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An economy car is an automobile that is designed for low cost operation. They are designed for drivers who use their car primarily for personal transportation. The best of these cars are not merely cheapened or miniaturised versions of a conventional car, but instead they are designed by taking a fresh look at how to meet their design requirements. Typical economy cars are small, light weight, and inexpensive to buy. The size of a 'small car' (and so economy car), was until recently, larger and heavier in the USA than in the rest of the world. Car redirects here. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

History

Pre-war

1902 Oldsmobile Curved Dash runabout

Ford Model T used for giving tourist rides at Greenfield Village

Citroën Type A Torpedo 1919

Austin 7 Chummy Tourer 1929

At the birth of the car, in the 1890s it was considered a replacement for the carriages of the rich, or simply a toy. The book Wind in the Willows, pokes fun at early privileged motorists. The first car to be marketed to the ordinary person and so the first 'economy car', was the 1901-1907 Oldsmobile Curved Dash - it was even mass produced. It was inspired by the buckboard type horse and buggy, (used like a small two seat pickup truck) popular in the rural USA. It had two seats, but was less versatile than the vehicle that inspired it. Image File history File links Picture of non-black 1927 Model T at Greenfield Village, photo by rmhermen File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Picture of non-black 1927 Model T at Greenfield Village, photo by rmhermen File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... A Ford Model T, used for giving tourist rides, is shown above at Greenfield Village. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 786 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (800 × 610 pixel, file size: 40 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) |Description = Citroen Type A Torpedo 1919 |Source = |Date = |Author = Lars-Göran Lindgren Sweden |Permission = }} File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 786 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (800 × 610 pixel, file size: 40 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) |Description = Citroen Type A Torpedo 1919 |Source = |Date = |Author = Lars-Göran Lindgren Sweden |Permission = }} File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Wind in the Willows is a classic of childrens literature by Kenneth Grahame. ... In My Merry Oldsmobile songbook featuring an Oldsmobile Curved Dash automobile The Curved Dash Oldsmobile is credited as the first high-volume mass-produced automobile. ...

Although there were low cost cars before it, the 1908-1927 Ford Model T is considered to be the "first" true economy car, because previous vehicles were 'horseless carriages' rather than cars. The first 'real' cars featured the FR layout first used by the French car maker Panhard. While it was at first the only large scale mass produced car, that very innovation, along with the attributes it required (a simple, inexpensive design) allowed it to be the first car to exemplify the ideals of the economy car. The complexity involved in making it a successful design was in its production and materials technology; particularly the use of new vanadium steel alloys. The River Rouge Plant where it was made was the most technologically advanced in the world. The innovation of the moving production line, was inspired by the 'dis-assembly' plants of the Chicago meat packing industry. The continuous improvement of production methods, allowed Henry Ford to progressively lower the price of the Model T throughout its production run. It was far less expensive, smaller, and more austere than its hand-built pre-first world war contemporaries. The Ford Model T (colloquially known as the Tin Lizzie and the Flivver) was an automobile produced by Henry Fords Ford Motor Company from 1908 through 1927. ... Sketch of FR layout In automobile design, an FR, or front-engine, rear wheel drive means a layout where the engine is in the front of the vehicle and drive wheels at the rear. ... A Panhard-Levassor was the first automobile to be introduced in Japan, in 1898 Panhard & Levassor X18 1912 Panhard & Levassor 1914 Panhard & Levassor X31 1921 A 1920s Panhard Dyna Panhard X 86 4-Door Sedan 1952 Panhard repair manual cover showing PL 17 A VBL of the French Army Panhard... Mass production is the production of large amounts of standardised products on production lines. ... Aerial view of the Rouge complex in 1942 Interior of the Rouge Tool & Die works, 1944 The River Rouge Plant (commonly known as the Rouge Complex or just The Rouge) is a Ford Motor Company automobile factory complex located in Dearborn, Michigan at the confluence of the Rouge and Detroit...

In 1911 in Europe, Ettore Bugatti designed a small car for Peugeot, the 850 cc four-cylinder Type 19 "Bébé". For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Ettore Bugatti Ettore Arco Isidoro Bugatti (September 15, 1881, Milan, died on August 21, 1947) was an automobile designer and manufacturer. ...

At the New York Motor Show in January 1915, William Durant the head of Chevrolet (and founder of GM), launched the Chevrolet Four-Ninety, a stripped down version of the Series-H, to compete with Henry Ford's all conquering Model T, it went into production in June. To aim directly at Ford, Durant said the new car would be priced at $490 (the source of its name), the same as the Model T touring. Its introductory price was $550, however, although it was reduced to $490 later when the electric starter and lights were made a $60 option. Henry Ford responded by reducing the Model T to $440.[1]

The subsequent decades led to economical cars that reflected the needs of their creators. The cycle car was an attempt in the period before 1922 in the post First World War austerity period, as a form of "four-wheeled motorcycle", with all the benefits of a motorcycle and side-car, in a more stable package. Crosley, a U.S. appliance manufacturer, would also be an early pioneer of very small cars. 1914 La Vigne cyclecar advertisement. ... Year 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Motorcycle (disambiguation). ... The Crosley was an automobile manufactured by the Crosley Corporation and later by Crosley Motors Incorporated in the United States from 1939 to 1952. ...

In 1923 Chevrolet tried again with the Chevrolet Series M 'Copper-Cooled', air cooled car, designed by General Motors genius engineer at AC Delco Charles Kettering, it was a rare failure for him, due to uneven cooling of the inline four cylinder engine.[2] [3] Charles Kettering, on a Time cover, 1933 Model of Kettering aerial torpedo on display at National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio Charles Franklin Kettering (August 29, 1876 – November 24 or November 25, 1958) was born in Loudonville, Ohio, USA the fourth of five children of...

