Smart #5 Reviews

They want Canberra to make a commitment similar to the ones in many other countries, including the recent 5000 pound ($8200) incentive provided by the British government to buyers of plug-in electric cars.The latest British commitment follows support deals in most European countries, from Spain-France-Italy to Sweden-Finland-Denmark. Converts to electric cars in the USA also get a tax break worth between $2500 and $7500 ($2765-8295), depending on the capacity of the battery."Pretty much everywhere else in the world is paying a subsidy. The government needs to look at a general subsidy. That is the only way you're going to get ordinary people into the cars," says David McCarthy of Mercedes-Benz Australia, which intends to have an electric Smart ForTwo in its lineup in 2011. "We'd like to think we can get the electric Smart next year, and Mercedes-Benz is also doing a test on an electric Vito van."Mitsubishi is also pushing hard on the electric front with its iMiEV, as Nissan works towards local sales of the Leaf and Subaru crunches numbers on its plug-in Stella and BMW Group considers both the Mini-E and a plug-in 1 Series.McCarthy says the Smart should be one of the first battery cars on Australian roads but Mercedes-Benz wants to see a commitment from government at all levels. "The running costs on these cars are low, but they are expensive to buy. We don't have an indication yet on the price of the Smart, but it isn't going to be cheap so people do need some encouragement," he says.Most of the planning electric cars will be in the $50,000-$60,000 range in Australia, even though most are tiny city runabouts and several contenders only have two seats. Mitsubishi is planning to join Mercedes in lobbying the Federal government, most likely through the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries."There is an electric vehicle working group in the FCAI, but I don't think the lobbying has started yet," McCarthy says.

While starting from a higher base of CO2 emissions, companies such as Ferrari have made the biggest improvements, according to automotive data and intelligence provider, JATO Dynamics.Ferrari leads the CO2 volume reduction race, with a 40.4g/km improvement in CO2 output so far this year. This is the greatest volume reduction of any brand on sale in Europe and represents a 9.5 per cent improvement. Ferrari's net reduction puts it well on its way to achieving its stated aim to reduce CO2 emissions from 400g/km per vehicle to 280-300g/km, by 2012.While Ferrari can claim the greatest CO2 volume reduction, when expressed as percentage improvement, it is Alpina that is the outright best performer, although on a small sales base.The next best in percentage improvement is Porsche with 10.6 per cent reduction. Meanwhile, 96 per cent of the top 25 brands of European new cars sold so far this year have reduced CO2 output by an average of 6.2g/km.New car sales for Smart, Fiat and MINI are already under the 130g/km CO2 average required under EU legislation by 2015. The outright biggest improvement of all mainstream marques over the past year belongs to Alfa Romeo, whose average new car CO2 output fell by 19.9g/km.The top spot is taken by Chevrolet, whose diesel Cruze model and three-cylinder, 0.8-litre, 119g/km Matiz helped its new car sales to a 15.2g/km average CO2 improvement. Second is Audi, whose 2.0-litre TDi engine helped it to an average of 163g/km. Toyota, Suzuki, Hyundai and Mazda also recorded double-digit improvements. Ford was best of the biggest European volume sellers, improving average CO2 by 8g/km as its ECOnetic range.The cleanest of the range is the new 98 g/km Fiesta ECOnetic which is yet to be released here.However, Ford Australia is bringing the car out for next month's 3000km Global Green Challenge trial from Darwin to Adelaide. 

