History Subcompact car

1971 amc gremlin x



1972 ford pinto runabout



1973 chevrolet vega gt hatchback

the automakers responded growing popularity of small imported cars europe , japan during late 1960s. amc gremlin described @ april 1970 introduction first american-built import , first u.s. built subcompact car. chevrolet vega , ford pinto subcompacts introduced in september 1970 1971 model year. domestic subcompact cars popular buyers. example, inventory shortages of more popular subcompacts (vega, gremlin, , pinto) developed during summer 1973 because of exceptionally strong demand these nameplates way through 1974.

the pontiac astre, canadian-born re-badged vega variant released in u.s. september 1974. vega-based chevrolet monza , pinto-based ford mustang ii upscale subcompacts introduced 1975 model year larger pony cars chevrolet camaro , ford mustang sales had fallen. camaro scheduled cancellation, sales stabilized end of 1970s energy crisis. monza gm variants pontiac sunbird, buick skyhawk, plymouth turismo, oldsmobile starfire, , mustang ii continued until end of decade. chevrolet chevette gm s new entry-level subcompact introduced 1976 model. americanized design opel, gm s german subsidiary. , there subcompacts imported sold through domestic manufacturers dealer network captive imports, renault le car , ford fiesta

in 1978, volkswagen began producing rabbit version of golf in new stanton, pennsylvania, modern fwd subcompact design, , in 1982, american motors began manufacturing u.s. renault alliance, version of renault 9, in kenosha, wisconsin, both models benefiting european designs, development, , experience.

the 1979 mustang moved again larger platform other first generation subcompacts replaced sized, compact (and not anymore subcompact) called vehicles - in fact reclassification happened @ same time former compact cars called mid-sized cars , former intermediate cars called large cars. @ time segment started opening below gremlin, pinto , vega became new subcompact segment.

chevrolet marketed 2 captive front-wheel drive subcompact economy cars in second half of 1980s replace aging chevette, chevrolet sprint, three-cylinder suzuki-built hatchback , chevrolet spectrum built isuzu. during 1990s gm offered geo brand featuring suzuki-built metro subcompact.

because of consumer demand fuel-efficient cars during late-2000s, sales of subcompact cars made fastest growing market category in u.s. of 2016, numerous models of subcompacts sold in north america. chevrolet sonic subcompact assembled in united states. others include korean models such hyundai accent, kia rio along japanese models such honda fit, mazda 2, nissan micra (in canada), scion xd, suzuki swift (in mexico), toyota yaris , hybrid prius c. ford fiesta european based subcompact offered in north america. , there subcompact suvs jeep renegade , mazda cx-3