Recent Comments:
Tokyo 2009: Subaru Hybrid Tourer concept previews Fuji Heavy's new design language {Autoblog}
Oct 21st 2009 3:50PM I give it a year, two maybe. That's about how long each "new corporate face, for reals this time!" seems to have lasted...
REPORT: Consumers increasingly shying away from small cars; owners unhappy {Autoblog}
Oct 7th 2009 9:04AM @daleam
"Mike is right. It's a matter of convenience and choice. Nobody (the general "nobody") drives a tiny car because they want to. Hell, I'd be driving a big ass Suburban if I could afford it."
Everyone who has ever bought a Mini, Mazda Miata, and probably the majority of Mazda3 owners, GTI owners, etc would beg to differ.
2010 Honda Crosstour interior images released, V6 power to be standard [w/VIDEO] {Autoblog}
Oct 6th 2009 4:23PM MDX, ZDX, Accord, Pilot, Odyssey, Acura TL all share the same basic platform.
REPORT: Fiat surprised by Chrysler's condition, new business plan coming in November {Autoblog}
Sep 17th 2009 4:49PM How I think the five-year plan should go:
1) Do away with the Chrysler brand. The 300 is a fad whose time has passed, and the rest of the lineup is just bad. Convert the dealerships to Alfa/Fiat dealers. DO NOT REBADGE Fiats as Chryslers. Please, for the love of god.
2) Let Dodge keep doing the trucks and big American cars thing. Ram, Dakota, Charger, Challenger.
3) Jeep. Don't touch the Wrangler unless you're going to put a diesel in it. Give us back a real Cherokee. Make a lightweight, bare-bones Wrangler variant that can actually pull down pretty solid fuel economy and call it the Renegade or CJ.
4) Fast-track U.S. versions of appropriate Fiat and Alfa cars. 500. Grande Punto. Brera. Get them over here as-is. Pronto.
REPORT: Fiat surprised by Chrysler's condition, new business plan coming in November {Autoblog}
Sep 17th 2009 4:37PM That's your reason for why the Chrysler brand shouldn't be put out of its misery? So they wouldn't have to change the letterhead?
X-Type Redux? Jaguar reportedly considering entry-level coupe {Autoblog}
Sep 17th 2009 2:44PM Yeah, I don't get the hate for the X-Type. I don't think the XJ's styling translated particularly well to a more compact vehicle, but apart from that it seems like a solid car, and a downright steal on the used market.
Personally I always thought the S-Type did a lot more damage. Apart from being ugly and based on the Lincoln LS platform, it just...stayed...for years.
I'm so much happier with where Jag is these days that words can't express it.
X-Type Redux? Jaguar reportedly considering entry-level coupe {Autoblog}
Sep 17th 2009 2:40PM Sadly, utility hasn't really been Land Rover's job either, at least not for the last 5-7 years. Utility with a dash of luxury (i.e. leather seats and power windows) gave way to luxury with a dash of utility.
REPORT: Audi could sell A1 in the States {Autoblog}
Sep 16th 2009 2:56PM Mercedes? Seriously?
The Mini is the success that it is because of a) quirky personality and design and b) taut and spirited handling. The thing really is about as close as you can come to a go-kart on wheels.
Mini (and, for the most part, parent BMW) is all about feeling connected to the road, to what's going on around you. There's a lot of driver involvement. Mercedes is the opposite. All about isolation.
I don't think either is right or wrong, per se, but connectedness lends itself better to smaller platforms, while that sense of isolation works better in larger vehicles. Hence the dominance of the BMW 3-Series on one side, and the Mercedes S-Class on the other.
Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Ford C-Max debuts, Grand C-Max bound for American shores {Autoblog}
Sep 15th 2009 5:24PM Don't hold your breath. The regular C-Max would probably bump into 5-door Focus territory here in the U.S.
And personally, I'll take the 5-door Focus over a C-Max.
Honda updates Crosstour Facebook page with official response {Autoblog}
Sep 4th 2009 11:30AM I don't think it was stupid for them to jump into Facebook at all. I actually congratulate them for it.
The problem with Facebook, Twitter, et al is that, as said above, you lose internal control of the message. Therefore, you'd better make damn sure (at least a majority of) people like your product.
I hope THAT'S the lesson Honda takes from this Crosstour debacle. But, sadly, they'll probably conclude that reaching out to fans via FB/Twitter/etc = bad.
