Audi luxury compact future car

Compact cars that are premium rather than second-rate, that is. Compacts admired for elegant, tailored looks as well as exceptional fuel efficiency. Luxury automobiles, yet distinctly athletic in character.

Today's Audi A3 TDI fits the description tidily.

Yesterday's Cimarron was compact, otherwise none of the above applied. It was an overdressed, over-priced version of the Chevrolet Cavalier peddled as a Cadillac through the mid-1980s to the detriment of the brand and to any subsequent compact that aspired to anything worthwhile.

The earlier successes of the BMW 320, Audi 4000 and Saab 900 among others inspired Cadillac's failed experiment. It may not have been coincidence that successive models of these European imports grew ever larger.

Who knows how many North Americans decided on the basis of having seen, heard, or even worse drove, a Cadillac Cimarron that no compact-sized car could ever merit a luxury price?

We'll soon find out, in any event, how many drivers are willing to rethink the matter as new fuel-efficiency standards beginning in 2012 surely will herald another wave of smaller vehicles.

The Acura CRX, BMW 135i, Mercedes-Benz B200 and Volvo S40, as well as the regular Audi A3, are current examples of luxury compacts. The A3 TDI moves a step beyond them in fuel efficiency. As the 2010 Green Car of The Year, this diesel-powered model (TDI stands for turbo direct-injection diesel) provides a model for every major manufacturer's product planning.