Never have my wife and I disagreed so much — except on our wedding night, when I wanted to leave early. Echoing that level of differing opinions, she loved the Smart fortwo coupe we had on test recently and I loathed it. She found it fun to drive and I felt like a complete goose in the tiny two-seater.She said people looked, smiled and waved at her when she was driving it while I found they pointed, laughed and made other motions with their hands. So I went to Crazy Clark's and bought a clever disguise for just $2. Not that I'm against small cars. The Mini is great fun to drive. But the Smart fortwo coupe just feels too quirky and weird to make the driving experience anything other than a total aggravation.InteriorIt started for me when I struggled trying to unlock the car with the key fob buttons which are totally invisible to my naked eye.When I slipped in behind the wheel it was no better. It seems Mercedes — the makers of Smart cars — has done everything it can to make the controls different to conventional wisdom.Even the key is located in the centre console, rather than near the steering wheel, although Saab also does that. Speaking of the steering wheel, it is not reach adjustable, so the driving position just never felt comfortable for me, although my wife loved it.TransmissionThe Smart coupe comes with a five-speed manual, but this one was equipped with the ‘Softouch’ auto for an extra $750. It includes steering wheel paddles to change gears, or you can push and pull the gear lever. The ‘Softouch’ semi-automatic changes are ridiculously ponderous and require the driver to decelerate as if they were changing manual gears, but without a clutch.Even leaving it in automatic it dithers and feels as if it's stalling as it slows to change gears. And forget about rapid downshifts for overtaking or impetus on a hill because it groans and struggles on for ages in too-high a gear before deciding to switch cogs. Getting off the mark is also quite slow and it takes more than 13 seconds to wind up to highway speed.Engine It's not that the vehicle is underpowered. It only has a three-cylinder 999cc engine, but it weighs only 750kg. Besides, you can also get a version with 10kW more power and 32Nm more torque. The problem lies in that auto transmission. The manual would undoubtedly be nippier.DrivingSpeed is not the essence of this vehicle. According to my wife it's about fun, economy and easy parking. Oh, and she loves the efficient wipers. I wasn't having much fun, especially around my neighbourhood where people could identify me or when our equally tall photographer and I tried to squeeze into the car together and had to take turns putting on our seat belts or cop an elbow in the eye. However, I will concede on the economy and parking issues. And the big-sweeping wipers.With a turning circle less than 9m and a wheelbase of just 1.8m, it whips into parking spaces with no planning or skill required. You can even fit it sideways in a parking space as they tend to do in Paris and Rome. It also whips into the tightest spaces when merging into traffic without inciting rage from other road users.Fuel consumption As for economy, it simply ran all week without making much of a dint in the fuel gauge, so I tend to believe the supplied figures of 4.7L/100km. And that's pretty good. That's even better than my motorcycle. In fact, under certain conditions, such as stop-start commuting, you could expect to get even better economy if you choose to switch on the economy button next to the gearshift. This puts it into ‘stop/start’ function which means the engine stops when the car stops and starts when you take your foot off the brake again so you aren't wasting fuel while idling at the traffic lights or stopped in a queue of traffic.However, in the summer, you will find the airconditioning also switches off and the car quickly heats up. It also feels very rough as the three-cylinder donk shudders to a halt and fires up again and in stop-start traffic this becomes quite annoying.PricingThe Smart is listed at just under $20,000 and is built to that price, but even competitors in this price range have electric wing mirrors. The only saving grace of the manual mirrors is that you can easily reach the passenger's side because the car is so tiny. Not that it worries my wife — she never looks in the mirrors, except to fix her lippy. However, my wife did find one problem with the car: she felt very nervous when a truck pulled up behind.

