Top 10 Coolest Small Cars

Microcars for City Drivers - Top 10 Coolest Small Cars:

Not so long ago, boat-sized cars cruised the motorways of this wide-open country. If you wanted to see a tiny car, you’d have to go to Europe or watch a Mentos ad (which looked suspiciously like they were shot in Europe). But with the continuing interest in fuel efficiency and smaller carbon footprints, microcars have grown more common, with new compact concept cars springing up at every auto show. 

While of fuel economy and environmental concerns provide much of the motivation for buying a small car, John Filiss ofSeriousWheels.com counts off some other motivations. “Very small cars can be quite endearing in appearance, and there are microcar clubs around the world for people who collect old Isettas, Messerschmidts, and other very tiny cars from yesteryear. Another aspect is that smaller cars are regarded by many as being more fun to drive. 

"Of all the small car manufacturers today, MINI has probably succeeded the most brilliantly at making this a big part of their marketing. A small go-cart has a more visceral feel than a full-size car, including sports cars that may have better performance figures, and that same quality is definitely evident in smaller cars versus their larger counterparts.So long as you don’t have an intimidation factor of being surrounded by much larger vehicles, tiny cars are also easier to drive… traffic lanes always have plenty of width, you can turn on a dime, and almost any parking space will do.” 

One concern that always rises when considering tiny cars is safety in the event of collision. This can vary greatly from vehicle to vehicle. “Manufacturers like Mini and smart have put a great deal of effort into making their cars as safe as possible,” says Filiss. “There are some basic physics that work against small cars in a collision that are hard to completely overcome, though. A large car will usually fare much better in a collision than a small car. On the other side of the equation, though, small cars generally have better braking, better handling, and better maneuverability than larger vehicles.   So, your ability to avoid an accident entirely tends to be better in a smaller vehicle.” 

Commuter Cars Tango 600

Cost: $108,000 

The Tango 600 is a high-performance electric car that can reach speeds exceeding 130 MPH with a racecar safety roll cage. Batteries and drivetrain are not included with the T600, but the car is also available as the mass-produced T200 at a lower price. Depending on the user’s battery selection and driving style, it can get 40 to 200 miles of freeway driving, and will recharge up to 80% from standard outlets in 10 minutes. A full charge takes under 3 hours. 

Its size provides many advantages for navigating a crowding planet. It’s five inches narrower than some motorcycles, which allows it to zip through stopped traffic by lane splitting, or riding between cars that are slowed or stopped in heavy traffic. (This practice is legal in many places internationally, and it’s tolerated when motorcycle riders do it safely in Calfornia.) It can be parked perpendicular to the curb like a motorcycle, allowing up to four such cars in one spot, and it allows two Tangos to drive with ample clearance in a regular traffic lane.

Myers Motors Duo

Cost: Under $30,000 

The limited-run three-wheel, two-passenger 2011 DUO promises 300 miles of driving using $6 of electricity, rather than $50 of gas. DUO stands for “doesn’t use oil” and adds an extra passenger capacity to Myers Motors’ original NmG (“no more gas”) electric vehicles. The charge can handle a daily 60-mile range, with an option for a 100-mile range for drivers with longer commutes. And it fits in a motorcycle parking space.

Smart ForSpeed Concept

Cost: $10,990-$17,690+ (Fortwo) 

The most commonly sighted micro-sized city car (at least in the vicinity of CNBC HQ), the basic smart Fortwo comes in gas-powered models and is also available for lease with an electric drive. But far more exciting, at least in the prototype’s looks, is the electric car concept revealed at the Geneva Motor Show, the “speedster” version of the smart car, capable of speeds up to 75 with a range of 85 miles. 

With a convertible roof, and wind deflectors (rather than windshield) with integrated solar cells, and iPhone dock for the passenger seat, many are hoping it will join the fortwo on the market soon.

Toyota iQ

Cost: Under $20,000 

The world’s smallest four-seat urban car (about 66 inches wide and 117 inches long) has buzzed throughout Europe and Japan but was not available in the U.S. That was supposed to change with this year’s planned arrival of the Scion iQ—although that’s been delayed indefinitely because of quake-related parts shortages. 

