ˆ REPORT: Fiat plans Smart, Toyota iQ competitor

tags : city car , city cars , citycar , citycars , fiat , fiat city car , fiat topolino , fiatcitycar , fiattopolino , small fiat , smallfiat

Fiat is rumored to be working on an all-new brand to launch small, inexpensive cars into the Western Europe, with two of the three proposed models being based on vehicles from emerging markets. The third is much more interesting. The new supermini, which could revive the Topolino moniker, is expected to get a new twin cylinder engine that could offer as much as 65 mpg when mated to a dual-clutch gearbox. Naturally, Fiat is targeting the smart fortwo, Toyota iQ and the upcoming up! minicar from Volkswagen, but the automaker is said to be working on a pricing model that more closely matches Renault's low-cost Logan subsidiary. In other words, Europeans may get an efficient, stylish Italian city car that's priced to compete with upper-end motorcycles as basic transportation. Electric versions are also a distinct possibility. Unfortunately, as is often the case, Americans are likely to miss out on this one.

posted : 12/24/2008 @9:05:40 PM

ˆ Gordon Murray's T25 city car caught at anniversary celebration

tags : city car , city cars , citycar , citycars , gordon murray , gordon murray designs , gordon murray t.25 , gordon murray typ-25 , gordon murray type 25 , gordonmurray , gordonmurraydesigns , gordonmurrayt.25 , gordonmurraytyp-25 , gordonmurraytype25 , t.25

Gordon Murray may be best known for his radical supercars, especially the timeless McLaren F1, but his automotive passions span far enough to include vehicles that could be described as the F1's polar opposite. Evidence of such is the T.25 program, a novel city car concept that Murray and his design crew plan to sell to established automotive companies. Gordon Murray Design Limited, the company formed by the man for his day-to-day design aspirations, has just celebrated its first anniversary and some intriguing pictures were snapped at the party, most of all a covered-up T.25 sitting in between some classic city cars of the past and present. Looking extremely short, even when compared to the original Mini, and almost comically tall, the wheels appear to be pushed as far to the corners as possible. Click here to read a transcript from Murray's speech at the event where he compares driving cars that get 20 miles per gallon with smoking.

posted : 10/16/2008 @4:41:16 PM

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