Everything Fits Better in a Hatchback, Especially This Podcast

Baby come back. Hatchback that is. According to Ford, 60% of the first Fiesta buyers are choosing hatchbacks. While the small-car segment has always been a haven for three- and five-door designs, it's surprising to see such a strong preference for hatchbacks, particularly with a vehicle Joe White says represents the future of the American car.

Ford is benefiting from the strong buzz and sales of its new designs and says it expects a strong profit this year.

In France, small cars rule the roads, but at the Paris Auto Show this week there will be some dramatic and large models getting shown off. Among them a redesigned Bentley, VW's revamped Passat and a radical Lamborghini concept.

Peugeot-HR1 from the Paris Auto Show

NHTSA and Ray LaHood claimed this week that 72,000 lives over the last years. A huge number. Some of that might be attributed to safety features trickling down from the luxury segment to more pedestrian vehicles like Chevrolet's.

Speaking of pedestrians, Volvo had a little oops when showing off its new pedestrian-avoidance system. Just be thankful your not Bob the dummy.

Another dummy? A Maryland judge corrected a ruling that the stock taillights on a Pontiac G8 were illegal.

And finally, like this blog, want be a car blogger too? Enter Jalopnik's latest competition to be a blogger for them.

GetThisShowOnTheRoad Sept 30, 2010.mp3