10.) Chevy Orlando

GM's previous attempt at a minivan was a massive failure, which is why it is heartening to see the Chevy Orlando concept, which essentially an MPV. Similar in size to the Mazda MPV, the Orlando should offer 7-passenger seating in a much smaller package than a Chevy Uplander. Built on the same platform as the Chevy Cruze, the Orlando will almost certainly offer a dramatic increase in fuel efficiency. Though some version of this car should see production sometime between 2010 and 2012 as a replacement for the HHR, GM's current situation could delay or nix production.
height: n/a
width: n/a
length: 183.5 in (est)
% Of Ford Super Duty Pickup: 70%

9.) Chevrolet Cruze

The Chevy Cruze could every well be the small car that we've been begging the Not-So-Big 3 to build for years, which isn't surprising given it was actually designed in Europe. This new small car will actually be large on the outside for a compact car but, in order to achieve an almost Prius-like 45 mpg, it will get a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Like the Orlando, the Cruze could be jeopardized by a failing GM despite the likelihood it could seriously improve the company's standing.

height: 57.7 in. (est)
width: 68.3 in. (est)
length: 180.5 in. (est)
% Of Ford Super Duty Pickup: 69%

8.) Chevrolet Volt

The final of GM's Delta-triplets, the 2011 Chevy Volt is the most enterprising of the General's plans for an eco-friendly future. The plug-in hybrid will carry only four people compared to five in the Cruze or seven in the Orlando, but will cost a lot more because of its electric powertrain. Whatever is left of the company should produce the car for a for-sale date around November 2010.

height: 56.3 in.
width: 70.8 in.
length: 177 in.
% Of Ford Super Duty Pickup: 68%

7.) Nissan Versa 1.6S

The new Nissan Versa 1.6S is much like the old Nissan Versa but with a smaller engine, a few less trim pieces and different wheels. The difference drops the base price of a Versa to just $9,990. The tall sedan offers seating for five and, should you be in a position to go without A/C, you'll be able to have the second-cheapest (by $20) car in America. The Versa 1.6S should start hitting dealerships throughout the rest of the year.

height: 60.4 in.
width: 66.7 in.
length: 176.0 in.
% Of Ford Super Duty Pickup: 67%

6.) Ford Fiesta

Ford's latest global small car will come to the US as the 2011 Ford Fiesta, packaging a lot of European style and design into a small package. We're inclined towards the tiny and efficient Fiesta three-door, but this market will likely prefer the Ford Fiesta Sedan. The sharply-designed Fiesta should wipe the bad small-car taste left in the mouths of anyone who owned a Ford Aspire when it debuts in 2010.

height: 58.3 in.
width: 77.7 in.
length: 167.3 in.
% Of Ford Super Duty Pickup: 63%

5.) Kia Soul

The 2010 Kia Soul, like many of the cars on this list, ratchets up the quality and style of the company's previous small car offerings in a way similar to what Toyota did with Scion. The Soul offers a look similar to the Scion xB and, unlike the Kia Rio, will offer a host of desirable standard features. Combined with a 2.0-liter fourbanger good for 142 horsepower, the Soul should achieve good mileage with passable performance.

height: 72.8 in.
width: 70.3 in.
length: 161.6 in.
% Of Ford Super Duty PickupD: 62%

4.) Pontiac G3 Wave

Do you like the Chevy Aveo? Neither do we. But it gets reasonable mileage and GM has decided that it needed another small car on the market until the three vehicles mentioned above enter the market. Enter the 2009 Pontiac G3, a rebadged version of the Aveo. The 34 mpg highway mileage should make the price-conscious happy and, honestly, that's probably just it.

height: 59.3 in.
width: 66.1 in.
length: 154.3 in.
% Of Ford Super Duty Pickup: 59%

3.) Nissan Cube

Nissan's entry into the feature-rich-box small car market, the Nissan Cube, is a small car that has gathered many admirers in parts of the world other than here. Its funky looks may turn off the conservative but the high-level of design, iPod-ready sound system, standard ABS brakes and "sofa style" bench could equal a major success for the automaker. The possibility of an electric version is even more enticing.

height:
width:
length: 156.69 in.
% Of Ford Super Duty Pickup: 59%

2.) GEM Peapod

The GEM Peapod may look like a smiley monster, but it's not happy because it wants to eat you it's smiling because of its electric powertrain. A "Neighborhood Electric Vehicle" or NEV, its 25 MPH top-speed means you can't take it on the freeway. Still, the 30-mile range and four seats mean that this overgrown golf cart is perfect for an around-town vehicle for a small community.

height: 70.5 in.
width: 56.5 in.
length: 143.6 in.
% Of Ford Super Duty PickupD: 55%

1.) Toyota iQ

The Toyota iQ is the smallest production four-seater in the world, a revolution in tiny transportation for the masses. Unlike a SMART car, which only seats two, the iQ can fit three adults and a small child, or three adults and some tiny luggage. The iQ is already on sale in Japan and will be available to customers in the UK early next year. It is expected that the iQ will enter production in the US either as a Scion or the next generation Yaris in the next two years.

height: 59.1 in.
width: 66.1 in.
length: 117.5 in.
% Of Ford Super Duty Pickup: 45%

Speech given by professor Gordon Murray at the 1st Anniversary Celebration of Gordon Murray Design.

