Straightline
Hatchbacks
August 6, 2008
Slowly but surely Subaru is spreading their nifty new 2.0L diesel around to other models. First it appeared in European Legacys and Outbacks, but using a 5-speed manual gearbox. Now not only is the UK-spec Impreza getting that oil burner, but it is also being paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox. Deliveries are expected to begin after the first of the year.
When the Subie diesel makes it Stateside (it's a-comin' folks, just not sure when...), I fully expect it to also have this 6-speed tranny hooked up to it, as well as a CVT option.
Full story here.
Also of interest to Subie diesel fans is the all-new Forester in the UK which also has a diesel option, beginning in September. It too comes with a 6-speed manual.
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- Posted by: Bob Holland August 6, 2008, 4:00 AM
- Categories: Diesels, Hatchbacks, Subaru
August 4, 2008
VW fans won't be shocked at the new images of the next-generation Golf, which was to be introduced later this week; but then again, best laid plans are foiled thanks to the Internet... The new model, as usual, follows the long-established VW Golf overall look, with a hint of the new Scirocco up front.
The new model is said be larger than the outgoing model. Gas engines should include a 1.4L TSI and a 1.8L TFSI (perhaps even the 2.0L TFSI?). On the diesel front, expect 1.9L and 2.0L TDI versions. A manual, automatic and DSG transmission are also expected.
Full story here.
Here's Inside Line's take: Unveiled: 2009 VW Golf
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- Posted by: Bob Holland August 4, 2008, 8:06 AM
- Categories: Hatchbacks, Volkswagen
July 30, 2008
I guess better late than never, as it looks like Mitsubishi will be offering a "lifted" Lancer Sportback X that would compete with both the Subaru Outback and Outback Sport.
The image above is pure speculation, but probably gives a pretty good indication as to what this vehicle could look like. No word on mechanical changes other than the rumored lifted suspension. It would be pretty cool if they offered it with the turbo from the Ralliart (or EVO).
Carscoop is reporting the car will be released internationally sometime in 2010.
Full story here.
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- Posted by: Bob Holland July 30, 2008, 4:00 AM
- Categories: Hatchbacks, Mitsubishi, Subaru
July 2, 2008
As a fan of hatchbacks and 5-doors, news that the 5-door Toyota Yaris coming here is great. I think the 3-door Yaris is really neat. I never felt that way about the 4-door sedan version, as it's is typically Toyota boring; not so with this 5-door hatch.
Full story here.
Here's Inside Line's take: Toyota Confirms Yaris Five-Door Is Set for Late-Summer Debut
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- Posted by: Bob Holland July 2, 2008, 7:11 AM
- Categories: Hatchbacks, Toyota
June 30, 2008
Spy shots of a heavily masked next-gen Mazda3 have surfaced over on UK's AutoExpress. They've also included a rendering of what they think it might look like. If they're anywhere near being accurate, it looks to be an evolution of the current model in terms of styling direction. No doubt the the mechanicals will get a good going over, but no word on that yet...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland June 30, 2008, 4:00 AM
- Categories: All Auto Shows, Hatchbacks, Mazda
June 23, 2008
The upcoming hybrid Honda CR-Z 2+2 sport coupe won't have that market to itself for long as Nissan is working on a direct competitor. Not much is known at the moment other than it will be small, FWD and it will be a hybrid. Rumors include a 6-speed DSG, possible Brembo brakes, and the engine will be around 1500cc.
While these images are pure speculation, it's interesting to to note that the grille strongly hints "Infiniti," and not "Nissan." Hmmm...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland June 23, 2008, 7:36 AM
- Categories: Hatchbacks, Honda, Hybrids, Nissan, Sports Cars
June 12, 2008
The production version of the Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback will debut at the Paris auto show this September. The pixs above show both the base Lancer and the Ralliart version. The Ralliart will go head-to-head with the WRX, as it will be turbocharged and have AWD.
No word as to whether the EVO will get the Sportback model...
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June 2, 2008
Hey Insiders,
Your votes have been tallied. See if your fellow readers agreed with your picks.
And the winners are...
Read the IL Readers' Most Wanted Results on Inside Line...
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- Posted by: Donna Derosa June 2, 2008, 4:38 PM
- Categories: Convertibles, Coupes, Hatchbacks, Luxury Cars, Minivans, SUVs, Sedans, Sports Cars, Trucks
Ford's next US-spec Fiesta (a model name not used here since 1981) is going to be built in Mexico. The Fiesta will be built in a plant that used to build F-Series trucks. It will be available as both a sedan and hatchback, and will arrive as a 2010 model.