It is really a matter of horses for courses. What may seem a terribly desirable thing to consumers in one market is going to leave those in another wondering what the fuss is about.The three bar heater that seems indispensable to the good citizens of Gnome, Alaska, will simply gather dust in a shop window in Bangkok.And that brings us to the Smart Fortwo. As clever as all get-out in the alleyways of Rome or the backstreets of Paris the little two-seater micro-car elicits less enthusiasm in a wide brown land.It is not that the ideas are any less clever nor the solutions any less elegant it is just that there is less opportunity to be struck by them.We have long been a closet fan of the Smart concept — much the same way as one would be a fan of Morris dancing ... there is a certain skill involved but you don't want to actually do it yourself, or let others know that you do.DrivetrainThe latest Smart close encounter has been with the so-called MHD (that's mild hybrid drive) which really isn't a hybrid at all — at least not as we know it.The Smart MHD has no electric motors to help it slip quietly away in the mornings, no battery packs soaking up regenerative power from the brakes or pouring additional urge to wheels as the workload increases.What it does have is a button marked Eco and a nice green light on the dash to make drivers feel good about their efforts to save the planet.That Eco button does have a function. It engages the stop-start capability of the MHD's dual-mode starter/generator and battery to shut down the three-cylinder, 1-litre naturally aspirated engine as the car is braked to a halt and restart it when the foot is lifted off the brake pedal.What the off-again, on-again engine means to the environment is a claimed saving of six percent in fuel use — down to 4.7L/100km on a combined cycle — with a similar saving in emissions (112gms of CO2 per kilometre).For a petrol car they are pretty impressive figures, until you remember that to move the same number of people as any other small sedan you need to use twice as many cars.Body, fit-out and equipment And that is probably what makes the Smart such a niche vehicle. It is a selfish car. There is nothing gregarious about it.Heading off for a game of golf? It's you and your golf bag on the passenger seat. Going shopping? Don't plan on taking a passenger because they are going to have to walk home as an average family shop fills the Smart to overflowing.The Smart is about satisfying very particular personal needs.There is no arguing that the car's tiny 2.7-metre length opens up never-before explored options for parking while the fuel-sipping economy is a wallet saver.It is also one of the better cars in the market for ease of entry and exit. The upright stance makes the seat height/hip relationship very suitable for joints that may not move as well as they once did.Interior space is also good. That may seem a strange statement given the criticism of the car for its selfish nature but head and shoulder room in the square passenger compartment is surprisingly generous.There is nothing flash about the car's interior with a small dash display for the speedo, a clock and tacho in two individual pods on top of the dash and materials that are tactile and pleasing.The seats are supportive and with enough range of movement to get a reasonable driving position from the fixed steering wheel.Driving The biggest surprise is just how adequate the performance of the Smart is. With just 52kW of power and a meagre 92Nm of torque it would be fair to assume that the little city car would struggle.It doesn't. While a 13.3 second 0-100km/h time is not the stuff of excitement the combination of the engine and five-speed automated manual transmission is good enough to handle most needs that arise in city traffic.The changes are not particularly smooth, especially if the manual selection is used and the engine run out to its peak performance range around 5000rpm.Ride quality on the 15-inch wheels is reasonably well controled through the McPherson strut front end and DeDion rear axle with coil springs and telescopic shock absorbers.As good as it is it can't completely isolate the tall body and relatively short wheelbase and narrow track from the laws of physics.On the open road the claimed maximum top speed of 145km/h is not something any sane person would want to explore but the car will cruise quite comfortable at the speed limit.However, getting away for the weekend will pose its own problems.With two people on board the luggage space is — well, restricted. There is a narrow bin behind the seats into which one could squeeze a soft sports bag and suitbag or a couple of briefcases.The bottom line A clever concept but as awkward in Australia as a carnivore at a vegan party.Rating: 70/100

A $1 billion network of plug-in charge points will be built around the country under a plan developed by American environmental pioneer Shai Agassi and backed by AGL Energy and the Macquarie Capital finance group.More than 200,000 charging points will be installed at homes, offices and shopping centres in a local development of a program already underway in Israel and Norway. And there are also plans for quick-change sites where the next generation of electric cars can stop for a quick turnaround to a fully-charged battery pack.The move comes as Mitsubishi prepares for sales of Australia's first plug-in electric car, its baby I-Miev, from 2009 and Mercedes-Benz promises an electric Smart Fortwo in 2010 with a similar power pack in its A and B-Class cars just a year later.Israel has already signed an exclusive deal with the Renault-Nissan alliance, which is producing cars specifically for the country following Agassi's development through his Better Place organisation."Electric cars are going to be such a big part of the future of motoring," says David McCarthy, the spokesman for Daimler in Australia.Other carmakers are sure to follow, with BMW Group about to go public with its Mini E for the USA next month, although others are not convinced.Toyota is steering clear of pure electric vehicles in Australia because of its commitment to hybrids, including the upcoming petrol-electric Camry, and also because it is against the burning of coal to generate electricity.Honda, another fan of hybrids, says it does not have a plug-in electric car for Australia."So far as we know, there is nothing under development in Japan," says Lindsay Smalley, the top Australian at Honda Australia."Something could be happening, but for the moment we have no plan to bring electric cars to Australia."But the electric car grid is likely to accelerate the acceptance of battery-powered cars, particularly as the Mini E is promised with a 200-plus kilometre range which would satisfy almost all urban commuters.The early focus in Agassi's plan is Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, with Adelaide and Perth to follow sometime after 2012."We call it a ubiquitous charging network across the cities. It's a massive infrastructure project ... and that means new jobs for Australians," Agassi says.Payment for the system would be similar to a mobile-phone contract, although some European cities are experimenting with a parking-meter style plan for their electric power points.The Better Place program will emphasise the use of renewable power, a link also being pushed by AGL.Full details of the plan are still being finalised, but it is backed by the Victorian government and the Federal government is assisting with a national agreement - similar to the Australia-wide rollout of fibre-optic cabling - on the system."The Victorian government supports any initiative that will have positive outcomes in reducing emissions in the transport sector and I welcome this innovative approach to help make broad adoption of electric vehicles in Australia possible,” says the Victorian Premier, John Brumby.

