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Micro-minis — ultra-small city cars with one-litre engines, miserly fuel economy, funky styling and price tags to bring a smile to any Scrooge's dial — are coming to a car dealer near you.
Not too many years ago, these were the first cars crossed off any importer's shopping list.
Although they found hundreds of thousands of happy owners in Asia and Europe, they were too small and underpowered for Australian tastes.
We may have dabbled with a Mini, a Getz, a Barina or a Yaris, but anything smaller than that simply wasn't going to happen — as Daihatsu found out with its ill-fated Sirion and Daewoo discovered with the similarly ill-starred Matiz.
How times change. Fuel costs are soaring and still threaten to head closer to $2 a litre than to $1, traffic congestion is growing, and the promise of a low-cost, low-maintenance convenience transporter is looking ever more attractive.
"I'm pretty confident the acceptance is there," Suzuki general manager Tony Devers says on the eve of launching the Alto — the first of the new-generation micro-minis to reach Australia.
"We're looking at building a new segment with this car. We know there are other minis like this coming, but ours will be the first."
Hyundai, which has built a very successful business by selling small cars at the budget end of the market, is another marque determined to take the baseline even lower.
Negotiations are well advanced on getting the Indian-manufactured i10 into Australian showrooms by the second half of next year to take advantage of what Hyundai director of sales and marketing Kevin McCann sees as an emerging market opportunity.
"Our research tells us the sub-light segment is still emerging in terms of the type of customer you can define as a buyer," McCann says.
"We're working on the presumption that we have a bit of time to play with.
"We haven't taken the view that we will wait and see what others do in the segment. We're pressing on with what we want to do.
"We want to ensure we fill the rungs of the ladder, rising up from the i10 to the i20 and the i30. That's what we're concentrating on."
The other company that has expressed a strong desire to be part of the sub-mini market is Mitsubishi, which has been trumpeting its i MiEV electric car but more quietly clearing a way forward for the petrol version of the "i" car sold in the Japanese market.
"It is something that has been of great interest to us for some time," Mitsubishi spokeswoman Lenore Fletcher says.
"There have been some issues with Australian Design Rule requirements, but it's still very much on the radar.
"You could only believe that the segment has a very big future given the current climate of fuel pricing and ecological awareness."
THE CONTENDERS
Suzuki Alto: An Indian-built one-litre, five-door hatch with pricing from under $13,000. The Alto claims fuel economy of 4.5L/100km and CO2 emissions of 113g/km from its three-cylinder, 50kW/90Nm engine. It will come with six airbags and a five-speed manual gearbox. A four-speed auto and stability control are optional.
Hyundai i10: An Indian-built 1.2-litre, five-door hatch, the i10 has a claimed 5L/100km combined-cycle fuel economy with 119g/km of CO2. Its four-cylinder engine produces 57kW and 117Nm driving through a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. Four airbags and ABS brakes are standard, with ESP available as an option.
Mitsubishi i: A Japanese-built 659cc three-cylinder turbo, five-door hatch. A popular model on the Japanese market, it delivers 42kW and 85Nm through a four-speed automatic gearbox. Fuel economy of 5.2L/100km and emissions of 114g/km in CO2 are claimed.
OTHER POSSIBILITIES
Toyota iQ: A sensation overseas, but reportedly not on Toyota Australia's wish list at the moment. Its three-cylinder, one-litre engine is good for 50kW and 91Nm. Fuel economy is 4.7L/100km through the five-speed manual or optional CVT gearbox, while CO2 emissions are a low 99g/km.
Nissan Pixo: A kissin' cousin of the Alto, with similar specifications and functions. Under the Nissan badge are all the Suzuki mechanicals — not surprising, as the car is actually built by Suzuki. No indication yet from Nissan that it's bound for Australia.
Ford Ka: This one is definitely not on Ford's list of things to do. The Ka had a short, and rather unhappy, run in Australia in its first incarnation, but though it qualifies on engine size (1.2 litres), fuel economy (5L/100km) and size (tiny), it's available only as a three-door, five-speed manual. It's reported to be getting a 900cc twin-cylinder turbo capable of 82kW, 162Nm and a miserly 4.7L/100km. Add an automatic, and it could become a consideration.
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