The 2011 Chevy Spark, as sold in Argentina. Image: © GM Corp.

Sometime next year, Chevrolet will introduce the smallest car it’s ever sold in the United States. Classified as a “minicar,” the 2013 Chevrolet Spark will go head to head against the likes of the Fiat 500, the Smart Fortwo and the Scion iQ. It will likely be powered by a 1.2-liter engine, also the smallest ever offered in a Chevy product in the United States, mated to either a five-speed manual or a four speed automatic transmission. The Spark’s size may make it nimble (and easy to park), but it won’t make it quick: expect a zero to sixty run in the neighborhood of 12 seconds with the five speed, even longer with the four speed automatic.

While the final specs haven’t been released by GM, expect the U.S. bound Spark to be around 144 inches long and 63 inches wide. Stacked against Chevy’s current compact car offering, the Cruze sedan, the Spark will be some 37 inches shorter and 8 inches narrower. Maybe a better comparison would be against the current Ford Fiesta hatchback, which is the smallest car in Ford’s current lineup: the Spark is still 16 inches shorter and nearly 5 inches narrower.

So here’s the question: is there enough demand in the American market to import a car that’s smaller than its contemporaries, slower than its contemporaries and not substantially better in fuel economy (the Spark is expected to return around 40 mpg, the same as a properly equipped Chevy Cruze or a new Hyundai Accent)? Can Americans, who’ve traditionally associated size with safety, warm up to smaller and smaller modes of personal transportation?

Like hybrids and smaller displacement engines, smaller cars are likely to become the new norm as manufacturers struggle to meet stricter CAFE requirements. I can’t help but wonder what happens if buyers don’t warm up to the new technology, and it wouldn’t be the first time Detroit built cars that American buyers rejected.

What’s your take: with the Spark ignite a new market for Chevrolet, or will the Spark burn out shortly after it hits the market?

Last week we brought you the first of four short films that BMW is releasing as part of a documentary series about The Future of Mobility. Part I talked about how the residents of our new mega cities (populations of 15 million or more) will have to adapt to smaller living quarters, vehicles and lifestyles that are somewhat scaled down from what most of us experience today. Some people believe this is a good thing and a way to be more efficient, which at the end of the day it probably is. What I want to know however, is where is the line drawn between ultra efficiency and quality of life?

Part II of the series takes us to a society, that according to old science fiction, was going to be filled with flying cars, teleportation and mobile jet packs. The truth of the matter is though that we human beings are still using the same methods of transportation that we used 80 years ago. Planes, trains and automobiles still operate essentially the same way they did all those years ago and while the technology has changed, our basic modes of movement are exactly the same. So what are your thoughts, how do you think we will be getting around in the future?

Source: bmwactivatethefuture.com

Can’t get enough of the obscenely cute Fiat 500? Want to put one in your garage as soon as possible? There’s good news from Fiat/Chrysler: the diminutive urban commuter will start at just $15,500, for the base trim level (called “Pop”) with no options and no dealership “ADM”, which won’t be easy to find given the interest in the 500. The mid-level trim package is called “Sport”, and this comes with a stiffer suspension, 16” alloy wheels, performance exhaust and revised front and rear fascias. Sport versions start at $17,500 before you add options (and dealer price gouging). At the upper end is the Fiat 500 Lounge, which focuses on luxury and amenities and starts at $19,500. If you go crazy checking option boxes, it’s not difficult to get a Fiat 500 Lounge over $24,000; that’s a little steep for an urban commuter car, but it’s still less than a well optioned Mini.

All Fiat 500s come with the Multi-Air 1.4 liter turbo motor, good for 101 horsepower and 98 ft lb of torque. That may not sound like much, but the Fiat 500 only weighs about 2,200 pounds, so you can expect acceleration on par with a first generation Miata. Pop and Sport models come standard with a five speed manual transmission, and both offer a six speed automatic as an option. The automatic is standard on the higher trim level Lounge version.

Fiat’s also made some significant changes to the 500 to accommodate U.S. tastes. Suspension tuning is different than EU models, and U.S. 500s get a strengthened body with improved noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) characteristics. We get improved front brake calipers, a larger fuel tank, upgraded HVAC, more comfortable seating, revised steering and an energy efficient Bose audio system. We also get larger cup holders, since we Americans just love our 55 gallon fountain drinks and Venti Mas Grande coffees.

Want to configure and price your own? Fiat’s U.S. site allows you to do just that, although it doesn’t give you much in the way of technical details or specifications.

Source: Carscoop

Now this is something that makes sense. Smart, the maker of the itty bitty ForTwo micro-car is now said to be delving into the world of two wheels with the upcoming E-Scooter concept. The E-Scooter is said to be powered by a lithium-ion battery that will give the little scoot a range of up to 62 zero-emission miles, while at the same time providing its riders with some new innovative safety features. The E-Scooter was developed with some help from Mercedes-Benz, and with an electric motor integrated into the rear wheel and zero emissions, the E-Scooter (if made into a production ride) will most likely become a favorite amongst those in urban environments.

