Mini-Cars: Just as our fascination with “bigger is better” holds true, we also find ourselves charmed by objects that are diminutive, petite, or irresistibly cute. This explains the abundance of videos circulating on Facebook where miniature kitchens are used to prepare tiny portions of food. Just as our affection extends to large trucks and massive vehicles, we share a similar fondness for compact cars, appreciating them not solely for their practicality.
With the way things are on most roads, congested and crowded, it won’t be surprising to see more mini-cars up and about shortly. So here are five mini cars that are or were simply awesome, and five too ridiculous for words. Does size matter?
Stylish Mini-Cars
The Mini-Cars: Smart EQ Fortwo
Presently, the global automobile market boasts the diminutive Smart EQ Fortwo as the smallest four-wheeled vehicle, distinguished by its futuristic aesthetics. Its compact size and electric propulsion establish it as a top-tier urban vehicle, showcasing its excellence as a city car.
True to its name, it can smartly take you around the cramped city streets without difficulty. This all-electric car comes with a host of first-class features that make it a premium offering in the segment. It houses a small 60-kW three-phase synchronous motor under its hood that can put out 80 horsepower. For a car this size, these output figures are pretty cool to zip around in.
The Mini-Cars: Intelligent Toyota Scion iQ
Measuring a mere 120 inches, the Scion iQ emerges as a compact powerhouse, brimming with features and catering to city commuters. Its intelligent design ensures effortless parking, U-turns, and daily commuting, making it an ideal choice for urban travel in this petite yet efficient vehicle.
Under the hood lies a 1.3-liter straight-four engine rated at 97 horsepower and 91 ft-lb torque. The best thing in the car was its clever seating setup – three adults and a child could easily fit in the Scion iQ by adjusting the seats. And remember this adorable little car is a Toyota, a brand known for its reliability.
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The Mini-Cars: Fiat 600 Multipla
Upon its introduction in 1955, the Fiat 600, true to its name, featured a 633cc inline-four engine. It remains renowned as a truly iconic moniker in the annals of Italy’s automotive history. In the wake of its triumph, the Fiat 600 Multipla, an MPV variant, made its debut the subsequent year. The Multipla remained in the automotive market for approximately thirteen years, during which around 130,000 units were sold.
In the 1950s, it ruled the European auto markets and manufacturers from other countries bought rights to create their versions of the car to cash in on its popularity, as quickly as possible. Of course, some dubbed it the ugliest car Fiat had ever brought out, but sales proved otherwise.
The Mini-Cars: Toyota COMS, For One
Hailing from Toyota’s collection, this ultra-compact vehicle is a solitary seat occupant, tipping the scales at around 900 pounds. The standout feature of this micro electric vehicle (EV) is its exceptional affordability, despite accommodating just a single rider. With a range of approximately 31 miles on a complete charge, this mini-car might seem limited, but proves ample for quick errands and zippy trips.
The car may be small in size but its rather futuristic design does attract a lot of eyeballs as does the single drive cum passenger. It’s about 97 inches in length and 43.5 inches in width. This makes it one of the smallest and handiest cars around.
The Mini-Cars: Autobianchi Bianchina Transformabile
Autobianchi was an Italian auto giant that was born out of a union of Bianchi, Pirelli, and Fiat in 1955. Their marriage lasted for almost 40 years as they carved a name for themselves in the small car segment. The Bianchina Transformable came into being in 1957 and was the smallest in the family.
This small Mini-Cars four-wheeler was just 117.5 inches in length and weighed just about 1120 pounds. The tiny little excuse for a car was an open-top semi-convertible one. Under the hood was a rear-mounted 499cc two-cylinder motor that could crank out 21 horsepower, which was okay for that time. Its engine unit was paired with a four-speed manual transmission and many remember it as one cool drive.
