Micro cars are a common sight on European roads, but the smallest of four wheelers are a rarity here in the United States. However, that trend could be changing as a new wave of small cars could be coming our way. Scion showed off its iQ concept at the New York Auto Show earlier this week and Volkswagen has announced its Up city car could be U.S.-bound.

Volkswagen CEO Stefan Jacoby revealed the German automaker is considering bringing a version of the Up to the U.S. market. VW plans to produce the Up in sedan, hatchback and minivan body styles, but only the minivan is being considered for the U.S., thanks to its larger size.

However, a U.S.-spec Up is still a ways down the path. Due to a recent powertrain switch, the Up won’t make it to the European market until 2011, according to Automotive News. Add in the extra time needed to make the Up U.S. compliant and the city car won’t likely be on our shores anytime before 2012.

But VW is set on achieving 1 million global sales by 2018 — with the Up playing a larger role in that goal – so it’s quite possible we’ll see the Up by sometime next decade. If gas prices jump back up to $4 a gallon or higher, VW could even fast track the project.