URBAN OUTWITTERS

Does the solution to city motoring lie in designs from the past with power-trains from the future? TopGear goes in search of answers... at rush hour

Friends, the death of the city car has not been greatly exaggerated. In the past couple of years Ford, Vauxhall, VW, Skoda, Seat, Peugeot, Renault – heck, even Smart – have all exited the scene.

The reasons aren’t complicated. Tiny cars demand carefully managed prices to maintain their wafer thin margins – they’re not routinely specced up with forged carbon dashboards, shag pile leather and 37 speakers. That was manageable until legislation demanded anti-collision radar, drowsiness sensors, lane keep assist and had to withstand the same crash test as a three tonne ubertruck. Then there’s the propulsion. Trying to profitably package a useful electric drivetrain into a city runabout is like expecting a Jack Russell to romp the Grand National.

So, we end up in a bizarre world where governments smile upon a plug-in hybrid Lamborghini Urus (800bhp, 2.5 tonnes, offishully 80odd g/km, guv) but Suzuki’s soon to bin off the charming, wieldy 1.2-litre Ignis which emits less CO2 than a flatulent gerbil. It seems as the mainstream city car goes extinct, it’s being reinvented as a boutiquey electrified plaything. Here’s three iconic micro machines, reimagined for the 21st century. Two paying homage, and one that’s every inch the Swinging Sixties icon with a heart transplant.

That’s the Mini Cooper van – a rare 1962 ‘flatroof’ example. This particular one is liveried up as an exact replica of the original race team spares van of the Cooper Car Company, and it’s been kindly loaned to us by Mike Cooper. Yes, that Cooper. Son of John himself, father of the mid-engined racing car. The name on all the go-faster Minis.

And so’s this one, appropriately. It generates a meaty 135bhp, which is enough to chirrup the front tyres and really gee up your bullion heists, all thanks to an electric powertrain you can bolt in at home between breakfast and elevenses.