But by far, the most development occurred in Europe. There, there was less emphasis on long-distance automobile travel, and a need for vehicles that could navigate narrow streets and alleys. The Citroën Type A was the first car produced by Citroën from June 1919 to December 1921 in Paris. The Type A reached a production number of 24,093 vehicles. The Opel 4 PS, Germany's first 'peoples car', popularly known as the Opel Laubfrosch (Opel Treefrog), was a small two seater car introduced by the then family owned auto maker Opel, early in 1924, which bore an uncanny resemblance to the little Torpedo Citroën 5 CV of 1922. For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... The Citroën Type A was the first car produced by Citroën from June 1919 to December 1921 in Paris. ... Production ran from 1922 - 1926 with almost 81,000 units being made. ...

On an even smaller scale, European cars, such as the Austin Seven, (which made cyclecars obsolete overnight), would also start to catch on in Japan during the same time period, as a Datsun, leading to the start of their own automobile industry. It was also produced by BMW in Germany, Rosengart in France, and by Bantam in the USA. The Mini is the name of a rather petite car produced from 1959 to 2000, and the name of a newer one known as New MINI launched in 2001. ... The Datsun is a car you own if you want no performance or speed wat so ever. ... For other uses, see BMW (disambiguation). ... Lucien Rosengart (January 11, 1881, Paris, France - July 27, 1976) was a French engineer. ...

Also, in the 1920s, Ford (with the Model T in Manchester, England) and General Motors, (who took over Opel in Germany and Vauxhall in Britain), expanded into Europe. Most Ford and GM European cars, but especially economy cars, were technologically conservative and all were rear wheel drive to a smaller European size, with improvements focused mainly on styling, (apart from the introduction of the Macpherson strut by Ford in the 1950s/60s), until the late 1970s / early 1980s. Ford may mean a number of things: A ford is a river crossing. ... General Motors Corporation, also known as GM, is a multinational corporation headquartered in the United States and has been the worlds largest and most dominant automaker since 1931 till the second half of 2007, surpassed by Toyota; as well as the global industry sales leader for 77 years. ... This article is about the European car manufacturer. ... Vauxhall Motors is a UK car company. ... Rear wheel drive was a common form of engine/transmission layout used in automobiles throughout the 20th century. ... A simple MacPherson strut suspension on the left front wheel of a rear-wheel drive vehicle. ...

In the late 'roaring' 1920s, General Motors finally overtook Ford, as the US car market fragmented into niches on a wave of prosperity, with GM producing a range of cars to match. This included a Chevrolet economy car. Henry Ford was wrong-footed by staying with the one size fits all, 'any colour you like as long as it's black', Model T for far too long. By the end of production in 1927 it looked like a relic from another era. It was replaced by the Ford Model A (1927). The Ford Model A was the second huge success for the Ford Motor Company, after its predecessor, the Model T. First produced on October 20, 1927, but not sold until December 2, it replaced the venerable Model T, which had been produced for 18 years. ...

In the 1930s, Fiat in Italy produced the advanced and very compact Topolino or 'little mouse', the precursor of the 1950s Fiat 500. It was a similar size to the Austin Seven but much more advanced than the Seven which was produced with updated and restyled body until the second world war, but still on the early 1920s chassis. For other uses, see Fiat (disambiguation). ... The Topolino was an automobile model manufactured by Fiat from 1937 to 1955. ... The Mini is the name of a rather petite car produced from 1959 to 2000, and the name of a newer one known as New MINI launched in 2001. ...

The Volkswagen Beetle would be the longest-lasting icon of this 1930s era. Adolf Hitler admired the ideals exemplified by the Ford Model T, and sought the help of Ferdinand Porsche to create a 'peoples-car' - literally Volks-Wagen, with the same ideals for the people of Germany. Many of the design ideas were plagiarised from the work of Hans Ledwinka, the Tatra T97 with the Czechoslovakian Tatra (car) company. The Nazi "KdF-Wagen" ("Strength through Joy - Car") program ground to a halt because of World War II, but after the war, the Volkswagen company would be founded to produce the car in the new democratic West Germany, where it would be a success. This article is about the original Volkswagen Beetle. ... Hitler redirects here. ... The Ford Model T (colloquially known as the Tin Lizzie and the Flivver) was an automobile produced by Henry Fords Ford Motor Company from 1908 through 1927. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Hans Ledwinka (born in Klosterneuburg (Lower Austria),1878, died in Munich (Germany),1967) was an Austrian automobile designer. ... A prototype rear-engined small car, the Type 97 powered by 1. ... Tatra is a vehicle manufacturer in Kopřivnice, Czech Republic. ... National Socialism redirects here. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... VW redirects here. ...

It is important to realise that the pre-war European car market was not one market. Trade barriers meant that it was fragmented into national markets, apart from luxury cars where the extra cost of tariffs could actually make cars more exclusive and desirable. The only way for a car maker to enter another national market of a major European car making country, (and their colonial markets of the time), was to open factories there. This situation only really changed with the post-war growth of the EEC (European Community) and EFTA. The European Community (EC) was originally founded on March 25, 1957 by the signing of the Treaty of Rome under the name of European Economic Community. ... The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) was established on May 3, 1960 as an alternative for European states that were not allowed or did not wish to join the European Community (now the European Union). ...

1945-1973

The very first Volkswagen type 1 'Beetle' ever produced - the most popular car of all time.

