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It's no small secret that small cars are on the rise. Compact cars are the ones currently capturing solid gains, more so than the subcompacts, but there is a clear and defined strategy here.


As fuel costs continue to increase, consumers will migrate further and further down the food chain. As this is inevitable, car manufacturers are making sure to be noticed and present in the subcompact segment. Of the few car builders that are not players here yet, most have plans to bring in a real small car sooner rather than later.

As well, they represent any carmakers' saving grace when it comes to lowering the fuel economy average of their product line-up. But most importantly, they represent the bridge between us and hybrids and EVs. The latter are not viable at the moment, nor will they be for some time to come.

Subcompact and compact cars are affordable, better built than ever and a good deal more rewarding than hybrids in most respects.

In our 2011 subcompact compact test showdown, the Ford Fiesta ranked first. We therefore set out to find out how good some of the latest players in the segment are compared to the Fiesta.

Note that all of the cars in this test scored high safety marks, as they are all equipped with stability and traction control as well as at least six airbags. The prices we mention are the MSRPs and exclude all others fees associated with the purchase of a new car.

Continue reading 2012 Subcompact hatchback comparison test

From GMM

Jacques Villeneuve has prefaced this weekend's Canadian grand prix by admitting he is no big fan of today's formula one.

The 1997 world champion will be attending this weekend's race, held in Montreal at the circuit named in honour of his late father.

Race organisers intend to mark the 30th anniversary of legendary Gilles Villeneuve's death.

"There's something planned, but I would like to keep it a surprise," promoter Francois Dumontier told the Montreal Gazette.

Villeneuve, 41, recently marked the anniversary by driving one of his father's old Ferraris at the Italian marque's Fiorano test track.

He will be at his home race this weekend as a guest pundit for British television Sky.

Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. (Photo: WRi2)

But he has kicked off his involvement by slamming the 2012 spectacle, including the Pirelli tire lottery and "daddy's boy" drivers.

Comparing today's crop with his father's era, Villeneuve said: "They weren't racers at 12 years old, the financing there in place for them to race.

"They had to sweat for it, they weren't little daddy's boys like you have now basically. They are driving F1 and they are still children, they are still babies and they are kept like that," said the former Williams, BAR, Renault and BMW driver.

The winner of 11 grands prix also admitted he is not particularly enjoying the big impact of Pirelli's heavily-degrading and difficult to understand control tire.

"I am not a huge, huge fan right now," said the French Canadian. "There is very little the drivers can do, the tires just suddenly disappear and that doesn't seem to be to the level that F1 should be at."

Villeneuve said he does not agree it is a good thing that 'underdogs' like Pastor Maldonado are considered perennial contenders for race wins.

"It is always fun to see an underdog beat the establishment but it is something that happens once in a while. Now it seems to be almost a constant," he said.

"It is not logical, the best should win," Villeneuve insisted.

Pastor Maldonado won the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix. (Photo: Williams F1)

He also slammed F1's new generation for not taking the risks of formula one seriously enough.

"When you see Bruno Senna in Barcelona, he is not in the same race, he is going appallingly slow and he is blocking guys who are fighting for the points," he said, referring to the Brazilian's crash with Michael Schumacher. "That is just not intelligent driving for starters. But secondly, when you do a little twitch down the straight, that is just wrong."

From GMM

Ross Brawn has revealed he feels "optimistic" Mercedes will reach a deal with Bernie Ecclestone for the new Concorde Agreement.

Earlier, the German carmaker had threatened to quit formula one because rival top teams including Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull had agreed much better deals for the new agreement beyond 2012.

"You'll have to wait to see," F1 chief executive Ecclestone said recently in Monaco, "but I'm confident everything with Mercedes will be fine."

Briton Brawn, the Brackley based Mercedes team's principal, is now sounding similarly hopeful.

"We have finally made good progress in the negotiations with Bernie Ecclestone," he is quoted by Germany's Sport Bild. "That's why I am optimistic that we will find a solution."

Mercedes team. (Photo: Allianz)

The 29 August press preview day of the Moscow motor show saw many concepts and new models making their global debuts.

The 29 August press preview day of the Moscow motor show saw many concepts and new models making their global debuts.

As manufacturers reveal new models and concepts at today's (29 August) Moscow motor show press preview day, just-auto's summary of all world premieres is updated.

As manufacturers name yet more models and concepts ahead of the Moscow motor show's 29 August press preview day, just-auto is keeping track of these announced world premieres.

As manufacturers name yet more models and concepts ahead of the Moscow motor show's 29 August press preview day, just-auto is keeping track of these announced world premieres.

As manufacturers name yet more models and concepts ahead of the Moscow motor show's 29 August press preview day, just-auto is keeping track of these announced world premieres.

As manufacturers name yet more models and concepts ahead of the Moscow motor show's 29 August press preview day, just-auto is keeping track of these announced world premieres.

As manufacturers name yet more models and concepts ahead of the Moscow motor show's 29 August press preview day, just-auto is keeping track of these announced world premieres.

As manufacturers name yet more models and concepts ahead of the Moscow motor show's 29 August press preview day, just-auto is keeping track of these announced world premieres.

As manufacturers name yet more models and concepts for next month's Moscow motor show, just-auto is keeping track of these announced world premieres.

As manufacturers name yet more models and concepts for next month's Moscow motor show, just-auto is keeping track of these announced world premieres.

General Motors is the second manufacturer to announce a world debut ahead of August's Moscow motor show.

Lamborghini's factory in Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy, survived the recent earthquakes in the region undamaged.

China's biggest auto-dealer association said carmakers need to scale back their sales targets or sweeten incentives because the worsening glut of vehicles across the nation's dealerships is unsustainable.

The European Commission is set to propose tighter CO2 emissions standards for new EU cars, according to a draft proposal that is likely to divide the auto industry.

Also in this episode: Fisker expands a recall, the

Tesla Motors can generate positive cash flow with an annual order base of just 8,000 units, and the electric-vehicle maker is 'highly confident' of reaching sales of 20,000 vehicles in 2013, CEO Elon Musk told shareholders today.