Compact Car

13 August 2007 - Wolfsburg, Germany -- Volkswagen will be firing off the next salvo of its BlueMotion offensive at the Internatio?nal Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. In total, six new models with technology that is as economical as it is environmentally friendly, will debut at the world's largest car ...    Read more

It seems I'm either always stuck between having a car paid off, nearly paid off, or I just bought something, and have buyer's remorse, because as soon as I bought it, something else hotter, faster and sexier came along. It seems to be an unbreakable cycle. I'm currently ...    Read more

eGMCarTech reports that, according to the Globe and Mail, BMW is looking to develop a new SUV.The Canadian newspaper reports that the SUV will be called the Mini Colorado. BMW is supposedly in talks with Magna International, one of the world's largest auto parts ...    Read more

There is definitely a trend toward small. So struggling American automaker Ford Motor Co. is going to India, the "world's largest democracy" to explore the possibilities of building a low-cost small car there.Ford entered the Indian market in 1995 when foreign auto makers were allowed to manufacture cars in country. ...    Read more

CAMPBELLFIELD, Australia, July, 2007 -- Ford Australia will add a new model line to its Campbellfield manufacturing assembly plant and create approximately 300 new jobs when it begins manufacturing the Ford Focus in Australia in 2011.In doing so, Ford will become the first Australian car manufacturer to respond to the ...    Read more

I have to admit I was a bit incredulous the first time I saw the release on the new BMW 123d. The company was claiming 201 horsepower from 2.0 liters. 100 horsepower per liter is fairly standard anymore for a turbocharged gasoline engine, and even some highly-strung normally-aspirated engines (most ...    Read more

With all the fanfare GM is creating surrounding the research and development of the Volt and E-Flex, it's hard to believe the company would put all its eggs in one basket with just one derivative of such a new and innovative technology. Although this is pure speculation, I believe there ...    Read more

June 1, 2007 Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., announced manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) today for the 2008 Corolla compact sedan and 2008 Corolla Matrix crossover utility vehicle.Both vehicles arrive at dealerships this month.Toyota Corolla continues to win customers with its dependability, fuel efficiency, and outstanding value. Corolla is ...    Read more

July 13, 2007 -- Torrance, CA - Scion, of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., announced manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) today for the all-new 2008 xD. "The xD is a clever new take on the five-door urban subcompact, with style and flair to match its efficiency and utility," said Mark ...    Read more

For some reason, though, the folks at Honda thought we weren't getting enough information in our vehicles. According to the International Heral Tribune , Honda boasts a new navigation system that, besides providing maps to the quickest routes to destinations and traffic jams, also shows earthquake information and inclemental ...    Read more

People who may not be able to afford one of those fancy hybrids are opting to buy smaller cars to help save on gas. According to the Chicago Tribune , sales of the Honda Civic rose a very strong 39 percent for June and sales of the midsized Nissan ...    Read more

Whenever we hear about one of these partnerships in the auto industry, we think about that old Coca-Cola commercial where a group of twenty-somethings are standing on a hillside and singing, "I wish to give the world a Coke...." According to the German magazine Auto Bild , BMW and ...    Read more

General Motors, along with its South Korean subsidiary, GM Daewoo, has partnered with the Chinese company Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center to develop an engine that may replace GM's 1.6-liter engine worldwide. Currently, GM's smallest engine sold in the U.S. is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder which appears in the Chevrolet Aveo. ...    Read more

Remember the small, compact pickup trucks of the 1970s and 1980s? Japanese manufacturers virtually owned that segment of the market at one point -- Toyota's small pickups were ubiquitous on both college campuses (they were cheap and dependable) and as delivery vehicles for small businesses. Nissan made them; Mazda had ...    Read more

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 25, 2007) - Nissan North America, Inc. announced pricing on the 2008 Nissan Versa Sedan and Hatchback models, which go on sale today at Nissan dealers nationwide. Versa enters it second model year with strong sales momentum -- through May 2007, the Versa Hatchback and Sedan have ...    Read more

Wolfsburg/L?beck - The millionth Volkswagen New Beetle will run off the production line this summer. To mark the occasion, enthusiasts from all over Europe will meet in exactly one month's time on the New Beetle Sunshine Tour. In addition to standard models from the New Beetle and New Beetle Cabriolet ...    Read more

Fiat has a pretty good history in the United States. Some of us old enough to recall have fond memories of the first Fiat to come to these shores in the '50s, the Fiat 500. We thought it was a cool-looking car back then. Course, we were like, more than ...    Read more

If you are out pursuing the market right now for a small car, you should snap it up now because incentives are phasing out and prices will be rising.On the other hand, reports the Detroit Free Press , if you are looking to buy an SUV, you should wait ...    Read more

IRVINE, Calif., June 6, 2007 -- According to the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Initial Quality StudySM (IQS) released today, the 2007 Kia Rio/Rio5 ranked highest in initial quality in the sub-compact segment. This is the second consecutive year Rio/Rio5 has received this honor. Completely redesigned in 2006, the study ...    Read more

Volkswagen plans to introduce the 2008 Golf GTI Pirelli to Europe in September. A special edition car, it mimics the original GTI Pirelli which first appeared in 1983. The 2008 version sits on 18-inch Pirelli wheels (of course) and P Zero tires. The exterior will come in four colors. (Pictured ...    Read more

If the Ford Ranger was a human being, he might be expecting a retirement banquet and that gold watch from the company president for work well done. But the Ranger is a vehicle made by Ford, so its drive out to pasture may take a while. But all the signs ...    Read more

CARSON, Calif., May 30, 2007 -- Car Pros Kia handed over the keys to a brand new 2007 Kia Rio to Brenda Flores of Carson, Calif., the April winner of the "The Power to Surprise Sweepstakes: The Great Kia Car Giveaway" on Tuesday, May 29th at the dealership.The program, in ...    Read more

May 31, 2007 -- Torrance, CA - Scion, of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., announced pricing today for the 2008 tC sports coupe and tC Spec Package models. The 2008 tC and tC Spec Package will be available at dealerships next month. The core model tC receives freshened ...    Read more

The Japanese get the best toys! Hope Ford has access to this new engine as well as the chassis for its upcoming compact. HIROSHIMA, Japan-Mazda Motor Corporation has developed a new, naturally aspirated MZR 1.3L Miller-cycle engine, which will power the all-new Demio (known as the all-new Mazda2 ...    Read more

Those who dream of owning a MG roadster will soon have said dreams become a reality. The Agence France-Pressee (via the Globe and Mail ) reports that new MG-owner Nanjing Automobile Corp. re-opened the bankrupt British brand's plant at its Longbridge, England, home. Said Yu Jian Wei, CEO of ...    Read more