Here's Inside Line's take: Ford Fiesta Sedan and Hatchback To Be Built in Mexico
Here's AutoObserver's take: Ford Builds Fiesta Sedan, Hatchback in Mexico
It looks like the next Ford Fusion will be getting a smiley face, sort of...
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May 3, 2008
Do you know the name of this car? If you do, you're the winner. Well, you don't actually win anything. However, you can tell your buddies you know more about cars than them. Wait, you already do that - just for fun then...
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- Posted by: Brian Moody May 3, 2008, 4:26 PM
- Categories: Carnival of Cars, Classic Cars, Hatchbacks, Wagons
March 19, 2008
Whether you think it's massively cool or just as far down on the ugly spectrum, the Scion Hako coupe concept was one of the most unusual and interesting-looking cars unveiled at New York's Javits Center today.
Actually, Jack Hollis, Scion vice president, is kind of hoping you won't like it. "If you think it's ugly, great. That's perfect. As you know, polarizing style fits in well with our lineup."
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- Posted by: Erin Riches March 19, 2008, 1:50 PM
- Categories: Coupes, Hatchbacks, New York Auto Show, Scion
Honda didn’t feel the need to make a fuss over the debut of the 2009 Fit today. No flashy displays, no weird dancers, not even throbbing music accompanied its unveil. Instead, Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda, pretty much got up and read the press kit off a teleprompter. More room, more power, cleaner emissions, blah, blah, blah...
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- Posted by: Ed Hellwig March 19, 2008, 12:08 PM
- Categories: Hatchbacks, Honda, New York Auto Show
March 5, 2008
The Tata Nano made its European debut here in Geneva, and once again it drew a huge crowd. Onlookers marveled at its impossibly small wheels, straw-sized exhaust pipe and single windshield wiper. We weren’t allowed to get inside, but given that there’s no radio, air-conditioning or any other features to speak of, there isn’t much to see anyway. The rear-mounted engine displaces a whopping 623cc and generates all of 34 horsepower. It’s connected to a continuously variable transmission that helps it achieve roughly 50 mpg. Acceleration is probably leisurely at best, but what do you expect for $2,500?
At this point, the Tata only meets emissions and crash test standards in India, and in case you’re not up to speed on those, they are considerably less stringent than U.S. requirements. Think 1990s and you would be close. In other words, don’t expect to see any Nanos in the U.S. any time soon. –- Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line
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March 4, 2008
After last week’s announcement that the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback will make it to the U.S., the debut of the Prototype S at this year’s Geneva auto show was a little more interesting. Normally we don’t get the hatchback version of anything, but this five-door Lancer should be in dealers by the end of the year.
This may be labeled a prototype, but it’s about 95 percent of what you’ll see in the production version. The Evolution hood won’t stay, and neither will those headlights or the 19-inch wheels and tires. And don’t expect to see Orange Metallic Flake on the color sheet either. What you can expect is the same lineup of engines currently offered on the standard Lancer sedan along with a little extra cargo room in back.
Will there be an Evolution version to take on the Subaru WRX STI hatch? Don’t count on it. –- Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line
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- Posted by: Ed Hellwig March 4, 2008, 8:51 AM
- Categories: Geneva Motor Show, Hatchbacks, Mitsubishi
What an unusual press conference for Mini today in Geneva. Instead of boring us all into submission with sales results and projections, Mini invited Rauno Aaltonen, aka the Flying Finn, to talk with Dr. Kay Segler, senior vice president of Mini brand management.
In addition to his WRC efforts in the 1970s, Aaltonen drove a Mini Cooper S to victory at Monte Carlo in 1967. He, of course, compared the new 2009 Mini John Cooper Works and John Cooper Works Clubman to the old car (also present), noting that today's JCW is the "direct heir" to the car he drove in '67.
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- Posted by: Erin Riches March 4, 2008, 7:45 AM
- Categories: Geneva Motor Show, Hatchbacks, MINI
After the Mazda press conference, we went next door to the Ford booth at the Geneva auto show, where we saw three- and five-door hatchback versions of the 2010 Ford Fiesta (a 2009 model for Europe). It was kind of like watching the Mazda press conference again, because the Fiesta looks so similar to the Mazda 2. They are, of course, platform mates.
Ford of Europe didn't hire a band for its unveiling, so instead we saw a typical dance troupe, and the members whimsically tossed around the sheets on the cars.
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- Posted by: Erin Riches March 4, 2008, 5:21 AM
- Categories: Ford, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchbacks
No longer is it seen as environmentally responsible to toss around terms like "zoom-zoom" in the cavalier manner typical of, say, 2001. Now it's "sustainable zoom-zoom," and says James Muir, CEO of Mazda Motors Europe, that means a "focus on the minute and painstaking weight reduction of every component."
