For years the Japanese domestic market has had to cater for people in its own market needing small motor vehicles to navigate their narrow streets on the one hand and to reduce the requirement for expensive car parking facilities; especially in their over crowded cities. They needed a product that would allow people to move when and where necessary under cover from the fierce heat of summer and the chilling cold of winter that was at the same time small enough to easily skip through the city streets and park in spaces where their bigger brother and sister autos could not. Thus evolved the 'Kei Car'. With the rising cost of fuel these cars are becoming popular outside Japan as other countries begin to see value in these high tech fuel efficient motor cars. Honda Life is one such motor vehicle that is finding popularity in countries like New Zealand where there is no home-based automotive manufacturing industry and consequently no restriction to the importation of motor vehicles. To qualify for the 'Kei Car' designation in Japan there are restrictions on the engine size (660cc maximum) and physical dimensions (3.4 meters long and 1.5 meters wide) of the motor vehicle. Japanese manufacturers added the Turbo option to these vehicles to facilitate a need from some buyers within the 'Kei-Car' market for more power. As there was a cap on the size of the engine, the most obvious and cost effective way to add power was to introduce an intercooled turbo option to the range. Coupled with twin air bags, ABS braking, cutting edge emission technology and Japanese reliability these cars are a winner in a world crying out for planet saving modes of transport. When the world takes note and comes to understand that there are cars available right now to address the expensive motoring options available in most markets around the globe then we will see the reductions in emissions and the savings in fuel usage eagerly sought by motorists worldwide. Places like Canada have these vehicles available in small numbers the unfortunate thing here is they have government restrictions in place allowing units 15 years old or older into their market. While this is a start, the advantages for Canada in allowing brand new 'Kei-Cars' into their national fleet would be numerous. How about the USA? I think I am right in assuming the law there would allow 25 year old 'Kei-Cars' through the door there; perhaps a critical analysis of this situation is necessary.