Smaller than a supermini, easy to park and environmentally friendly, City Cars are set to be one of the next big things in the global car world. Manufacturers are rushing to bring out their ultra compact models. However, while the concept may be the same, it seems carmakers have widely differing views on how a city car should look.

Nissan’s first city car called the Pixo, debuts at the Paris Motor Show. It is a five door, 1 litre petrol engine car. Built in India, it uses the same platform as the Suzuki Alto and is light and economical with low emissions. The functional Pixo goes on sale next spring and will no doubt attract drivers looking for low cost, no-frills city motoring.

Another Japanese carmaker, Mazda, has a somewhat different take on the city car. The Kiyora concept will eventually be badged as the Mazda 1, when it goes on sale in 2010. Mazda clearly has designs on the more stylish and sporty side of the city car market, with a car that is designed to be functional but funky. When it makes production, the model will also have low emission green credentials, with a 1.3 litre turbocharged direct-injection petrol engine, and an all-new stop start function.