Why there's little room for big cars in the future; STEVE HUGHES rounds up the week's motoring news in a nutshell

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Oct 3, 2008

Byline: STEVE HUGHES

THE current craze for downsizing is reaching extraordinary lengths, as epitomised by two new models revealed by Nissan and Toyota this week.

Nissan has revealed its vision of the future for urban motorists in the form of an innovative three-seat electric city car.

The company says the overwhelming majority of cars currently used in urban areas carry just one person, or possibly two, but very rarely three or four.

Nissan's answer is the Nuvu, which indicates it is taking a new view of the future of urban transport, with small electric vehicles destined to become the norm.

The Nuvu, unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, is the forerunner of a batterypowered car that Nissan will put into production soon.

In the case of the Nuvu there are rechargeable laminated lithium-ion batteries beneath the seats that have a high capacity of 140 watt-hours per kilogram and can be recharged in just 20 minutes from a domestic electricity supply.

Across its glass roof are a dozen small solar panels which help feed the battery. The Nuvu also uses natural, organic and recycled materials within the cabin.

The vehicle measures just three metres in length and is 1700mm wide and 1550mm tall.

This is enough for two regular seats and a third occasional chair that can be folded down when required.

The unusual layout places the regular passenger seat beside but largely behind the driver's seat, allowing the passenger to stretch out. Ahead of this seat is a third occasional chair, which when not in use is folded away into the dashboard. Even when the third seat is in use, there is said to be sufficient legroom for both passengers.

Shopping bags, briefcases and smaller items of luggage can be stowed behind the driver's seat, and if the driver is travelling alone larger items can be stowed in the passenger footwall.

There are two pedals - for stop and go - The steering is controlled by an aircraft-style steering yoke. The driving range is said to be about 70 miles between charges and the top speed is about 65mph.

Nissan says that whilst the Nuvu is not necessarily scheduled for immediate production in its current form, some of its technologies are.

Meanwhile Toyota has revealed final details of one of the most important new cars to come to the UK next year, in the diminutive guise of the iQ city car.

Toyota says it is so confident of the model's desirability that it is taking orders immediately even though prices have yet to be announced.

The newcomer is regarded as the ultimate jambuster.

At just 2,985mm long, 1,500mm high and 1,680mm wide, it will fit into the smallest of parking spaces yet can carry three adults and a child and travel at motorway speeds with none of the restrictions that apply to electric-powered city cars.

Initially there will be just a single one-litre petrol engine on offer with a five-speed manual gearbox or a continuously variable transmission system.

The engine will produce 67bhp and in manual transmission mode will achieve economy of 65mpg and emissions of just 99g/km.

CAPTION(S):

SMALL WONDERS - the Nissan Nuvu. Below, the Toyota IQ