For generations now the sleek and stylish mean machines have dominated the roads. Men have drooled over them, their girlfriends and wives have gone green with jealousy with all the care and affection their men shower on them. However, with the dawn of the new era in automobiles, we see a gradual but definite rise of a type of cars which we would definitely not label mean machines. We would call them cute and adorable.
What's more interesting is that people irrespective of age, gender or area of residence are increasingly developing a liking towards these cars. So really what is working in their favor? And do the bold, big automobiles really need to feel threatened by their relatively new, cute counterparts?
The Cuteness is Creative
What is really driving these cars to do well in the markets is their high cuteness quotient. But that's not just it. These cars may have been designed keeping a certain section in mind (read women and teens), but with time men are becoming quite fond of their design too. It is because, these cars definitely make you stand out from the rest and make a statement. Moreover, there are constant upgrades and innovation done in the design of the car to make it appealing across all sections. One of my favorites, the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle is one such example. What started off as a curvy, cute as a puppy car has got all sleek with a hatchback and much trimmer body design now.
Comfort and Class packed in Together
If the Beetle enchanted you with its cuteness, the Mini Cooper has been a hit due it its unparalleled comfort and drop-dead gorgeous interiors. The all new 2014 Mini Cooper offers an exciting driving experience. Motortrend says "This Mini rides smoother, provides more power and more efficiency, comes loaded with high-tech features and even provides a little more room." And Cooper obviously delights with its myriad models with different variations. To name a few- Hardtop, Coupe, Roadster, Convertible, Countryman and Clubman.
Makes an Economic Option
Beside the trend-setting designs what really works for these cars is also their mileage and competitive pricing. With all the facilities of a big car, they come at surprisingly affordable prices. What more? Most of them are quite family-friendly. Great power and great comfort are the characteristics of one such car in this category, the Lexus RX 350.These cars are also usually more fuel efficient which is giving them an edge over the bigger and faster road monsters.
Takes the Cake in Innovation
While most of us know the market dynamics of these cars, a car in this segment that definitely deserves a mention is the Hyundai Veloster. The Veloster generate a whole lot of buzz owing to its unique door design. All those who love to be different, loved this quirky move. The left side of the car has one door while the right side has two. Posh comfort and a flooding of gizmos like Bluetooth phone connectivity, audio system with iPod input and a satellite radio subscription make it a paradisiacal vehicle for all tech-lovers.
Marketing Magic
Unbeatable pricing and a strong marketing strategy marked the return and success of Fiat in America. It returned with the compact and cool Fiat 500. 101 horsepower and a much applauded performance on urban roads made it a vehicle to reckon with. Inspite of its small size, it has a large number of variations, is very spacious from the inside and has some seriously smart electronic features. The verdict is clear-Fiat made a stunning return with 500 in 2013 after 28 years.
So What Can be the Sealing Factor?
While the above mentioned characteristics and features are slowly peaking the popularity of the cute cars, I think that there will be one aspect that will really make them take away the edge from the rest. This is going to be the safety and protection they offer.
Preventing Disasters on the Road
Road Accidents are a leading cause of death in USA today. While the features and designing of the cars are not to be blamed for the large number of accidents that are taking place, a couple of exceptional safety innovations will really put these cute and small wonders in the big league. The bigger and more expensive models are coming loaded with the best possible safety features these days. Yet accidents are happening. Expert motor vehicle accident lawyers are helping the injured party get the compensation from the faulty party. However the damages, death and devastation caused in these accidents are excessive and most car owners would want their vehicles to come equipped with maximum safety features.
To Conclude
Finally to conclude, I would say that these cute, charismatic cars are giving quite a competition to the suave, larger ones. However, the automobile industry is always one on the move. You never know when one manufacturer outdoes the other or one exclusive feature in a newly launched car whips a storm in the market. One can only wait and watch. If you are a car enthusiast and have something to add, we are all ears.