The Ford B-MAX concept that debuted at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show had this nifty pillarless design that we assumed would never make it to production. Without a fixed B-pullar, the B-MAX concept had the type of seat access that parents (or others who need to load a lot of awkward things into the car) would kill for. Today Ford announced that the production B-MAX would have that innovative feature.
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Categories: Ford,Hatchbacks
Not much to differentiate the diesel-engine Beetle from the rest of the lineup. It's pretty much down to the thin chrome strip on the top of the door panels and TDI-specific 17-inch alloys.
The DFPs (diesel fan people) already register disappointment with the 2013 Beetle TDI’s kinda mediocre Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy ratings of 29 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway. There are plenty of gasoline-engine small cars fielding similar numbers, after all. But the latest EPA test procedure seems to hamper diesels, and many DFPs expect on-the-road economy to be better than the window sticker ratings.
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Categories: Chicago Auto Show,Diesels,Hatchbacks,Volkswagen
At some point during the 2012 Chicago Auto Show ( 10:25am Wednesday) Kia will show off a Soul concept described as being "the ultimate Soul." Kia's U.S. design team will be on hand (as will Peter Schreyer) to discuss the new design language.
Unfortunately, there are no plans to ever produce this ultimate three-door Soul. Too bad, 247-horsepower, a de-cubed design and a stance like this could really help us get behind the Soul.
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Categories: Chicago Auto Show,Concept Vehicles,Hatchbacks,Kia
Showing their "commitment to the compact car segment," Nissan will be showing an all-new B-segment car concept at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show: the Nissan Invitation.
This Fit lookalike would slide in with the Micra and the Juke in Europe. Nissan says "Invitation is an energetic design, bringing fresh style, innovation and excitement to the mainstream market."
We say "It's a Nissan Fit...which is a good thing."
Look for more of this car as we get closer to Geneva.
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Categories: Hatchbacks,Nissan
Recently, Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne revealed to USA today that Chrysler was seriously considering a new five-door hatchback for the U.S. market. Here in the states the car would be known as the Chrysler 100 while in Europe it will be sold as a Lancia.
This is an important distinction as Lancia is a luxury brand in Europe. Chrysler could easily have gone low-budget and went Dodge/Fiat, but Marchionne and others clearly see a market for a high-end, A3-like hatch. This car is built on the same platform that underpins the Dart and the Giulietta, but this car has a Chrysler grille, different exhaust and different rear bumper that foreshadows a longer car with more cargo space. This mule also has a higher hood than the five-door Dart mules we've seen.
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Categories: Chrysler,Future Vehicles,Hatchbacks,Spy Photos
The band OK Go is known mostly for its crazy music videos and not necessarily the music behind them. Remember the video with the treadmills? Yeah you do. Remember the song behind it? Probably not.
They've ditched the gym equipment for a 2012 Chevy Sonic this time. Says the description, "Ok Go set up over 1,000 instruments over two miles of desert outside Los Angeles. A Chevy Sonic was outfitted with retractable pneumatic arms designed to play the instruments, and the band recorded this version of Needing/Getting, singing as they played the instrument array with the car."
This video took four months of prep and four days of shooting. I'm surprised it didn't take longer.
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Categories: Chevrolet,Hatchbacks,Videos
Perhaps there is hope for car culture after all. Citing consumer demand (and not just internet bickering), Ford will be offering a five-speed manual transmission option for the 2012 Ford Focus Titanium. "Buyers migrating from higher-priced import brands frequently prefer manual transmission," Ford said in a statement. Nearly 40 percent of trade-ins on Focus are imports.
Previously the manual transmission was only available in the S and SE version of the Focus with a six-speed automated manual being the only option on the top-trim Focus Titanium. Too bad, too, because the Titanium is the one that goes best with a manual. It gets 18-inch alloy wheels and a sport-tuned suspension. The only thing missing was a transmission that reacted as well as the chassis did.
Ford says that this decision was based on a manual take rate of 7 percent. That figure is 50% higher than Ford expected and surely has something to do with the complaints Ford is getting about the automated manual. You'll remember that Consumer Reports downgraded Ford's reliability rating due to complaints revolving around the automated manual transmission and MyFord Touch.
Related: 2012 Ford Focus Titanium vs. 2011 Hyundai Elantra Limited
Categories: Ford,Hatchbacks,Sedans
Ferrari went all sorts of crazy in 2011 releasing an all-wheel-drive hatchback bearing the Pracing Horse. They called it the FF and love it or hate it, a Ferrari capable of driving in the dirt and snow has given us some pretty slick images and videos. Here's the latest.