A senior Mercedes-Benz official stated that: “Smart was originally established to tackle the need for improved mobility, especially in congested city environments. Up to now we have concentrated our efforts on four-wheel solutions. The next stage is to look at how to expand beyond this with other environmentally friendly vehicles,”

Keep in mind that this in no way means that Smart will cease production of the ForTwo, but since Smart’s sales figures are currently in a major slump it may not be such a bad idea for the company to branch out and find new ways of generating some revenue.

Source: AutoWeek.com

Gordon Murray designed the legendary McLaren F1. This is his latest creation, a tiny city car with center seating and a slick tilting canopy that swings up to allow entry and egress. A performance car it is not. The T.25 has a wee inline three cylinder with just 51 horsepower and the trip to 62 miles per hour (100 kph) takes an excruciating 16 seconds. But the 1,200-pound welterweight gets almost 62 miles per gallon and seats three—the pilot sits front and center while the passengers sit behind and to the side. I think it’s a slick little ride, despite its dreadful performance. And I can’t wait for it to go into production so someone can drop a Hayabusa engine into it. Hit the jump for more photos and a big giant press release.

PRESS RELEASE

T.25 DEBUTS AT SMITH SCHOOL’S WORLD FORUM

Monday 28th June 2010, Gordon Murray Design’s T.25 City Car will make its first public appearance at the Smith School’s World Forum on Enterprise and the Environment in Oxford today.

Sir David King, Founding Director of the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment said:

* The T.25 represents a major breakthrough in City Car design and is a vehicle that has been optimised through design for strength, performance, weight, cost, safety, usability, tooling, quality, energy efficiency, recyclable and ease of assembly.
* The T.25 external dimensions create the opportunity to:
o park at 90 degrees to the curb, offering real consumer benefits,
o park up to 3 cars in one parallel parking space – giving rise to lower parking charges.
o increase traffic flow,
o explore the possibility of 2 vehicles travelling and overtaking in one conventional lane. Combining this with the car length has the potential to triple lane usage at peak times.
o reduce the environmental impact of vehicle manufacture (ie: lower material content etc) and day-to-day operation.
* The central driving position generates:
o A unique, ‘cool’ and fun driving experience,
o promotes safety and ease of parking as a result of excellent all-round visibility and road awareness,
o the opportunity to offer a single-seater option with retrofit bolt-in rear seats,
o class-leading rear passenger leg room (better than most ‘B-Segment’ cars).
* By virtue of the unique door opening system, the T.25 can:
o be parked in very close proximity to other objects and still allow occupants to enter and exit the vehicle. This gives rise to,
o park 2 in one domestic garage,
o allow occupants access from both sides of the vehicle,
o allow easy access to the driver’s seat and easy access to the rear child seats.
* The ultra lightweight by design (approximately 550kg) means that:
o component life is increased
o reduced energy is required to power vehicle, giving rise to higher fuel efficiency (mpg/electric battery range).
o a competitive power to weight ratio is achieved
* A world-leading 6 metre turning circle will enhance urban manoeuvring and parking.
* Body panels in the lower periphery of the car are all mechanically affixed and have split lines which are sympathetic to accident damage replacement, leading to rapid assembly times and low cost accident repair.
* First car in class to feature lightweight, low cost independent rear suspension.
* Wing mirrors are within the overall width of the body, thereby minimising accidental damage and subsequent mirror replacement.
* Design for purpose means that the vehicle has excellent pedestrian impact qualities.
* The inclusion of Formula 1 derived materials philosophy and technology coupled with chassis frame design (‘Direct Load Path’) gives an immensely strong structure (‘safety cell’) both in ‘end’ and ‘side’ impact scenarios. This is also designed to meet the cost targets of high volume production.
* Flat under-floor improves aerodynamic efficiency.
* Class-leading vehicle dynamics
* High level turn indicators for good visibility.
* Positioning of the fuel filler permits refueling from either side of the vehicle.
* Centralised driving instrumentation and controls are designed to maximize drive control.
* Six internal layout options with rear seat adjustment (adjustable within 20 seconds) sets new standards in small vehicle packaging – a long way in front of the Smart For 2 and the Toyota iQ.
* Occupant capacity of between 1 and 3 persons. Luggage capacity of between 160 litres and 720 litres.
* The T.25 has the potential to be first to market for a new “World Car Class” for efficient vehicles, demonstrating new levels of efficiency and low emissions – creating excellent publicity and marketing opportunities.

Tired of his Smart being called a “chick car”, Don made a few mods to make his more manly.

