The EPA points to rising mini-car sales as a sign that consumers are willing to open their wallets a little wider.
For example, some labor representatives on Chrysler's supervisory board had resisted Chrysler's plan to hook up with China's Chery Automobile to develop a low-cost mini-car for North America and Europe.
But a mid-40s salaryman who bought a new mini-car despite his fears about job security described the purchase as "pressure release" for the frustrations building up in his family rather than any sign of renewed confidence.
"When you engineer a technology-filled, all-electric mini car that goes from zero-to-60 mph in less than eight seconds, customers won't miss the gas, " said Mark Reuss, president, General Motors North America.
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The supermarkets have already responded with several schemes which includes Tesco stores in Cardiff installing a mini-barrier system on its disabled car parking spaces.
The 1.6-litre car is available in a number of styles - including the basic Mini, the Mini Cooper and the convertible, which was launched in July.
BBC: NEWS | UK | England | Oxfordshire | New Mini at half-million landmark
In most car-sharing programs the mini vehicles are offset with larger ones and even a pickup or two.
The fantastic front-wheel-drive Mini Cooper is as hairy a car as you might ever want and it can be driven hard from mile one.
Added to which, the new MINI Connected App now gives the globally unique in-car infotainment function Mission Control two different angles.
ENGADGET: Mini Cooper Connected app adjusts music based on driving style, stops when airbags deploy
Added to which MINI enables the use of web-based social networks in the car.
ENGADGET: Mini Cooper Connected app adjusts music based on driving style, stops when airbags deploy
Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel finished three minutes 44 seconds ahead of Nani Roma of Spain in the car section and now leads his fellow-Mini driver by 22 minutes and 49 seconds.
Another feature of the new MINI Connected App, this service offers a further innovative in-car entertainment option to make your driving fun even more varied, in keeping with the unmistakable character of the brand.
ENGADGET: Mini Cooper Connected app adjusts music based on driving style, stops when airbags deploy
No other compact economy car outside of a Mini Cooper offers as much stick-and-rudder fun as the 3: The steering (hydraulic, with an electric pump) is tack-sharp and precise, with almost no torque steer and a gratifying heft that gathers as you turn the wheel.
One of the cars they're going to be bringing out is the Fiat 500, which is - if you know the BMW MINI, it's that kind of car.
All of which means that MINI Connected customers have a clear road ahead of them when it comes to accessing in-car infotainment innovations both now and into the future.
ENGADGET: Mini Cooper Connected app adjusts music based on driving style, stops when airbags deploy
Two brand new versions of the car are being built at the BMW factory at Cowley in Oxfordshire - a standard Mini and a more sporty Mini Cooper model.
Furthermore, GM is also expected to bring a mini SUV called Trax and a low cost version of its entry level car Spark, although launch time-frame for these cars is not confirmed yet.
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Among the functions unique in the MINI segment are access to the GoogleTM local search and GoogleTM Send to Car services and reception of user-definable RSS news feeds, the content of which is displayed on the on-board monitor and can be read out using the optional voice output function.
ENGADGET: Mini Cooper Connected app adjusts music based on driving style, stops when airbags deploy
The Mini was used by workers to travel around the car plant at Longbridge in Birmingham but was dumped in the late-1970s after it was damaged.
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