Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Frankfurt Preview: Polo Three-Door diesel will get 71 mpg (U.S.) ]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/26/frankfurt-preview-polo-three-door-diesel-will-get-71-mpg-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/26/frankfurt-preview-polo-three-door-diesel-will-get-71-mpg-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/26/frankfurt-preview-polo-three-door-diesel-will-get-71-mpg-u-s/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Polo Three Door - Click above for high-res image gallery

Rumors of an all-electric Volkswagen concept making an appearance at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month have died down since May, but VW is starting to reveal more details on the vehicles that will be on hand. Today, we learn about the Polo Three-Door, a sporty, smaller version of the company's bestselling Polo that will be available this fall with six different engine options. Three diesel and three petrol powerplants will be offered, with outputs ranging from 60 to 105 PS (that's 59 horsepower to 104 hp, Yankee).

Fuel-conscious would-be VW drivers can opt for a BlueMotion version of the Polo Three-Door. The most efficient Polo burns just 3.3 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers. In numbers that most readers will be familiar with, this is the same as 71 mpg (U.S.) and we want to drive one today. This frugal choice puts out 55 kW / 75 PS, so it is not the most powerful engine out there, but when you barely ever need to stop for fuel, the speed of your daily get-up-and-go kind is that much quicker. The new base Polo version will start at €12,150 in Germany's higher-priced market, or about $17,300 USD. Be sure to check out the complete press release after the jump and click through the high-res gallery below.


Gallery: Polo Three Door

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[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading Frankfurt Preview: Polo Three-Door diesel will get 71 mpg (U.S.)

Frankfurt Preview: Polo Three-Door diesel will get 71 mpg (U.S.) originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>polo three doorPoloThreeDoorthree doorThreeDoorvwvw polovw polo three doorVwPoloVwPoloThreeDoorWed, 26 Aug 2009 14:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Geneva 2008: Chevrolet Aveo 3-Door]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/05/geneva-2008-chevrolet-aveo-3-door/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/05/geneva-2008-chevrolet-aveo-3-door/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/05/geneva-2008-chevrolet-aveo-3-door/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the Chevrolet Aveo Three-Door.

What more can be said about the Euro-market Chevy Aveo three-door? Fortunately, not much. The new Aveo gets the reworked front fascia, complete with Anime eyes and gaping maw, while the shallow accent lines that flank the doors angle slightly higher to conform to the three-door's shorter shape. Aside from the much-despised fake fender vents, it's not a bad looking runabout. And with a choice of either an 84 hp, 1.2-liter or a 101 hp 1.4-liter four driving the front wheels, what it lacks in style it makes up for in fuel economy.

Hit the jump to read Chevy's press release on the new Aveo three-door.

Gallery: 2008 Chevy Aveo 3-Door (Europe)

Continue reading Geneva 2008: Chevrolet Aveo 3-Door

Geneva 2008: Chevrolet Aveo 3-Door originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Mar 2008 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3 door3-door3Dooraveochevroletchevrolet aveo 3 doorChevroletAveo3Doorchevygenevageneva 2008geneva motor showGeneva2008GenevaMotorShowthree doorthree-doorThreeDoorWed, 05 Mar 2008 09:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Chicago Auto Show: Live unveiling of the 2008 Saturn Astra]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/07/chicago-auto-show-live-unveiling-of-the-2008-saturn-astra/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/07/chicago-auto-show-live-unveiling-of-the-2008-saturn-astra/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/07/chicago-auto-show-live-unveiling-of-the-2008-saturn-astra/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above image to view a high-resolution gallery of the new Saturn Astra

Saturn just rolled out the new Astra to the crowd at the Chicago Auto Show, with the automaker claiming that the compact will help fulfill the brand's promise to bring "appropriate and affordable technology", "great design", and "quality without compromise" to customers.

The Astra survives its overseas excursion largely unchanged, with the most major differences being a set of cupholders and tires that allow it to meet GM's standards for foul weather performance (a result of Americans' lack of awareness or complete apathy when it comes to the use of proper snow tires). Yet another variation on the Ecotec architecture, displacing 1.8L and producing 140 hp, drives the front wheels. The sporty intentions of the three-door model are made evident by the quicker ratio rack in its electrohydraulic steering system, larger wheels with more aggressive performance rubber, and standard stability control.

The long wheelbase and wide stance lend a roomy feel to both the three- and five-door model, and rear storage appears to be rather generous. Need we say the rest of the interior is far better than the vehicle it replaces? We are getting a bit tired of silver paint and oversized trip computer displays, but otherwise, there is little to offend inside the Astra (and kudos to GM for installing a decent set of bolstered seats in the three-door).

We've included plenty of live shots and official press pics of the 2008 Saturn Astra here. You can find the complete press release from Saturn after the jump, and we've also produced a nice video of the introduction with live-action views of the new Astra.

Gallery: 2008 Saturn Astra

Continue reading Chicago Auto Show: Live unveiling of the 2008 Saturn Astra

Chicago Auto Show: Live unveiling of the 2008 Saturn Astra originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Feb 2007 13:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Astraauto showchicagoEcotecfive doorhatchbackIonliveOpelSaturnthree doorWed, 07 Feb 2007 13:09:00 EST<![CDATA[BMW introduces new three-door 1-Series for 2007]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/15/bmw-introduces-new-three-door-1-series-for-2007/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/15/bmw-introduces-new-three-door-1-series-for-2007/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/15/bmw-introduces-new-three-door-1-series-for-2007/#commentsFiled under: , ,


click above image to view small high-res gallery

Most Europeans agree that the BMW 1-Series is one fugly little automobile. Somehow the Bangle experience doesn't scale down very well (nor does it often look good at 1:1 scale). Regardless, the little Bimmer has been the least costly way to get into a Bavarian Motorwerks product for the last few years, and if for nothing else Europeans love the car for that fact. For 2007, BMW has tweaked the styling of the 1-Series adding a larger twin-kidney grille and revised lower front spoiler, introduced a new three-door model, and also added some trick fuel-saving technology on certain models. Those fuel-saving techniques include the regenerative braking technology we first told you about when the new 5-Series surfaced. It uses various methods to recharge the car's special battery rather than having an alternator put a constant drain on the car's engine. BMW says its good for a 3% increase in fuel economy alone. We're more excited, however, about the new three-door model, especially when paired with the 265-hp inline-six in the 130i model. The lighter weight of the tri-door makes for a slightly faster 6.0-second flat trip to 60. Who knows if the U.S. would ever be ready for a BMW smaller than the 3-Series. We've got the MINI, but until that brand shoehorns six cylinders beneath its bonnet we'll be wishing for the 1-Series on our shores.

Check out the press release after the jump and click here to view our small gallery of high-resolution pics.

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading BMW introduces new three-door 1-Series for 2007

BMW introduces new three-door 1-Series for 2007 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1-SeriesBMWhatchbackthree doorthree-doorThreeDoorMon, 15 Jan 2007 19:29:00 EST