Sounds painful, but on the 2009 Mazda 2 three-door hatchback (which joins the previously released five-door), it's good for a 220-pound weight reduction over the previous model, says Muir. For a car that's 153.5 inches long (2 inches shorter than a Honda Fit) with a 98-inch wheelbase (1.5 inches longer than a Fit), this is quite significant.
Mazda broke up what could have been a rather dry, number-y press conference with a performance by the Infidels, who like the Strokes, come across as a modern-day repackaging of the Stones -- right down to their moves on stage. Mazda, conveniently, is sponsoring their 2008 European tour.
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- Posted by: Erin Riches March 4, 2008, 2:36 AM
- Categories: Geneva Motor Show, Hatchbacks, Mazda
March 3, 2008
First reports of about the Lancer Sportback indicated that this might be a Europe-only model. Now it's been confirmed that it will be coming to the United States as well. Pictured above is the Mitsubishi Prototype-S concept, which will debut at Geneva, and is very close to what we can expect to see in showrooms.
So this is good news for Mitsubishi fans...
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February 25, 2008
What you see here is the Mitsubishi Prototype S, with the "S" standing for "Sportback." If you remember, Mitsubishi showed a Sportback concept (middle picture) before.
Remember? How could you forget, as that concept was drop-dead gorgeous!
Unfortunately, as concepts move from "concept" to "production," often something gets lost in the translation, as is the case here...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland February 25, 2008, 5:00 AM
- Categories: All Auto Shows, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchbacks, Mitsubishi
January 25, 2008
There have been rumors of an upcoming Lancer hatch for sometime. In fact Straightline did a blog not long ago that pictured just such a car (Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart a-comin'). Now there's more news/rumors about this vehicle up on the Net. According to Carscoop, the car will appear at the upcoming Geneva auto show...
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December 24, 2007
VW, already known for having a very good DSG, will be offering a 7-speed DSG shortly. Normally you would expect something like this to show up on some high-ticket brand. Not so, as this is VW—and it will be offered in the much "people cars" Golf and Golf Plus. Like the new '08 Subaru Impreza and '09 Forester with manual transmissions, these cars will come with a "Hill Assist" to aid in starting on hills without any rolling back...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland December 24, 2007, 5:00 AM
- Categories: Green Tech, Hatchbacks, Volkswagen
November 26, 2007
'Bout time I say... Yep, hatchbacks, liftbacks, wagonettes, 3-doors/5-doors—whatever you want to call them, are making their way back on the must-have lists of many new car buyers.
I've always loved the hatchback configuration, and as many of you know my daily driver is a '06 WRX Limited wagon. Well, the word "wagon" in this case is pretty much of a stretch...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland November 26, 2007, 5:00 AM
- Categories: Hatchbacks, Nissan, Subaru
November 15, 2007
No big surprises at the North American debut of the 2008 Subaru WRX STI. The announced specs of the 2.5-liter version are no different than the Japanese 2.0-liter shown in Tokyo. It still has 305 hp and 290 lb-ft of torque, although the horsepower peaks at 6,000 rpm while max torque is delivered at just 4,000 rpm. Like the Japanese version, Subaru claims the WRX STI will go from zero to 60 in just 4.9 seconds...
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- Posted by: Ed Hellwig November 15, 2007, 12:17 PM
- Categories: Hatchbacks, LA Auto Show, Subaru
October 30, 2007
Motor Authority is reporting that Volvo is considering adding a 5-door C30 to the already popular C30 3-door lineup.
I think that would be a very smart move, as it would dramatically increase buyer interest. I love the C30, but would never consider one, as these old bones need easier access to the rear seat than what just two side doors afford. Adding two more doors, from my standpoint, is a no-brainer...
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- Posted by: Bob Holland October 30, 2007, 5:00 AM
- Categories: Hatchbacks, Volvo
October 23, 2007
We didn't learn many new facts about the 2008 Subaru WRX STI today in Tokyo, but somehow, and maybe it's jet lag talking, the car was less unattractive than expected.
Then again, with one unveiled STI at the edge of the display, a veiled STI on the stage and the WRC car presiding over the whole stand, it was hard not to be just a little excited about what this car might be like to drive.
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- Posted by: Erin Riches October 23, 2007, 10:29 PM
- Categories: Hatchbacks, Sports Cars, Subaru, Tokyo Motor Show
September 27, 2007
Inside Line drove the new Saturn Astra on Germany's autobahn.
The 3- and 5-door hatchbacks feature a 138-horsepower, 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine, a 5-speed manual transmission, and starting price in the mid-to-high teens.
