Compact car is a vehicle size class —predominantly used in North America—that sits between subcompact cars and mid-size cars . "Small family car" is a British term and a part of the C-segment in the European car classification. However, before the downsizing of the United States car industry in the 1970s and 1980s, larger vehicles with wheelbases up to 110 in (2.79 m) were considered "compact cars" in the United States.
34-624: The Baojun RC-5 is a compact car produced by SAIC-GM-Wuling through the Baojun brand. The RC-5 replaces the 630 saloon introduced in 2011. The RC-5 is a part of the 'New Baojun' sub-category and features the Interstellar Geometry design language of the brand. Available in saloon and station wagon (RC-5W) bodystyles, it shares the platform with the RS-5 SUV. Launched in August 2020, local prices of
68-609: A "compact car" target that was larger than what has become known as the "light car" or the kei car . One of the first compact cars that met those requirements was the Toyota Publica with an air-cooled two-cylinder opposed engine, the Datsun 110 series , and the Mitsubishi 500 . The Publica and the Mitsubishi 500 were essentially "kei cars" with engines larger than regulations permitted at
102-482: A cause of concern among many well-known economists analyzing the economy, such as Arthur F. Burns . Government efforts to promote a prompt economic recovery played an important role in the moderation of the recession. President Dwight D. Eisenhower , Council of Economic Advisors Chairman Raymond J. Saulnier , Secretary of the Treasury Robert B. Anderson , and Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson were some of
136-602: A combination of a high-resolution camera and millimeter wave radars with a range of 120 metres (390 ft; 130 yd) and 160 metres (520 ft; 170 yd). Baojun RC-5 Baojun RC-5W Baojun Valli Compact car In Japan, small size passenger vehicle is a registration category that sits between kei cars and regular cars, based on overall size and engine displacement limits. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Fuel Economy Regulations for 1977 and Later Model Year (dated July 1996) includes definitions for classes of automobiles. Based on
170-511: A deceleration in business planning for replacement of equipment and expansion of manufacturing facilities, resulting in a drop in new orders for equipment. This created a widening gap between the supply and the use of industrial capacity. Federal Reserve economists believed that the Eisenhower administration had contributed to the recession by cutting back on United States Department of Defense purchases in 1957. Durable goods manufactures and
204-512: A license plate number beginning with "5". In the past, the small size category has received tax benefits stipulated by the Japanese government regulations , such as those in the 1951 Road Vehicle Act . In 1955, the Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry set forth a goal to all Japanese makers at that time to create what was called a "national car". The concept stipulated that
238-745: A new market segment and the U.S. automobile industry soon adopted the "compact" term. Several competitors to the Nash Rambler arose from the ranks of America's other independent automakers, although none enjoyed the long-term success of the Rambler. Other early compact cars included the Kaiser-Frazer Henry J (also re-badged as the Allstate ), the Willys Aero and the Hudson Jet . In 1954, 64,500 cars sold in
272-408: A sharp dive as middle-class consumers decided to keep their cars for longer instead of upgrading after a few years. Auto sales fell 31% over 1957, making 1958 the worst auto year since World War II . In just three years, car sales fell from almost 8 million purchases in 1955 to 4.3 million purchases in 1958. In an effort to overcome declining auto sales, one of the hardest hit sectors of the slump,
306-502: Is offered. Both RC-5 models feature functions normally found in more premium vehicles according to Baojun, including dynamic turn signals, Baojun’s next-generation infotainment system with voice control, wireless cellphone charging, powered seats with memory, and an intelligent air purification system. For safety features, the RC-5 and RC-5W is equipped with 17 advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) functions. The functions are made possible by
340-681: The Recession of 1958 , the only exception to the sales decline was American Motors with its compact, economy-oriented Ramblers that saw high demand among cautious consumers. By 1959, sales of small imported cars also increased to 14% of the U.S. passenger car market, as consumers turned to compact cars. By this time, smaller cars appealed to people with a college education and a higher income whose families were buying more than one car. Customers expected compact cars to provide improved fuel economy compared to full-sized cars while maintaining headroom, legroom, and plenty of trunk space. Between 1958 and 1960,
374-405: The discount rate to 1.75% until conditions began to improve. By the end of the recession, the index of industrial production was 142% of the 1947 to 1949 average. Total employment had increased by about 1 million from its recession low while unemployment had been reduced by 1 million. Income and expenditures of individuals were at new high levels. Gross National Product , the broadest measure of
