Small cars don't usually do that well in the US, wIth the exception of a few models such as the Honda Fit and Mini, many of the small cars sold here are not that great. Especially the current small cars from Detroit. Because of this many US car buyers stay away from the sector, which means tiny sales and even tinier profits for automakers. Alfa Romeo's MiTo would be a great competitor to the Mini, but CEO Sergio Cravero recently stated that the small Alfa may not be coming here.
"A preliminary product assessment for a sporty three-door small hatchback showed potential volumes in the U.S. right now are roughly 20,000 units a year," Cravero said. "That is not enough to make it a viable business case."
Of course this could all change if US car buyers start buying more small cars. In the meantime we will be getting a five-door mid-sized hatchback, named the Milano in 2011.
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Comments (5)
it's because of stupid articles like that we keep getting fed the same BS... there are millions of Americans that would want smaller cars. why do they keep thinking their BS surveys work? stop hanging out in Texas gas stations and farms in the midwest. MOST Americans that can afford vehicles, want smaller more fuel efficient cars!
Posted by anon | July 27, 2009 2:55 PM
Posted on July 27, 2009 14:55
it's because of stupid articles like that we keep getting fed the same BS... there are millions of Americans that would want smaller cars. why do they keep thinking their BS surveys work? stop hanging out in Texas gas stations and farms in the midwest. MOST Americans that can afford vehicles, want smaller more fuel efficient cars!
Posted by anon | July 27, 2009 2:55 PM
Posted on July 27, 2009 14:55
"With the exception of the Mini and Fit small cars don't do well."
Hmm, I can't think of any other small cars that are even worth mentioning. Maybe they should study what it is about the few small cars that do well that causes people to buy them.
Here's a wild guess they are stylish,well built, with good handling and performance. I am sad to see the Mito not coming here, as the new Milano is butt ugly.
Posted by Cashmoney | July 27, 2009 3:52 PM
Posted on July 27, 2009 15:52
I don't exactly classify the Fit as a small car.
It's fine, slightly smaller than a Matrix. What about the Scion XA?
The reason I think the Mini has such mass appeal is options. You can customize the crap out of it, plus it looks good. It also helps that BMW markets the thing relentlessly.
Bring something like the Clio Sport/Cup over here and I'd buy it.
Posted by Brian | July 28, 2009 2:22 AM
Posted on July 28, 2009 02:22
The reason American car buyers don't buy alot of smaller cars is because there are not that many good small cars out there. We want small cars, just nice small cars. Not the Aveo or Versa, we want a small car that has alot to offer like the Fit or the Mini.
Hopefully we will see small cars go from crappy econo-boxes to somthing a car buyer would be proud to own.
Posted by Gabe | July 29, 2009 1:22 PM
Posted on July 29, 2009 13:22