Editor's Note:
So-called mini-cars, or vehicles of less than four meters in length, are far handier than they often get credit for, with their combination of space efficiency, fuel-sipping utility and overall cuteness.
From the legendary BMW Isetta to the iconic Volkswagen Beetle, the oldest and by far most popular economy model, the charm and practicality of small family cars are evident to all.
Despite overall sluggish auto sales growth recently, China's small car sales totaled 150,756 vehicles in June, up 17.28 percent year-on-year, according to statistics from the China Passenger Car Association.
Analysts say these vehicles may rev up the local automotive market thanks to rising gas prices and the expiration of government incentives that had boosted the auto industry in 2010.
Here we recommend four new in-demand small car models available on the Chinese mainland.
2011 MINI Cooper S
2011 MINI Cooper S
MINI achieved a new global sales volume record so far in 2011, up 36 percent year-on-year to 81,053 units in the second quarter and 29.8 percent to 141,913 units in the first half, compared with 109,301 units in the same period last year, the world's largest luxury-vehicle maker, BMW, parent of the British automotive marquee, announced on Tuesday.
Among all the new MINIs launched, the MINI Cooper S, a four-cylinder 1.6-liter cutie that runs on 211 horsepower at 6,000 revolutions per minute (rpm), ranks the most "playful" and second most-popular model with an approximately 32 percent market share.
On the exterior of the 2011 MINI Cooper S, the air intake in the front bumper gains visual emphasis, and there are also new eye-catching brake air ducts and newly-designed LED lights as part of the rear headlamps.
The model's interior, made of high-quality materials, is equipped with backlit armrests in the doors, handsomely-sewn seats and a bold dash featuring a huge center-mounted speedometer.
The new Cooper S accelerates from 0 to 62 kilometers per hour in 7 seconds, with a fuel consumption of 114 liters per kilometer and carbon emissions of 136 grams per kilometer. The model also claims to reach a blazing top speed of 223 kilometers per hour.
Expected price:
Starting at 359,000 yuan ($55,230)
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