Smart ForTwo electric car, undergoing trials in UK it is a possibility for release early 2010.A plug-in Smart car will race a baby Mitsubishi to become the first all-electric showroom contender in Australia.The battery-powered Smart ForTwo is already undergoing trials in Britain and the worldwide head of Daimler, Dieter Zetsche, says there is a very good chance it willcome to Australia.The timing could be in the back end of 2009 or early in 2010, which means the ForTwo will be fighting for first with the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, which Mitsubishi Motors Australia chief Rob McEniry is fast-tracking for Australia — and the worse-case scenario for its delivery is some time in 2012.Mercedes-Benz is making a strong electric push with the Smart, which will be followed by battery-powered A-Class and B-Class compacts.“This idea is not totally out of the possibilities. We have not made final decisions,” is the non-committal response from Zetsche on the electric Smart during a one-day visit to Australia.“We won't go to all countries. It is a reasonable possibility it could come to Australia.”But the plug-in Smart is more than just a possibility, as Mercedes-Benz pushes hard on electric cars. It is already leasing a trial fleet and is preparing for full-scale production.Zetsche says Benz will abandon the twin-floor chassis design it pioneered as a safety move on the original A-Class when the car is renewed in 2010, but left the way open for a similar approach for electric operation.He says there will be four different body styles, not just A and B hatches, but refuses to give any detail on the potential for a coupe, sedan or wagon.Zetsche is bullish about Smart, which has come back from a near-death expansion plan to a successful model built around the tiny ForTwo.“It is the CO2 champion. So I'm very glad with where we are today. In the US we don't know how to deal with the demand,” Zetsche says. “It's always a question of perspective. For now it is all and before it was nothing. We just built more andmore problems.“Today we are making money with Smart.”The electric trial will step up in the UK with theproduction of 1000 customer cars and these could open the door for a battery-powered ForTwo in Australia.“Towards the end of next year we will see another 1000. The earliest possibility would be one of that 1000,” Zetsche says.“If that is not the outcome, thelatest would be two or three years later whenwe see high production.” 

