Archive for the ‘compact cars’ Category
September 4th, 2010 | 
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We’ve lost count on how many special edition models Fiat has of the 500 mini hatchback, although it’s not really a question of having one too many. Besides, it’s their car, and if they think that it’s a good idea to churn out limited edition upon limited edition of the same model, then more power to them.
The latest one that’s going to be released is being called the 500 Arancia and, similar to other special edition 500 models in the past, it’s going to be limited to just 300 units. And as for the Arancia, the car will have an exclusive home in the land of Toyota and Honda, Japan. It’s fitting too because the model takes its name from the Japanese translation of ‘orange’, which, in case you haven’t noticed, is the color of the car.
As far as what you can expect from the 500 Arancia, well, it comes with a chrome package and 15-inch allow wheels on top of the orange paint finish and the customized orange and white interior. Apart from that, the only thing that makes this car ‘limited’ in the sense of the word is that it’s only going to Japan and only 300 buyers will have a chance to own one.
Fiat 500 Arancia Special Edition originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 4 September 2010 23:00 EST.
After a long and lengthy absence, Fiat is finally returning to the US, and they’re bringing with them the 500 hatchback. The US-spec version of the minicar, which will be sold in the US through Chrysler, is set to make its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, giving us a first-hand look at Fiat’s first offering to the US market after an extended absence in the country.
Earlier this week, the Italian auto conglomerate hosted a meeting with 400 of its car dealers to gauge the amount of interest for the 500 in America. Apart from these dealerships, Chrysler is also looking at opening about 165 Fiat dealerships across the country, more specifically in areas where there is a healthy market for small hatchbacks that the 1.4-liter 500 hatchback can take full advantage of.
According to Laura Soave, Head of Fiat Brand North America, “Our dealers will be able to interact with a group of individuals that are not part of their current customer base.”
“These are individuals interested in Italian automotive design coupled with fuel efficient technology,” she adds.
As part of Fiat’s return to the US, the company is set to begin their retail network later this year with plans of bringing in the American version of the 500 and following that up with the release of the 500 Cabrio edition sometime in 2011.
Fiat 500 finally headed to America originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 31 August 2010 16:30 EST.
By now, American fans of the Audi A1 have given up all hope in seeing the premium hatchback in the US after Audi global sales head Peter Schwarzenbauer – try spelling that name – ruled out the A1’s chances of making it to America.
Now, it turns out that there may be a glimmer of hope, albeit a pretty small one. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Schwarzenbauer mentioned that the A1 will eventually be shipped out of Europe into the Chinese market soon with the US market being considered so long as small – and expensive – cars have a chance in the country. Translated, Americans will have to prove to these guys that they’re willing to spend the bucks for a premium hatchback, something that, as history suggests, Americans aren’t prone to doing.
But still, there’s hope, fellas. However long that will take will be entirely up to how the “pricey” compact car segment does in the US. We don’t even know if that’s going to happen in the next few years, but at least the door – no matter how small the crack is – has now been opened.
Audi opens door to possible A1 entry in the US in the future originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 26 August 2010 12:00 EST.
Gas prices won’t stay cheap forever and the automakers have been charged with the duty of making small and fuel-efficient cars. We know that the majority of the public isn’t smart about car buying. The phrase, “bigger is better” seems to play over and over again in the heads of car shoppers. Yet, when the price of gas rises, so do small car sales and, unlike last time, General Motors is ready.
Buick will be introducing the Verano compact car, as well as a LaCrosse hybrid sedan. We have no idea what will be under the hood of this car, or what platform it will get. If we had to guess, we would say the car would be based on the new Chevrolet Cruze, as it would be almost the same size.
Cadillac, GMC, and Chevrolet are also working on fuel-efficient vehicles. Cadillac is working on the ATS, GMC has been creating a production version of the Granite concept, and Chevy should have an all-new Aveo to go alongside the Spark. Automotive News is also reporting that GM is planning on shrinking the Impala.
Lots of big things are coming about for the small car market. Let’s just hope these alternative options will offer style as well as function.
Buick Verona compact car coming in two years originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 9 August 2010 23:00 EST.
For those of us who don’t want to drive around town in a vehicle the size of a train, there have always been small cars to keep us happy. They have gone through many changes since they first became popular during the gas crisis. No longer is it acceptable to just be small and fuel efficient, as the automotive buying public demands much more out of these tiny vehicles.