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#1732859579400408-466: The "small Ford" and produced the Ford Vedette . The first U.S.-produced postwar compact car was the 1950 Nash Rambler . It was built on a 100-inch (2,540 mm) wheelbase, which was nonetheless still a large car by contemporary European standards. The term "compact" was coined by a Nash executive as a euphemism for small cars with a wheelbase of 110 inches (2,794 mm) or less. It established
442-791: The 1980s that American cars were being downsized to truly international dimensions. In the 1985 model year, compact cars classified by the EPA included Ford's Escort and Tempo as well as the Chevrolet Cavalier. For the 2019 model year, the best sellers were the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. In Japan, vehicles that are larger than kei cars , but with dimensions smaller than 4,700 mm (185.0 in) long, 1,700 mm (66.9 in) wide, 2,000 mm (78.7 in) high and with engines at or under 2,000 cc (120 cu in) are classified as "small size" cars. Small-size cars are identified by
476-571: The Baojun RC-5 models start from RMB59,800 (approximately $ 8,600 at the rates at the time) for the Baojun RC-5 liftback saloon which is exactly the same as the 630 compact saloon it replaces and RMB72,800 ($ 10,490) for the RC-5W wagon. The RC-5W wagon offers a cargo space of more than 470 L (16.6 cu ft) with all seats in place. The RC-5W also features a roof rack, reclining second row seats with airplane-like headrests and extra headroom compared to
510-519: The Beyer DeSoto dealership of St. Louis put its salesmen on duty for 64 hours straight, as part of a sell-a-thon that raised sales 73%. Housing construction slowed due to higher interest rates in 1955 and 1956. By 1957, new house construction had fallen to about 1.2 million units. There was a gradual decrease in incoming business of capital goods industries, which resulted in the ending of an expansive boom. The initial trouble began in 1956 with
544-628: The Honda City, Toyota Yaris, Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6, and the Changan Alsvin. Recession of 1958 The recession of 1958, also known as the Eisenhower Recession , was a sharp worldwide economic downturn in 1958. The effect of the recession spread beyond the United States to Europe and Canada, causing many businesses to shut down. Officially, recessionary circumstances lasted from
578-721: The RC-5 liftback saloon. In June 2021, the wagon version was updated and relaunched as the Baojun Valli . The Valli nameplate of its name stands for the Goddess consort of the Hindu God Murugan. The engine lineup of the Baojun RC-5 includes two inline-four petrol engines with one being a 99 PS (73 kW; 98 hp) naturally aspirated 1.5-litre engine and the other one being a 147 PS (108 kW; 145 hp) turbocharged 1.5-litre engine. A six-speed manual gearbox and virtual eight-speed continuously variable transmission (CVT)
612-407: The U.S. were imports or small American cars, out of a total market of five million cars. Market research indicated that five percent of those surveyed said they would consider a small car, suggesting a potential market size of 275,000 cars. By 1955, the Nash Rambler that began as a convertible model became a success and was now available in station wagon , hardtop , and sedan body styles. During
646-500: The administration ended restrictions on no- down payment mortgage loans. Finally, in June 1958, the Congress enacted the legislation to authorize federal assistance to the states so that they could lengthen the period of unemployment benefits . Monetary policy also played a role in dealing with the recession. The Federal Reserve made moves once aware of the severity of the situation, lowering
680-807: The beginning of a downsizing of all vehicles so that cars such as the AMC Concord and the Ford Fairmont that replaced the compacts were re-classified as mid-size, while cars inheriting the size of the Ford Pinto and Chevrolet Vega (such as the Ford Escort and Chevrolet Cavalier ) became classified as compact cars. Even after the reclassification, mid-size American cars were still far larger than mid-size cars from other countries and were more similar in size to cars classified as "large cars" in Europe. It would not be until
714-564: The combined passenger and cargo volume, compact cars are defined as having an interior volume index of 100–109 cu ft (2.8–3.1 m ). The beginnings of U.S. production of compact cars were the late 1940s prototypes of economy cars, including the Chevrolet Cadet and the Ford Light Car. Neither car reached production in the U.S., however Ford SAF in France bought the plans of
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#1732859579400748-455: The important figures playing major roles in this effort. Eisenhower's main focus was to stimulate recovery while keeping the government's financial “house in order”. Construction projects already underway were accelerated, and those already funded were planned and begun immediately. The United States Department of Agriculture projects for water resource programs and rural electrification were pushed ahead. In order to encourage home building,
