Hatchbacks

North America has missed out on a host of exciting and award-winning Ford products sold in Europe for decades - vehicles like the S-Max, Mondeo and Fiesta compact - but that will soon change as the Blue Oval has introduced a new global strategy where only one model, albeit in slightly different...

As it looks for new ways to grow its business, expanding into new markets and moving existing models to markets it already inhabits, Mercedes-Benz is including Eastern Europe in its plans. The latest reports have the company eying production in the western Romanian county of Timis. Production at...

Already Ford has announced its plans to bring the global Fiesta small hatch to the U.S., and the Focus is now also slated to join its littler sibling. Alongside those two, due in 2010 and 2011 respectively, will come the Kuga and C-Max, Ford's global crossover SUV and MPV - the third and fourth of...

Audi has prepped its second Clubsport quattro concept in just two years with the reveal today of the all-new A3 TDI Clubsport quattro concept, which is set to go on show at this month’s 27th annual Lake Wörther tuner show in Austria. Last year Audi presented the TT Clubsport quattro concept...

As this year’s Nurburgring 24 hour endurance challenge approaches several more carmakers have announced plans to enter the comp. The latest is General Motors, which plans to enter a race-prepped version of its Opel Astra OPC in the grueling event. The standard Astra OPC features a 237hp...

The first fruits of the Chrysler-Chery partnership may be realized as early as next year with news today that a Chinese-built car will be sold wearing Chrysler badges in Mexico within the next 12 months. The new car is the Chery A1 hatch (pictured) and it will be the first global model spawned from...

Few would have thought Kia was planning to launch a production version of its Soul concept when the trio of hatchback models was revealed at the recent Geneva Motor Show. The Soul concept was shown as far back as the 2006 Detroit show but it was restyled this year by Kia’s new head of design...

Updated with new interior images. Last year Alfa Romeo burst onto the supercar scene with its deliciously daring 8C Competizione. Smooth, flowing original lines spoke of a redefinition of the company’s styling language, and as these leaked official images reveal the carmaker’s new...

Influential magazine Consumer Reports has picked the Volkswagen Golf (Rabbit) as the winner of its latest group test, rating it the highest in the small four-door hatchback category. Judges picked the Golf over strong competitors such as the Mazda3 and Ford Focus because of its solid feel and...

In Europe the Ford Focus is an affordable, well-engineered and stylish small car available in hatch, sedan, wagon and convertible bodystyles. It also features latest technologies such as a Powershift dual-clutch transmission, flex-fuel engines, a folding hard top roof (cabrio models only), and a...

The Volkswagen Group's small car platform forms the base for the VW Polo, Skoda Fabia and Seat Ibiza, all of which are currently only available in front-wheel drive. The next generation of the platform will get an AWD option, although not all VW Group cars will employ AWD in their cars. Seat's...

Ford has added a new flagship model to its Mondeo line-up with the introduction of the new Titanium X Sport range topper. The new designation adds a number of styling accessories to the Mondeo, along with a brand new diesel engine. Available in five-door hatchback and estate body styles, Titanium X...

Ford has released a new version of its 2008 Focus ST performance hatch developed by its in-house tuner TeamRS and plan to launch the car in a limited run in the UK from next month onwards. The TeamRS version benefits from new exterior and interior styling changes introduced across the rest of the...

As premium brands continue to diversify and expand into new segments one bodystyle that appears to be gaining popularity among the German carmakers is the two-door luxury estate – more commonly referred to as the ‘Shooting Brake’. Audi today revealed its own Sportback version of...

The Maserati Quattroporte defined the modern comeback of Maserati and has been praised for its looks and design the world over. Now, Italian coachbuilder Carrozeria Touring Superleggera is introducing a station-wagon version of the Quattroporte, dubbed the Maserati Quattroporte Bellagio Fastback...

The speed of growth in the Chinese auto market is difficult to comprehend because the scale of it is beyond anything known in Europe or North America, especially coupled with China's record economic growth. To capitalize on the growing automobile craze in China, Daimler is sending its smart fortwo...

Hotly anticipated since the first Iroc concept broke cover back in 2006, Volkswagen's newest take on the Scirocco made its production-form debut at this year's Geneva motor show. Now VW has released a pair of promo videos that show the new car in action, inside and out. The first is a...

Click here for all the official information and pictures for the 2009 Volkswagen Golf Mark VI If you're the type that can't get enough of special UK-edition Volkswagens, the Golf GTI Pirelli is just the fix you're looking for. Bringing back the GTI Pirelli edition 25 years after it first hit the...

Seat has released details about its latest special edition based on its popular Leon, a new 285hp version dubbed the ‘Copa’. The new addition will be built in an extremely limited run of just 55 units and each will be priced from €38,500. The Leon Copa still relies on VW...

There have long been rumors of Fiat developing several new variants of the wildly successful Fiat 500 and recently the first of these, a new wagon or 'Giardinetta,' has been spotted with some heavy camouflage. Despite engineers’ best attempts to cover the car, the prototype is easily...