The second generation Smart ForTwo is more spacious, has a better ride and comes with more safety features than its predecessor, but is this tiny little car — which thrives in some of Europe’s most populous and cramped cities — necessary on Australian roads?Exterior Obviously the Smart ForTwo looks different to other vehicles but it’s not until you see one sandwiched between two larger cars – like we did in the work car park - that you really appreciate how minute these things are. At just over two and a half meters long and one and a half meters wide, they make a Corolla look ungainly.Interior Inside, the ForTwo is quite basic as space is at a premium. The clock and rev counter are forced above the dash in two external dials but this gives the cockpit a cheeky, slightly sporty look. Electric windows and mirrors, comfortable seats and a quality stereo provide a well rounded package.Storage again is at a premium but the luggage area is a manageable 220 litres and the door pockets and lockable centre console box provide some extra room.Engine and TransmissionBoth the coupe and cabriolet versions of the new Smart are powered by a standard one litre, three cylinder 52kW/92Nm naturally aspirated or a 62kW/120Nm turbo engine.Both the naturally aspirated and turbo engines get you to a top speed of 145km/h with the turbo pushing you to the 100km mark in 10.9 seconds – almost three seconds faster than the 52kW.Fuel consumption is expectedly low at 4.7 litres/100kms for the 52kW engine and 4.9 litres/100kms for the one with larger outputs.An automated clutch-less manual five-speed transmission gets power to the wheels but there is no option to fully automate the process.Safety For such a small car, the ForTwo safety package is impressive. ESP, hill-start assist, ABS with electronic brake-force distribution, acceleration skid control and electronic brake assist are all standard. Marry that with the crash rating and you begin to feel a little less wary about going for a spin.Pricing At $19, 990 for the cheapest coupe (up to $24, 990 for the turbo cabriolet), these are not the cheapest small cars out there. Couple this with the fact that they provide the least space and a question mark hangs over your decision to buy one. Living with itWigley saysIt’s a little disconcerting sitting right against the back wall of the car and even though it has received 4 out of 5 euro NCAP stars, it still feels a little dinky. More space in the cabin in this second generation version separates you and your passenger a little better but you may feel a little claustrophobic if you like to stretch out.Front and side vision is great but you only get a matchbox of window out the back because of the tall seats.On paper the power and torque figures seem miniscule but given that the car is a mere 750kgs, the performance is quite good, possibly even nippy at times.Constant paddle or gear stick shifting is a must, and gear changing is a bit clunky and it can get annoying if you’re in a hurry.They are cute and novel but the demand shouldn’t be as strong as it might be in Europe where tight laneways and massive populations necessitate a car this small and nimble.VERDICT: 6.8/10Halligan saysGetting out of the City was fun, the acceleration surprised and I just love a paddle shift. Slotting into traffic and accelerating for lane changes is where this thing excels … as long as you allow for the up-change lag which appears to be in the seconds rather than the milliseconds.But it's not very smooth at low speeds, lots of pitching and whirring, Not very pleasant or relaxed. I found the ergonomics lousy. I had the seat right back and I had to scrunch my arm up to be able to get to the window switch to wind it down. The interior mirror is right at a height where you constantly have the drivers lights behind you in your eyes.Turning fast displayed not much body roll, however doing a fast change from fourth to fifth resulted in pitching that would leave my wife feeling seasick. But the Smart sat and tracked nicely, even going past a couple of B-double trucks running in tandem.A couple of times overtaking Commodore and Bimmer drivers I found them accelerating once I was past to get back in front. Obviously they were annoyed at the indignation of being passed by the little Smart.But my wife just laughed at the car, and a drive didn’t endear it to her.I am a Mercedes fan, but would I buy one of these? No.Buy a Fiat 500 – at least you won’t be laughed at by your wife.VERDICT: 6.5/10 Pincott saysYou really have to keep your hand on the paddles to make the most of this little engine in anything other than the most relaxed city driving. And two tall girls found there was plenty of room for us, but after our briefcases were added, not much for anything else.Positioning of some of the controls is uncomfortable, and rear vision is hugely compromised.All of which should mean an unenjoyable experience. And yet…The Smart is as much a statement as a form of transport. It says you’re urban, concerned about the environment, and don’t rely on a large car to highlight your importance in the world. You’re smart, in fact.But its main problem is that it’s all a bit worthy, like cloth shopping bags and wholefoods. Which overlooks that the Smart can be a lot of fun as an urban traveller.There’s something just so appealingly ludicrous about its proportions that you can’t help but grin at the sight of it.Especially when that sight is a satisfied backward glance as you blithely walk away after inserting it into a parking slot that would challenge a large pram.Could I live with it forever? Only if there was a second vehicle in the garage for trips away, garage sales and even the weeks with a large grocery list.VERDICT: 6.7/10 