782-533: The lumber, mining, and textile industries were three of the industries that were hit the hardest. Due to a severe drop in unfulfilled orders for durable goods and a decreasing demand for commodities and other materials, the recession of 1958 forced over five million people out of work. In the United States, unemployment rose but there was little to no decline in personal income . Overall, employment decreased by 6.2%, resulting in 2 million job losses and 1.3 million people drawing unemployment insurance . Unemployment
816-518: The major U.S. car manufacturers made a push toward compact cars, resulting in the introduction of the Studebaker Lark , Chevrolet Corvair , Ford Falcon , and Plymouth Valiant . These models also gave rise to compact vans built on the compact car platforms, such as the Studebaker Zip Van, Chevrolet Corvair Greenbrier , Ford Econoline , and Dodge A100 . During the 1960s, compacts were
850-399: The middle of 1957 to April 1958. Though it is generally regarded as a moderate recession, it was the most significant recession during the post–World War II economic expansion between 1945 and 1973. There were many major factors in the decline that exerted a growing downward pressure on production and employment, resulting in a general reduction of economic activity. New car sales took
884-590: The nation's output of goods and services, had risen to an annual rate of $ 453 billion. In the United Kingdom , the quick economic recovery under Prime Minister Harold Macmillan allowed the Conservative Party to be reelected for a third term of government against Hugh Gaitskell 's Labour Party in the 1959 general election . On the other hand, in the United States the Democratic Party won control of
918-679: The passenger and cargo compartments were introduced in the late 1970s. In the early 1970s, the domestic automakers introduced even smaller subcompact cars that included the AMC Gremlin , Chevrolet Vega , and Ford Pinto . In 1973, the Energy Crisis started, which made small fuel-efficient cars more desirable, and the North American driver began exchanging their large cars for the smaller, imported compacts that cost less to fill up and were inexpensive to maintain. The 1977 model year marked
952-630: The popular Volkswagen Beetle . Compact cars were also the basis for a new small car segment that became known as the pony car , named after the Ford Mustang , which was built on the Falcon chassis. At that time, there was a distinct difference in size between compact and full-size models. Early definitions of vehicle size class were based on wheelbase, with models under 111 inches as compact, 111 to 118 inches intermediate, and over 118 inches as full size, at least until EPA classes based on interior volume of
986-538: The smallest class of North American cars, but they had evolved into only slightly smaller versions of the 6-cylinder or V8-powered six-passenger sedan. They were much larger than compacts (and sometimes even mid-sizers) by European manufacturers, which were typically five-passenger four-cylinder engine cars. Nevertheless, advertising and road tests for the Ford Maverick and the Rambler American made comparisons with
1020-807: The time, while the Datsun was an all-new vehicle. These vehicles were followed by the Hino Contessa in 1961, the Isuzu Bellett , Daihatsu Compagno and Mazda Familia in 1963, the Mitsubishi Colt in 1965, and the Nissan Sunny , Subaru 1000 , and Toyota Corolla in 1966. Honda introduced its first four-door sedan in 1969, called the Honda 1300 . In North America, these cars were classified as subcompact cars . By 1970, Nissan released its first front-wheel-drive car which
1054-399: The vehicle be able to maintain a maximum speed over 100 km/h (62 mph), weigh below 400 kg (882 lbs), fuel consumption at 30 km/L (85 mpg ‑imp ; 71 mpg ‑US ) or more, at an average speed of 60 km/h (37 mph) on a level road, and not require maintenance or significant service for at least 100,000 km (62,000 mi). This established
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1088-439: Was an apparent paradox, as prices continued to rise while production and employment were declining. In past recessions, prices tended to fall during recessionary conditions, but this time they went up, apart from raw materials. The U.S. consumer prices rose 2.7% from 1957 to 1958, and after a pause, they continued to push up until November 1959. Wholesale prices rose 1.6% from 1957 to 1959. The continued upward creep of prices became
1122-682: Was highest in industrial areas in the Northeast and Midwest and in mining areas in Pennsylvania , West Virginia and the West . Michigan suffered the most of any state with an unemployment rate of 11%, as Detroit maintained a record high of 20%. In large part, this was a result of a 47% decline in automobile production. When unemployment rates rose beyond 5.1 million in January 1958, they were higher than at any point since 1941. The effect on prices and costs
1156-598: Was originally developed by Prince Motor Company which had merged with Nissan in 1966. This was introduced in 1970 as the Nissan Cherry . In 1972, the Honda Civic appeared with the CVCC engine that was able to meet California emission standards without the use of a catalytic converter . In Pakistan, the concept of compact cars is significant. The most common cars tend to be Kei cars . Popular compact cars in recent times are
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