First generation "Ripple Bonnet" Citroën 2CV built from 1949 to 1960

SAAB 92 1949

Cross-section shows how Mini maximizes passenger space

Renault 4 1968

As Europe and Japan rebuilt from the war, their growing economies led to a steady increase in demand for cheap cars to 'motorise the masses'. Emerging technology allowed economy cars to become more sophisticated. Early post-war economy cars like the VW Beetle, Citroën 2CV, Renault 4CV and Saab 92, looked extremely minimal, but technically they were extremely advanced. Image File history File links Citroen2cvtff. ... Image File history File links Citroen2cvtff. ... Image File history File links Cutout_mini. ... Image File history File links Cutout_mini. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Volkswagen Beetle or Bug is a small family car, the best known car of Volkswagen, of Germany, and almost certainly the world. ... The Citroën 2CV (French: deux chevaux vapeur, literally two steam horses, from the tax horsepower rating) was an economy car produced by the French automaker Citroën from 1948 to 1990. ... The Renault 4CV was an automobile produced by the French manufacturer Renault from 1946 to 1961. ... Saab 92 Saab 92 is an automobile from Saab. ...

• The VW featured an air cooled rear engine with rear wheel drive, all round fully independent suspension, semi monocoque construction and the ability to cruise on the Autobahn for long periods reliably. This cruising ablility and engine durability was gained by restricting the engine breathing and performance to well below its maximum capability.

• The Citroën 2CV had interconnected all round fully independent suspension, radial tyres and front wheel drive with an air cooled flat twin engine. It was some 10 to 15 MPG more fuel efficient than any other economy car of its time - but with restricted performance to match. It was specifically designed to motorise rural communities where speed was not a requirement.

• The Saab 92 had a transversly-mounted, water-cooled two-cylinder, two-stroke based on a DKW design, driving the front wheels. It had aircraft derived monocoque construction, with an aerodynamic cW value (drag coefficient) of 0.30 - better than any car until the 1980s. It was later developed into the Saab 93, Saab 95, Saab 96 and Saab Duetto. It was produced until 1980.

They were technologically more advanced than almost all conventional cars of the time. Monocoque (French for single shell) is a construction technique that uses the external skin of an object to support some or most of the load on the structure. ... This article is about the German, Austrian and Swiss road system. ... The Citroën 2CV (French: deux chevaux vapeur, literally two steam horses, from the tax horsepower rating) was an economy car produced by the French automaker Citroën from 1948 to 1990. ... Saab 92 Saab 92 is an automobile from Saab. ... A transverse engine is an engine in which the crankshaft is oriented side-to-side relative to the wheels of the vehicle. ... Watercooling is a method of heat removal from components. ... A straight-twin engine is a two cylinder piston engine that has its cylinders arranged in a single row. ... The three cylinder two-stroke engine. ... DKW Auto Union logotype Dampf-Kraft Wagen (German: steam-powered vehicle) or DKW is a historic car and motorcycle marque. ... Monocoque (French for single shell) is a construction technique that uses the external skin of an object to support some or most of the load on the structure. ... The drag coefficient (Cd, Cx or Cw, depending on the country) is a dimensionless quantity that describes a characteristic amount of aerodynamic drag caused by fluid flow, used in the drag equation. ... The Saab 93 was an automobile manufactured by Saab. ... Saab 95 Initially the Saab 95 was a 7-seater station wagon/estate made by Saab. ... Saab 96 The Saab 96 is an automobile made by Saab. ...

In 1957 FIAT in Italy launched the Nuovo Fiat 500. It was the first real city car. It had a rear mounted air cooled vertical twin engine, and all round independent suspension. It was for Italian scooter riders who had settled down and had a young family. Fiat also launched the larger Fiat 600 with a similar layout but with a watercooled inline 4 cylinder engine. The Fiat 500 (the cinquecento from the Italian word for 500) is a car produced by the Fiat company of Italy between 1957 and 1975 (the Fiat 500 K alone was produced until 1977). ... The Fiat 600 (or Seicento) is a city car produced by the Italian automaker Fiat from 1955 to 1969. ...

In the late 1950s the DDR German Democratic Republic produced its 'peoples car'. The Trabant sold 3 million vehicles in thirty years due to its communist captive market. It had a transverse two-cylinder air-cooled two-stroke engine and front wheel drive. “East Germany” redirects here. ... This article is about the automobile. ... The two-stroke cycle of an internal combustion engine differs from the more common four-stroke cycle by having only two strokes (linear movements of the piston) instead of four, although the same four operations (intake, compression, power, exhaust) still occur. ...

The next big advance was the 1959 Austin Mini, designed by Alec Issigonis as a response to the first 'oil crisis', the 1956 Suez Crisis. It was the first front wheel drive car with a watercooled inline four cylinder engine mounted transversely. This allowed eighty percent of the floor plan for the use of passengers and luggage. The majority of modern cars use this configuration. Its progressive rate rubber sprung independent suspension (Hydrolastic 1964-1971), low centre of gravity, and wheel at each corner with radial tyres, gave a massive increase in grip and handling over all but the most expensive cars on the market. The Mini is the name of a rather petite car produced from 1959 to 2000, and the name of a newer one known as New MINI launched in 2001. ... The machine factory (shown here in a company letter of 1910) founded by Demosthenis Issigonis, Alecs grandfather, was one of the thriving Greek businesses in Smyrna (now Izmir). ... Belligerents Israel United Kingdom France Egypt Commanders Moshe Dayan Charles Keightley Pierre Barjot Gamal Abdel Nasser Abdel Hakim Amer Strength 175,000 Israeli 45,000 British 34,000 French 70,000 Casualties and losses 197 Israeli KIA 56 British KIA 91 British WIA 10 French KIA 43 French WIA 1650... Hydrolastic is a type of automotive suspension system used in many cars produced by British Motor Corporation (BMC) and its successor companies. ...

