Size does matter. And sometimes, the smaller the better. On today’s congested roads, the last thing you need is a double-parked Hummer, or a Maybach cautiously trying to parallel park in a space clearly meant for a Toyota iQ. Good things come in small packages, and when they’re really good, the best come back in smaller and updated packages. Case in point, the British Mini, or the BMW Mini.

Iconic during the psychedelic times of the 60s (remember George Harrison’s Tibetan and Sanskrit prayer painted Mini), the Mini is a common sight on UK roads today, at once cute, compact and stylish. It’s larger than its predecessor and weighs a bit more as well. However, retro rules today and its interior packs in Harman Kardon speakers seamlessly with auxiliary gauges. Lily Allen and Madonna have confessed to be die-hard Mini fans. The car’s even made it to Hollywood, featuring in Hitch, Austin Powers Goldmember, and a heist scene in the The Italian Job, giving it a good chance to show off its track driving abilities.

If you think just seeing one oldie back on the road doesn’t prove anything, think again. Volkswagen’s Beetle is still going strong. It’s expected to be phased out by 2011, to make way for possible variants including two-seater Beetle roadsters, SUV-type Beetles and the standard hard top.

The fat bubble Fiat 500 is back as well, rising from its death in the 70s. The new avatar is front-engined and front-wheel drive, and powered by a choice of three water-cooled engines (the original twin cylinder was air cooled) that include a 69bhp 1.2 petrol, a twin cam 100bhp 1.4 and a 75bhp 1.3 turbodiesel. Of course, there’s the usual paraphernalia of a built-in stereo with CD player and MP3 port, voice-activated Bluetooth phone integration, electric windows, power steering and a trip computer. It’s uber-stylish, and let’s face it, the Italians know their furniture so well, the interiors are worthy of their own showroom.

A visit to a vintage car rally reveals the human spirit to create the most bizarre things in the name of transport. The Goggomobil Dart, Messerschmitt cars, even Vespa cars, and the bubble-shaped BMW Isetta, which was originally designed by a refrigerator company with two doors, one at the front and the other at the back. Dare we hope to see a return of these? Or perhaps the Citroën 2CV and its classic Bauhaus body?

A return may take a while. In the meantime, there’s a whole new breed of smart city cars to look forward to: the Volkswagen Cross Polo is another new entry; the Aston Martin Cygnet is preparing to rival Toyota’s iQ; the sporty and incredibly expensive Audi A1. Both the Cygnet and A1 are expected at the end of 2010 and are priced between £14,000 to £25,000. If you’re feeling generous, they might be the greatest Christmas gift ideas ever. Especially if they’re just for yourself.

Now a days we would see many people dump their car once they found it useless or they are not happy with but you should make a good use of it instead of dumping it. You can donate your car to someone who actually needs it and it’s a perfect way to do some charity. Car Donations is best way to use of your car which you are not going to use and it also give some relief in your internal part. You can feel proud for yourself. If you want to do and looking for place where you can donate your car then I would advice you to visit CenterForCarDonations.com which is best place to do it. At visit CenterForCarDonations.com, you can donate your car and it is a win/win for everyone. They’re the perfect way to support your favorite charity. Put your unwanted car or truck to good use. It’s easier than selling it, and you’ll get a tax receipt. They will process your donation and turn that car with miles into big smiles for your charity. Their mission is to assist charities nationwide by providing them a means to accept donated vehicles. They make it easy for donors to support their favorite charity because we handle everything from start to finish.

Their part of making the world a better place is to provide non-profit organizations with the highest possible return on their donation. They strictly limit our fees so the majority of the donation stays where the donor intended it with the charity. They not only take cars but they take, boats (if they are on a trailer), motor homes, trucks, motorcycles (if they are operational), farm equipment, and recreational vehicles such as snowmobiles, jet skiis, etc.). So visit now to get more information.

Every so often, Renault impresses and teases us with the launch of a new hot hatch. Impresses because they’re widely rated as some of the most dynamically competent micro-machines on the road today. Teases because, well…they don’t offer them in North America. So all we can do is admire from abroad such offerings as the Twingo 133 Cup, Clio 200 and Megane R26.R, to name just a few.

The range is set to expand both upwards (with the likes of the new Gordini line-up) and downwards (with the adoption of the GT range), but every once in a while, Renault fakes us out with something that when it comes down to it, really only looks the part. The World Series editions were one recent example, and now the French automaker has launched the Clio S for the British market.

Sure, the Clio S looks the part. It’s got 16-inch wheels, a spoiler on the trailing edge of its roof, a front lip spoiler below the grille and racing stripes galore, all done up in contrasting white. But the Clio S lacks the go to back up the show. Engines are limited to 75- and 100-horsepower fours and an 86-hp diesel. Not exactly Renaultsport figures, but then neither are their prices, ranging from £11,209 to £13,458 all-in (that’s around $18k-22k USD, not accounting for the UK market’s inflated pricing). So for the moment, we can rest easy this time around, neither impressed nor enticed.

It might be cold consolation to those of us desperate for a Scirocco in the States, but the Volkswagen Compact Coupe Concept has the potential to fill that particular hatch-shaped hole in our hearts – with a bit of green cred to boot.

With a sharper, more sculpted front fascia than its Golf and Jetta siblings, a deep swage line running the length of the sides and a rather anonymous (exhaust-less) rump, the Compact Coupe – as we mentioned earlier – comes across as the poor man’s Audi A5. And the interior is something to behold.

Not only does it put the segment stalwarts to shame in both style and space, VW took pains to make the rear seats actually habitable. There’s ample leg room and a trick center console with independent climate controls for both passengers, a quad-zone setup we hope makes the transition to production.

Although there’s sure to be countless variants of the Coupe when it arrives in production guise (were sure a few versions of the 2.0T will find their way underhood), in the “concept” motivation is provided by a 1.4-liter TSI inline-four, putting out 150 horsepower and 110 pound-feet of torque. However, when partnered with its hybrid system (a 20-kilowatt electric motor drawing pour from a lithium ion battery), output is boosted by 27 ponies to 177 hp and an equal amount of torque. VW estimates that U.S. mileage should average around 45 mpg and with its hybrid setup, the Concept Coupe can be driven in full electric mode for an unspecified range. With it’s seven-speed dual clutch gearbox, VW pegs the Coupe’s 0-60 time at 8.1 seconds, with a top speed of 141 mph.

Although VW claims the Coupe is only a concept at this stage, the level of detail and V-Dub’s lack of a credible coupe offering indicates that a production version should be on the way. And if VW’s smart, they’ll ditch the slow-selling Eos and offer a retractable soft-top version a few years after the Coupe hits the market.

The Reva NXG concept car looks aggressive, like it wants to hunt down anyone who says that all electric cars needs to look silly. The Chevrolet Spark concept, too, looks pretty darn good for a little car. The two companies are working together on an all-electric car for the Indian market and it was revealed at the New Delhi Auto Show this week. Sadly, the look of the car is a big bag of yawn.

The car in question is the Chevrolet e-Spark, and it would be India’s first four-door electric vehicle. The outside is simply the standard Indian-spec Spark, but Reva’s EV powertrain sits underhood. Detailed information on this car is scarce, but we hear it will have both regular drive and boost modes as well as regenerative brakes. There might also be an option to get the car with either lead acid or lithium-ion batteries. Production should start sometime this year.