CALGARY – Go big or go home. If you can’t run with the big dogs, stay on the porch.
Regardless of the popular maxims, bigger is not always better.
Smaller cars, for example, do have certain diminutive charms: They are easy to park; they are more fuel efficient; and, well, darn it, they’re just so cute.
If you’re interested in the latest crop of micro cars, here’s a summary of the petite rides on display at the Calgary International Auto and Truck show at the BMO Centre at Stampede Park.
First up, there’s Fiat. The Fiat 500 was originally produced from 1957 to 1975, and these little cars sold more than four million copies during that time. Retooled and relaunched in European countries in 2007, the new Fiat 500 pays homage to a long line of original ‘500’ vehicles.
Fiat purchased a 20 per cent stake in Chrysler late in 2009, and this move allowed the Italian automaker to return to North America – specifically with the 500 – a three door, four seat vehicle powered by a 1.4-litre in-line four.
On the Fiat stand this year the automaker is showcasing the 500 Sport Turbo, Abarth Cabrio and the 500L.
The Sport Turbo features a turbocharged I-4 engine that makes 135 horsepower. Torque from this power plant is 150 ft.-lbs. between 2,500 and 4,000 r.p.m. If your eyes glaze over at the numbers, they simply indicate the Sport Turbo could be a blast to drive.
Even more fun to drive could be the Abarth Cabrio. Consider it an Italian hot rod with a drop top. The Abarth comes equipped with tuned performance items that give the car a lowered ride height, larger brakes and wider tires – all to help put the power made by the 160 h.p. turbocharged and twin-intercooled 1.4L engine to the asphalt.
Fiat’s 500L expands the original vehicle with 42 per cent extra interior space, and instead of two doors, there are four. With it’s larger size, the Fiat 500L should seat five.
Wander on over to the Nissan display to see the 2015 Micra. This little car has been in continuous production since 1982, but hasn’t been available in Canada since 1991 — until now.
Earlier this year, Nissan announced the Micra’s return.
According to Nissan, the Micra model is sold in some 160 countries. With European design sensibility, Nissan is banking on the Micra appealing to consumers looking for practicality, agility and increased visibility. The Micra has been fine-tuned for Canadian conditions, including many suspension tweaks and niceties such as heated outside rear mirrors.
Nissan powers the front-wheel drive Micra with a 1.6L I-4 that makes 109 h.p. and 107 ft.-lbs. of torque, and can be had with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.
The Micra is touted as an entry-level car, and will be offered in S, SV and SR models – at $9,998, the Micra S has Canada’s lowest MSRP.
Over at Scion, be sure to check out the iQ, a vehicle the automaker calls a ‘streetwise micro-car’. Introduced to Canada in 2012 the iQ has a 1.3L DOHC I-4 engine lurking under the hood. All 94 h.p. is sent to the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Scion says the car seats four adults – it’s the kind of vehicle that just invites college students to see how many bodies could be crammed inside.
But the iQ to see is the modified EVS iQ-RS. Heavily ‘tuned’ by Evasive Motorsports (a California-based performance parts supplier), this car features custom body modifications and a completely revamped interior with different seats and a six-point roll cage.
The engine has an Evasive Motorsports custom air induction box, oil cooler, transmission cooler, A/C system delete package and centre exit exhaust.
Brakes have been upgraded to Wilwood 6-piston calipers up front and Wilwood 4-piston calipers at the rear. The 17” Advan Racing RT wheels have been powder coated red and are wrapped in Toy R888 R-compound tires.
Smart has been plying the micro car market the longest, and they’ve brought to Calgary a Smart fortwo pure coupe and a Smart fortwo electric drive cabriolet.
Finally. The Smart fortwo has reached its destiny – electric power. The car was originally designed to take batteries and an electric motor, but on its introduction in 1998 in Europe only diesel or gasoline engines were on offer. When the Smart debuted in 2004 here in Canada, we got diesel only, and then in 2008, a gasoline-only engine.
But back in Europe, engineers were devising an all-electric powertrain for the Smart that debuted in 2007. Second-generation fortwo electrics came out in 2009, with only a handful ending up in Canada.
The car on display here is a third-generation electric Smart. Equipped with a more powerful 55 kW motor, the fortwo electric should get 145 km per charge.
The Calgary International Auto and Truck Show runs March 12 to 16. Show hours are Wed. 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., Thurs. through Sat. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sun. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
