Hatchbacks

Success in business is often about taking educated risks, and even the best players in the game don’t always get it right. General Motors’ decision to import the Opel Astra to the United States as a Saturn-badged car, made before oil prices sky-rocketed and currency rates went out of...

Ford dealers in the UK have been inundated with orders for the upcoming Focus RS hot-hatch, which was previewed recently in concept form at July’s British Motor Show. So far more than 1,000 customer orders have been placed, with close to 40% of the applicants requesting the new...

Click here to see the debut of the Lexus IS250C Convertible at the Paris Motor Show. The secret about Lexus' upcoming convertible hardtop IS variants has been out for some time now, with spy photos and registered names tipping the company's hand. The latest news of the Japanese carmaker's plans for...

After several leaks of official images and even some insider patent mock-ups, Renault has released full details and images for its 2009 Megane five-door hatch just weeks out from its world debut at next month’s Paris Motor Show. Following the launch of the hatch, Renault is set to follow it...

Audi’s 2009 facelifted A3 will go on sale in the U.S. later this month, with prices starting at $27,745 for the A3 FrontTrak 2.0L TFSI model and going up to $37,800 for the A3 Quattro 3.2L V6. In addition to the revised styling and minor engine upgrades, the entry-level 2.0L TFSI is now...

Nissan will present a new concept vehicle at next month’s Paris Motor Show that the carmaker claims is a preview of a future production model due in the middle of the next decade. The concept is called the Nuvu, short for ‘New View,’ and is described as a compact city car aimed at...

The limited-edition TF is already on sale in the UK, and over 80% of the 500-car production run is sold out. The TF is just the beginning of the Chinese owner's plans for the brand, however. Starting in 2010, the SAIC-owned MG will begin building a range of new cars, with the first to be a mid-size...

Updated with new information After a number of leaks, a sighting in a preview clip for the upcoming James Bond movie Quantum of Solace and an official announcement, Ford has revealed even more details about its new Ka minicar. The new model will make its official world debut at the Paris Motor Show...

Fender-benders in small cars can be a lot more expensive than the speeds involved might otherwise indicate, according to a new study by the IIHS. The results of low-speed crash testing show that some cars can rack up thousands of dollars in repair bills - the Volkswagen Rabbit (Golf) (pictured)...

Hyundai has taken the wraps off the latest addition to its stylish i-range of compact cars, the all-new i20 five-door hatchback, which is set to go on sale in global markets early next year. Designed at the carmaker’s European design center in Russelsheim, Germany, the hatch follows the...

Talking points for Toyota executives over the past year have kept a heavy emphasis on plans to offer every vehicle in the lineup as a hybrid, with the most recent promises highlighting the emissions savings already achieved by the Prius and other hybrids. Now reports of Toyota's upcoming tiny city...

Malaysian carmaker Proton has launched a range of eco-friendly cars, in a similar vein to Peugeot's recent BlueLion program, as well as numerous other manufactures who have undertaken similar eco-friendly schemes. Launched in the UK, Proton will be offering an 'Ecologic' version of the GEN2 (also...

Updated with pricing details The 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX has had its internals and exterior tinkered with resulting in a performance upgrade from its predecessor. A 265hp (198kW) turbocharged intercooled boxer engine provides the grunt, while a retuned suspension system and wider, lower-profile...

Less than six months after its launch, the new Ibiza range has expanded with the arrival of the Cupra performance variant. The latest model continues the ‘Arrow Design’ first seen on the Bocanegra Concept, but also receives a newly designed bumper with air intake vents surrounding the...

The previous generation Ibiza Ecomotive is already regarded as one of the most ecological cars in the small hatch segment, but Seat has set out to improve on this with the launch of the second-generation model based on the new 2009 Ibiza. Available in both the five-door and SportCoupe versions, the...

Updated with new images. General Motors is scrambling to bring some of its small-car concepts to life as global preferences and oil price pressures drive interest in the segment to new highs. Near the top of the list is the Beat concept, currently in development by GM Daewoo in South Korea. These...

The last time we heard from the Austrian tuners at O.CT they were working their magic on a Fiat 500, boosting power by 20% and giving it a new appearance. Now they've turned their efforts onto a last-generation Audi S3, but with more extreme modifications in mind - including a switch from AWD to...

The once financially stricken Smart brand is now struggling to keep up with demand for its iconic ForTwo minicar, with managers considering building a second plant and adding more models. German media is reporting that a second production facility in either the U.S. or Asia could be on the cards as...

Update: The 2009 Honda Fit, or Jazz as it's known outside the U.S. will be arriving in dealerships early next month, priced to start at $15,220. While that's a $600 increase over the 2008 model, it covers a brand-new design plus a better package of features and technology. Equipped with a...

Strong demand for the reincarnated Fiat 500 has been the story of its brief life. Since its debut in 2007, when it sold out its entire year's production run in just three weeks. Originally planned for a run of just 58,000 cars, output has since been increased to 120,000, then 140,000 and now the...