It stars the 6.3-liter, 651 Horsepower hatchback and Finnish rally driver Markku Alen on the Arjeplog ice track in the North of Sweden.
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Categories: Ferrari,Hatchbacks
The Fiat 500 was, in bluntest terms, a sales flop in the US. They estimated that 50,000 of them would fly off of dealer lots when in reality only something like 20,000 did.
To solve the problem of America they've taken the easy route and simply made the car BIGGER. Despite more doors, the 500L is less than 3-inches longer than the normal 500 at 13.6 feet. Width is 5.8 feet and the 500L stands 5.4 feet tall. The 500L (guess what L stands for) is a B-segment car with the "feel of a small SUV." Just what we've always wanted? Let's hope Fiat gets some more power out of the 1.4-liter Multiair; 101 hp barely cuts it in the 500.
The 500L makes its debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show and will go on sale in the US in 2013. It will be built in Kragujevac, Serbia.
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Categories: Fiat,Geneva Motor Show,Hatchbacks
"The B-Max combines an exciting, innovative design with features that only previously have been found in bigger cars. It's a brand-new car that responds to the needs of an increasing number of customers who want much more from their small cars." Ford of Europe CEO Stephen Odell forgot to add "except Americans" to this statement about the new B-Max as it is extremely unlikely that this new MPV will ever make it to our shores. Ford also didn't come through with specific details on what these features that meet our needs will be.
The new big hatchback sports a cool, pillarless design with a trapezoidal face and will offer best-in-class cargo space. The B-Max will be powered by Ford's new 1.0-liter Ecoboost engine for the gas version and a diesel will be available.
More will become clear at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show when this car gets its official debut.
Categories: Ford,Geneva Motor Show,Hatchbacks
...and here's the Super Bowl ad for the 2012 Chevy Sonic. You'll remember that this one includes stunts like the Sonic's first skydive, first kickflip and the Sonic's first music video. They grow up so fast.
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Categories: Chevrolet,Hatchbacks,Videos
Including an $810 destination fee, the 2012 Honda Crosstour EX with a 2.4-liter i-VTEC motor will cost you $28,495. The 2012 Honda Crosstour (remember, it's not Accord Crosstour anymore) starts at $30,340.
The new motor, announced late in 2011, makes 192 horsepower and returns 2 more mpg in the city and 2 mpg on the highway than the 271 horsepower 3.5-liter V6. In the Honda Accord SE the 2.4-liter I4 only makes 177 horsepower.
When we tested the 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour in 2WD EX-L trim we managed a 0-60 run of 7.5 seconds, a quarter mile time of 15.5 @ 91.3 and combined fuel economy of 18.5 mpg.
Categories: Hatchbacks,Honda
Not that we're not excited about the upcoming Chicago Auto Show, but at this time of the year, our eyes are firmly locked on the spectacle that is the Geneva Motor Show.
One of the cars being shown at Geneva is the next-generation Mercedes-Benz A Class and this teaser video gives us our first look at the new five-door. Last year Mercedes-Benz showed off the A-Class concept at both the New York and Shanghai Auto Shows and now we're seeing how that shape translates into a real car.
For the American market (sometime in 2013), expect to see a turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic driving the front wheels.
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Categories: Geneva Motor Show,Hatchbacks,Mercedes-Benz
In 2014 Mini is expected to launch the next generation of Mini Cooper. The new hatchback will, no doubt, feature retro Mini style in a package that some will describe as "cute." We don't have a ton to work with from this batch of spy photos, but we do get a shot of the interior which is very, very BMW-like. As in, they yanked the interior out of a 1-series and put it in here. The gauges, stalks, radio and dash layout are so boringly efficient they can only be from a BMW. We're not fans of the giant central gauge in the current Minis, but we dig the toggle switches and the quirkiness. Can Mini get away with being this...bland?
The other possibility here is that this is the interior of the BMW 1 Series GT wearing Mini skin to throw us off the trail / to test on a more developed platform. BMW is relatively mum on the issue, but will certainly be bringing a front-drive sub-1 Series hatchback/wagon thing to market in the next few years. We've heard plans of 13 new FWD BMWs in the next five years and have seen spy photos of a front-drive MPV as well. This interior (see it after the jump) makes sense in a BMW, not so much in a Mini.
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Categories: Hatchbacks,MINI,Spy Photos
If we're to believe Fiat head Olivier Francois, the Fiat 500 looks to be following in the footsteps of the Mini Cooper and adding a larger version for the U.S. market.
