Small cars that could raise American pulses

Dan Carney • E-mail

Predictions that this is the year Americans will finally embrace small cars seem to perpetually miss the mark. Gas that’s cheap in relative terms, broad avenues and free parking continue to invite Americans to use roomier, more comfortable cars.

But a new crop of small cars that debuted at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show this month could raise the pulse of American small car enthusiasts and win a few converts if they reach production and make it stateside.

The problem is, so far most of the small cars sold in the United States have been not only inexpensive, but also cheap.

Some drivers might appreciate the virtues of small, but few drivers enjoy cheap. That’s why the Mini Cooper and Scion models have met success in the United States, while various Korean and second-rung Japanese manufacturers have struggled. Even Toyota couldn’t sell its insultingly cheap Echo, and it’s straining to lure buyers to the Yaris.

That situation could be about to change. Carmakers are preparing a new generation of stylish, innovative small gems meant to slug it out in Europe’s hypercompetitive small car market, and the result could be some truly enjoyable compacts for American drivers.

The Smart “fortwo” will be coming to these shores early in 2008, and as exciting as the prospect of being able to park nose-in to the curb may be to some city dwellers, other small concepts shown at the Frankfurt show (which have room for more than two passengers) will be more interesting to U.S. consumers.

Take the Volkswagen Up!, for example.

It may only be a concept car, but it’s an extraordinarily well-thought-out one. It seems to have been designed with production in mind. In fact, company officials have described plans to be able to build the car in stripped-down specifications for emerging markets and tarted-up configurations for us spoiled drivers in developed markets.

The Up! has a rear engine design that is not only a homage to the original VW Beetle’s configuration, but also enjoys significant cost and packaging benefits. The layout makes the chassis of the car very flexible for adaptation to future variations, such as a minibus or two-seat coupe, just like the old Beetle spawned the VW Bus and Karman Ghia. And the Up! has taillights that are covered by the glass of the rear hatch — a neat design detail.

Volkswagen says it only produced the Up! to test out its suitability for American and European consumers, but expect a quick confirmation of production plans and, hopefully, eventual importation to the United States.

With the ongoing turmoil at Ford over the company’s lack of stimulating new product and its financial difficulties, Ford felt the need to demonstrate a vision for the future in Frankfurt, and it accomplished that with the Verve concept car.

Ford offered no detailed road map for the Verve, but with it the company did illustrate its styling direction for the near future and hinted at plans for refreshed compact models.

The new model won’t arrive a minute too soon in the United States, where the latest edition of the Focus compact car is based on the old original model while the rest of the world has a new car that shares a platform with the Mazda3 and Volvo S40.

Ford has accurately identified the need for high-quality execution if its Focus replacement is going to appeal to customers, and it’s going to need good materials like glove leather that are “beautiful to touch,” observed Ruth Pauli, Ford of Europe’s chief designer of colors and trim. Those sorts of details are helping Ford “bring a feeling of ‘premium-ness’ to the volume small car world,” she added.

MORE FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT

The Driver's Seat Section Front

GM bankruptcy described as unlikely Honda Clarity’s future still looks murky Future hybrids could be worth waiting for Automakers' gas gimmicks may backfire Drivers in no rush to buy big, hybrid SUVs Toyota feeling some of Detroit’s pain New GT-R bursts from virtual reality to reality China a bright spot for stumbling Detroit How to snag a bargain on four wheels Chevys driving down the Champs-Elysees? The Driver's Seat Section Front   Add The Driver's Seat headlines to your news reader: