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| − | [[Image:Smart.car.bristol.750pix.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Smart (automobile)|Smart]] car is an example of a microcar]] | + | {{X}} |
| − | A '''microcar''' is an extremely small [[automobile]]. Various definitions are used, including "less than 3 [[metre]]s in length" and "less than 85 [[cubic foot|cubic feet]]/2400 [[litre]]s interior volume". Typically, microcars seat only the driver and a single passenger, and many have only [[Three wheeler|three wheels]]. Microcars are usually designed and produced for economic purposes when materials and heavy equipment are scarce or fuel is scarce and expensive. Many microcar designs flourished in post-[[World War II]] [[Europe]], particularly in [[Germany]], where former military aircraft manufacturers such as [[Messerschmitt]] and [[Heinkel]] were prominent microcar makers. The Messerschmitt KR175, [[Messerschmitt KR200|KR200]] and [[Messerschmitt TG500|TG500]] even had aircraft-style bubble canopies, giving rise to the term '''bubble car''' to refer to all these post-war microcars. [[Isetta]]s and others also had bubble-like appearance.
| + | [[Image:Bmw.isetta.arp.jpg|right|thumb|250px|A BMW Isetta 300]] |
| | + | [[Image:Messerschmitt Kabinenroller.jpg|right|thumb|250px|A Messerschmitt Kabinenroller KR 200]] |
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| − | [[France]] also produced large numbers of similar tiny vehicles called ''[[voiturette]]s'', but unlike the German makes, these were rarely sold abroad.
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| − | Very small cars have also been popular in [[Japan]], where again they attract various tax and insurance benefits when compared to other vehicles. These are known as [[keicar]]s and differ from most of the European microcars in that they are typically designed and built as scaled-down versions of very traditional car configurations, while European microcar designs tend to be unorthodox and sometimes bizarre.
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| − | The '''[[Smart (automobile)|Smart]]''' or "smart" (now called '''Fortwo''') launched in [[1998]] could be seen as a successful re-invention of the microcar principle. Like the Japanese keicars, it is of relatively conventional design.
| + | '''Bubble car''' is a generic name given to a range of small economical [[automobile]]s — mainly produced in the 1950s and 1960s. Bubble cars became popular in Europe at this time as a demand for cheap personal motorised [[transport]] emerged and fuel prices were high due in part to the 1956 [[Suez Crisis]]. Most, although by no means all, were three-wheelers; this made them still cheaper to run in many places, since they were considered for tax and licensing purposes to be [[motorcycle]]s. |
| − | Microcars built in Europe after [[World War I]] were often motorcycle based and referred to as "cycle cars".
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| − | Another name for microcar is '''Station Car''', where the intended use is to travel from a suburban home to an interurban transit station or [[Park and ride|Park and Ride]] lot where the vehicle remains until the operator returns from the commute to and from the workplace. In some locations electric vehicle recharging is provided to encourage the use of electric vehicles. [[neighborhood electric vehicle|NEVs]] may also be used as station cars where the roadway speed limits permit such use.
| + | The vast majority of bubble cars were manufactered in Germany, including by the former German military [[aircraft manufacturer]]s, [[Messerschmitt]] and [[Heinkel]], as well as BMW's [[Isetta]]. [[France]] also produced large numbers of similar tiny vehicles called [[voiturette]]s, but unlike the German makes, these were rarely sold abroad. There were also some similar British vehicles (see [[Reliant Robin]]) — these were rather larger but continued in production until modern times. The [[Messerschmitt KR175]], [[Messerschmitt KR200|KR200]] and [[Messerschmitt TG500|TG500]] even had aircraft-style bubble canopies, giving rise to the term '''bubble car''' to refer to all these post-war microcars. [[Isetta]]s and others also had a bubble-like appearance. |
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| − | == Reasons for microcars ==
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| − | The economy of operating such a small car (mostly in fuel and tires) has often been helped by three-wheeled microcars or cars with very small engines being treated as [[motorcycle]]s for tax and insurance purposes. In some countries (e.g. [[Austria]]) three-wheelers with a certain maximum weight were considered as motorcycles with side car and therefore no car drivers license was needed. This was assuring a certain market for elder people who did not want to pass a car drivers license. Three wheelers are a separate class of their own in Britain. In Germany, what could be driven with a motorcycle license depended only on engine displacement, so many of the microcars had four wheels.