Today’s modern small car has to be quick and fun to drive, while also having plenty of room inside the cabin. If the car doesn’t manage over 30 miles per gallon then it’s a big disappointment. Not to mention looks. A small car needs to look good as well as not be completely boring to look at everyday.
We have compiled a list of the top ten best small cars on the market in the United States and, like always, we have one rule; the price needs to be under $20,000. That should give us plenty to choose from.
Hit the jump to see the list.
Top Ten Small Cars originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 19 July 2010 17:00 EST.
Posted in Ford, Honda, Mazda, Mini, Subaru, Toyota, USA, Volkswagen, compact cars, guide | 
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The large car craze in the United States is at the end of its life cycle, at least we hope. Gas prices are still a bit high, but they will need to rise just a bit more in order to really bring the small car back into our thoughts again.
That being said, some of the most popular cars on the market today were once considered way too small to be safe. Take the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris for example. The three-door Yaris is a pretty popular car, but many still find it to be the size of a shoebox rather than the size of a proper car. The Fit is a little bigger, but Americans still find it a bit too small for their tastes. Maybe the seats just aren’t wide enough.
Modern safety laws and design have helped these small cars earn five-star safety ratings, but size still matters in some people’s minds. It’s going to take a few very special small cars, and even a few minivans and wagons, to shake America’s love with large, oversized vehicles. Here are the top ten cars that aren’t available in the United States.
Hit the jump to see the list.
Top Ten Cars Not For Sale In America originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 2 July 2010 16:00 EST.
Posted in Alfa-Romeo Brera, BMW M5, Vauxhall Corsa, compact cars, ford Focus RS, hatchback, honda Civic |
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The first official photos of the Murray T25 have been released.
The tiny three-seater was created by Gordon Murray and is being shown to the public at the Smith School’s World Forum on Enterprise and the Environment in Oxford, a city that truly hates the car, later today.
The T25 gives us a look at the future, where small city cars get great mileage, and yet are still fun to drive. The car weighs only 575kg and has a smaller carbon footprint than the Smart Fortwo and the Toyota iQ.
The car is around 240cm long, 130cm wide, and 140cm high. That means it can fit into mostly any parking space. In fact, three could fit into one normal sized space.
It has something that even Corvettes don’t have, independent suspension in the front and in the back. The car is powered by a 51 horsepower 660cc, three-cylinder motor with 42 pound feet of torque.
That tiny motor means that the T25 isn’t fast by any means. It will hit 60 miles per hour in 16.2 seconds and can reach a massive 90 mph. Yet, despite its slow pace, the car is able to get 74 miles per gallon and for those who care, around 86 g/km.
The T25 gets some odd features as well, including stability control and traction control. We don’t think many people will be taking corners fast enough to use those computerized aids, but they could help in a strong breeze or a damp road.
When riding in the T25, the driver sits in the center with passengers on each side. There is one single door that swings up to allow easy access in tight spaces.
Murray says the car will be ready for production in two yeas and we should see the first iStream factory in the UK.
First official photos of the Murray T25 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 28 June 2010 15:00 EST.
At a media event in Los Angeles, California, Hyundai president John Krafcik said that they expect their new sports coupe to get around 40 miles per gallon. If they can reach that goal, it would mean that the new Korean coupe would best the new 2011 Honda CR-Z, which gets 36 miles per gallon in the city and 39 on the highway.
The new Hyundai, which will either be called the Veloster or Tiburon, will get its outstanding fuel economy from a four-cylinder motor. No fancy hybrid system for this little car.
At the event, Krafcik also said that the sports coupe would be a great performing car, along with its top-notch fuel economy. The motor should be a 1.6-liter with 140 horsepower and since there are no battery packs, the weight should be low as well.
When talking to Autoblog, Krafcik made it clear whom the new car was for. Hyundai will look to attract young people with additional technology, such as a large screen in the dashboard.
With the ability to get 40 mpg from a normal motor, Hyundai is putting a big thorn in the side of all those sports hybrids. The plain four-cylinder will mean that the car will be cheaper than the CR-Z and around the same price as the Ford Fiesta. We hope that the new sports Hyundai will live up to these high expectations.
Hyundai Says New Veloster Will Get 40 mpg originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 22 June 2010 21:00 EST.
Fuel-sipping sedans are the in things in today’s economy. No longer are we buying massive military vehicles or run-around-the-town-and-get-5-miles-per-gallon SUVs. With high gas prices, come small vehicles.
While they can be fashionable, they can also be downright nasty. Take for instance the Toyota Corolla. Now, this isn’t a bad sedan, it’s just not great. Nothing stands out or makes you get excited when you drive it. So with that in mind, we took out our three favorite fuel-efficient sedans, starting with the king, the Honda Civic.
