Mixing
A-segment
Fiat Panda
The A-segment is a car classification defined by the European Commission as the first segment in the European market car classification (mini cars). It is a significant niche in Europe with 8% market share in 2017.[1]
FCA group traditionally[clarification needed] leads the segment with Fiat Panda and Fiat 500 (2007); Hyundai Motor Company however gain significant niche in recent times with Hyundai i10 and Kia Picanto, which reached the level of Volkswagen with the twin models Volkswagen Up, SEAT Mii and Skoda Citigo.[citation needed]
In recent years,[when?] the segment opened to premium cars with success, like the Mini and the Fiat 500. Vauxhall/Opel entered the segment with a premium model, the Adam, in the autumn of 2013.[citation needed]
The New York Times said in 2012, "today's small cars actually span three main segments in the global vehicle market".[2] A-segment cars were 0.8% of US market in 2012, and dominated by European brands Mini and Fiat 500.[3]
Fiat 500
VW UP!
Contents
1 European sales figures
2 Current A-segment cars
3 2/3-door models
4 City car
4.1 Early history
4.2 The boom
4.3 Larger city cars
5 See also
6 References
European sales figures
The top models in Europe according to 2017 Sales were:[4]
| 2017 rank |
Manufacturer | Model | 2013 sales | 2014 sales | 2015 sales | 2016 sales | 2017 sales | % change (2016–2017) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Fiat |
500 |
158,918 |
180,403 |
180,005 |
183,194 |
189,360 |
 +3.4% |
| 2 |
Fiat |
Panda |
152,727 |
152,045 |
171,377 |
190,432 |
187,049 |
 –1.8% |
| 3 |
Volkswagen |
up! |
130,039 |
124,845 |
105,348 |
96,836 |
100,715 |
+4.0% |
| 4 |
Hyundai |
i10 |
60,324 |
80,819 |
86,004 |
85,385 |
90,603 |
+6.1% |
| 5 |
Toyota |
Aygo |
63,993 |
68,874 |
86,085 |
84,321 |
84,588 |
+0.3% |
| 6 |
Renault |
Twingo |
78,432 |
81,574 |
95,808 |
84,766 |
77,326 |
–8.7% |
| 7 |
smart |
Fortwo |
65,226 |
52,059 |
57,056 |
69,169 |
65,800 |
–4.9% |
| 8 |
Kia |
Picanto |
50,524 |
51,222 |
54,036 |
54,982 |
62,161 |
+13.1% |
| 9 |
Peugeot |
108 |
— |
31,087 |
68,522 |
63,561 |
55,831 |
–12.2% |
| 10 |
Citroën |
C1 |
56,722 |
53,518 |
63,695 |
62,537 |
53,292 |
–14.8% |
| 11 |
Opel/Vauxhall |
Karl/Viva |
— |
11 |
28,638 |
57,458 |
49,516 |
–13.8% |
| 12 |
Opel/Vauxhall |
Adam |
45,756 |
54,207 |
55,278 |
52,938 |
48,181 |
–9.0% |
| 13 |
Suzuki |
Ignis |
— |
— |
— |
1,603 |
41,166 |
+2,468.1% |
| 14 |
Škoda |
Citigo |
44,851 |
40,616 |
38,735 |
38,664 |
35,698 |
–7.7% |
| 15 |
smart |
Forfour |
— |
3,757 |
39,543 |
37,133 |
34,253 |
–7.8% |
| 16 |
Mitsubishi |
Mirage/Space Star |
13,978 |
22,008 |
29,547 |
27,386 |
30,016 |
+9.6% |
| 17 |
Suzuki |
Celerio |
— |
894 |
25,393 |
26,465 |
23,417 |
–11.5% |
| 18 |
SEAT |
Mii |
28,608 |
24,865 |
24,298 |
19,882 |
15,412 |
–22.5% |
| 19 |
Peugeot |
iOn |
469 |
570 |
1,461 |
1,881 |
1,544 |
–17.9% |
| 20 |
Citroën |
C-Zero |
663 |
613 |
1,075 |
1,780 |
1,105 |
–37.9% |
| 21 |
Mitsubishi |
i-MiEV |
901 |
675 |
714 |
