Volkswagen to field new subcompact model
With the rising cost of fuel nowadays, people are turning to compact cars which are not only more affordable but easier on the gas as well. The compact and sub compact markets are the hottest selling segment in the car industry dominated by Asian carmakers with their models such as the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, and Nissan Versa. However, the subcompact scene will soon get livelier with Volkswagen joining the fray.
Volkswagen’s new CEO, Martin Winterkorn, has announced plans for a new compact model which will be matched against its Asian counterparts and other competition like DaimlerChrysler AG’s ultracompact Smart. The model will be very small, smaller than the Fox, and will be designed to be economical, attractive, and affordable. Unlike the Smart however, it will have enough space for four people plus luggage.
Talk about compact cars soon turns to safety matters. Compact cars are always at a disadvantage during collisions and according to the report released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently, compacts fare poorly in crash tests. It was not stated in the press release what safety features Volkswagen intends to install on its new compact model.