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| − | The [[Corbin Sparrow]] is licensed as a motorcycle and parked in motorcycle spaces in California, and probably in other places.
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| − | In some European countries, taxes used to depend on engine displacement and/or insurance on power. This has given rise to names of such cars as [[Citroën 2CV]] and [[Renault 4CV]].
| + | == See also == |
| − | This favorable treatment by governments is based on the benefits to a society of reducing use of such resources as minerals, parking space and foreign exchange, reduced noise and chemical pollution, reduced hazard to others and etc. Reduced [[global warming]] from carbon dioxide emission has now been added to this list.
| + | * [[Microcar]] |
| | + | * [[Isetta]] |
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| − | Although microcars use much less fuel than the more common sizes do, they are still far from record and competition fuel economy, which is measured in thousands of miles per gallon (or in ml./100 km.).
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| − | Another advantage is the ease of parking. Some microcars can be parked perpendicular, where other cars park parallel, or be lifted by hand, like a motor [[scooter]], to get into a tight spot. The Isetta and some others had forward entry, to facilitate perpendicular parking close to other vehicles.
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| − | The small size improves [[car handling|handling]] by reducing the [[angular inertia]]. The Messerschmitt and Spatz have been described as much better than ordinary cars on snow and ice. Spare room on the road and ease of missing obstacles are also improved.
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| − | For the performance oriented, who prefer more than two wheels or a roof, the [[There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom|scaling laws]] show that one need not give up acceleration until the curb weight comes down to around the driver's weight, because power per weight of the car itself improves with small size, in an otherwise similar design. Top speed is lost with small scale, due to the decreased [[Reynolds number]], but this is a small effect. The Messerschmitt TG500 had about a 90 mph (125 km/h) top speed with 20 horsepower (15 kW) and intuitive aerodynamics.
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| − | == Microcars by countries ==
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| − | === Austria ===
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| − | *[[Felber Autoroller]]
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| − | *[[Möve]]
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| − | *[[Libelle]]
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| − | === Brazil ===
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| − | *[[Dacon]]
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| − | *[[Obvio!]]
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| − | *[[Romi Isetta]]
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| − | === France ===
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| − | * [[Aixam]]
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| − | * [[Ardex]]
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| − | * Bugatti supercharged 375 cc (half the size of a [[Bugatti Type 19|Bébé]]). Canceled when [[Ettore Bugatti]] died.
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| − | * Early small engined [[Citroën 2CV]]s, in spite of passenger space and comfort.
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| − | * [[Ligier]] [[BeUp]]
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| − | * [[Microcar (brand)|Microcar]]
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| − | * [[Mochet 100]] (1948) This was a revival of the 1924 [[Mochet]] cycle car or vélocar
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| − | * [[Valle Chantecler]], 1956, 125 cc.
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| − | * [[VELAM]]
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| − | === Germany ===
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| − | * BMW [[Isetta]]
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| − | * [[Brütsch Mopetta]]
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| − | * [[Fend Flitzer]]
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| − | * [[Fuldamobil]] N2, (1952–1955)
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| − | * Glas [[Goggomobil]]
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| − | * [[Goliath Pioneer]] (1934, three wheels)
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| − | * [[Heinkel Kabine]]
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| − | * [[Kleinschnittger]] (notably the [[Kleinschnittger F125]] [[roadster]])
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| − | * Some [[Lloyd]]s, made by [[Borgward]], the [[Lloyd LP300]]s, of 1950, may have been small enough to be micros
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| − | * [[Messerschmitt KR175]]
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| − | * [[Messerschmitt KR200]]
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| − | * [[Messerschmitt TG500]]
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| − | * [[Meyra]] 55, (1950)
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| − | * [[Opelit Mopetta]]
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| − | * [[Smart (automobile)|Smart]]
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| − | * [[Spatz Kabinenroller|Spatz]]
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| − | * [[Trabant]]
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| − | * [[Zündapp Janus]]
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| − | === Hungary ===
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| − | *[[Puli (car)|Puli]]
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| − | === Italy ===
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| − | * [[Autobianchi]] Bianchina (Fiat 500 based)
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| − | * [[Fiat Topolino]]
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| − | * [[Fiat 500]]
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| − | * [[Fiat 500 Zagato]] (1970)
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| − | * [[Fiat]] [[Abarth]] [[Zagato]], 750 cc, exotic sports car
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| − | * Iso [[Isetta]]
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| − | * [[Vespa 400]]
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| − | * [[Zagato Zele 1000]] (1976)
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| − | === India ===
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| − | *[[REVA]]
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| − | === Japan ===
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| − | *[[Fuji Cabin]]
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| − | *[[Honda S600]] sports car
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| − | *[[Honda N360]] K car
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| − | *[[Mitsuoka K-1]]
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| − | *[[Subaru 360]] (This was imported to the US in considerable numbers.)
