Acadian Woody Wagon : 1976

1976 Acadian Woody Wagon

The 1976 Acadian Woody Wagon was produced for and sold in Canada. The “Woody” option got you simulated wood paneling on the sides, a woody rear decal and other exterior trim, plus the custom interior. Some of the standard features included a sewn headliner, a maintenance free battery, full front and rear carpeting, column-mounted “Smart” switch, flow-through ventilation, diagnostic system, rack and pinion steering, shell bucket seats with full foam, comprehensive anti-corrosion protection, effective acoustical insulation, full width rear seat back cushion and folding backrest and a removable load floor panel with rubber mat. You also had a choice of five interior colors. Acadian was a division of General Motors from 1962 to 1971.

1976 Acadian Woody Wagon

Lada Samara : 1987

1987 Lada Samara

The clean lines of the 1987 Lada Samara holds up quite well. I would find it a desirable ride even today, in fact, I think the automotive industry is missing this low cost, fun, easy to ride segment. (image source: Alden)

1987 Lada Samara

Lada Niva : 1977

1977 Lada Niva

The Lada Niva has been in production since 1977 and it is still on the market. It is said to have great off-road capabilities and is produced by Russian auto company AutoVAZ. I believe it is now called the Lada 4×4. (image source: Alden)

1977 Lada Niva

Formal Coach Cadillac Eldorado Comstock Sport Wagon : 1978

1978 Formal Coach Cadillac Eldorado Comstock Sport Wagon.

The seventies was an odd decade and this vehicle could not be a better example. The 1978 Cadillac Eldorado Comstock Sport Wagon was a conversion offered by the Formal Coach Corporation. (image source: Alden)

1978 Formal Coach Cadillac Eldorado Comstock Sport Wagon.

1978 Formal Coach Cadillac Eldorado Comstock Sport Wagon.

 

Ford Focus Electric : 2013

2013 Ford Focus Electric

The Focus Electric, which launched in 2011, is the flagship of the new Ford family of electrified vehicles. Aston Martin must have left behind a few drops of DNA when they left the Ford family because the brand’s new front grill, while very beautiful, has a very strong resemblance.

It has a top speed of 84 mph, with a full recharge is expected to take three to four hours. Our friends at Shiny Side sent us these great images from a current test drive IDM Photo‘s Ian did.

2013 Ford Focus Electric

2013 Ford Focus Electric

2013 Ford Focus Electric

 

 

Kaiser Vagabond : 1949

1951 Kaiser Vagabond

This 1949 Kaiser Vagabond is an odd inclusion in this blog I know, but in several ways, it does qualify (at least in my mind) as a hatchback (or lift back). It was a very unusual vehicle at the time and is perhaps one of the very first direction towards what we know of as the hatchback today. While practical and unique, the Vagabond saw limited production, with just 4,500 produced between the 1949 and 1950 model years. (source: Charvet Classic Cars)

1950 Kaiser Vagabond

1949 Kaiser Vagabond

1949 Kaiser Vagabond

1949 Kaiser Vagabond

 

 

Ford Focus ST : 2013

2013 Ford Focus ST.

If you like the new Ford Focus, you can now have the opportunity to get your hands on the very beautiful 2013 252 HP ST since the order bank is now open. Its new “Aston Martin”  looking front grill gives it a real mean and nasty look (in a good way) and we’re even partial to this very energetic and bright orange color.

2013 Ford Focus ST.

Seat Ibiza Cupra : 2012

2012 Seat Ibiza Cupra concept.

The Volkswagen Group’s Seat division presented the Ibiza Cupra as a close-to-production concept car at the 2012 Beijing International Motor Show. The production version arrives at the end of this year with 180 HP and is an icon of the brand since 1996 when the first generation hit the streets.

2012 Seat Ibiza Cupra concept.

Chevrolet Vega : 1971

1971 Chevrolet Vega

The 1971 Chevrolet Vega Hatchback Coupe could either be a very roomy 2-seater with the rear seats down, or a very practical 4-seater, still with plenty of room to haul your stuff. It had standard front disc brakes, an overhead cam engine in addition to a double-panel steel roof, side-guard beams in the doors, a 50,000 mile air cleaner, foam filled front and rear seats and even an electrical fuel pump that cuts out to stop the car if the oil pressure drops too low.

