Hatchbacks

As we first reported just a few days ago, the Aveo name is being phased out for Chevrolet’s next-generation small car, which we can confirm today will be called the Sonic. Production is to begin in early 2011 at GM’s Orion Assembly Center in Michigan, which is receiving a $545 million...

The rumors have proved true: the 2012 Volkswagen Golf R will be making its way to America in late 2011 or early 2012, according to Volkwagen of America CEO Johnathan Browning at an International Motor Press Association meeting today. So what can we expect? According to Browning, the U.S. version of...

Since the first unveiling of the 270 horsepower 2011 Volkswagen Golf R, hot hatch enthusiasts here in the U.S. have been pining for a successor to the legendary R32, but according to previous reports the new Golf R is still up in the air for American sale due to cost issues and the relationship...

The Honda CR-Z currently has a sole powertrain option, a finicky hybrid system consisting of a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine mated to the automaker’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA). The setup is good for 122 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 128 pound-feet of torque from 1,000-1,500 rpm, figures...

Mark Schirmer of Ford Communications has put a brutal end to rumors of a 2012 Ford Focus Coupe through a posting made today to Facebook. Fret not, Blue Oval lovers, the 247-horsepower 2012 Focus ST hatch (pictured) is still headed our way. But for those that had entertained fancies of two- or...

The 2012 Fiat 500 is almost here. Making its North American debut at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show this week, the stylish minicar managed to draw plenty of attention, not only because of its cute styling and Italian flair but also because of its $15,000 pricetag. North American versions of the car...

The 2011 Ford Fiesta is going rallying factory-style with the R2 Package unveiled earlier this year, and now its slightly bigger brother, the new 2012 Ford Focus, is getting similar treatment. At the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show today Ford is rolling out the Focus Race Concept, built to compete in...

Mazda is taking its “zoom zoom” philosophy to a whole new level at the 2010 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, which is taking place in Las Vegas this week. Mazda’s product lineup of sedans, sports cars and crossovers already offer consumers plenty of thrills in...

Ford's new Fiesta may be getting most of the media blast, but the 2012 Focus isn't being forgotten about by the home office. Ford announced today two new packages for the Focus to sharpen its look and make the car more responsive and agile-feeling on the road. The upgrades come in the form of the...

When Volvo first unveiled its C30 hatch back in 2006 many questioned the automaker’s decision to ignore launching a more practical five-door model and instead offer it exclusively as a sporty three-door. As we all know Volvo’s finances quickly degraded shortly after that and launching a...

The Suzuki Swift is a hot little hatch sold in most parts of the globe and in its Swift Sport guise can be a hoot to drive, easily upsetting some much more expensive models when it comes to fun factor. The U.S. is finally set to taste what the rest of the world has been enjoying for years as the...

Hyundai's front-drive sporty 40-mpg wundercar is having a hard time making it to production. First tipped to make its production debut in Paris this year, it didn't make the show. Then it was expected at Los Angeles, and Hyundai said that wouldn't happen either. Now it looks like it might not even...

Right now in the U.S. you can step into a brand new BMW for just under $30,000--for Mercedes-Benz the entry-point creeps a few thousand dollars higher--but in the next couple of years we should be seeing a range of more affordable models from both of the luxury stalwarts. That’s because both...

The growing push towards smaller and more fuel efficient vehicles is leading the charge for changing consumer perceptions of what defines a luxury car--with size no longer the differentiator but rather technology, quality and design. Not surprisingly we’ve seen most of the luxury automakers...

The 2011 Ford Fiesta is already selling well, and at higher prices than its big brother, the Focus. Now Ford is getting into the accessories game for the small hatch, with a set of cars to debut at the 2010 SEMA show in Las Vegas. One of the cars on display at SEMA will be a bit more special than...

Tiny, American (sort of), ridiculously fast, and dedicated to rally competition, the Ford Fiesta RS WRC is a gravel-to-pavement lover's lust item. And it just made its global public debut at the 2010 Paris Auto Show. Built around a 1.6-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the Fiesta RS...

The 2010 Paris Auto Show is winding down, but there's still much to be seen, including Audi's punchiest version of the A1, the 1.4 TFSI. Packing a supercharger, a turbocharger, and 185 wild horses, the A1 1.4 TFSI is just a quattro all-wheel-drive system short of earning an S1 badge. Despite the...

The small-car band wagon is piling high with automakers, including those from Detroit, offering vehicles like the 2011 Ford Fiesta, 2011 Mazda2, and 2011 Chevrolet Aveo, all of which are either in showrooms already or on their way. Suzuki has recently moved the other way, introducing what many...

Though it's been previewed earlier in the year, the 2011 Audi A7 made its formal debut at the 2010 Paris Auto Show with the trendy slope-back style pioneered by Mercedes-Benz, and adapted heartily by Porsche. On the A7, the hatchback, four-door-coupe stance works much better than on the Porsche...

Nissan's take on an all-electric city vehicle has been revealed today in the form of the new Townpod Concept, which is making its debut at the 2010 Paris Auto Show. Targeted at those always on the go, the Townpod can be tailored to a particular customer’s own needs and is described as a cross...