Hatchbacks

Alfa Romeo's new MiTo is hardly a performance powerhouse, with the current range-topping model in the lineup boasting a diminutive 1.4L turbo engine until the performance-focused GTA arrives. Thankfully, German tuner Novitec Rosso is remedying the situation with a number of upgrades for the stylish...

In the U.S. the 2009 Audi A3 is only offered with a pair of petrol engines ranging in displacement from 2.0L up to 3.2L, but in the rest of the world Audi offers a full range of engine options including both petrol and TDI diesel units. Overseas the A3 engine family has now been expanded with the...

Covering over 3,044 miles (4,900km) in three days, driving specialist Gerhard Plattner is gearing up for his next record-breaking attempt as the first driver to reach three continents in just three days. On June 8, Plattner and his co-pilot Franz Doppler will depart from Rabat, Morocco, in an Audi...

Volkswagen may already be in the midst of preparing a new three-door version of its 2010 Polo hatchback, but a rumored coupe version due late next year promises to be even more attractive. The car would slot into VW’s lineup as a smaller sibling to the Scirocco coupe, with which it will share...

It’s a well known fact that the U.S. market misses out on most of Ford’s hot products, but with a push for new global models taking shape in Blue Oval offices around the world hopefully we will start to see more of these coveted models make their way Stateside. Unfortunately, the Focus...

This week has been a relatively busy one for Volkswagen, which in the past couple of days has unveiled the all new Scirocco R sports coupe, a pair of GTI concepts based on the Golf and Polo, and now the Golf Estate wagon. Three different versions of the new Estate will be offered: Trendline...

Chrysler and Fiat have already tied the knot but now questions are emerging as to how the two companies will conceive new Chrysler vehicles based on Fiat's current stock. A Chrysler-Fiat vehicle won't just feature a Chrysler badge slapped on the bonnet, but instead it will have to be re-engineered...

As Wall Street tumbles and Americans deal with the tough times, Ford is eying its global minicar, the Ka, for U.S. sale. The car had previously been rejected as incompatible with the American taste for large, powerful vehicles, but with the signing of the Fiat-Chrysler alliance earlier this month a...

Around this time last year we brought you news about a handsome Seat concept car that had appeared at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. Known as the Bocanegra (black mouth in English), the concept was supposed to preview the next generation of Seat Ibiza's performance variant, the Cupra. When the...

Many have wondered what will happen to all the new Opel products being brought to the U.S. now that Saturn is facing sale or termination in the next few months. The answer may lie in a new report that the Astra - built by Opel, sold in the U.S. as a Saturn - may be branded as a Buick in North...

With the news that Chrysler and Fiat have finally managed to forge an alliance settling in and Chrysler's bankruptcy proceedings underway, the documents attendant to that process are beginning to reveal key details of the two company's plans. Today the models destined for U.S. sale via the...

Renault just unveiled the brand-new Clio in February and barely a month later it was out with the hotted-up Renaultsport (RS) variant in Geneva. The car features many of the same performance upgrades found on bigger brother the Megane RS, but in a more compact and peaky package. Now we have a new...

Due for a complete reworking in just a year or two - possibly to be replaced by a whole new family of compact cars - Mercedes-Benz is refreshing the A-Class with a 5,500 unit special edition to help keep sales spooled up through the end of its production run. Playing up the A-Class's sensible...

Audi has pushed back the arrival of its next-generation A3 by one year as it tackles the development of several other all-new models such as the A1 hatch and Q3 soft-roader. Originally slated to arrive at the end of the year, the next A3 will now hit the market in the first half of 2010 in the...

Toyota's Auris, often sold as the Corolla in certain markets, has just been updated for 2009, with improvements made in performance, fuel economy and emissions thanks to the carmaker’s 'Optimal Drive' technology. A new 1.6L engine is also available, and with this engine in place the Toyota...

For years carmakers considered diesel models as strictly Europe's domain, with low demand and a poor reputation in the U.S. doing little to help the cause. This attitude, however, is set to change according to Volkswagen, which is predicting more diesel sales this year with the release of the new...

With another surprisingly attractive and forward-looking design, Hyundai's Nuvis Concept carries on the string of successful show concepts for the brand. The Nuvis is a crossover that's intended to make the most of an urban lifestyle, taking elements from many body styles to fit a unique set of...

Small, efficient cars have not fared particularly well in the U.S. Why, exactly, isn't precisely a mystery - Americans like big, strong cars for the most part - but it is something of a paradox, because Americans also want great fuel efficiency and low prices. As oil prices rise, the average...

The iQ hatch has been winning hearts and awards ever since its debut at last year's Paris Motor Show thanks to its cute face and its innovative design. Now it is catching second looks as it shows up in New York wearing a Scion badge and a special urban look. Targeted directly at Scion's already...

Arden is a German tuning company that has a penchant for modifying British cars, namely, Jaguars and Land Rovers. Now, the company is looking to expand its business by modifying vehicles from the Mini brand and is targeting buyers looking for something sporty yet still luxurious. Arden’s...