In the 1960s the Renault 4 (arguably the first five door hatchback), and Simca 1100 were produced in France. The Toyota Corolla, Datsun Sunny refined the conventional small rear wheel drive economy cars as postwar international competition increased. Japan also codified a legal standard for extremely economical small cars, known as the keicar. During the 1960s FIAT designed the first car with a transverse engine and an end on gearbox Fiat 128. This gradually superseded the gearbox in the engine's sump of BMC Austin Morris and later Peugeot. The 1960s also saw the swansong of the rear engined rear wheel drive car, with the introduction of the Hillman Imp - UK, NSU Prinz - West Germany, Renault 8 and Simca 1000 - France, Chevrolet Corvair - USA. This layout was an affordable way to produce a car with all independent suspension, without the need for expensive constant-velocity joints needed by front wheel drive cars, or axle arrangements of FR layout cars. But, they could have serious roadholding issues due to unfavourable weight distribution and cheapened and inadequate rear suspension design. These cars had better interior space utilisation than front engine rear wheel drive cars, and a better ride than those with a live rear beam axle. Renault 4R Plus 25 (in Colombia) Renault 4s front (in Croatia) Renault 4 R 1123 1968 The Renault 4, also known as the 4L (pronounced Quatrelle, which could be heard as 4 wings in French), is a hatchback economy car produced by the French automaker Renault between 1961 and... The Simca 1100 (1967 - 1982) was an automobile built by Chrysler Europes division Simca, sold in Europe and USA until 1982, when it was replaced by the Talbot Horizon. ... The Toyota Corolla is a compact car produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. ... A 1986 Nissan Sunny Spirit. ... Example: Daihatsu Copen Example: Daihatsu Cuore Example: Suzuki Cappuccino Example: Subaru R1 Keicar (K-car), also called keijidōsha (in Japanese: 軽自動車 light motor vehicle), is a Japanese category of small automobiles, including passenger cars and also vans and pick-up trucks for commercial use. ... The 128 was a subcompact automobile manufactured by the Italian manufacturer Fiat from 1969 to 1985. ... BMC rosette logo old BMC share A preserved BMC ambulance. ... Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën. ... Hillman Imp, with the engine cover and the rear window lifted The Hillman Imp was a compact, rear-engined saloon (US: sedan) automobile manufactured under the Hillman marque by the Rootes Group (later Chrysler Europe) from 1963 to 1976. ... The NSU Prinz was an automobile produced in Germany by the NSU Motorenwerke AG. The car was built from 1957 to 1973, and received a model change in 1961 (the old model was continued until 1962). ... The Renault 8 (Renault R8 until 1964) and Renault 10 are two small family cars produced by the French automaker Renault in the 1960s and early 1970s. ... The Simca 1000 was a small, rear-engined, four-door saloon manufactured by the French automaker Simca from 1961 to 1978. ... Corvair convertible The Chevrolet Corvair was an automobile produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors from 1960 to 1969. ... Independent suspension is broad term for any automobile suspension system that allows each wheel on the same axle to move vertically (i. ... Cross-section through a typical outer CV joint (Saab 96) 3D rendering of the internals of a simple CV joint Constant Velocity Joints (aka homokinetic or CV joints) allow a rotating shaft to transmit power through a variable angle, at constant rotational speed, without an appreciable increase in friction or... Sketch of FR layout In automobile design, an FR, or front-engine, rear wheel drive means a layout where the engine is in the front of the vehicle and drive wheels at the rear. ...

While economy cars flourished in Europe and Japan, the booming postwar American economy combined with the emergence of the suburban and interstate highways in that country led to slow acceptance of small cars. Brief economic recessions saw interest in economical cars wax and wane. During this time, the American auto manufacturers would introduce smaller cars of their own, in 1950 Nash Motors introduced the Rambler designed to be smaller than contemporary cars, yet still accommodate five passengers comfortably. Nash also contracted with BMC to build the American designed Metropolitan using existing BMC mechanical components, (the engine is a BMC B-Series engine also used in the MG MGA and MG MGB). The 1960s brought the Chevrolet Corvair, Ford Falcon, and Plymouth Valiant into the market segment dominated by the Rambler. These vehicles were still much larger than the ones enjoying popularity in Europe and Japan, however. Imported cars began to appear on the U.S. market during this time to satisfy the demands for true economy cars. The spectacular initial success and then failure of the Renault Dauphine in the U.S. in the late 1950s, may have significantly harmed the acceptance of small cars in America. Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... “Suburbia” redirects here. ... Interstate Highways in the lower 48 states. ... In macroeconomics, a recession is generally associated with a decline in a countrys real gross domestic product (GDP), or negative real economic growth. ... Also see: Kelvinator and American Motors Corporation Nash Motors Logo, 1940s Nash Motors was an automobile manufacturer based in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in the United States from 1916 to 1938. ... The Nash Rambler was an American automobile produced by the Nash Motors division of Nash Kelvinator Corporation between 1950 and 1957. ... BMC may stand for: Bangalore Mountaineering Club Bangalore Medical College Barrie Molson Centre, multi-purpose arena in Barrie, Ontario, Canada Baseboard management controller, a microcontroller on the motherboard of many computers Behaviour Management Classroom BioMed Central, a UK-based scientific publisher Biphase Mark Code, a type of encoding for binary... 1959 Metropolitan convertible The Nash Metropolitan is an economy car[1] that was sold from 1954 to 1962. ... BMC B-Series engine from an MG A The BMC B-Series was a straight-4 automobile engine family created as a larger alternative to the companys A-Series. ... The MGA was a sports car produced by MG division of the British Motor Corporation from 1955 to 1962. ... The MGB was Britains best-selling sports car model. ... Corvair convertible The Chevrolet Corvair was an automobile produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors from 1960 to 1969. ... This article is about the North American version of the Falcon. ... The Plymouth Valiant was an automobile manufactured by the Plymouth division of Chrysler Corporation in the United States from 1960 to 1976. ... The Renault Dauphine was an automobile produced by the French manufacturer Renault from 1956 to 1962. ...

