Parking in the City of Hamilton may have just gotten a whole lot easier with the arrival of a car that can fit into cycle bays. The ‘smart' car, already popular in Europe and Asia, is expected to be launched in Canada in 2005. The car will not be launched in the US until 2006.

It will be launched as an SUV similar to the Toyota RAV4 or the Honda CR-V, an idea thought to be far more popular with American consumers than the original smart car.

This model, the convertible “passion” model, was launched in Europe in March, 2000. The 500 CC engine gets 80 miles to the gallon.

"I can park in two cycle spots!" owner Suzie Pewter said. The four-seater version, called ‘smart forfour', is expected to arrive in Bermuda soon.