The once little Civic has grown up. From a tiny hatchback of the 1970’s to a nearly midsize sedan that simply put, dominates the sales charts. With a gas motor and the option of a hybrid, the Civic is a midsize sedan for everyone.
Don’t want a Honda? Well, the second car in this test is the Mazda 3. The 3 is a fantastic little car that smiles at you when it’s going past. It handles well and has always been a good seller in the midsize segment.
While the Civic and Mazda have been around the block a few times, the 2010 Kia Forte is just a newborn. With brilliant looks, a fantastic interior, and more power than the Civic, the Kia is a great alternative to the mass market Civic and 3.
Sounds like a round of testing is coming up.
Comparison Test: Kia Forte, Mazda 3 and Honda Civic originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 21 June 2010 16:00 EST.
The 2010 Honda Civic sedan is one of the most iconic cars in the world. Sometimes, iconic cars can get a bit soft, like the Toyota Camry, but the Civic has continued to push the boundaries in terms of style and performance. The new 2010 Civic is a really good, economical car and still sells very well. In times of high gas prices, the Civic proved to be a best seller. It’s offered in a wide variety of styles, trims, and prices and it can be tailored to meet everybody’s expectations.
Once Honda’s smallest car, the Civic is more of smaller mid-size sedan than a compact one. The 2010 Civic is actually the same size as the Accord was 15 years ago. Yet, despite the size increase, the Civic retains its agility, efficiency, comfort, and reliability. That being said the Honda Civic is a good car, but it’s not great. A few years ago the Civic was a fantastic little car and the best buy in the segment, but years have passed and the competition is becoming a real threat. The Civic is due for a refresh.
Some of the Civic’s design elements are too weird for us, like the dual-tiered instrument panel. This means that the rev-counter is on the bottom tear, while one tier up and far back in the digital speedometer. Most shoppers will forget about this odd fashion, but it never really grew on us in the time we had the car.
The 2010 Honda Civic is available in sedan form or as a coupe. For both, there are five trim levels: DX, LX, EX, EX-L, and Si. On the Civic sedan, Honda offers the DX Value Package, the LX-S, a GX, and a Hybrid.
Hit the jump for the full review.
Review: 2010 Honda Civic Sedan LX originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 18 June 2010 09:00 EST.
The first rumors about a Gordon Murray city supercar appeared in 2007. Since then, we have seen a couple of renderings of the vehicle and after three years we have the first image of the final product. The first running prototypes will be ready in April 2011.
The new model will be offered in two versions: the T25 powered by a traditional engine and the T27 that features an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack that develops a total of 34 HP. The T27 will weigh only 1,500 pounds with the battery and will measure 98.4 inches long. The two-seater will be able to park and maneuver within an ultra-tight turning circle of just under 20 feet.
Among the performance targets, the car is designed with a top speed of 65 mph and a range of 80 to 100 miles between charges. Acceleration from 0 to 60 mph should be accomplished in less than 15 seconds.
Gordon Murray T25-T27 first image originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 11 June 2010 22:00 EST.
Long regarded simply as Ford’s ’little car that could’, the Fiesta - or at least, the 2011 Fiesta - is getting ready to invade America’s urban market after Ford announced that it will be launching an aggressive urban marketing campaign centered around the Fiesta.
Among the initiatives being lined up for the Fiesta’s introduction into the fast-paced world of urban America includes being included in a custom fashion e-zine, a TV commercial that will air on BET, a number of radio, print, and digital executions that will highlight the Fiesta’s new "Inspired by Color" e-zine.
According to Shawn Lollie, Ford’s Multicultural Marketing manager, "Our goal was to create a unique program that truly embodied the spirit of the Fiesta.
"The Fiesta has an expressive, vibrant design and we wanted to tap into those style attributes in a way that was relevant to our target audience while engaging them using platforms that are very much a part of their everyday lives."
A possible reason behind Ford’s decision to aggressively push the Fiesta into a market that it’s not all too familiar with could stem from research that shows that one of the biggest markets for small cars like the Fiesta are young African Americans and to further drum up interest and raise awareness for the car, Ford launched the aforementioned "Inspired by Color" campaign, which is pretty much intended to empower prospective customers to connect their own lives with the "colors and distinct features of the new Fiesta."
Press Release after the jump
Ford targets America's urban market for the 2011 Ford Fiesta originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 7 June 2010 14:06 EST.
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