Good evening and thank you for coming to our first anniversary celebration.
It’s one year since we began operations at Wharfside and our small company has grown into a great team of 29 very talented people. I have to offer a big thank you to our investors MDV and Caparo, not only for believing in us and the T.25 Project, but for their absolute support in our strategy and day to day running of the business.

We are calling this evening a ‘3D Evening’ because although we can’t show you the actual car, we can for the first time reveal the size and profile of the T.25 and through the 3-dimensional medium of the 15 dioramas we can show the impact that the car will have on our motoring world.

Tonight is all about giving you an update on the progress of our T.25 programme, to explain our business model and also to explain that it is a complete re-think of both small vehicle architecture and of the automotive manufacturing process.

There is no longer a debate about climate change. We have about 15 years left to slow this process down and we all know we have to change our attitude and our habits. Transport is only one part of the problem but it’s an important part because it’s about mobility and personal freedom as well as the environment.

I feel sure that in 20 years time we will be looking back and not believing that in 2008 we were dropping a child off at school in a 2.5 tonne vehicle, that achieved less than 20mpg. In just the same way as it is difficult to believe that 20 years ago, more than half the people in this room would have been smoking!

In the automotive sector we are making some steps in the right direction but they are far too little to make the sort of difference we need in the next 15 years. For example Hybrids although largely a marketing exercise can make a small improvement in urban areas but are worse in a full lifecycle analysis and do nothing for congestion, parking and mobility. Electric vehicles certainly have a place in urban areas and niche, low volume products but with today’s battery technology they have a bad lifecycle footprint and again do nothing for safety, parking and congestion.

Car manufacturers are largely ignoring the problems and almost every new model is launched larger and heavier than the last. There have been a few noticeable exceptions like the Smart and the Japenese KEI class cars but none of these help in all the problem areas.

Some companies are making more effort than others like Toyota with their new iQ due out next year. With some design ideas like thin shell seats, smaller air-conditioning units and repackaged powertrain, but that hardly constitutes a re-think, it’s evolutionary design and does nothing for congestion, parking, lifecycle damage or low cost transport and it’s still likely to weigh about the same as an original VW Golf.

We have two tools available right now – size and weight – and we need to give motorists an incentive to change to smaller, lighter cars and prove that these vehicles can be safe and above all fun to drive.

Innovation is only part of a process – what we need is a step-change in car packaging and in our manufacturing process – a revolution – a complete re-think. We believe that the T.25 architecture and manufacturing process will represent the biggest step forward in our automotive world since the model T Ford, exactly 100 years ago.
Our business model is quite simple – the architecture includes a separate body/chassis assembly. The manufacturing process can be adapted to many new powertrains, fuels and body styles.

The T.25 is only the first to use this process and Gordon Murray Design is already in discussion with potential customers for other versions of the car. We can offer anything from a simple licensing agreement for the manufacturing I.P through to a turn-key car programme to Job 1, including factory building design and assembly line layout.
The manufacturing process brings with it a massive reduction in capital investment and environmental damage.
The concept embraces all the challenges and finds solutions:

1. Lower purchase price – substantially less than current small cars.
2. Low cost motoring – approximately half the annual running cost of a hatchback and purchase price pay back in 4 years compared with a small hatchback.
3. Parking – 3 cars in one parallel parking space.
4. Congestion – 2 cars in one motorway lane.
5. Running emissions – less than half the UK average.
6. Lifecycle admissions – at least a 40% reduction.
7. Protecting our mobility.
8. Putting the fun back into driving.

Tonight we are privileged to have the wonderful Tantra George Harrison Mini as our centre piece. The Mini is an inspiration, it was iconic and classless. That is our aim with the T.25.

We can’t show you the actual car because that will belong to our customer, but for the first time we can share with you the actual size and proportions of the T.25.

We also have the 15 dioramas to illustrate the impact that this process and architecture will have in the future.
What began as an idea in 1993 is now a reality – it certainly represents the toughest challenge I’ve ever faced in my design career, but I now have what I consider to be the world’s best automotive design group to help deliver the next big step forward.

Thank you and have a good evening.

[Gordon Murray Design via autoblog]

The article poses a few reasons, including things we've reported like supply-chain problems and the fact that the Aveo Sucks, but what of the Pontiac G5? Is it merely marketing, as AutoNews posits, or is something more insidious at work here? Are most small cars just too lame? Is the Civic just too good and the lure of SYNC-equipped Foci so great that other small cars are off-the-table in comparison? [Automotive News, Sub. Req.]