Eight for the Road from Geneva

Eight B and C segment vehicles recently introduced in Geneva that we just might see in the US of A.

Unlike the South, gas prices will rise again

Hotlanta may be great and the overall economy may be much better south of the Mason-Dixon Line, but the war of northern aggression was lost in 1865 and no amount of battle re-enactments can change that fact. But while the Old South will never return, the same can’t be said for higher gasoline prices.

With that indisputable fact in mind, we present eight small vehicles that were recently introduced at the Geneva Auto Show that have a good chance of being available in these United States sometime in the near future.

In alphabetical order they are:

Alfa Romeo MiTo GTA

If Chrysler and Fiat ever get together, there is a distinct possibility that the Italian carmaker’s Alfa division will eventually join the party. The recently-introduced MiTo GTA is built to go head-to-head with the likes of the MINI Cooper S John Cooper Works Edition. Its 1.75-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine produces 240 horsepower as well as a front-wheel torque-vectoring system to tame torque steer.

Chevrolet Spark

Designed by GM’s Korean subsidiary Daewoo, the Spark will replace the Chevrolet Matiz in Europe and be marketed below Chevy’s current entry-level vehicle, the Aveo. Based on the Beat concept vehicle, it will be equipped with either a 1.0-liter engine or the current 1.2-liter four-cylinder engine currently found in the Aveo. Expect a European rollout in 2010 and North American availability sometime in 2011.

Fiat 500 C

The 500C is the convertible version of Fiat’s iconic Nuovo 500. The 500 C features a power cloth top that uses an intact door pillar and frame as a track for the rearward-sliding top, this design results in a more rigid body while at the same time eliminating the blind spot found in both the MINI and New Beetle convertibles.

Ford Iosis Max concept

Ford’s latest concept vehicle is said to be the design precursor to the next generation C Maxx and Focus vehicles. Unlike the Focus, the Iosis Max has design cues that lean more towards crossover styling (rear sliding doors, no B pillars). Of special interest is the engine – a new 1.6-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost unit which delivers 180 horsepower through the use of turbocharging and direct injection. Also part of the mix is an auto-start-stop system with the whole delivering a 20% increase in fuel economy over conventional engines with similar power.

Hyundai i20 3 door

Though the i20 hasn’t received as much press as many of the aforementioned models, it may be the first to reach our shores. In Hyundai’s hierarchy, it is below the i30 (sold here as the Elantra) and, as it is about the size of the Accent, it may very well replace that model here in the States. Over in Europe, it is available with four engines – two gas and two diesel and while we may not see the diesels, either of both of the gas engines might make it here – a 1.4-liter or a 1.6 liter.

Kia No. 3 concept

Kia is on a roll as of late. It will debut a new vehicle, the Soul, later this spring along with a replacement for the Spectra called the Forte. The No. 3 concept is a small MPV designed to compete with the likes of the Honda Fit. While the production version of the No. 3 will likely be seen in Europe, Kia’s plans for the vehicle in North America are not known at this time.

MINI John Cooper Works convertible

Coming less than two months after the introduction of the new MINI convertible, the John Cooper Works edition is equipped with a 1.6-liter turbocharged direct-injection engine that produces 208 horsepower and 192 lb.-ft. of torque. Top speed is 146 mph and accelerating from a stop to 60 miles an hour takes only 6.6 seconds. Due to go on sale next month, the base price has been set at $34,950 and EPA numbers are 26 city/34 highway.

2010 Volkswagen Polo Mk V

If VW’s sales continue to hold up and gas prices move up from their current $2 per gallon mark, the U.S. is likely to see the latest generation Polo. VW dealers have been clamoring for an entry-level vehicle for some time and the Polo would certainly fit the bill. Standard equipment includes electronic stabilization as well as a full compliment of airbags. Power comes from a number of engines that includes a 1.2-liter twin-turbocharged direct injection gas engine that produces 103 horsepower and a claimed 43 mpg as well as a 1.6-liter turbocharged diesel engine with 88 horsepower and 62 mpg.

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