The best of the micro-cars
Micro-cars are nothing new. They've been around for decades, with offerings from all corners of the planet in various formats. Some were 3 wheeled, some were 4 wheeled, some were barely cars while others promised performance. What they all were, though, was great value for money and a statement of urban chic mobility that has been rarely matched. We missed out on quite a few while making this list (there are way too many good ones), so feel free to email us at [email protected] with suggestions of your own.
Austin Mini
The most well known micro car to date was a genius exercise in packaging and minimalist design by its engineer, Sir Alec Issigonis. It would eventually become a pop culture icon, a glowing emblem of 60's British chic.
Fiat 500 (original)
The 500 was to Italy what the Austin Mini was to Britain: built for mass mobility, but used by hip city dwellers as the a fashion accessory. The gutsy little Fiat also handled well, which led to decent rallying efforts, much like the Mini.
Fiat 500 (new)
The retro Fiat has all the cute looks and feisty nature of the original, though the target market has largely changes to urban hipsters who consider it an anti-fashion statement than anything else. In Abarth form, it's a maniac.
BMW Isetta
The Isetta, with its weird design and even weirder entry-egress procedure, represented a turning point for post-war Germany. BMW transitioned from makers of motorcycles and war machines to motor vehicles with this "car".
Ford KA
A micro-car made by the Americans. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, but Ford Europe knew what it was doing and so the Ka became a bestseller in the UK and parts of EU. It looked funky and had an economy that was hard to beat.
Suzuki Cappucino
True to its name, the tiny Suzuki was a punch in the nervous system that made you feel more alive. Sold only in Japan, the Suzuki was way too girly to survive anywhere else, but it has scores of fans worldwide because of its nimble nature.
Autozam AZ1
It looks like a stunted child of a union between a Ford RS200 and the SW10 Toyota MR2. The AZ1 demonstrated the brilliant sporting ability that micro-cars could have if designed properly. It could smash GTRs in corners and make you a (small-ish) rockstar.
Daihatsu Copen
Another case of a feminine micro-car convertible failing to impress outside of Japan, the rear wheel drive, turbocharged Copen could sling it in the corners as well as any supercar could. Bangladesh got a few of them, and people laughed at the owners, which is quite sad.
Mitsubishi 500
Probably the best looking micro-car ever, with flowy lines and an almost Jaguar-esque demeanor. It was a limousine among micro-cars, offering luxuries like fully padded seats, which was unheard of in other cars in the segment.
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