But as the all-new Smart Fortwo was launched in Sydney this week, it arrived with a question mark over its real relevance on Australian roads.The one-model company, under parent company Mercedes-Benz, sold just 550 Fortwo's in Australia last year. And that's a number that Smart Australia's boss Wolfgang Schrempp admits isn't profitable enough to continue on for the next three to four years. But they're confident the second-generation of the novelty-like car can help boost those numbers.Since the late 1990s, Smart has sold 770,000 Fortwos worldwide. It's an environmentally friendly urban car for someone who wants to stand out as being funky, individual and “smart”-thinking. And the new model arrives just a bit bigger and better than its predecessor.The Fortwo will be available in two engines and two body styles. Both are powered by a Mitsubishi-built, naturally aspirated 999cc three-cylinder engine, one giving off 52kW, the other getting some help from a turbo-charger and delivering 62kW of power. Customers also have the choice of a coupe or cabrio model, the soft top retracting at any speed and the coupe featuring a glass roof with a sliding lining. The new Fortwo has become less toy-like, although it still maintains its quirky and unique character.It sits on a longer wheelbase, has slightly larger dimensions and has undergone some styling changes. The boot is also a little bigger. From the rear, the Fortwo now looks like a proper car with its wider stance and four lights adorning the rear instead of the previous six.The aim of the car as an environmentally friendly model is achieved nicely — it's the most fuel-efficient petrol car on the market, getting 4.7-litres per 100km on the non-turbo engined version and 4.9-litres for the turbo.Carbon dioxide emissions are also low. The Fortwo starts at $19,990 for the 52kW coupe model and $22,990 for the cabrio. The turbo version adds $2000 to each price tag. And while it may look unusual, driving it feels just like any other light car. There's plenty of space for the two occupants, and the passenger especially gets generous leg room.But you can't help feeling it lacks that connection between driver and environment.You tend to sit very high on top of the seat, rather than in it, and the dash feels separate instead of moulding around you. But it is a cute and peculiar type of styling both inside and out.While 52kW isn't a impressive figure, it is only a small engine and it feels as though it has enough power for its role as an urban driver. The lightweight car gets around town with enough “oomph” through the five-speed automated manual transmission. This means there's no clutch, but you still control the gears through the gearstick or the paddles on the steering wheel.You can be lazy when it comes to changing down, as the gearbox does this on its own. Up hills it did take its time to drop back a gear and you sometimes had to interrupt in order to get it over the ascent. The semi-manual transmission has been improved. Changing up a gear doesn't leave you looking like a learner driver — rather its a smoother, more fluid shift.But if changing gears just isn't for you, there's also the softouch automatic option, adding $2000 to the price. Top speed is 145km/h and despite its size, you do feel safe knowing it has achieved a four-star Euro NCAP rating and comes standard with four airbags.It's great around town and very easy to park, but the ride comfort isn't the best as the suspension doesn't seem to absorb much at all.The Fortwo gets a tick of approval for fitting stability control as a standard feature, something rare in this segment. Power steering didn't make the list but Smart says customer feedback suggested the steering was light enough. While that's true at faster speeds, you really notice its absence in car parks or tight turns.We also had the chance to give the 62kW turbo model a quick spin. This model would be the pick of the two, giving that extra performance and a more spirited drive. At just a $90 increase over the outgoing model, the Fortwo does offer a unique and special car under the $20,000 mark.But for less you could get the Mazda2 or Volkswagen's Polo, offering the added benefit of extra seats, bigger engine and marginally higher fuel consumption. So to make the Smart choice, you have to really be a fan.Is Smart relevant for Australia? 

The all-new Smart Fortwo will arrive in Australia this month with a starting price tag of $19,990, offering two body styles and two more powerful engines. Both 52kW and 62kW versions of the coupe and cabrio will be available from later this month, powered by a 1.0-litre in-line three cylinder engine.The 62kW version features a turbocharger, increasing the torque to 120Nm, compared with the non-turbo's 92Nm.The new price for the two-seater is just a $90 increase over the existing model, but also offers additional equipment. Included as standard are four airbags instead of two, a rev counter and clock on the dash, steering wheel gearshift paddles and an automatic door lock function.While the 52kW coupe comes in at $19,990, the cabrio model sits at $22,990. The turbo 62kW version adds $2000 to both prices.The Smart Fortwo coupe consumes a claimed 4.7-litres per 100km, while the cabrio records 4.9-litres per 100km. Other standard equipment includes stability control, ABS and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution.