The launch in the 1960s of the Mini Cooper to exploit the phenomenal chassis of the Austin Mini, along with its massive success in rallying and circuit racing, first showed that economy cars could be very effective sports cars and made the likes of the MG Midget look old fashioned overnight. The old tech rear wheel drive Ford Lotus Cortina and Ford Escort 1300GT and RS1600, along with the Vauxhall Viva GT and Brabham SL/90 HB in the late 1960s opened up this market still further in Britain. Meanwhile, Abarth tuned Fiats and Gordini tuned Renaults did the same in Italy and France. Minis The Mini is the name of a small car produced from 1959 to 2000, and the name of its replacement (known as New MINI) launched in 2001. ... The Mini is the name of a rather petite car produced from 1959 to 2000, and the name of a newer one known as New MINI launched in 2001. ... Round Wheel Arch MG Midget on Autotest The MG Midget was a small sports car produced by MG division of the British Motor Corporation from 1961 through to 1979. ... The Lotus-Cortina was a high-performance car, the result of collaboration between Ford and Lotus. ... The Ford Escort was a compact car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company from 1967 through 2003. ... The Viva was a model of car produced by Vauxhall Motors in a variety of models from 1963 to 1979. ... Abarth logo Abarth is an Italian racing car maker founded by Italian-Austrian Karl (Carlo) Abarth in Turin in 1949. ... Gordini was a Formula One constructor and engine manufacturer from 1950 until 1956. ...

Car body corrosion was a particular problem from the 1950s to the 1980s when cars moved to monocoque or uni-body construction (starting from the 1930s), from a separate Body-on-frame chassis made from thick steel. This relied on the shaped body panels, designed on newly available computers (from the 1960s), and the integrity of the body-shell for strength. A light car was a fast and/or economical car. Unfortunately the design of corrosion prevention (rustproofing), had not kept pace with this new technology. Monocoque (French for single shell) is a construction technique that uses the external skin of an object to support some or most of the load on the structure. ... Body-on-frame is an automobile construction technology. ... Look up Chassis in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Rustproofing is the process whereby the rate at which objects made of iron and/or steel begin to rust can be made so slowly that the places in which they are are rusting can be spotted in time and repaired. ...

1973-1990s

1977 Chevrolet Chevette

The oil crisis of 1973 caused a great deal of renewed emphasis to be placed on economy, especially in the United States with its greater distances, arguably the nation hardest hit because of their oversized cars with large inefficient engines,(made worse by new emissions and safety legislation). The Ford Pinto, Chevrolet Vega and Chevrolet Chevette showed just how far behind in the design of small cars US car makers had fallen. Because of this, imported cars sharply gained in popularity on the U.S. market. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Oil crisis may refer to: 1973 oil crisis 1979 energy crisis 1990 spike in the price of oil Oil price increases of 2004 and 2005 Hubbert peak theory Energy crisis This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same title. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... The Ford Pinto was a subcompact car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company for the North American market, first introduced on September 11, 1970, and built through the 1980 model year. ... The then-innovative Chevrolet Vega was a subcompact car sold from 1971 through 1977. ... This article is about the automobile, Pontiac T1000. ...

The response by U.S. car makers to the increase in popularity of imported economy cars in the 1970s and 80s was called 'captive imports'. These were cars bought from overseas subsidiaries or from companies in which they held a significant shareholding, and re-branded by Ford, GM and Chrysler for the U.S. market. The Ford Fiesta, Ford Festiva, Geo Metro, and Dodge Colt are examples. Captive import is an automobile marketing term denoting a foreign-built vehicle that is sold and serviced by a domestic manufacturer through its own dealer distribution system. ... The Ford Fiesta is a mid-class supermini car designed and built by the Ford Motor Company in Europe, and also manufactured in Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, China, India and South Africa. ... The Ford Festiva was a subcompact car sold by the Ford Motor Company in North America, Asia and Australasia, introduced in 1986 in Japan. ... The Geo Metro first appeared in Chevrolet-Geo showrooms in 1989. ... The Dodge Colt and the similar Plymouth Champ and Plymouth Colt, were compact cars sold by Dodge and Plymouth from 1970 to 1994. ...

Volkswagen Golf 1976 Mk1 (Australia)

Technologies developed during the post-war era reached maturity during this time, leading to iconic cars such as the Mk 1 Volkswagen Golf designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, Fiat 128 and Honda Civic. The Civic's CVCC (Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion) Stratified charge engine engine debuted in 1975 and was offered alongside the standard Civic engine. The CVCC engine had a head design that promoted cleaner, more efficient combustion, eliminated a need for a catalytic converter to meet emissions standards - nearly every other U.S. market car for this year needed exhausts with catalytic converters. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1632x1224, 901 KB) Summary Photograph taken by Nick Carson in 2005. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1632x1224, 901 KB) Summary Photograph taken by Nick Carson in 2005. ... The Volkswagen Golf (Mk1 and Mk5 badged as Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada, Mk1 badged as Volkswagen Caribe in Mexico) is a compact car/small family car manufactured by Volkswagen. ... Giorgetto Giugiaro (b. ... The 128 was a subcompact automobile manufactured by the Italian manufacturer Fiat from 1969 to 1985. ... The Honda Civic is a compact car manufactured by Honda. ... CVCC is a trademark by the Honda Motor Company for a device used to reduce automotive emissions called a Compound Vortex Combustion Chamber. ... The stratified charge engine is a type of internal-combustion engine, similar in some ways to the Diesel cycle, but running on normal gasoline. ... Catalytic converter on a Dodge Ram Van. ...

