Economy car
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An economy car is an automobile that is designed for low cost operation. They are designed for drivers who use their car primarily for personal transportation. Typical economy cars are small, light weight, and inexpensive to buy.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Pre-war
The Ford Model T can be considered the "first" economy car. While it was at first the only mass produced car, that very innovation, along with the attributes it required (a simple, inexpensive design) allowed it to be the first car to exemplify the ideals of the economy car. It was far less expensive, smaller, and more austere than its hand-built contemporaries.
The subsequent decades led to economical cars that reflected the needs of their creators. The cycle car was devised in the period before 1922 as a form of "four-wheeled motorcycle", with all the benefits of a motorcycle in a more stable package. Crosley, an appliance manufacturer, would also be an early pioneer of very small cars. But by far, the most development occurred in Europe. There, there was less emphasis on long-distance automobile travel, and a need for vehicles that could navigate narrow streets and alleys. These European cars, such as the Austin Seven, would also start to catch on in Japan during the same time period, leading to the start of their own automobile industry.
The Volkswagen Beetle would be the longest-lasting icon of this era. Adolf Hitler admired the ideals exemplified by the Ford Model T, and sought the help of Ferdinand Porsche to create a vehicle with the same ideals for the people of Germany. The Nazi "KdF-Wagen" program ground to a halt because of World War II, but after the war, Volkswagen would be founded to produce the car in the new democratic West Germany, where it would be a success.
[edit] 1945-1973
As Europe and Japan rebuilt from the war, their growing economies led to a steady increase in demand for cheap cars for the masses. Emerging technology allowed economy cars to become more sophisticated. Early economy cars like the Beetle and Citroën 2CV were extremely simple. Advances such as monocoque construction and front wheel drive would allow progressively more advanced small cars to be produced, such as the Austin Mini, Simca 1100, and Honda Civic. Japan would also codify a legal standard for extremely economical small cars, known as the keicar.
While economy cars flourished in Europe and Japan, the booming postwar American economy combined with the emergence of the suburb and interstate highway in that country led to slow acceptance of small cars. Brief economic recessions saw interest in economical cars wax and wane. During this time, the American auto manufacturers would introduce smaller cars of their own, such as the Chevrolet Corvair, Plymouth Valiant, and Nash Motors products. These vehicles were still much larger than the ones enjoying popularity overseas, however. Imported cars began to appear during this time to satisfy the demands for true economy cars.
[edit] 1973-1990s
The oil crisis of 1973 caused a great deal of renewed emphasis to be placed on economy, especially in the United States, arguably the nation hardest hit. Because of this, imported cars sharply gained in popularity there.
Technologies developed during the post-war era reached maturity during this time, leading to iconic cars such as the Volkswagen Golf and Fiat 128. Some previously-exotic technology such as electronic fuel injection and radial tires became cheap enough for these cars during this time, which allowed the production of the first high-performance sport compacts like the Volkswagen GTI, which combined economy of use with driving fun.
[edit] Economy cars today
Technology continues to be the driving force behind economy car development. Hybrid cars and smoother, more powerful diesel engines have improved fuel economy. Safety and comfort have become increasingly high priorities. Sport compacts have developed into a highly competitive genre, although the economy has been rather abandoned.
The growth of developing countries has also created a new market for extremely inexpensive new cars. China has become one of the fastest-growing car markets, with a preference towards cheap, basic cars. Some mainstream European automakers have specially developed models with these features, such as the Fiat Palio, Volkswagen Gol and Dacia Logan. In other cases, older, simpler economy car models may be offered at very low prices in markets like South Africa and Brazil. The Volkswagen Citi Golf is an example.