484 |
447 |
–7.6% |
| 22 |
Citroën |
E-Méhari |
— |
— |
— |
569 |
353 |
–38.0% |
| 23 |
Ford |
Ka |
50,012 |
52,854 |
48,368 |
21,333 |
204 |
–99.0% |
| 24 |
DR |
Zero |
— |
— |
190 |
261 |
174 |
–33.3% |
| 25 |
Mitsubishi |
Attrage |
— |
20 |
352 |
168 |
114 |
–32.1% |
| 26 |
Chevrolet |
Spark |
37,268 |
10,138 |
479 |
96 |
2 |
–97.9% |
| 26 |
Suzuki |
Alto |
26,821 |
26,876 |
5,710 |
4 |
2 |
–50.0% |
| 26 |
Toyota |
iQ |
5,462 |
3,593 |
292 |
172 |
2 |
–98.8% |
| 29 |
Opel/Vauxhall |
Agila |
14,020 |
12,200 |
2,054 |
19 |
1 |
–94.7% |
| 29 |
Peugeot |
107 |
55,244 |
24,356 |
88 |
5 |
1 |
–80.0% |
| Total |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
1,263,498 |
1,248,333 |
–1.2% |
Current A-segment cars
Bolloré Bluecar, Italy (2011-)
BYD F0, China (2008-)
Changan Benni, China (2012-)
Changhe Ideal, China (2003-)
Chery QQ3, China (2003-)
Chevrolet Spark, South Korea (1998-)
Citroën C1, Czech Republic (2005-)
Daihatsu Mira, Japan (1980-)
Daihatsu Move, Japan (1995-)
Fiat Panda, Italy (1980-)
Honda N-Box, Japan (2011-)
Honda N-One, Japan (2012-)
Hyundai i10, Turkey (2007-)
Kia Picanto, South Korea (2004-)
Kia Ray, South Korea (2012-)
Mitsubishi eK, Japan (2001-)
Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Japan (2009-)
Opel Karl, South Korea (2014-)
Perodua Axia, Malaysia (2014-)
Peugeot 108, Czech Republic (2014-)
Peugeot iOn, Japan (2009-)
Renault Twingo, Slovenia (1992-)
SEAT Mii, Slovakia (2011-)
Škoda Citigo, Slovakia (2011-)
Smart Forfour, Slovenia (2004-)
Suzuki Alto, Japan (1979-)
Suzuki Celerio, Thailand (2010-)
Suzuki Wagon R, Japan (1993-)
Tata GenX Nano, India (2015-)
Tata Tiago, India (2016-)
Toyota Aygo, Czech Republic (2005-)
Volkswagen Up!, Slovakia (2011-)
2/3-door models
Citroën C1, Czech Republic (2005-)
Fiat 500, Poland (2007-)
Mahindra e2o, India (2013-)
Opel Adam, Germany (2012-)
Peugeot 108, Czech Republic (2005-)
SEAT Mii, Slovakia (2011-)
Škoda Citigo, Slovakia (2011-)
Smart Fortwo, France (1998-)
Subaru Pleo, Japan (1998-)
Volkswagen Up!, Slovakia (2011-)
City car
The Fiat Panda, European market leader in 2011[5]
Citroën C1
BYD F0
Another term for a A-segment/subcompact/supermini is "city car",[6][7] which is used in the United States.[8][9]
Early history
The original concept for the city car came about as a result of the growing market for entry level vehicles in the 1920s and 1930s. The Great Depression caused the market for large, luxurious vehicles to collapse. As a result, manufacturers had no choice but to build small, cheap vehicles that people could afford, similar to early 20th century "runabouts". However, these vehicles were not specifically branded as vehicles to use in cities or congested areas. They were purely for use as people's cars; cars designed to be cheap, sell a large number of units, and put people who had not owned cars on wheels. A number of these small, cheap cars were sold before the Second World War, including the 1920s Austin 7, 1930s Fiat 500 "Topolino" and the 1940s Crosley.
