I personally dont – and im of the under 30 crowd.  *not for long anyways*

Ask one anyone alive today when Fiat’s were around – and they usually respond with

Those pieces of crap were there among the Yugos!

And with good reason.  Anyone even remember the Fiat 131?    That car and the Fiat Panda would make great cars nowadays, but finding one that isnt in a pool of its own rust is impossible.

From autocar;

Fiat, which now has effective control of Chrysler Jeep, has had a long association with the US, establishing a factory in the country as long ago as 1908. But it pulled the plug on sales in January 1983 after selling just 14,113 vehicles in 1982.

By 1982 only the Fiat Strada was offered in the US, alongside the 124 Spider (which had been on sale in the US since 1968) and X1/9 mid-engined roadster.

Fiat will release its much anticipated small car the Fiat 500 in Hatchback form and the cabrio – but there are no plans currently for any models in the near future.  Lets all pray this brand doesnt go the way of the Smart Car in the US.

Can any of you Small Car Fans Guess what this tiny BMW is?

Instant E Cred if you guess in the comments.   GO!

Click to Make the LOL OIL Tesla HUGE

Seen in Orange County, Santa Ana CA.

Owner; unknown, but probably someone who wears Tom’s shoes, has reclaimed wooden floors from a school where they grew up in and reads this blog. I hope.

A 5th Gear Review – note the game that Honda incorporated with Trees.

On the WTH List;

• While compared to the original Si, its very similar.   For a low hp, modern hybrid – MPG still is behind the pack.   Mid 30 mpgs.
• With no back seat, the Honda CR-Z falls into a segment which does not exist.
• The 0-60 time is seconds slower (about  1 second) compared to the original Crx Si
• At 1830 pounds; the Honda CRX was the lightest of any car back then
• At 2700 pounds; the Honda CR-Z weighs as much as Mini Cooper S and current Si coupe, with the massive sunroof

Compared to any vehicle right now, the CR-Z is considered quite slow.    With a hatch full of groceries and supplies, and another body, this car could easily be a 10 second car.    While we know this era of technology does not have its focus on full performance anymore, the need for a car to do everything well is still important.

Honda CRZ next to Honda CRX

With the 2011, Ford Fiesta proving 40 mpg,  2011 Mini Cooper estimated  40 mpg, and the Fiat 500, achieving low 40 mpg, (but the Mazda 2 missing the point @ 35 mpg),  while having back seats and a more user friendly overall design, Honda may have officially screwed the pooch here in the US.   However,  the Honda CR-Z in Japan has been a strong seller ; and with Spoon taking the task of a modified hybrid seriously, this random guy writing this on the intewebs may actually be the noob.   Only time will tell.

Honda Hybrid CR-Z Spoon

I’m not sure how everyone at work in cube farm ville feel; but this was beyond awesome.

Enjoy!

Hmmm. Perhaps a 3 wheel’d vehicle is not the best option.  Home made that is.

Most of these cars got a chance at a second life with biodiesel, and became hipster status symbols in Silverlake, Brooklyn or parts of the bay area.   While still very cool, diesel was still kinda dirty.

New diesel’s dont have that problem, nor is California’s ancient law (that has now been removed) forbidding new diesel’s being sold.   Also, new diesels with urea are cleaner than the predecessors, while putting out some major torque.   VW’s new campaign with its talking VW BUG is cute, but Audi’s guerilla marketing tactics are much more suave.

Spotted by Blogdowntown

From Blogdowtown; Diesel no longer a Dirty Word

The stencils do not use chalk, but just a high pressure washer, so the words are just “cleaned” into the street.    +1 for Audi.   Watcha you got BMW 335d?

Mcdonald’s will open its first ‘green’ restaurant in cary, north carolina, USA.  Constructed from eco-friendly materials and technologies, the restaurant will include ChargePoint™ networked charging stations from coulomb technologies, a benefit for those of you out there with electric cars. By partnering with novacharge the new mcdonald’s will give electric vehicle drivers somewhere to recharge their vehicles
while having a meal.  The ‘greener’ mcdonald’s is set to open july 14th.

Why must McDonald’s go down this path?   Probably to encourage the more eco friendly to visit their restaurant and eat their delicious food.    What does one do when your car is charging for one hour in the parking lot?

Chargepoint charging system at Mcdonalds

A double quarter pound with cheese, fries, chicken nuggets, and a shake.   *shudders*

Why Family Matters back in the early 90s decided to go with a rare, European hatch for a “nerd” mobile is beyond me. However, it gave more attention to these tiny little things, as most of America still hasn’t seen one. The only access is from the front, as it swings open like a car’s side door.

The small BMW Isetta   also started in Italy (just as “Isetta”), where it was shaped more like a egg.

BMW Isetta Front

The car was never sold in the US; but many collectors imported their own in the 70s when the rules were more lax.

BMW announced that a updated,  Small Car with Isetta characteristics will be released in the next 2 years; expected to reach the 100 mpg mark.

This BMW Isetta however, is just a show car, painted like a New York Taxi cab.    Cute eh?

Source;  Auto Evolution

Small car marketing is a tricky niche, because you want to include everyone, not just your early 20 something loft dweller who’s single speed bicycle with gold accents fits in the hatch and happens just to park in front of the same American Apparel everyday.

1. Kia Soul – Hamster dance with Goldfish by Fort Knox

Heart heart heart it. Its not smug, its just creative. We’ve all been there, waiting in traffic, leaving home in the burbs, and felt like a hamster in the wheel. It cute without feeling like anime, and the hamsters aren’t freaky either. Simple is good. Of course I dont really know anymore about the car, outside of the sweet LEDs around the speakers.

2. Nissan Cube – Ice cream by new pony club

Life style commercial. Work all day Play all night crowd. I get it, and the song slightly fits the commercial. Yet by pushing a certain life style, and the ending with the eco friendly bag pushed this over the top. Not a fan. Someone like my mom would watch this and never remember it. The attempt at being hip pushed it over the edge.