Trendspotting: Are Hot Hatches The Next Big Thing In The US?

NO!

— 1UAW (View Profile)

Posted on 10/10/2009 8:51:40 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

I hope so! I want more selections.

— Brembo (View Profile)

Posted on 10/10/2009 9:23:57 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

Contrary to popular belief "hot hatches" have always been popular in the US. The problem s a) admitting that it is a hatchback, and b) getting enough of them on the streets. VW Golf, Acura Integra, Honda Civic Si, Honda CRX, were and in at least one case still is, VERY popular and rightly so. The case for hot hatches at present is not just about the cost of fuel. It is also about the cost of the car itself. The prices are going up every day and many people who still have jobs have resorted to taking pay cuts. That means less disposable income. This in turn means buying vehicles that cost less. For the buyer that is on a budget and still wants utility, but at low cost and with some degree of sportiness, the hot hatch is the answer. If the manufacturers would see it that way. Oh...and if a representative of a manufacturer is reading this, please, for the love of God...you CANNOT have a hot hatch with drum brakes in the rear! Discs only!

— tango (View Profile)

Posted on 10/10/2009 11:57:47 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

No!

Premium hatchback have always failed in America. IMHO, Americans see hatchback as cheap and the realm of economy cars (remember the Frasier episode where Niles desparages them) BMW redesign the 1er with a trunk because they were afraid of the fate to the 318ti. A premium hatchback in America is a waste of time, dollars, and marketing.

Ask BMW
Ask Mercedes
Ask Audi

They fail in the USA.

— theoptimisticpessimist (View Profile)

Posted on 10/10/2009 1:28:25 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Bring back the Civic and CRX hatchbacks!

— rxh8me9000 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/10/2009 2:11:19 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Out of all the cars mentioned, only two are coming to/already in the US, the Audi A3 and The BMW 5 GT. And the 5GT isn't even in the same class as what the articles talking about, so i'm not exactly sure why it was brought up. all the other cars: 1-series (hatchback), Audi Sportback, and lexus LF-Ch are all either in production for europe only, or are being studied for european release. Lexus has not said the that LF is coming to the states, that's why it was unveiled at Frankfurt. The only company with a luxury compact hatch in the US is Audi and it has always been a slow seller, that's why they are working on more body styles for the next generation. The Luxury brands know that the US still isn't looking for hatchbacks from them. I wouldn't expect a huge trend unless one of them can pull of something iconic enough to rival the mini.

— LUXCAR32 (View Profile)

Posted on 10/10/2009 7:57:30 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Station wagons are more utilitarian, that is what I would want.

— truckman (View Profile)

Posted on 10/11/2009 4:49:15 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

NEXT GEN HYUNDAI ACCENT 176 HP TURBO, READY TO RACE: A2, A CLASS, AND MINI!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BRING IT ON BASTARDS!!!!!!!!!



B-Segment Hatches the size of C segment cars will dominate the small car marketplace. Hyundai will throw a monkey wrench into the higher end of it by undercutting MINI and Chrysler, Chrysler can throw a wrnech into the marketplace; but it has to be a home run. Lexus wont go that small, nor Benz. Buick will go that small, but the prospects dont look the best; though not horrid. A good Subaru Justy Hatch can really spice things up too. I think Lincoln will bring some of the small car products to production. VW/Audi has some good stuff like the: Golf, Polo, R Hatches, the A2 headed for the US, and the proposed Porsche small cars.

C-segment cars will stay mostly sedans and coupes. The only C-seg hatches for most makes will be Wagons and small Crossovers, or SAVs (Sport Activity Vehicles). Though there will be some hot hatches.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 10/11/2009 5:13:42 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

"Hyundai with its i20 small car proves that Hyundai can do small and premium too. It does not ooze the "premiumness" of an Audi A2, but its still good enough. We look foward to seeing small and premium in Accents stateside, and if Hyundai Makes Accents with this kind of equippment in the future you will love them too."

-Car and Driver Magazine
March, 2009

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 10/11/2009 5:22:27 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

We Stole Thomas Bürkle from BMW as our small car designer.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 10/11/2009 5:26:54 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

I still want my SUV.

— WorldofLuxury (View Profile)

Posted on 10/11/2009 8:00:34 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

If hatches will replace the trend for HUGE giant bass mouth sized front fascia air ducts, then I am all for them.

— thstone (View Profile)

Posted on 10/13/2009 4:37:54 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

But I love bass Mouthes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 10/14/2009 12:10:30 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1