The choice of such models will steadily increase over the next 18 months as the effects of stringent new emissions laws and environmental initiatives spur a spate of new arrivals from Europe and Asia. Nissan's Micra will be joined in the next few months by the newest Smart Fortwo and Fiat's already iconic 500.They are likely to be meet competition later in 2008 or in early 2009 in the form of Suzuki's sub-Swift-sized Splash and possibly the Peugeot 107, which is identical under the skin to Toyota's Aygo.As for Kia's Picanto, which in Europe has been compared favourably to mainstays such as Fiat's Panda, the Korean manufacturer will consider importing if a business case can be made.The good news, for both carbuyers and for environmentalists, is that these new models combine in varying degrees practicality and economy. And even a degree of luxury.All weigh less than a tonne, are not much more than 3.5m in length and can stay well below 10 litres per 100km in urban conditions for which they were received.In Sydney, Smart cars, when they're seen at all, are usually towing advertising hoardings. Visit any major western European city — in particular Italy — and you'll see not only the Smart, but a range of tiny commuter mobiles that are cheap, affordable and emission light.In the traffic maelstrom of Rome, where a Golf-size parking space is rarer than a slow Italian driver, light cars are almost the only vehicles that make sense. Indeed, production at the factory making the new Fiat 500 has been doubled to meet demand for the acclaimed compact.And as our traffic conditions deteriorate, the local allocation of 500s might not meet demand. Light cars have evolved rapidly recently, says Edward Rowe of Ateco Autmotive, which imports the Fiat and the slightly bigger Citroen C2.“You now have a car that people want to own, one with badge appeal, in addition to needing to own,” he says.“That's the very clever blend of the 500. It's got the visual appeal and cuteness but real substance with that. A five-star NCAP crash rating is better than any Australian-made full-size car.”While buyers are already less interested in big family cars, pressures beyond the marketplace are paving the road for light cars.Having wasted no time in signing the Kyoto Protocol, the Federal Government has promised to set up a $500 million fund to attract investment for Australia to produce environmentally-friendly cars. To be introduced from 2011, the Green Car Innovation Fund aims to generate $2billion worth of investment to manufacture low-emission vehicles in Australia, the automotive industry being asked to match a $500 million government contribution on a one-to-three basis.And last week, President George Bush signed a bill raising fuel efficiency standards for the first time since 1975 in a bid to cut US reliance on oil. The bill requires the automotive industry to reduce fuel consumption in most cars and light trucks by 40per cent, raising the fuel efficiency standard to 15km per litre by 2020.Rowe says to expect a “flock of 1.4-litre” engines, petrol and diesel, such as the twin-charged unit in Volkswagen's Golf GT Sport.“Engine size has become irrelevant,” Rowe says, “look at the power.”Their hands were forced by the Euro 5-emission standard and prestige marques are also embracing the “less is more” aspect with cars that, if not as diminutive as the Fiat, are considerably smaller than any yet seen from Alfa Romeo and Audi.The three-door Alfa Junior sporty supermini will reach us in 2009. Designed by Centro Stile Alfa Romeo, the design is inspired by the 8C Competizione. The Junior will feature a 110kW turbocharged petrol engine.“People are under the impression that this is a new Alfasud,” Rowe says. “It's a size under that, closer to the VW Polo.”Audi's A1, seen in concept form at the Toyko Motor Show, is “definitely” on Audi Australia's wish list, spokeswoman Anna Burgdorf says.One motorist already enjoying the value of a light car is Peggy Polias. She bought a Smart Fortwo a year ago.“I just thought they were really cute and fun and I don't want to spend too much on petrol,” she says. “I like how tiny it is and it's just really fun, it's nippy and really handy for urban driving.”Averaging about 500km on a tank, the 26-year-old only has to visit a petrol station once every three weeks and spends about $40 to refuel.Polias acknowledges she could have bought a car with a lot more space and seats for the $22,700 price tag she paid.And while she looked at other cars, such as the Honda Jazz and Toyota Corolla, she decided the extra space wasn't something she really needed.“I don't drive with other people much and the savings I get with petrol seem to outweigh it, especially if I stick to the car for a while.”