Footdown

Hong Kong's hip are about to be torn between the 698cc Smart ForTwo's interchangeable body panels and the Peugeot 1007's Cameleo trim. Our trendies are well aware of the ForTwo's ability to ride out in pink one day and lilac the next, yet officially remain black or silver on registration documents, thanks to the constancy of its Tridion safety shell. But Peugeot's sliding-doored, 1.6-litre, four-seater runabout's Cameleo trim (right) enables the hip to tell their helpers to dress the 1007 interior in either of two trims from a choice of 12 style options. 'And the eight seat covers can all be removed and put in the washer,' Peugeot says.

The Cameleo idea is as canny as it's practical, because mucky interiors erode car values here. Each 18-part kit consists of two fascia panel mats, four air-vent covers, two door panels, two rear storage covers and eight seat covers that the French marque says can be changed in minutes.

Additional sets cost GBP185 ($2,500), but prices have yet to be set in Hong Kong, says Calvin Lam of Peugeot dealer AutoFrance (tel: 3118 1828). But he insists, as Hong Kong dealers might, that the hip 1007 isn't about to have a Zoolander-type walk-off with the stylish ForTwo.

'Both the Smart and 1007 are vehicles for the stylish,' he says. 'We're not competing, but we're both stimulating the owners to make changes.'

Indeed, the colour-loving ForTwo and 1007 ($186,800) owners may ride out together. 'The 1007 owners may form a 1007 club, or integrate into the Peugeot owners' club,' Lam says.

But what would happen if the Smart and 1007's colours clashed? Would it be clutch bags at 40 paces outside Club 97, and if so, would we call Asia's Finest, or the fashion police?

Talking of the law, we've just heard that our police have taken delivery of 40 Nissan Tiida and the Hong Kong government has bought 40 Nissan Cefiro for the Fire Services Department, Hong Kong Monetary Authority and Transport Department. Further details to follow.