1971 Chevrolet Vega

1971 Chevrolet Vega

1971 Chevrolet Vega

 

Audi Quattro : 1989

1989 Audi Quattro 20v.

The Audi Quattro is automotive legend. It is what put that brand on the modern map. Total sales in the USA were 664 and everyone wanted one. It was first shown at the 1980 Geneva Motor Show on March 3rd on an ice rink. Its five-cylinder turbocharged engine delivered 147 kW (200 hp) from 2.1 liters of displacement. The Sport quattro, the homologation version designed in 1984 for the Rally World Championship, had even more power. Thanks to its four-valve technology and aluminum crankcase, the five-cylinder engine delivered 265 kW (306 hp).

1989 Audi Quattro 20v.

Lexus LF-Ch : 2009

2009 Lexus LF-Ch

The Lexus LF-Ch Compact Hybrid Concept made its North American Debut at 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show and a world premiere on September 15, 2009 at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The LF-Ch Hybrid Concept offers dramatic style, premium features, an innovative drivetrain with low emissions, and impressive fuel economy in a sporty yet versatile five-door package.

2009 Lexus LF-Ch

BMW 2002 Touring ALPINA A4 Tribute : 1974

1974 BMW 2002 Touring ALPINA A4 Tribute

Three things we like are all in this post. Naturally, hatchbacks is number one. BMW is number two, despite the fact that they are not very big in this segment, and last, but not least is Bring A Trailer. These guys religiously scour the world for some of the most unique, fun and even rare cars and offer them to all of us via their daily email. This 1974 BMW 2002 Touring ALPINA A4 Tribute was featured some time ago but we just love everything about it. (image source: BAT)

1974 BMW 2002 Touring ALPINA A4 Tribute

1974 BMW 2002 Touring ALPINA A4 Tribute

 

Renault Encore : 1984

1984 Renault Encore

In 1984, The Encore was Renault‘s application of European aesthetics to the functionality of a hatchback design via its panoramic dimensions of the rear window. The aerodynamics not only produced visual pleasure, it also reached an impressive 52 MPG on the highway and 38 in the city. The independent suspension, power front disc brakes, and electronic fuel injection created  sophisticated handling and performance. The 60/40 split rear folding seat was a real benefit when loading large objects. It was built in the USA by American Motors and had an MSRP of $5,755.

1984 Renault Encore

Chevrolet Monza 2+2 : 1975

1975 Chevrolet Monza 2+2

The 1975 Chevrolet Monza 2+2 had an impressive sports suspension via a new rear torque arm which helped isolate driving and braking forces. Stabilizer bars where also standard. Besides its standard 4.3 liter 4-cylinder engine, a new small displacement V8 was also available. It had a series of engineering improvements including a catalytic converter, High Energy Ignition, GM-Specification steel-belted radial tires and other engine refinements and an 18.5 gallon gas tank so you could go a very long way between fill-ups. And when the rear seats are flied down, you had a spacious carpeted floor giving you the ability to haul just about anything around.

1975 Chevrolet Monza 2+2

 

1975 Chevrolet Monza 2+2

Mercury Lynx LS-3 Hatchback : 1981

1981 Mercury Lynx LS-3 Hatchback

The 1981 Mercury Lynx LS-3 Hatchback was only sold in Canada. It’s sophisticated world-class technology had 13 patents with an additional 14 pending approval. Innovations like the new Compound Valve Hemi-head (CVH) four-cylinde engine, teamed with the standard four-speed, fully synchronized manual transaxle with fuel-efficient fourth-gear overdrive as well as an optional all-new three-speed automatic transaxle achieved world-class fuel economy.

With a highway rating of 54 MPG highway and 42 MPG city, it had the highest fuel economy rating of any North American car sold in Canada.

The Lynx was front wheel drive and featured four-wheel independent suspension system, with steel-belted radial tires, new design split-diagonal dual brakes and a new rack-and-pinion steering system.

The interior was roomy and held four adults comfortably with contoured front bucket seats and generous cargo space, especially with the rear seats down.

1981 Mercury Lynx LS-3 Hatchback