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| − |
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| − | === Spain ===
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| − | [[Image:DavidTorpedo2S.jpg|200px|thumb|David Torpedo 2 S]]
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| − | *[[Biscúter]]
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| − | *[[David (car)|David]]
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| − | *[[Kapi]]
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| − | === United Kingdom ===
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| − | *[[AC Clipper]]
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| − | * [[Austin Seven]] (1922. Early post-war A30s and some early Minis were also called "Austin Seven".)
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| − | *[[Berkeley cars|Berkeley]]
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| − | *[[Bond Bug]]
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| − | *[[Frisky]]
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| − | *[[Isetta]]
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| − | *The high performance [[Morgan Motor Company|Morgan]] three wheeler, Triking Cyclecar and perhaps [[Lotus Seven]] should be mentioned, in spite of their larger engines.
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| − | *[[Peel (car)|Peel]]
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| − | *[[Power-Drive]]
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| − | *[[Reliant Robin]]
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| − | *[[Trojan (automobile)|Trojan]]
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| − | *[[Peel P50]] (Made on the [[Isle of Man]])
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| − | *[[Peel Trident]] (Made by the same company as the Peel P50)
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| − | === United States ===
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| − | *[[American Bantam]]
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| − | *[[Commuter Cars Tango]]
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| − | *[[Corbin Sparrow]]
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| − | *[[Crosley]], various models
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| − | *[[DaimlerChrysler smart|Smart]] (not offered currently, but Chrysler plans to offer Smarts in the United States in the very near future, Chrysler claims that they are building US Smart Dealers.)
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| − | *[[King Midget]], three models
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| − | === USSR ===
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| − | *[[ZAZ-965]]
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| − | ==Electric microcars==
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| − | Some examples of battery electric microcars are:
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| − | *The [[Th!nk City]], imported to the USA by [[Ford Motor Company]] to satisfy [[California]] [[Zero-emissions vehicle]] (ZEV) requirements in the state of [[California]]. Removed from the market by Ford in a bargain with the California Air Resources Board. See [[Partial zero-emissions vehicle|PZEV]] for more information.
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| − | *The [[REVA]] electric vehicle as used in its home environment, [[India]]. This may soon be exported to the USA with speed electronically limited and sold as an NEV.
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| − | *The obstacle to adaptation of such vehicles in the United States is less technical than cultural and political. The mandates by regulatory powers that such vehicles to meet full U.S. safety regulations ensures the unavailability of vehicles suitable for use in mixed traffic conditions that predominate in U.S. suburban areas. To supporters of electric vehicles this appears not to be an accident.
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| − | ==See also==
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| − | * [[Vehicle size class]]
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| − | * [[Car classification]]
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| − | * [[Keicar]]
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| − | ==External links==
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| − | *[http://microcarmuseum.com/ The Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum]
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| − | *[http://microcar.fr Microcar] French website
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| − | *[http://micro-car.co.uk/ Microcar] - English Website
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| − | *http://www.3wheelers.com/enter.html
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| − | ==References==
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| − | * ''Bugatti, The Man and the Marque'' - by Jonathan Wood, 1992
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| − | * ''Kleinwagen, Small Cars, Petites Voitures'' - by Hans-Ulrich von Mende and Matthias Dietz, Benedikt Taschen, 1994
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| − | [[Category:Microcars|*]]
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| | [[Category:Car classifications]] | | [[Category:Car classifications]] |
