compact car
Audi A3 Cabriolet Leaks its way onto the Internetz
Like a papier-mâché coffee cup photos of the new Audi A3 cabriolet have leaked, landing not on your lap but instead on the vast expanses of the INTER-n3tz. Thankfully neither your groin nor the web have been scalded by this hot emission. Here’s the skinny on Audi’s latest compact drop-top.
Top 10 Things You Need to Know About the 2014 Mazda3
Zoom-Zoom, it’s what sets Mazda apart from other car companies. The small Japanese manufacturer focuses on driving dynamics far more than other mass-market automakers. The result of that relentless toil is a lineup of cars and crossovers that are more entertaining than their competition. Paraphrasing one of the company’s TV commercials, if it’s not worth…
2014 Mazda3 Revealed With More Space, Style & Speed
Like a Broadway premiere the 2014 Mazda3 will take a bow in New York City today. Mazda’s best-selling compact car has received a bumper-to-bumper redesign along with some significant improvements. The company’s latest C-Segment offering brings a healthy dose of style, performance and technology to an extremely competitive slice of the market.
2014 Toyota Corolla: The 10 Things You Need to Know
In case you hadn’t heard, the Toyota Corolla is receiving a complete overhaul for 2014. The same design we have seen more or less since 2003 is finally being put to rest. This overly conservative approach to the Corolla has been a great sales success for Toyota. Last year it, along with the Matrix, sold…
2015 Honda Civic to Gain Efficiency, Direct Injection
Honda will soon begin to blend the staple Civic with its so-called “Earth Dreams” technology.
2014 Kia Forte 5-Door Blows into Windy City
Keeping pace with Hyundai, Kia unveiled its latest production car today: the 2013 Forte 5-Door.
2013 Dodge Dart GT Offers More Power, Attractive Price
Thanks to neglect and mismanagement Chrysler was forced to go years without a decent small car in its lineup. The recently departed Caliber was anything but a competent vehicle. It put the “rude” in “crude.” Thankfully, Chrysler got back into the compact-car segment in a big way last year with the Dodge Dart and it’s…
Philadelphia Chevy Dealer Under Govt Investigation for Selling Unfixed Recalled Car
Chapman Chevrolet, a Pennsylvania car dealership, might be trouble with the feds.
Ford Focus ST Performance Academy Offers Free Hot Lap Training
Driving enthusiasts in select cities across the U.S. will have the chance to drive Ford Focus ST with professional race instruction this summer.
2013 Ford Focus ST Pricing Leaked: $23,700
According to a leaked spec sheet, Ford‘s upcoming Focus ST global hot hatch will start at $23,700 ($24,495 with the $795 destination charge). Since its inception, Ford’s former Global Performance Vehicles chief Jost Capito intended for the Ford Focus ST to be at the top of its class, “We want to have the best hot hatch…
2013 Dodge Dart to Stay Sedan-Only, For Now
Based on the C-Evo platform from the Alfa Romeo Giulietta hatchback, the American-twin 2013 Dodge Dart will only be available in a four-door body style. During an interview with Chrysler Canada president and Dodge brand CEO Reid Bigland, he noted that sedans make up 90 percent of the compact segment, and are 25 percent of…
Ford B-MAX Revealed Before 2012 Geneva Motor Show
Unveiled before its 2012 Geneva Auto Show debut in March, the brand new Ford B-MAX mini-minivan (the term in Europe is mini MPV) showcases a couple new innovations from the American automaker. Based on a tidy Ford Fiesta platform, the heart of the B-MAX is Ford’s clever 1.0-liter Ecoboost engine producing 123-hp while reaching an…
Mercedes-Benz A-Class Spied Undergoing Winter Testing
Our intrepid spy photographers are at it again, catching the Mercedes-Benz A-Class undergoing winter testing in an undisclosed Northern country. The new car looks to be a radical departure from past versions, ditching the goofy tall-wagon look for something much more akin to an Audi A3. This further differentiates it from the smaller, though visually…
2012 Ford Focus ST-R Priced at $98,995
