By Don Hammonds
 Looking for a  tough handling little compact car that has outstanding mileage?
     Look no further than Ford’s way cool 2012 Focus, a car that likely will have plenty of pleasant surprises for you, not the least of which will be its road handling and fun to drive factor.

If you’re looking for performance and sportiness, Focus will likely win you over hands down. The Focus SEL we tested drove like a baby BMW, with a taut, muscled feel as …

     By Don Hammonds
 You don’t need to be told that the auto market these days is a crowded one.
We don’t know of any niche in the market that hasn’t already been filled many times over, or any segment that’s been left unnoticed by carmakers.
But that means tons of money needs to be spent on marketing if terrific cars are to be noticed at all by the general buying public. And Audi’s really cool A3 2.0 TDI FWD S-Tronic, with a 140 …

 
By Don Hammonds, executive editor
This model year promises to be a blockbuster one, with so many new models coming out that you’ll need a scorecard to keep up with it all.
Yet, amid the dozens of new models, and hundreds of continuing ones, there are still some diamonds that we believe will shine far above the others before the model year’s out. 
We selected our picks based on their impact on the automotive market, their uniqueness, in some cases, their transformations from …

Chevy  willl  be “cruzin’” to more success with its popular Cruze compact and “zoomin” to more sales with its speedy little Sonic subcompact duet due to hit the showrooms this fall.
The combination of the two products will give Chevrolet a “one-two” punch in the sales market in two of the most important sales categories–subcompact and compact cars.

2012 Chevrolet Sonic
The Sonic is big news at Chevy, and company officials say it has the most rear seat room of any car in its class. …

 
By Don Hammonds
“What’s up”  at Mercedes for 2012?
Plenty.
Try an all-new SLK.  How about an all new M-Class?  How about some new AMG iron, too?  And all of that is just for starters.
2012 SLK
Let’s talk about the all-new SLK. It’s tougher, even better handling, and at least to the eyes of those of us at Automobile Journal, it’s even better looking, if that’s possible. And it’s also got some interesting new technology, too.
There’s also some new iron under the hood– a …

 
It’s 2012, or so says the automotive industry calendar—-and that means new cars and trucks.
Automobile Journal today begins a periodic series of articles highlighting changes and new models among each of the companies we cover, starting with Nissan. Stay tuned for other pieces as information becomes available.
Executive Editor Don Hammonds
Nissan’s making big changes for 2012 at both ends of the market spectum.

At the more affordable end, Nissan’s unveiled the 2012 Versa (see article by Automobile Journal staffer John Heilig further …

By John Heilig
SPECIFICATIONS  
 Model: 2011 Audi A3 2.0 TFSI FWD
 Engine: 2.0-liter DOHC turbocharged 4
 Horsepower/Torque: 200 hp @ 5,100-6,000 rpm/207 lb.-ft. @ 1,800-5,000 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed S-tronic
 Wheelbase: 101.5 in.
 Length/Width/Height: 169.0 x 69.5 x 56.0 in.
Tires: P225/45R17 (compact spare)
 Cargo volume: 19.5/39.0 cu. ft. (2nd row seats up/down)
 Fuel economy: 22 mpg city/28 mpg highway/27.3 mpg test
 Fuel capacity: 14.5 gal.
Curb weight: 3,296 lbs.
 Sticker: $35,250 (includes $875 destination, $5,725 in options ($1,100 sun roof, $2,050 navigation, $475 paint, $2,000 Premium Plus package)  
 Five reasons to buy …

Hyundai just introduced their 2012 Hyundai Accent at the New York International Auto Show, and from what we see, it’s a winner.

Bu we at Automobile Journal smell blood in the subcompact car waters. There’s a big-time rumble  coming. This market is getting crowded, and somebody’s going down. There will be winners and losers, and it’s clear Hyundai has no intention of being a loser here. You can count on that.
 Still, the Accent is only the latest in a huge group of new …

          By Don Hammonds
  You probably know the 2012 Ford Focus, which just had its Los Angeles International auto Show debut,  is pretty cool looking.

And you probably know it’s not that different from what Europe gets–and what we’ve been waiting for since forever.
Well it’s here, and as we say in the article just below this one about the 2011 Hyundai Elantra, it’s walking into a real rumble in the jungle. And it’s well prepared for it, too, just luike the Elantra. …

By Don Hammonds
For the record, we really like the Mazda2.

If you like lively, sporty driving and prefer your ride to be glitz-free–just the basics please–you’ll love the Mazda2. The driving experience isw blessedly pure, with no complicated accessories, unnecessary gadgets to distract you, and it really puts a smile on your face as you corner and hit the tight curves.
Still, we wonder.
Mazda2 is coming in the midst of a near-revolution in the compact car field. Rather than driving small cars …