Geneva motor show 2008 - city cars

The sixth generation of Ford’s iconic supermini gets a new 1.6-litre 115bhp petrol engine

But forget the billion horsepower Bugattis and crazy Koenigseggs – which are the nimble little city cars vying for your attention?

Vijay Pattni rounds up the cutesy cars which will find homes all over the UK – and a Mini Cooper which probably won’t…

Tata Nano

It’s small, it’s got rear-wheel-drive – and it’s seriously cheap. The Tata Nano made shockwaves across the globe when it was announced in January with a price tag of 100,000 rupees – a mere £1,250.

Chairman of India’s biggest car manufacturer Ratan Tata said the Nano is intended for the Indian market – but judging by the warm reaction the supermini received at Geneva, he’s not ruling out a European launch…

Toyota iQ

Small just got a whole lot smaller – the funky little Toyota iQ measures less than three metres in length and has space inside for three adults – making it Toyota’s smallest production model to date.

And Toyota has given the diminutive star some real heart, with a stunning bodyshape and a futuristic head-up-display – as seen in the £60,000 BMW M5.

Mazda 2

A sexy supermini for £8,500? Mazda has taken the nice-but-dull previous generation Mazda 2 and injected some serious presence to create this – the all-new Mazda 2.

While it shares a few components with the Ford Fiesta, the new Mazda 2 is a stunning-looking machine and adds a real zing to the bargain market.

And true to the marketing tagline for the Mazda 2 – it’s fit.

Renault Twingo RenaultSport

Unveiled alongside F1 star Fernando Alonso’s new F1 car, the cutesy Renault Twingo RenaultSport gets a serious tweaking from the French carmaker’s engineers.

The Twingo’s 133bhp 1.6-litre engine provides enough oomph to get to 62mph in around eight seconds, while a bodykit, spoiler and bigger alloy wheels set it apart from its lesser-powered siblings.

The baby hot-hatch war just got a little bit hotter…

Ford Fiesta

One of Britain’s best-loved supermini’s gets a serious makeover for 2008 – this is the radical new Ford Fiesta.

The sixth generation of Ford’s iconic supermini – which dates back to the 1970s – gets a new 1.6-litre 115bhp petrol engine and a ‘mobile-phone-inspired’ interior.

Battling it out with the Mazda 2, the all-new Ford Fiesta looks set to claim the scalps of many superminis when it launches in autumn this year.

View our Geneva motor show 2008 city cars slide show

Fiat 500 Abarth

The 1950’s Italian icon is back – with a vengeance.

The sparkling new Fiat 500 has been given a thorough 21st century going-over, with superb 50’s styling coupled to modern dynamics.

And Fiat’s fiery Abarth tuning division have upped the ante – with a 135bhp turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol engine.

Complete with a bodykit, larger alloy wheels and a lowered ride height, the new Fiat 500 Abarth looks set to spark up the baby hot-hatch war…

Suzuki Star

The Japanese manufacturer has released the funky new supermini-MPV – the all new Suzuki Splash.

But stealing the Splash’s limelight at the Geneva stand was the funky Suzuki Star concept – the Japanese carmaker’s new entrant into the city car sector.

Set to make an appearance on European shores in December 2008, the new Suzuki Star features an ultra-efficient 1-litre petrol engine producing less than 109g/km of carbon dioxide.

Dacia Sandero

This neat, inoffensive-looking city car is actually a Renault – the French carmaker owns the Romanian-built Dacia and is looking to begin importing models into the UK, beginning with the Sandero.

And this is a thoroughbred budget-mobile – it was reportedly designed digitally and thus saved development costs – which Renault is looking to pass onto you.

Expect to pay around £6,000 when the Dacia Sandero comes over here – putting it into serious bargain territory.

Volkswagen Golf Hybrid

The new MkV Volkswagen Golf has restored the model’s brand ethos – the car for all classes which gives an excellent drive and combines all the practicality you could need.

And with this concept hybrid, Vee-Dub have pushed the bar again – using a 1.2-litre diesel engine combined with an electric motor and a mental seven-speed auto-box, the concept Golf Hybrid returns an astonishing 83mpg and emits just 89g/km of carbon – making it one of the cleanest cars on earth.

Mini John Cooper Works

It won the 1000 lakes rally in 1966 with Timo Makinen and came second in the Czech rally of the same year – the awesome original Mini John Cooper Works.

Brought along to accompany the all new John Cooper Works Mini and Mini Clubman on the Mini stand at Geneva, this old school racer is a proper baby-stormer – and wouldn’t look out of place today.

View our Geneva motor show 2008 city cars slide show