Found on That Will Buff Out

Tata Nano is the hottest car in India

It’s hard to imagine profitability for an automaker in a $2,500.00 car, yet Renault is determined to produce a rival to Tata’s Nano. A huge success in their native India, Tata Nanos sell for the equivalent of $2,100, making them the least expensive new car option in a country with an exploding driver population.

Nissan will be working with the Bajaj Group to produce and distribute their microcar, targeted to sell at a price point of $2,500. Bajaj is best known as a manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, and (based on volume) is the world’s fourth largest producer of two-wheeled vehicles. A partnership like this makes good sense for Renault, as it gives them access to inexpensive and fuel efficient motors while simultaneously broadening their distribution network. Renault’s goal is to produce a microcar that gets 70 miles per gallon and emits just 100 grams / kilometer of CO2.

Source: gas2.0

The initial track testing phase of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize vehicles has begun at Michigan International Speedway. This video, courtesy of Consumer Reports, gives a good overview of what the competition is all about. Unfortunately, there isn’t all that much footage of cars testing, but some things are clear: the Aptera may be fuel efficient, but it doesn’t handle worth a damn and the Tango (the extremely narrow orange car in the video) really can back its claim of a four second zero to sixty time.

Speaking of the Tango, we’ll do a writeup on it in the near future. In the mean time, ponder this: the Tango is 39 inches wide, or 5 inches narrower than a Honda Gold Wing motorcycle. It’s 101 inches long, which makes it five inches shorter than a Smart car. It’s not light, due primarily to the weight of the batteries and the steel safety cage, tipping the scales at 3,150 pounds. The twin motors are good for 1,000 pound feet of torque (and no, that’s not a typo), which gets the clown-car-sized Tango from 0 to 60 in under 4 seconds. It’ll turn the quarter mile in 12 seconds, at 120 miles per hour. It’s single speed transmission is good for 135 miles per hour at 8,000 RPM, and it claims a range of over 150 miles on lithium ion batteries.

Commuter Cars Tango T600

Like anything with wheels that goes fast, it comes at a price. The base Tango T600 kit (which requires 8 hours of assembly) is $108,000 and we’re not done spending yet. Next, the drivetrain adds $5,000 to the bill, followed by Li-Ion batteries at $53,000 (you can cheap out and go with lead acid batteries for $8,000, but that only gives you a range of about 40 miles). If I’m doing the math right and have everything that I need, the total comes to $166,000. That’s a lot of coin to pony up for an electric commuter car, even if it is the world’s fastest. Commuter Cars (Tango’s manufacturer) is working on a lower cost, mass production version dubbed the T200, but don’t expect it to have the same level of performance.

Like the Smart Fortwo, but need a backseat to haul around your teacup poodle? Want an Aston Martin Cygnet, but don’t already own an Aston Martin? Your worries are over, Mr. American Minicar Buyer – the Toyota IQ is coming stateside as the Scion iQ.

Unlike the Aston Martin Cygnet, you don’t need to “qualify” to buy one; they’ll take anyone’s cash. Also unlike the Aston Martin Cygnet, the Scion iQ won’t have a mid-line price of $60,000. Sure, you won’t get an Aston Martin badge (but feel free to pry one off the car of a Wall Street hedge fund manager) and you won’t be able to check the box for “baby whale penis leather”, but you’ll save yourself around $45,000, plus the cost of buying an Aston Martin to qualify for buying a Cygnet.

Toyota bills the iQ as the “world’s smallest four passenger vehicle”. Four passenger is a relative term, as there is virtually no room behind the driver’s seat for anyone not employed as the “world’s smallest human”; think of it as a “three extremely small passenger vehicle that will also hold a cat”. Since American’s don’t equate cars the size of a dishwasher with safety, Toyota is quick to point out that the Scion iQ has 10 airbags.

On the heels of the patent drawings that leaked yesterday depicting the new Nissan Micra, Nissan has announced a new model will hit the U.S. lineup in 2010 that will sit below the compact Nissan Versa. While Nissan has not explicitly confirmed the mysterious new micro compact will be the revised version of the Micra spotted yesterday, they have said that it will be built atop the new V-platform which, coincidentally, is scheduled to make its first debut underpinning the Micra’s next-gen European successor.

According to Nissan, the rolling out of the new V-platform marks a significant change in the company’s design philosophy and a renewed emphasis on A and B segment cars. In addition to the Micra’s replacement, the new V-platform will also yield a total of three new small cars for Nissan, including a 4-door sedan, 5-door hatchback, and a multi-purpose vehicle. Befitting a small car, the engine is expected to be a relatively lackluster 3-cylinder configuration, so barring any miraculous engineering achievements don’t expect the raw specs to be anything worth revving your engine over, literally.

Source: AutoNews