Some previously-exotic technology such as electronic fuel injection and radial tires became cheap enough for these cars in the US during this time, (they were adopted in the 1950s and 60s in Europe), which allowed the production of high-performance hot hatch sport compacts like the Volkswagen GTI, which combined economy of use and a practical hatchback body with the driving fun of a sports car. Surface mount electronic components Electronics is the study of the flow of charge through various materials and devices such as semiconductors, resistors, inductors, capacitors, nano-structures and vacuum tubes. ... // Fuel injection is a system of fuel delivery for mixture with air in an internal combustion engine. ... A radial tire (more properly, a radial-ply tire) is a particular design of automotive tire (in British English, tyre). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Sport compact. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Hot hatch. ... VW Golf Mk. ...

A first generation Fiat Uno

1983-1996 Peugeot 205 (1124 cc)

In 1983 FIAT launched the next step forward in small car design, the Fiat Uno. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro's ItalDesign its tall, square body and low drag coefficient of 0.34 won it much praise for airy interior space and fuel economy. It incorporated many packaging lessons learnt from Giugiaro's 1978 Lancia Megagamma concept car, (the first people carrier / MPV / mini-van) - but miniaturised. Its tall car / high seating packaging is imitated by every small car today. It showed that not just low sleek cars could be aerodynamic, but small boxy well packaged cars could be too. It was voted Car of the Year in 1984.^[1] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 520 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,797 × 1,167 pixels, file size: 602 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Other versions File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 520 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,797 × 1,167 pixels, file size: 602 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Other versions File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... The Fiat Uno is a supermini car produced by the Italian manufacturer Fiat. ... Giorgetto Giugiaro (b. ... Italdesign-Giugiaro S.p. ... Fuel efficiency, sometimes also referred to as fuel economy and commonly gas mileage in the United States, is a numeric measure often used to describe the amount of fuel consumed with regard to the distance travelled in a transportation vehicle, such as an automobile. ... Car of the Year is a phrase usually considered to have been invented by Motor Trend magazine in the 1950s for their annual award for best automobile. ...

Also in 1983 Peugeot launched the Peugeot 205. While not as radical as the Uno in body design, it was also very aerodynamic. It was the first European supermini with an XUD diesel engine. It provided the sprightly performance of a 1.4 L petrol with economy - 55 mpg–imp (5.14 L/100 km / 45.8 mpg–U.S.) - that was better than the base 1 L petrol version. It was, along with the larger Citroen BX, the beginning of the start of the boom in diesel sales that are still increasing in Europe today. The 205 GTI was also a runaway success. The Peugeot 205 is a supermini produced by the French car manufacturer Peugeot between 1983 and 1996. ... The XUD is a Diesel engine designed and built by PSA - Peugeot and Citroen. ... Imperial MPG are Miles per gallon where the gallon is an imperial unit. ... Fuel efficiency sometimes means the same as thermal efficiency, that is, the efficiency of converting energy contained in a carrier fuel to kinetic energy or work. ... Miles per gallon (MPG, or mpg) is a measure of fuel efficiency - the number of miles the car can run on one gallon of fuel. ... The Citro n BX was introduced in 1982 and was a somewhat radical car compared to many of its contemporaries. ...

From the mid 1980s 4WD technology was available on the Subaru Justy, which utilized a three cylinder 1.0 L and 1.2 L engine. A 4WD version of the Fiat Panda was also launched. (The new 2004 Panda also has a four wheel drive version.) These cars were popular with veterinary surgeons. Four wheel drive or 4x4, is a type of four wheeled vehicle drivetrain configuration that enables all four wheels to receive power from the engine simultaneously in order to provide maximum traction. ... The Subaru Justy is a Subaru subcompact hatchback automobile in production since 1984. ... Four wheel drive or 4x4, is a type of four wheeled vehicle drivetrain configuration that enables all four wheels to receive power from the engine simultaneously in order to provide maximum traction. ... The Fiat Panda is a city car from the Italian automotive manufacturer Fiat. ...

Economy cars today

Today economy cars have specialised into market niches. The city car, the all-round economy car (that may not be small at all, just cheap), and the performance derivatives, that capitalise on light weight of the car that they are based on. Some models that started as economy cars have increased in size and moved up market over several generations, so that all that is left is the name. Smaller new models have been slotted into the market by their makers beneath them.

The much tougher design challenges for economy cars, (cost, lightness vs safety, lightness vs ride quality, lightness vs durability, maximising interior space), continues to be the driving force behind development. Technology improvements: Electronic engine management, Hybrid cars and smoother, more powerful diesel engines first seen in the VW Golf and Peugeot 205 have improved fuel economy and performance. Safety and comfort have become increasingly high priorities. Safety design is a particular challenge in a small light car. This is an area where the Renault has been particularly successful. Sport compacts and Hot hatches have developed into a highly competitive genre, although outright economy has been significantly compromised, they are still the most economical cars for their performance - because of the lightness of the cars that they are based upon. Honda Insight, a hybrid gas-electric vehicle 2004 Toyota Prius, a hybrid gas-electric vehicle A hybrid vehicle uses multiple energy sources or propulsion systems to provide motive power. ... Diesel engines in a museum Diesel generator on an oil tanker A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine which operates using the Diesel cycle. ... VW Golf Mk. ... The Peugeot 205 is a supermini produced by the French car manufacturer Peugeot between 1983 and 1996. ... Renault S.A. is a French vehicle manufacturer producing cars, vans, buses, tractors, and trucks. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Hot hatch. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Sport compact. ...

