By Jeff Glucker
Reader Marto comes through with another gem of a category. This time he’s delving into the topic of automotive niches. There are plenty of unique spaces occupied by only a few vehicles, but Marto wants to find niches that we haven’t named yet or don’t get enough attention. For example, can you consider the GTM Libra a Pocket Supercar? Is the Codatronica a Super Wagon? Is the Chevette HSR a Muscle City Car?
These are important questions, and I know many of you will have the right answers and insight. Dive on into this thread and drop some knowledge for us.
Kamil Kaluski 
Eric Rood
A reliable British automobile.
Sure, it could be a niche, but if there's no cars that fit in it is it worth defining?
This was received with great Acclaim!
<img src="http://www.aronline.co.uk/brochures/3513_01.jpg">
That's gotta be one of those infamous Leyland licensed/built Hondas. Looks like an early-80s Civic!
::googles::
Yup, sure is!
Honda Ballade, not the similar Civic.
Vavon, thanks! You save my time by posting the replies that I would post if I were faster. This time you won by some 4 hours.
You're welcome! 🙂
Me and my Rover 800 resemble that remark.
More and more reasons to buy old.
From the whole dyslexic nanny niche alphabet of ABS, ESP, BAS, ASC, ETC., to the dreaded Black Box.
I declare all Black Box cars the Snitch Niche!
<img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wECEmTTroBk/UMczOUyp03I/AAAAAAAAA64/GjpShmJgHIo/s1600/Black+Box.jpg" width="600">
I don't mind them rolling it out on Cadillacs first….
First they rolled it out on Cadillacs, and I didn't complain because I don't drive a Cadillac,
then they rolled it out on…. you know the rest.
How about a Sport Utility Sedan? Oh, wait…
<img src="http://i.ebayimg.com/t/1999-Subaru-30th-ANNIVERSARY-SPORT-UTILITY-SEDAN-Brochure-/00/s/MTYwMFgxMzgw/$T2eC16JHJGkE9no8gJH7BQM(hFkf+Q~~60_12.JPG"width="400">
The Sports Utility Conclave: for all your mobile pope selection needs. I don't picture this being a big market.
The Sequester Brake: Fits you and all your gear for that indefinite "furlough."
Sends out black smoke until it sends out white smoke?
City-sliders! Also know as city cars with slidy doors…
Like the Toyota Porte and the discontinued Peugeot 1007.
<img src="http://loisirs.lemessager.fr/fichier/image/redac/image/c/d/3/grande-cd35682e34998375376e75cf1435690580865a45.jpg">
<img src="http://images.forum-auto.com/mesimages/189875/peugeot-1007-04.jpg">
Why aren't these more popular?
I really don't know, however the 1007 was way too expensive, the electic doors were too slow and it looked weird.
It was very heavy for a small car, because It had impressive crash-safety. But in the end the 1007 just crashed!
<img src="http://www.linternaute.com/auto/citadine/photo/crash-test-les-citadines-les-plus-sures/image/peugeot-1007-287565.jpg">
The Toyota Porte was popular enough to do an update, they even made a variation called the Spade which I wouldn't kick out of bed.
<img src="http://www.rpmgo.com/images2009/Toyota-Spade-4.jpg" width="500">
The name Porte (French / Spanish for door) made sense, why call it a spade???
The Porte is still around. I assume it was named the Spade because the people who name Japanese cars tend to be slightly insane.
City-slider – love it!
Small cars with enormous doors. Like an inverse Hummer.
If Gordon Murray ever finds a maker for his T25, the city-slider might indeed become more popular.
Even though that's sort of a city-seashell:
<img src="http://www.motorward.com/wp-content/images/2010/06/gordon-murray-t25-2.jpg">