Hatchbacks
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If you like premium compact hatchbacks, Lexus has something for you - provided you live in Europe. As we've previously reported, Toyota's luxury brand will unveil their LF-Ch hybrid concept in a few days at the Frankfurt Motor Show and their most recent press release called our attention to some of the vehicle's finer qualities. The "LF" in the name stands for the Lexus "L-finesse" design language characterized by fastback profiles and flowing lines on a number of their concept vehicles. Lexus points out that the blacked-out B-pillar and the rear door handles hidden in the C-pillar give the...
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2010 Audi A3 TDI Priced at $30K, $8K Over 2010 VW Golf TDIAs of November, you'll have two choices if you want a compact five-door hatchback with a clean diesel engine. One is the brand-new 2010 Audi A3 TDI, which was just given a base price of $30,775 today by Audi. It'll start arriving in dealerships in November. Longstanding diesel champ: Golf TDI The...
John Voelcker -
2010 Dodge Caliber: Fewer Engines, 30 MPG Highway, Better Interior
The Dodge Caliber hatchback has never been at the top of our compact-car list, in part because of its lousy gas mileage compared to the competition. Now, Chrysler has simplified its engine and drivetrain options to improve the gas mileage of the 2010 Dodge Caliber slightly, along with its platform...
John Voelcker -
Preview: 2011 Volkswagen Polo
Back in March, VW confirmed it would sell the Polo in the US in 2011. The five-door hatchback model was unveiled earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show, and now Volkswagen has released details of the three-door hatch as well. US details to come It's like that VW will also offer a four-door...
John Voelcker -
2010 MazdaSpeed3: Sporty Green Sizzle, Zoom-Zoom Style
Once in awhile, High Gear Media editors get lucky. Last Thursday, our own Bengt Halvorson managed to snag a drive in the 2010 Mazda MazdaSpeed3 before any other reporter. Which means those sites that just posted their reviews yesterday (they know who they are ...) were just a tad behind the curve...
John Voelcker -
Cash For Clunkers: The Data On Why It's Working
Who knew? Turns out Americans just needed a little nudge to visit their car dealers, but the promise of an extra $3,500 or more in incentives was enough to push car buyers over the hump and get them to trade in their clunkers. And how. As we reported Friday on our sister site TheCarConnection.com...
John Voelcker -
Awhile back, we speculated that Toyota's new, smaller-than-Prius hybrid would be based on the Auris Hybrid compact hatchback sold in Europe. We were wrong; in fact, the US will get a hybrid version of the already-high-mileage Toyota Yaris subcompact instead. But the Auris Hybrid is moving along nonetheless, and now Toyota has announced they'll be making it in the United Kingdom starting in 2010. The site is the company's Burnaston plant in the northwest of England, and it's the first time Toyota will build hybrids in Europe. The company builds the bulk of its hybrids at several plants in...
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First Drive: Audi A3 TDI Clean Diesel Hatchback
A splendid gearbox and neutral roadholding make the A3 TDI appealing to drive, but will buyers go for Audi's small, pricey, diesel hatchback?
John Voelcker -
Talk Back: What Do YOU Want Us To Drive For You?
On Thursday, GreenCarReports will have its pick from more than 60 brand-new cars, and we want to know what you want to see
John Voelcker -
Small Cars: Is It the '80s All Over Again?
Economic downturns and small hatchbacks seem to go hand-in-hand.
Jonathan McGrew