The growth of developing countries has also created a new market for extremely inexpensive new cars. Utilitarian but advanced 'peoples cars' have not been the favoured design solution. Instead the adaptation of standard or obsolete models has been the norm. This has been furthered by the fact that increased competition in developed markets means that cars are replaced at shorter and shorter intervals. The brilliant Chrysler CCV design failed to reach production because of this trend. The new Tata Nano launched in January 2008, in India by Tata Motors, may mark the beginning of the return of 'people's cars' because of its spectacularly low announced price - touted as the world's cheapest car at US$ 2,500.. It remains to be seen though, if it can be profitably produced at that price.  Newly industrialized countries  Other emerging markets  Other developing economies  High income  Upper-middle income  Lower-middle income  Low income A developing country is that country which has a relatively low standard of living, an undeveloped industrial base, and a moderate to low Human Development Index (HDI) score and per capita... The Chrysler CCV is a concept car developed to illustrate new means of construction suitable to developing nations. ... January 2008 was the first month of the current year. ... Tata Motors Limited (Hindi: ), formerly known as TELCO (TATA Engineering and Locomotive Company), is a multinational corporation headquartered in Mumbai, India. ... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ...

China has become one of the fastest-growing car markets, followed by India, with a preference towards cheap, basic cars, but they are moving upmarket in their tastes as their economic rise continues. Some mainstream European automakers have also specially developed models with these features, such as the Fiat Palio, Volkswagen Gol and Dacia Logan. Renault has teamed up with India's Mahindra and Mahindra to produce a low-cost car in the range of US$ 2,500 to 3,000. In other cases, older, simpler economy car models may be offered at very low prices in markets like South Africa and Brazil. The Volkswagen Citi Golf is an example. The Fiat Palio is a supermini designed by the Italian manufacturer Fiat as a world car, aimed at developing countries. ... Not to be confused with Volkswagen Golf. ... A dealers lot full of Dacia Logans The Logan is a no-frills car produced jointly by the French manufacturer Renault and its affiliate Dacia of Romania. ... Renault S.A. is a French vehicle manufacturer producing cars, vans, buses, tractors, and trucks. ... Mahindra corporate logo Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd (The Mahindra Group) is an Indian 2. ... The VW Citi Golf is a car produced by Volkswagen in South Africa. ...

