A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away a small beepy droid showed us that flipping from two legs to three at the drop of a hat can be pretty handy. Moving slowly and manoeuvring in tight spots, two of his wheely legs worked a treat. But if he had to pick up the pace? Just flip-out lucky leg number three.

Fast forward to today, and that same principle is being applied to the latest generation of urban cycles right here on Earth. And leading the way is the UNO III Streetbike – deftly switching from two-wheeled dicycle to sleek, three-wheeled sports bike (and back again) at a moment’s notice.

In Uno Mode, the U3 supports itself on its two rear wheels. Controlled by internal gyros to maintain stability, it makes tight turns and slow, controlled movement a breeze. In fact, in this mode the U3’s footprint is so small that you could even take it in a lift, drive it around the office, or park it in your hallway at home. But it’s when you open up the throttle that this ingenious urban vehicle turns from curious oddity to mind-blowing wonder.

Because as you pick up speed, the U3’s third wheel automatically folds out, the rear wheels slide back and the U3 becomes a sleek urban streetbike. And all without sacrificing your overall stability and control. It’s like riding around on your very own transformer!

The electric motor produces zero emissions, so you can ride around knowing you’re not damaging the planet. What’s more, it’s incredibly economical to run. A single charge from a domestic power socket will take you 30-35 miles, and recharging time is around 3-4 hours – making this the perfect way to beat the traffic jams, and make stuffy buses and packed commuter trains a thing of the past. Artoo would be proud.