Sales of the 500 have been disappointing in part due to a limited roll-out and in part due to what Olivier Francois says was the misrepresentation of the 500 as a "click car." "There is now no excuse, the brand's brief was wrong, and all the responsibility lies here...Soon we will have the sporty masculine version that we missed because we tucked into the feminine DNA of the 500."
Also helping to bolster US sales will be a five-door model "related" to the 500 that will debut at the Geneva Motor Show this March. The new model will go on sale in the U.S. next year.
Fiat sold fewer than 20,000 500s in 2011. Marchionne previously had predicted that it would sell 50,000 units. "We thought we were going to show up and just because of the fact people like gelato and pasta, people will buy it. This is nonsense." said Marchionne told reporters on Jan 11th.
Simply making it bigger seems like the same way of thinking, doesn't it?
Categories: Fiat,Geneva Motor Show,Hatchbacks
Yesterday we brought you an image of the all new, 2013 Kia Cee'd. The stylish new hatchback out of Kia is set for a Geneva Debut and Kia was teasing us with this one front three quarters shot and the knowledge that it will get the new 1.6-liter GDI engine from the Veloster Turbo.
Now, thanks to Kia World we have more photos of the hatchback that could soon wear Forte badging here in the U.S. The overall design is significantly less aggressive than we've seen in other Hyundais as of late and borders on understated. Peter Schreyer will do that.
Previously we've caught images of a Cee'd / Forte sedan testing in the U.S.
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Categories: Hatchbacks,Kia
A year ago, Toyota showed the Prius C concept at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. Today at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show the company rolled out the production version of the 2012 Toyota Prius C.
Here's what you need to know: Starting price: $19,000. Fuel economy: 53 mpg city. Power: 99 horsepower.
Want more?
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Categories: Detroit Auto Show,Hatchbacks,Hybrids,Toyota
Equipped with a dual-clutch automatic, a 2012 Veloster we tested got to 60 in 9.8 seconds.The 2,813-pound, 138-horsepower car crossed the quarter-mile in 17.4 seconds at a speed of 81.2 mph. While this number is acceptable, it's fairly underwhelming for those of us looking for something fun and funky.
Hyundai apparently agrees, as it has just (officially) announced the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo to run against the likes of the Mini Cooper S, Honda Civic Si and Volkswagen GTI.
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Categories: Detroit Auto Show,Hatchbacks,Hyundai,Sports Cars
We all knew this day was coming, but now that it's finally here, we think it probably should've happened eons ago: The Dodge Caliber is officially dead. Production has finally stopped according to the Detroit News. "It's the last of the American bottom-feeder compacts" said analyst Jim Hall in the article.
The Caliber is set to be replaced by the Fiat-based 2013 Dodge Dart which has the potential to claim the volume-seller slot in Dodge's lineup. In November, Caliber sales were down 62% year-over-year moving only 1,202 vehicles. In 2011, Dodge has sold 33,632 Calibers. It is being outsold by everything in Dodge's lineup except the Viper (161 units) and the Nitro (22,445).
Categories: Auto Industry,Chrysler,Hatchbacks
GM has just dropped the official images of the 2013 Chevy Sonic RS, one of the vehicles they'll be bringing to the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.
The 2013 Sonic RS isn't just a concept, it's going into production and will be on sale by the end of 2012. The RS is exclusively offered as a five-door hatchback and is only available with the 1.4-liter, 138-horsepower turbocharged engine.
Unique to the RS is a new front fascia with new fog lamps, RS-specific grille, near rear fascia and spoiler, new rocker panels and mirror caps, retuned sport exhaust, 17-inch wheels, lowered suspension with performance dampers and, of course, RS badging. "The Sonic RS remains true to the progressive spirit of the concept and brings an unmistakable attitude to the segment. From every angle and every touch point it is a car that is unabashed in its performance statement -- and one that drives Chevrolet's performance legacy into its second century." said John Mack, design director for Sonic.
The Sonic was already a solid handler. In our first drive we wrote, " ...the steering weight and precision are a revelation, but its ability to grip and go around corners with authority is also notable. It reminds us of the Fiesta SES in this regard, but the Fiesta's 16-inch wheels-tires don't provide the same near-silent high-limit confidence -- or the driver-defeatable stability control system." The RS should be a blast...even if we did want the RS to have more power than the normal LTZ.
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Categories: Chevrolet,Detroit Auto Show,Hatchbacks,Tuners and Modifications
The Ford B-MAX concept that debuted at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show had this nifty pillarless design that we assumed would never make it to production. Without a fixed B-pullar, the B-MAX concept had the type of seat access that parents (or others who need to load a lot of awkward things into the car) would kill for. Today Ford announced that the production B-MAX would have that innovative feature.