List of economy cars

The Austin 7 was a vintage car produced from 1922 through to 1939 in the United Kingdom. ... The A30 was a compact car produced by Austin Motor Company in the 1950s. ... The Mini is the name of a rather petite car produced from 1959 to 2000, and the name of a newer one known as New MINI launched in 2001. ... Photo from original press release of Austin 1100 The Morris 1100 was a small family car built by the British Motor Corporation and, later, British Leyland, from August 15, 1962 to June 1974, developed under the ADO16 codename. ... The Citroën Type A was the first car produced by Citroën from June 1919 to December 1921 in Paris. ... Production ran from 1922 - 1926 with almost 81,000 units being made. ... The Citroën 2CV (French: deux chevaux vapeur, literally two steam horses, from the tax horsepower rating) was an economy car produced by the French automaker Citroën from 1948 to 1990. ... Citroën Visa post 1982 face lift: side profile Citroën Visa Cabriolet post 1982 face lift: side profile The Citroën Visa is a supermini produced by the French automaker Citroën from 1978 to 1988. ... Citroën AX The Citroën AX is a supermini built by the French manufacturer Citroën from 1986 to 1998. ... The Citroën Saxo was a supermini produced by the French manufacturer Citroën from 1996 to 2003. ... The Citroën C1 is a city car produced by the French manufacturer Citroën since 2005. ... This article is about the automobile, Pontiac T1000. ... Daewoo Matiz (M100) The Chevrolet Matiz (also Spark) is a micro car made by GM Daewoo. ... The then-innovative Chevrolet Vega was a subcompact car sold from 1971 through 1977. ... A dealers lot full of Dacia Logans The Logan is a no-frills car produced jointly by the French manufacturer Renault and its affiliate Dacia of Romania. ... The Dodge Colt and the similar Plymouth Champ and Plymouth Colt, were compact cars sold by Dodge and Plymouth from 1970 to 1994. ... Fiat Cinquecento Sporting The Fiat Cinquecento is a city car released by Fiat in late 1991 to replace the 126. ... The Fiat Seicento is a city car produced by the Italian company Fiat since 1998 as a replacement to the Fiat Cinquecento. ... The Fiat Palio is a supermini designed by the Italian manufacturer Fiat as a world car, aimed at developing countries. ... The Fiat Panda is a city car from the Italian automotive manufacturer Fiat. ... The Fiat 500 (the cinquecento from the Italian word for 500) is a car produced by the Fiat company of Italy between 1957 and 1975 (the Fiat 500 K alone was produced until 1977). ... The Fiat 600 (or Seicento) is a city car produced by the Italian automaker Fiat from 1955 to 1969. ... {{Infobox Automobile | image = Fiat 126 | name = Fiat 126 | manufacturer = Fiat | production = 1972-2000sfdsfsfsdfsfsdfdsf| class = city car RR | body_style = 2-door saloon | engine = 594 cc Flat-2 652 cc Flat-2 | transmission = | length = 3. ... The 128 was a subcompact automobile manufactured by the Italian manufacturer Fiat from 1969 to 1985. ... The Ford Model T (colloquially known as the Tin Lizzie and the Flivver) was an automobile produced by Henry Fords Ford Motor Company from 1908 through 1927. ... The Ford Model A was the second huge success for the Ford Motor Company, after its predecessor, the Model T. First produced on October 20, 1927, but not sold until December 2, it replaced the venerable Model T, which had been produced for 18 years. ... 1956 Ford Popular The Ford Popular is a car from Ford built in England between 1953 and 1959. ... The Ford Anglia was a British car from Ford in the UK. It was related to the Ford Prefect and the later Ford Popular. ... The Ford Escort was a compact car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company from 1967 through 2003. ... The Ford Pinto was a subcompact car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company for the North American market, first introduced on September 11, 1970, and built through the 1980 model year. ... The Ford Festiva was a subcompact car sold by the Ford Motor Company in North America, Asia and Australasia, introduced in 1986 in Japan. ... The Ford Fiesta is a mid-class supermini car designed and built by the Ford Motor Company in Europe, and also manufactured in Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, China, India and South Africa. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Geo Metro first appeared in Chevrolet-Geo showrooms in 1989. ... Hillman Imp, with the engine cover and the rear window lifted The Hillman Imp was a compact, rear-engined saloon (US: sedan) automobile manufactured under the Hillman marque by the Rootes Group (later Chrysler Europe) from 1963 to 1976. ... The Honda City is a subcompact car manufactured by the Japanese manufacturer Honda since 1981 for the Asian market. ... The Honda Civic is a compact car manufactured by Honda. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A green Kia Picanto The Kia Picanto (known as the Kia Morning in South Korea) is a small low cost car produced by Kia Motors. ... For other uses, see Lada (disambiguation). ... 1933 Morris Minor tourer The Morris Minor was produced by the Morris Motor Company in two versions. ... Later Morris Minor Van with aftermarket rear side windows Morris Minor Traveller (estate) Morris Minor Rally The revolutionary Morris Minor (the prototype was called Mosquito) was launched at the Earls Court Motor Show on 20 September, 1948. ... 1959 Metropolitan convertible The Nash Metropolitan is an economy car[1] that was sold from 1954 to 1962. ... The NSU Prinz was an automobile produced in Germany by the NSU Motorenwerke AG. The car was built from 1957 to 1973, and received a model change in 1961 (the old model was continued until 1962). ... The Opel Kadett is a small family car produced by the German automaker Opel between 1937 and 1940, then from 1962 to 1992. ... The Fortwo is the original smart model, launched in 1998 as City Coupe. ... The Peugeot 104 was a supermini automobile produced by the french manufacturer Peugeot between 1972 and 1988. ... 1995 Peugeot 106 XSi 1. ... The Peugeot 107 is a city car produced by the French automaker Peugeot since summer 2005. ... The Peugeot 205 is a supermini produced by the French car manufacturer Peugeot between 1983 and 1996. ... 1998 Pontiac Firefly 3-door hatchback The Pontiac Firefly was a rebadged version of the Suzuki Swift sold only in Canada from 1985-2001. ... The Renault 4CV was an automobile produced by the French manufacturer Renault from 1946 to 1961. ... The Renault Dauphine was an automobile produced by the French manufacturer Renault from 1956 to 1962. ... Renault 4R Plus 25 (in Colombia) Renault 4s front (in Croatia) Renault 4 R 1123 1968 The Renault 4, also known as the 4L (pronounced Quatrelle, which could be heard as 4 wings in French), is a hatchback economy car produced by the French automaker Renault between 1961 and... The Renault 5 (also called the R5) is a supermini produced by the French automaker Renault in two generations between 1972 and 1996. ... The Renault 8 (Renault R8 until 1964) and Renault 10 are two small family cars produced by the French automaker Renault in the 1960s and early 1970s. ... The Renault Twingo is a city car built by French automaker Renault, officially presented at the 1992 Mondial de lAutomobile and going on sale in early 1993. ... Saab 92 Saab 92 is an automobile from Saab. ... The Saab 93 was an automobile manufactured by Saab. ... Saab 95 Initially the Saab 95 was a 7-seater station wagon/estate made by Saab. ... Saab 96 The Saab 96 is an automobile made by Saab. ... 1990s SEAT Marbella The SEAT Marbella is a badge-engineered Fiat Panda, produced by SEAT in Spain from 1986 until 1998. ... The SEAT Ibiza is a supermini manufactured by the Volkswagen Group and sold under the SEAT brand. ... The Simca 1000 was a small, rear-engined, four-door saloon manufactured by the French automaker Simca from 1961 to 1978. ... Line-up of Škoda Estelles at the Wartburg/Trabant/IFA Club UK Rally 2006 The Škoda 105/120/125 were three variations of a rear-engined, rear-wheel drive car that was produced by Czech car manufacturer Škoda Auto in Mladá Boleslav, Czechoslovakia, between 1976 and 1990. ... The Skoda Favorit (1995) The Škoda Favorit is a small car, which was first produced in 1989. ... 1998 Škoda Felicia 1. ... Look up smart in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Subaru Justy is a Subaru subcompact hatchback automobile in production since 1984. ... The Toyota Starlet was a small automobile manufactured by Toyota from 1973 to 1999, replacing the Toyota Publica (and retaining the Publicas P code and generation numbering). ... The Toyota Aygo (pronounced , Japanese romaji) is a city car sold since 2005. ... The Toyota Vitz and Platz are Toyotas current model of subcompact car, with the Vitz name used for hatchbacks and Platz for sedans in Japan. ... The Toyota Vitz and Platz are Toyotas current model of subcompact car, with the Vitz name used for hatchbacks and Platz for sedans in Japan. ... This article is about the automobile. ... The Viva was a model of car produced by Vauxhall Motors in a variety of models from 1963 to 1979. ... Vauxhall Chevette - rare HSR rally model in road-going trim The Vauxhall Chevette was a model of car manufactured by Vauxhall in the UK from 1975 to 1983. ... This article is about the original Volkswagen Beetle. ... The Volkswagen Fox is a supermini produced and designed by Volkswagen do Brasil and sold in Latin America and Europe. ... Not to be confused with Volkswagen Golf. ... The Volkswagen Golf (Mk1 and Mk5 badged as Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada, Mk1 badged as Volkswagen Caribe in Mexico) is a compact car/small family car manufactured by Volkswagen. ... Volkswagen Derby The Volkswagen Polo is a supermini manufactured by Volkswagen of Germany. ...

References

1. ^ Previous_Cars. caroftheyear.org. Retrieved on 2007-07-29.