After the Second World War, a number of manufacturers introduced microcars, which contained many of the elements that City Cars would come to be known for, such as small size and good maneuverability. Microcars were also among the first cars to marketed on their good parking ability; for example, Iso, and later BMW used the Isetta's front hinged door as a marketing advantage, saying you could pull into a parallel parking spot nose forward and exit onto the sidewalk using the door.
Some of these early city cars included the Bond Minicar and AC Petite in Britain; the Iso Isetta in Italy in 1953; the Fulda, Messerschmitt Kabinenroller, and Brütsh in Germany in 1954 (all two-seaters with a Fulda and Sachs two-stroke engine); the Goggomobil, and the Dornier-designed Zündapp Janus,[10] which placed passengers back to back, and featured two front hinged doors similar to the Isetta's. However, these early microcars weren't true city cars; most were designed, built, and sold cheaply, mainly for poor customers in war ravaged Europe. With the exception of a few examples, these were also not designed for specific use in cities.
Fiat 500
As the European economy improved, Fiat launched the new 500 in 1957 and in 1959, BMC would introduce its well-known city car, the Mini. DAF joined Italian motoring magazine Quattroruote and Turin coachbuilder OSI to produce the DAF - OSI Citi Car, which used Daffodil mechanicals and interior, and was one of the first cars with a continuously variable transmission.[11] There were other new projects from 1969 through 1972.[12] In 1972, Daihatsu proffered an electric model, while Toyota showed the Town Spider, with a choice of petrol or electric power,[13] and General Motors displayed three two-seaters, one electric, one gasoline, and one hybrid. The GM products were capable of only 0–30 mph (0–48 km/h) in 15 seconds and 30–45 mph (48–72 km/h) maximum, not good enough for normal city driving, nor could they meet the safety regulations which would be introduced in 1974.[14]
While many of these cars can be considered city cars today, these cars have been replaced by larger cars with each passing generation. Exceptions are the smaller Fiats, especially the 1957 Fiat 500 and 126. They were in the region of 3.0 metres (9 ft 10 in) in length, but had seating for four people, putting them outside the microcar category. In the 1970s the Citroën LNA and related three-door Peugeot 104 offered compact city sized cars of around 3.3 m, and the Fiat Panda followed in 1980.
In Japan, regulations defining kei cars were established on 8 July 1949. Production of compliant vehicles started around 1955–1958 by Daihatsu, Mitsubishi, Subaru, and Suzuki.
The boom
2008 Smart Fortwo convertible
In the late 1980s, superminis had physically grown so much that many buyers wanted even smaller four-seat cars. In Japan, buyers had a wide selection to choose from in passenger cars, microvan and kei trucks, such as the Honda Today and the Honda Acty, Subaru Sambar and Subaru Vivio, Daihatsu Atrai and Daihatsu Mira, Mitsubishi Minica and Mitsubishi Minicab, and the Suzuki Fronte and Suzuki Wagon R. In Europe a number of small cars were launched, including the Lancia Y10 (3,390 millimetres (11 ft 1 in) long) in 1985 and the Renault Twingo in 1993, which featured a MPV-like design and interior room, despite its size and height 3,430 millimetres (11 ft 3 in) long and 1,420 millimetres (4 ft 8 in) tall. Combined with an original exterior and interior design, it quickly became a best-seller, although it was not officially imported to right-hand drive markets including the United Kingdom. However, the Fiat Cinquecento, launched towards the end of 1991, was made for right-hand drive markets, and was hugely popular.
In 1996, the Ford Ka was presented with its radical New Edge design. Its egg-shaped body did not leave much room in the rear seats, but many customers did not need them and preferred the Ka over more conservative designs. It was especially popular with British buyers.
