Small car special

Available for over a year

In a You & Yours special, Julian Worricker hears about the rising popularity of the small car or "supermini". As fuel prices hit record highs, people are downsizing to smaller cars which are greener and, with better fuel consumption, cost less to run. What does the rise of the small car mean for manufacturers competing in this sector? And how do the finances of the small car stack up for the motorist? The British car industry is booming even in the downturn as eighty percent of the cars made in the UK are exported but will consumers in China and the US ever be interested in smaller cars? And can manufacturers make enough of a profit on superminis? Julian also hears from students on the Royal College of Art's prestigious vehicle design course about how they are meeting the challenges of ageing populations and urban living with designs for the small cars of the future. Presented by Julian Worricker. Produced by Olivia Skinner.