When the Scion does emerge, it will feature 11 airbags, including in the back to protect from a rear-end collision. That back area has two seats that fold down to create a modest cargo area—enough to stow a bag of golf clubs or a medium-sized haul of groceries.

Aston Martin Cygnet

Cost: $50,000 

This low-emissions city car is based on the Toyota iQ, but with Aston Martin luxury, craftsmanship—and as the auto publications noted in tones ranging from scandal to scoff, an Aston Martin price tag as well. Like the iQ, this “bespoke luxury commuter car” can seat up to four, and it’s the same length, but the Cygnet has leather seats and numerous features are customizable.

Rolls-Royce MINI

Cost: $68,000 

The original Mini was built by the British Motor Corporation from 1959 until 2000, Filiss says, and the original was much smaller than the current model. After BMW bought the company in 1994, the current model emerged in 2001, with a Mini Cooper II redesign starting in 2006. Another new twist on this classic debuted at the Shanghai Auto Show: a limited edition Rolls Royce-inspired MINI. The three-door hatchback will perform like the MINI S with an estimated 30 miles to the gallon, but its leather, lambswool, and walnut burr interiors and spoked alloy hubcaps evoke the Rolls.

Alfa Romeo MiTo

Cost: $ 23,000+ 

Alfa Romeo is returning to the United States, but Filiss says “there are frankly a lot of questions regarding which models will be available when it happens and the dust finally settles.” What is known about the MiTo available in Europe is it has a new Stop and Start system that reduces fuel consumption and C02 emissions, an integrated navigation device with a car menu of information, and available Bose sound system.

Ford Ka

Cost: $14,000+ 

The newly redesigned Ford Ka, while not yet sold in the American market, is noteworthy in Europe as a lower cost, smaller take on the Fiesta with a distinctive “smiling face” design. This Ka offers low carbon emissions, sustainable/ reusable parts such as noise insulation made from recycled denim and upholstery, automatic parking sensors to prevent scrapes and dents, and other features in a zippy, customizable compact package.

Tata Pixel

Cost: $TBA 

This car concept capable of seating four adults from Indian manufacturer Tata might look like a futuristic golf cart, and for now it is still a figment of the future—the expected release year for Europe is 2013. At its Geneva Motor Show debut, it drew praise for its city-friendly features like outstanding maneuverability and the “scissor” gull-wing doors designed to rotate upwards for getting in and out after parking in the smallest of spots.

Volkswagen XL1

Cost: $TBA 

The ultra-sleekly designed XL1 is Volkswagen’s diesel plug-in electric hybrid vehicle. “While this car is only a concept, it is interesting on several counts. One is its extreme efficiency: it achieves an amazing 261 MPG,” says Filiss. “Another thing intriguing about this design is that it is a third generation concept, with earlier 1 liter car concepts going back to 2002 and 2009. Volkswagen is clearly very interested in this ultra-efficient design, and there may be a production model based on this theme in the coming decade.”


Source: CNBC

Best looking sports car on the Market

Top Best Looking Sports Car available on the Market nowadays are below:

You’re shopping sports cars because you’re a driving enthusiast. It’s all about the speed, form is following function, and you don’t care how you look because you’ll be going so fast no one will be able to see the car anyway.

Yeah, right.

Part of the appeal of any sports car is how it looks. Driving a sports car says a lot about you, and what’s said is communicated through the car’s design. All about raw power? Go for a muscle car. Into classic designs? Look for something with a rich design heritage. Like to attack curves? Go for something with sleek aggressive looks. And if you really are all about form following function, go for a sports car that’s designed with the fastest possible track times in mind.

Even if you don’t care what your sports car looks like, odds are it will look good. Sports cars are where car companies show off the best of what their designers can do. And even cars that place performance over design tend to be stylish. These cars tend to have expressive creases in their sheet metal, aerodynamic shapes and aggressively arched wheel wells. Luckily, all of those design cues help improve a sports car’s performance.

While it’s tempting to think that all sports cars look the same, there’s actually a fair amount of variation. Although there are certain design features that help make a sports car a sports car, within the class there are several distinct styling trends. That means that even if a car’s looks aren’t as important to you as its performance, it’s easy to find a sports car that’s as stylish as it is powerful.