During the second half of the 1990s, South Korean brands Daewoo and Hyundai introduced their city car entries, both for the Asian and European markets. The Hyundai Atos, launched in 1997, was 3,500 millimetres (11 ft 6 in) long and 1,600 millimetres (5 ft 3 in) high, which was much taller than any European models (usually under 1,450 millimetres (4 ft 9 in)) and provided considerable interior space. Its boxy shape provoked mixed reactions. The Daewoo Matiz followed in 1998 with a Giorgetto Giugiaro design and a moderate height (1,500 millimetres (4 ft 11 in)). These Korean city cars were much cheaper than most of the European models, especially the Opel/Vauxhall Agila (2000), a badge engineered Suzuki Wagon R, Volkswagen Lupo (1999) and the two-seater Smart Fortwo (1998). By the year 2000, city cars had increased massively in popularity with buyers in the space of a decade.
Larger city cars
Tata Nano, the world's cheapest car.[15] India is the world's number one producer of basic cars.[16]
SimpCit, electric city car.
As small family cars and superminis grew in the 1990s to the 2000s, so did city cars. After some new superminis grew to be over 3,900 millimetres (12 ft 10 in) long (like the Ford Fiesta, Opel Corsa, the SEAT Ibiza and the Volkswagen Polo), some automakers developed city car models more than 3,650 millimetres (12 ft 0 in) long. The first of these models was the Nissan Micra (2002), which is 3,720 millimetres (12 ft 2 in) long and smaller than many superminis of the late 1990s. Other cars are the Citroën C2, Suzuki Swift, Smart Forfour, Tata Indica, and Peugeot 1007 (the last one which can also be labelled as a mini MPV). Fiat launched their new Fiat 500[17] in 2007, somewhat bigger than the first 500, but still only 3,546 millimetres (11 ft 8 in) long.
In addition, since the 2000s there has been a return of smaller city cars with lengths well under 3,200 mm such as the Tata Nano and Toyota iQ. Slightly larger, but still around 3,300 mm city cars released in the 2010s include the electric Bolloré Bluecar and Mitsubishi i-MiEV, and traditionally powered BYD F0, Citroën C1 and related Toyota Aygo.[18]
See also
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to city cars. |
- Car classification
- Economy car
- Kei car
- Microcar
- MIT CityCar
- Neighborhood Electric Vehicle
Supermini car- Vehicle size class
References
^ "REGULATION (EEC) No 4064/89 - MERGER PROCEDURE" (PDF). Office for Official Publications of the European Communities L-2985 Luxembourg..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ Patton, Phil (September 9, 2012). "Taking the 'Cheap' Out of the Small Car". The New York Times.
^ "August 2012 YTD - Top 262 Best-Selling Vehicles In America - Every Vehicle Ranked". GOOD CAR BAD CAR Website.
^ "European car sales data by segment - Left-Lane.com". carsalesbase.com. Retrieved 2018-02-25.
^ "Europe Full Year 2011: Top 318 All models ranking now available!". Auto Week. 3 March 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
^ "Superminis". Euroncap. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
^ "Regulation (EEC) No 4064/89 - Merger Procedure (page 8)" (PDF). Office for Official Publications of the European Communities L-2985 Luxembourg. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 April 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
^ Patton, Phil (March 28, 2005). "Little Cars in the Big Apple: Still Only a Good Idea". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 3, 2010. Retrieved March 2, 2010.In Europe, the "city car" is a well-understood concept ...
^ Ruppert, James (October 10, 1998). "Motoring: The City car to be seen in". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on March 2, 2010. Retrieved March 1, 2010.(City cars) are meant to be cheap, small, easy to park and yet practical, with good manners on the open road.
^ Casucci, Piero. "City Cars: The Answer to the World's Traffic Problems?", in Northey, Tom, ed. World of Automobiles (London: Orbis, 1974), Vol. 4, p. 383.
^ Casucci, p. 384.
^ Casucci, pp. 384–85.
^ Casucci, p. 385.
^ Casucci, p. 386.
^ The Nano, world's cheapest car, to hit Indian roads, Reuters, 23 March 2009, retrieved 27 August 2009
^ India becomes biggest player in littlest cars, MSNBC, Associated Press, 12 December 2009, retrieved 7 April 2011
^ "BEST CITY CAR: Fiat 500". Auto Express. 1 September 2008. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
^ "Best city cars". Car Buyer. 25 November 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
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