With an illustrious past in motorsports, Ford expands its racing activity by introducing the Ford Focus ST-R, a turn-key race version of its popular hot hatch. Right out the box, the ST-R will be eligible to race in a selection of professional series including the Grand Am ST Class, World Challenge ST Class, Canadian Touring…
Acura ILX Compact Sedan To Debut At 2012 Detroit Auto Show
As the compact luxury car market continues its growth in the United States, Acura intends to join the ranks of the Lexus CT200h, Audi A3, BMW 1-series, and Mercedes A-Class. Based on the Honda Civic, the Acura promises that the ILX will attract younger buyers that find brand name, efficiency, and styling to be most…
Audi A3 Spied Winter Testing In Sweden
The Audi A3 was caught by our spy photographers undergoing winter testing in Sweden. Despite heavy camoflague, we already know what the next A3 will look like – look at any current Audi for clues to what the front and rear treatments will resemble. The new A3 will come in three and five door variants…
2013 Dodge Dart Revealed With Alfa Romeo Underpinings
Dodge revealed teaser shots of their Dart compact car, designed to replace the wretched Caliber crossover, and so far it looks to be the first hit of Alfa Romeo-inspired product for North America. Using the underpinings of the lovely Alfa Giulietta compact, the Dart will use a 1.4L turbocharged Fiat MultiAir engine – good for…
U.S. Buyers Now Prefer Compacts Over Mid-Size Cars
The current state of economy and the ever rising price of fuel is changing car buying habits in American households. Where once mid-size sedans like the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry ruled, those spots are now being replaced by smaller cars like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra (above). Consumer survey specialists…
Mercedes-Benz B-Class AMG Spied; May Hit Canada, But Not America
Mercedes-Benz is prepping an AMG version of their B-Class hot hatch, and while a front-drive tall wagon may not sound like ideal AMG material, we’re pretty jazzed about the rumored specs. A turbocharged 4-cylinder engine making 325-350 horsepower will be on board, as well a dual-clutch gearbox (with six or seven speeds). All-wheel drive will…
Honda Civic’s U.S. Failure Is CEO’s Responsibility
Honda CEO Takanobu Ito stepped up and assumed responsibility for the Honda Civic’s miserable start in the United States, telling Automotive News that “The ultimate responsibility rests with me.” The Civic was left off the Consumer Reports list of recommended vehicles, a rarity for any Honda product. Cheap interior materials were blamed, and many reviewers reported…
Volkswagen Golf MKVII Spied
Volkswagen is out testing the 7th generation Golf, as seen here in spy shots, and the new car looks like it will retain much of the current car’s styling, but get a lower, wider and more aggressive profile. For North America, expect the 2.0TDI diesel to carry over, but the base 2.5L 5-cylinder is out, to be…
BMW i3 Spied During Testing In Germany
BMW‘s i3 may not be getting as much buzz as the 2012 3-Series, but their upcoming compact city car is probably the most important vehicle they’ll launch all decade. With the i3, BMW is moving in a totally different direction, both in terms of technology and sustainability. The i3 will have a chassis made of…
Jaguar Mini-Car Wanted, Possible Says Design Boss Ian Callum
Jaguar‘s design genius and restless thinker, Ian Callum, has announced a personal desire to design a premium small car for the historically British marque. During an interview, Ian Callum told British automotive publication, What Car?, “It’s a personal view, but there’s room for a premium small car. It would be a high-end small car for…
Toyota Prius c Brings Subcompact Dimensions To The Hybrid Segment
Toyota will add another vehicle to the Prius lineup shortly, with the upcoming Prius c subcompact. Intended to be the entry point into the Prius range, the Prius c will supposedly get over 50 mpg in the city. Technology will also be at the forefront of the Prius c, which comes with an integrated app…