Best-Looking Classic Sports Cars

2011 Mazda MX-5 Miata

 Some sports cars’ designs haven’t changed much from when they were first introduced. It’s not that the designers are lazy; if something works, you don’t change it. The Mazda MX-5 Miata’s classic looks have helped make it the best-selling sports car of all time. And while there have been a few changes since it hit the market -- including a retractable hardtop and the loss of headlights that rise out of the car’s hood -- the current MX-5 Miata is instantly recognizable as a close relative of the first. A better-known classic sports car design is the Porsche 911 Carrera. Not only does the current model follow the iconic shape of the original 911 (though the current model is technically the 997), but its rounded headlights and rear end hark back to the original Porsche 356. The Nissan 370z is a newer model, but takes much of its design from classic Z cars of the 1970’s -- back when Nissan was Datsun.

2011 Porsche 911 Carrera

Best-Looking Modern Sports Cars

2011 Chevrolet Corvette

2011 Chevrolet Corvette

Just as classic sports cars use their designs to announce their heritage, modern-looking sports cars use their style to show off the sophisticated technology under the hood and the thoroughly modern performance they turn in. The Chevrolet Corvette is a storied model, but the current generation with its sharply chiseled lines looks more like a stealth bomber than the original Corvette. The Nissan GT-R is one of the most technologically advanced sports cars you can buy, and it looks like it.  The Audi R8 looks so futuristic that it’s been used in movies, like I, Robot, which take place in the future.

2011 Audi R8

Best-Looking Muscle Cars

2012 Ford Mustang

2011 Chevrolet Camaro

Many of today’s muscle cars could also be considered classic sports car designs because they use retro design cues that draw from the classic muscle cars of the 1960s and 1970s. But they also differ from classic sports cars in one key way:  muscle cars look mean. While classic sports cars typically have rounded edges, muscle cars have squared-off corners and angles. That’s because muscle cars are about all-out power, not handling. The Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Charger are all modern takes on classic muscle-car designs. That means that they’re bigger than your typical sports car, with sedan-like stances and profiles. For buyers, that means getting more attention (as well as a roomier interior) and the ability to show off at the drag strip.  The Charger, though it has an iconic name, has a completely revamped muscle-car design, with four doors 

and an aggressive front end that’s about as in-your-face as a car design can be.

2011 Dodge Charger

Best-Looking Convertibles

2011 Porsche Boxster

Enzo Ferrari famously said that convertibles were just for playboys, but when you’re zipping down the road with the wind in your hair and jealous looks from other drivers, it’s easy to tell Enzo to stuff it. Convertibles have always been synonymous with sports cars, and some of the most attractive sports car designs are drop tops. Almost every good-looking sports car has a convertible version -- even muscle cars do.  And taking the top off is a sure-fire way to make a great car design look even better. Stand-alone convertible models are also plenty stylish. The Porsche Boxster may be one of the least expensive Porsches you can buy, but it’s also one of the best-looking. The BMW Z4, with its retractable hardtop, goes from an aggressive coupe to a sleek roadster at the touch of a button. Finally, the Mercedes Benz SLK combines the aggressive looks of a performance car with the sleek, upscale style of a luxury convertible.

2011 BMW Z4

Best-Looking Track Cars

2011 Lotus Elise

If you’re more concerned with whipping around the track than you are cruising the strip, you’ll want a sports car that puts function over fashion. Luckily, those cars tend to look pretty good just the same.  The Lotus Elise and Exige aren’t practical from a day-to-day standpoint, lacking standard features like air conditioning and a radio. Plus, they’re low to the ground with high door sills, which make getting in and out an exercise in gymnastics. That aside, these two cars look like nothing else on the road. Their sheet metal is sculpted to reduce wind resistance and improve downforce. The result is two cars that look like space-age robots. The same is true for the Lamborghini Aventador. It has a wedge shape that lets it slice through the air. While it looks good, the Aventador’s styling lets everyone know that the car is all about the business of speed.

2010 Lamborghini Murcielago

Source & Read More: Auto Yahoo