Hatchback

All-New 2009 Honda Fit to Make World Debut at New York International Auto Show02/21/2008 - NEW YORK - American Honda Motor *** Inc., announced today that its all-new Honda Fit will debut at the 2008 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS)."The current Fit has been a tremendous success for Honda ...    Read more

CHICAGO - The 2009 Chevrolet HHR small SUV will become the first four-cylinder model in General Motors Corp.'s North American lineup that can run on either gasoline or E85 ethanol.GM North America President Troy Clarke unveiled the FlexFuel Chevy HHR today during a speech at the Midwest Automotive Media Association ...    Read more

Hyundai will be showcasing a highly fuel efficient concept at the Geneva Motor Show. It's doing it its way, though. Rather than joining the hybrid bandwagon though, they are instead relying on the old school methods of improved aero, lighter weight, lower rolling resistance and higher gearing.Created in conjunction with ...    Read more

Mitsubishi will be using March's Geneva Motor Show to showcase its hatchback concept, the Prototype-S.Based upon the new Lancer sedan, the concept could best be described as a hatchback version of Mitsubishi's entry level sedan, albeit a very shapely, coupe-like hatch. With its sloping roofline, broad shouldered stance, and overall ...    Read more

Chicago, 02/06/2008 Hyundai Motor America took the wraps off its Elantra Touring five-door compact at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show today.Making its United States debut, the all-new 2009 Elantra Touring is a sportier, more functional variant of Hyundai’s popular Elantra sedan, and is slated to hit dealerships by the end ...    Read more

The hatchback has never been able to rise to prominence here in the US the way it has abroad. Even in their most inexpensive guise, they've lost out to the traditional 3-box shape, and even placing a revered badge like BMW or Mercedes on their flanks has failed to endear ...    Read more

Interesting. In redesigning its compact crossover Matrix, Toyota looks like it borrowed a page from the popular Mazda3 five-door. Now the Matrix, all-new for model year 2009, is lower, sleeker, and faster with the (optional) 2.4-liter engine. January 30, 2008 - Torrance, CA - The Toyota Matrix, the sporty ...    Read more

The toast of the town! A top executive at Toyota claims Prius sales are so robust that seeing a bubbling of new hybrids built under the flagship name is no far-out fairy tale. Jim Lentz, president of Toyota Motor Sales, USA, hints Prius can stand on its own as a ...    Read more

Thanks to its combination of Mazda’s trademark Zoom-Zoom performance and excellent environmental efficiency, the hydrogen rotary engine (Hydrogen RE) is one of the leading lights in Mazda's efforts to develop the power plant of the future. To demonstrate the exceptional environmental performance of this engine that burns hydrogen to generate ...    Read more

January 14, 2008 - Detroit, MI - Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today announced it will provide several Toyota Prius plug-in electric hybrid (PHEV) prototypes at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit for executive shuttle service to and from the Cobo Center.The prototype Prius plug-in hybrids are ...    Read more

Myself and a fellow co-worker recently had a lively discussion about the relative merits of performance hatchbacks, and the current leaders in the market. He claimed the VW GTI is the reigning champ, whereas I argued the merits of the Mazdaspeed 3 speak for themselves. First of all...Let's look at ...    Read more

20 years ago, Honda sold a Civic that got better fuel economy than any car today, even hybrids. This may come as a surprise, especially when manufactures are saying the they can meet the future 35 mpg CAFE standard but only with technology advances.Yet the 1987 Civic HF got an ...    Read more

IRVINE, Calif., December 13, 2007 – The 2008 Kia Spectra5 is ranked number one in U.S. News & World Report’s 2008 Best Cars & Trucks rankings, which were released today. Of the 12 vehicles in the "Affordable Compact Wagons" category, the Spectra5 scored a "Very Good" overall rating of 8.3 ...    Read more

Supposedly Smart's U.S. reservation program has been a smashing success. More than 30,000 customers have plunked down $99 for a chance to get behind the wheel of this liliputian machine. Certainly, the prospect of a car that can fit in the space where previously only motorcycles dared tread is enticing ...    Read more

Volkswagen showcased a new fuel-cell powered concept vehicle for the small family range at the Los Angeles Auto Show earlier this month. The vehicle, called the Space Up! Blue, uses a unique "high temperature" fuel cell that is said to be more efficient, compact and weighs less than the current ...    Read more

GUANGZHOU, China, November 19, 2007 – Ford is revealing more about its vision for a new global small car family at Auto Guangzhou. Ford today revealed the second Verve Concept – a four-door notchback.The dynamic Ford Verve Concept four-door notchback is a star of the fifth annual Guangzhou International Automobile ...    Read more

The Toyota Prius has become synonymous with the word, “hybrid.”Now the automaker intends the same when one thinks of “plug-in hybrid.” Unfortunately, it should have considered that fact when developing the heart of the plug-in hybrid, the battery. According to mobile magazine , the company has come out with ...    Read more

Pontiac will reveal the next generation of the Vibe compact crossover vehicle via a live webcast of the Vibe Slam! event in Detroit. The all-new 2009 Vibe will offer three unique flavors: the functionally-designed base model, the all-season versatility of the Vibe All-Wheel Drive, and performance inspired Vibe GT. ...    Read more

October 31, 2007 -- Las Vegas - Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., unveiled the all-new second-generation Corolla Matrix at a press conference today at the 2007 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show. The Toyota Matrix, the sporty five-door vehicle that helped redefine the concept of a crossover utility vehicle, ...    Read more

Rumors of a delay in the third-generation Prius are baffling top executives at the Japanese automaker. Once planned for a supposed 2009 introduction, the next-gen Prius may not arrive until 2010 or later...and they have yet to say exactly when that date will be.Executive Vice President Masatami Takimoto announced that ...    Read more

Arguably this whole "green car" thing could've started with the ill fated GM EV-1 so many years ago. But the push towards environmentally friendly vehicles really went mainstream with Toyota's introduction of its Prius hybrid. It seemed to offer the best of both worlds: electric-only propulsion in the low speed, ...    Read more

A top mobile phone manufacturer, Nokia, and a world renowned auto maker, Renault, will be teaming up to produce a new branded navigation system. To start the process, Renault has invited Nokia to get involved with its newest car line, the Twingo.According to TG Daily , Nokia will include ...    Read more

Volvo Car Corporation has decided to develop a completely new racing car and to continue its work with bioethanol (E85) and Green Racing in the STCC (Swedish Touring Car Championship) for three more years."Our decision is based on the positive attention and the good results that the recently concluded STCC ...    Read more

Though overshadowed by the unveiling of production STi, and an Exiga Concept that looks suspiciously like a next generation Legacy, the Subaru G4e is no less a significant introduction.Trying to move away from the horribly dull, aerodynamically-driven shapes that have afflicted electric cars of the past (that's right--an EV), the ...    Read more

The Volkswagen Up!, first unveiled at Frankfurt, calls to mind the original Volkswagen Beetle. No, it isn't a retro styling exercise; it's not even called Beetle, but instead the embodiment of everything the Beetle was. Compact, inexpensive, but practical and roomy for four, the Up! is more of a people's ...    Read more