was killed in the 1968 French Grand Prix while driving for Honda. The final SMs were also produced in the Ligier factory in Vichy^{[citation needed]}. The 1973 energy crisis caused such a decline in the market for the JS2 that production ceased soon after, and the firm changed its focus to microcars, for example, 1984 moped-powered Ligier JS6.

Ligier automatic parking on video^[1]

One of the world's first experimental prototypes of automatic parallel parking was developed on a Ligier electric car at INRIA in the mid-1990s.^[1]

In September 2008, Ligier Automobiles completed its acquisition of Beneteau Group's Microcar division, with financing provided by 21 Investimenti Partners. Phillipe Ligier, son of the company's founder, remains as CEO. The Ligier and Microcar brands are to retain their separate identities and manufacturing facilities. The merger creates Europe's second largest microcar manufacturer (after Daimler's Smart unit, if one considers that a microcar), and largest manufacturer of drivers license-exempt vehicles.

Models

Ligier JS2.

The Ligier model line currently consists of the Ixo line of mini cars, the X-Pro line of small commercial vehicles, and the Be Up/Be Two line of open air, roadster-type vehicles. The company also produces a line of quad bikes and off-road utility vehicles sold as the Be Pro, Be Four, and Be Truck. Ixo or Ambra is about two and a half meters long and has two seats. It is front engine. Power units include two 2 cylinder four stroke diesels of about half a liter displacement and an all electric drive.

Ligier in motorsport

The 1980 Ligier JS11/15 Formula One car

Ligier is best known for its Formula One team that operated from 1976 to 1996. Ligier entered Formula One in 1976 with a Matra V12-powered car, and won a Grand Prix with Jacques Laffite in 1977.

Ligier also competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1970 to 1975.