Nostalgia struck me at this year’s New York Auto Show when I saw all the small “city” cars on display. It reminded me of the first invasion of the Beetles in the sixties. Like the original VW Bug, these cars must overcome the perception that their low sticker prices and fuel economy can compensate for an uncomfortable and cramped interior, little trunk space, and poor power and safety. The cuteness factor certainly helps, but as these cars become more common and the novelty wears off, will they prove to be as sweet as the Cooper Minis or as sour as a Yugo? With almost every manufacturer offering shrunken concepts to appear environmentally responsible, there were more than 50 new models on view. The most eye-catching concepts on display were just window dressing that have little chance of ever being built. But a few of these cars are already in production for the foreign market and are about to be exported to our streets.

Already here is the SwatchForTwo. Built by Daimler-Chrysler in France, it has proven to be roadworthy, having already sold more than 800,000 cars worldwide. This is a revised version of the original Swatch, introduced a decade ago, that did not meet U.S. safety standards. It now has a steel roll cage, two front and two side impact airbags, ABS, and stability control.

The little rear-mounted 71 hp 3-cylinder Mitsubishi engine will scoot up to 90 mph, but it burns premium gasoline. It qualifies as green because it gets over 40 mpg in city traffic. It has a 5-speed manual transmission with a paddle shifter. The two seater is only eight feet long (more than three feet shorter than a Cooper Mini) so you can fit two in one metered curb space, making parking easier to find. At only $11,590 for the base model Pulse and $16,590 for the Passion Cabriolet, the price seems reasonable compared to the current versions of the Cooper Mini at $24,100/$32,950 or VW New Beetle at $16,741/$24,920. On the other hand, it is only half as big in seats, weight, and horsepower. Other amenities include air conditioning, remote anti-theft, and radio/CD sound system (all optional on the base model).

Due to the large volume of orders and the fact that each car is built to order in France, you can expect to wait up to a year for delivery. For a test drive you can contact these local dealers: Smart Center Roslyn, (516) 801-8800 or Smart Center Smithtown, (631) 361-4500. You can also reserve one for $99 online at www.smartusa.com. 

Another new two-seater you may spot zipping around is the all-electric plug-in Subaru R1. It was announced at the show that two test cars will be delivered for testing to the New York Power Authority. This is a popular car in Japan with a range of 50 miles between charges, but it will not be available here anytime soon.

With an increase in sales by more than 3 million small cars projected to be sold in the U.S. over the next four years, every manufacturer is racing to put them in their showrooms. Existing pocket-size vehicles that will invade our shores soon include the World Car of the Year Mazda 2, which at $16,500 measures two feet shorter than the Mazda 3 hatchback. It will also be cloned as the new Ford Fiesta. The most interesting small truck will be the 4-wheel-drive Nissan Cube, which can carry up to seven passengers at $13,821. The Honda Fit, which is known elsewhere as the Jazz, has a base price of $12,750.

These cars will never replace the family sedan, but they do make practical commuters.