Could the Astra be the best small car GM has ever sold in the United States?
Read the Saturn Astra First Drive on Inside Line.
Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor
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- Posted by: Donna Derosa September 27, 2007, 11:40 AM
- Categories: Hatchbacks, Saturn
September 20, 2007
An appearance on the Nurburgring seems almost required for new models these days, so it was no surprise when these pictures of the 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI surfaced recently. Wearing minimal disguise this STI clearly shows what's in store for the top-of-the-line Impreza. Wider wheel flares, a deeper front air dam, quad exhaust pipes and a sizable rear wing are the most noticeable changes. More power, bigger brakes and a retuned suspension are also on the upgrade list...
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September 12, 2007
Excess pudge and average performance credentials relegate the production Suzuki SX4 to blah status in the economy car class, despite the fact that it's an attractive car. Recently, a Suzuki product planner told us that younger owners of the car were asking for a turbocharger option -- a fair request, we think, given that the hatchback version already has all-wheel drive.
The existence of the Suzuki SX4 WRC offers reason for hope. Suzuki had the 2007 version on display in Frankfurt, and the '08 iteration of this car will enter rally competition in the 2008 calendar year. --Erin Riches, Senior Content Editor
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- Posted by: Erin Riches September 12, 2007, 10:19 AM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show, Hatchbacks, Motorsports, Suzuki
September 11, 2007
Subaru's Frankfurt press conference should have been an opportunity to rally the WRX faithful in the wake of recent disappointments -- all related to the softening of the 2008 model. And indeed plenty of fanboys showed up to get a photo of Petter Solberg.
But the Subaru WRC Concept was little more than eye candy, a fiberglass shell, and no tantalizing specs were released. In fact, no specs were given at all. It was just an opportunity to take a photo to stare at on your desktop wallpaper -- something to busy your mind until the STI production car debuts next month in Tokyo.
No question, the WRC Concept recovers some of the old WRX's edginess, but it's hard to know if that will be enough until we know what's underneath.
Solberg kept his comments brief, noting that "I'm a rally driver first and foremost." He of course noted that the new Impreza's stiffer chassis provides more stable handling characteristics in the prototypes he's driven thus far. He also said that Symmetrical All Wheel Drive is a great thing. Who would have guessed? -- Erin Riches, Senior Content Editor
More photos after the jump...
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- Posted by: Erin Riches September 11, 2007, 12:49 PM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show, Hatchbacks, Motorsports, Subaru
We were expecting a little more from Toyota's city car concept when it rolled out this afternoon in Frankfurt. After all, Thierry Dombreval, executive vice president of Toyota Motor Europe, said in his pre-reveal speech that the iQ Concept would be as revolutionary as the Prius. So when the iQ rolled out and we saw nothing more than a really, really small hatchback, we couldn't help wonder where the revolutionary part was hiding.
To its credit, the iQ manages to seat four despite the fact that it's only 11 inches longer than a Smart Fortwo...
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- Posted by: Ed Hellwig September 11, 2007, 7:48 AM
- Categories: Frankfurt Auto Show, Hatchbacks, Toyota
September 10, 2007
Volkswagen made a big deal about a very small car at tonight's pre-show unveil party. It's called the up! Concept, and it's Volkswagen's answer to the Smart city car. Chairman of the Board, Martin Winterkorn, said it was the first project he turned his attention to when he became head of the German automaker...
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August 30, 2007
The 2007 Mazda Mazdaspeed 3 by Mazdaspeed Accessories. I'm out of breath just typing it.
This factory-tuned version of the turbocharged Mazdaspeed 3 showcases its aftermarket parts catalog.
Read the Mazdaspeed 3 Full Test on Inside Line...
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- Posted by: Donna Derosa August 30, 2007, 11:59 AM
- Categories: Hatchbacks, Mazda
August 21, 2007
We knew it was coming, but these are the first spy photos of an actual prototype for the 2009 Kia Soul. Looking much like it did in concept form at last year's Detroit auto show, the production Soul should give the Kia lineup a much needed boost in the styling department. Small four-cylinder engines will provide the power, so don't expect any serious speed from this sleek looking hatchback. Expect to see the production model debut early next year with sales beginning in the fall of 2008...
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- Posted by: Ed Hellwig August 21, 2007, 11:03 AM
- Categories: Future Vehicles, Hatchbacks, Kia
August 8, 2007
You might accuse Kia of being overly cute with the "Pro-cee'd" name and its trick spelling, but I kinda like it. I also like what I see so far here of the car, which admittedly isn't much.
The 3-door hatch will be built in Slovakia, and sold in Europe. Hmmm....
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