Rolls Royce just sent out press shots ahead of the Geneva debut of the new Phantom Coupe, and I don't mean to be a buzzkill but is this really it? In its corner it has: more exclusivity than the Holy Grail, phenomenal hand-built craftsmanship and materials, a 450 horsepower V12, suicide front door, a B-pillarless design, and a trick trunk. Against it: I don't think it really looks that good. In fact, this design language just might be better suited to the locomotive sedan and the Drophead Coupe (that's convertible, to us serfs). It's so bulky with such a high roofline, it has top hat proportions that don't suit it all that well. Rolls says it's likely to be purchased by robber barons, shipping industralists, and professional athletes who already have a Phantom and/or Drophead Coupe and apparently no taste for variety. The PR folk at Rolls are also marketing this as a "driver's car" to which I say: if you want a rare, high performance GT, try a Ferrari 599. If you insist that it's British, then you've got the stunning Aston Martin DB9. And even if it must be rare, high performance, British, and have a functional back seat, then there's the better looking (and admittedly outdated) Bentley Brooklands. It is for this reason – and not the $400,000 price tag – that this writer will not be commissioning one. Of course, you may disagree.

[Rolls Royce Phantom Pixamo slide show here.] 

As I was cruising YouTube for a video to accompany Glenn's Honest Bob blog, I typed in "Red Integra" and stumbled upon this love letter to a… red Integra. Which got me thinking: what car do you wish you'd never left behind? For me, it's a Jaguar XK120 restored/created from the ground-up by Guy Broad in the UK, at enormous expense. Of course, Coleen was a stupid car. It looked like a Victoria's Secret angel, went like shit off a shovel (a full-on 4.2-liter six shoved under bonnet) and handled like a truck. I lost her twice. First, whilst driving her on a snowy road (I took out half a village) and then again in the divorce. I can still smell the leather, gas, oil and fear. Sigh. 

The first production pictures of Volvo's new XC60 crossover have – you guessed it – leaked on the internet ahead of the car's official debut in Geneva. The midsize crossover ute enters into an already crowded and frankly boring category populated by such splendiforous vehicles as the Land Rover Freelander/LR2, Acura RDX, and BMW X3. So if you really, really refuse to give up having an SUV, even though these are all glorified station wagons and aside from the Land Rover, won't take you off road, now there's a Volvo option. At least in title. The platform is shared with the Land Rover LR2, which is somewhat worrisome since that car's biggest strength was Land Rover character and little else. The XC60's interior appears to give up Volvo's recent stint with simplicity in the name of a driver-focused center console. It's more Audi with light wood than Volvo. Even still, being a Volvo with AWD, it'll only be a few months before you see them with ski racks and "honor student" bumper stickers all over the snowbelt. Can't this crossover craze die already?

[Slide show on Pixamo here.] 

“A younger version of Fountains of Wayne, minus the pretentiousness (and some of the talent). Sound-wise they're very FoW-ish.” That’s how TTAC contributor Megan Benoit describes the band “Honest Bob and the Factory-to-Dealer Incentives.” They’ll be at “T.T. [no relation] the Bears Place” in Cambridge on June 7th, blasting out Megan’s fave “Red Integra.” And yes Jalopnik fans, it’s a slow news day.

I saw you sitting there on Fruit Street
But I'm not any good with words
I'm the red Integra parked behind you
So I'll leave this little note instead:

"I think that you should be more careful parking. There were no
damages but next time, be careful. They might not be as nice as
myself. I saw you back up into my car."

Somewhere west of Ogallala, rocketing across the plains at ninety-six in a sixty-nine Plymouth Fury, a twangy voice lectured us with the old song: “love and marriage, love and marriage, go together like a horse and carriage.” My two female traveling companions and I exchanged glances, laughed and sang along. “…you can’t have one without the other.” In that precious moment, everything crystallized: what it meant to be nineteen in 1972, free as a bird, barreling down the freeway in a powerful American sedan.

Yup, there it was, buried in an Automotive News [AN, sub] story announcing that Pontiac dealers aren't going to get a Trans Am version of the new Chevrolet Camaro. You know, the Canadian-built rear wheel-drive muscle car that's due out this spring. Sorry, I mean fall. Winter. OK, February '09. Anyway, GM told a meeting of B-P-G (Buick, Pontiac, GMC) dealers that "new legislation requiring vehicles to reach a fleet average of 35 mpg by 2020" has plucked the screaming chicken. In fact, Pontiac "might not end up as GM's performance division." [NB: I think that means that none of GM's eight U.S. brands gets a performance remit.] "The plan is being tweaked because of the gas situation," revealed Lynn Thompson, owner of Thompson Motor Sales in Springfield, Mo. "I hope they don't give up on performance because they don't have to. You can use four-cylinder engines to achieve incredible power." To placate any B-P-G dealer deluded enough to expect something roughly akin to coherent branding from GM, the American automaker also announced that they're unleashing 12 new or special-edition vehicles over the next 20 months. (Sneak peak! Get ready for a special-edition GMC Sierra pickup called "Pro Grade.") In case you're wondering what separates a Pontiac from a Chevy, Buick or Saturn (or anything else) now that the former "We Build Excitement" division isn't building excitement, I have no idea. Does anyone?

Hello, thank you to read me. I bring news of glorious nation of US and A. In US and A, everyone is paying big fast car but this they not know in Kyrgyzstan where drive yaks. Is clear they not understanding America way in US of A using credit like we know in Kazakstahn. Here for reading is big article from Kyrgyzstan News about pay for car in America.

US car buyers take out longer loans. Longer loans are being offered to car buyers to counter an anticipated slow down in U.S car sales.Toyota is now offering up to 84 months amortization and GMAC is considering offering a 102 month deal. Financiers say people who take the longer terms are the type who wait until a car is worn out before seeking a replacement or those who are not financially solid and are looking for low monthly instalments. The average car depreciates mostly over the first three years. After 36 months it can normally only be sold for half its purchase price.

You seeing they in Kyrgyzstan not knowing of US in A same good like me. Thanking you to read me.

As Detroit heads for its inevitable meltdown, The End of Days keeps throwing-up a whole bunch of weird shit. For example, I was watching one of those creepy Chevy ads where an African American spokesmodel tries to convince a bunch of severely underage car buyers that Chevy is gas-friendly (which cracks me up, 'cause Chevy SUVs just LOVE gas) to gas-free (which also cracks me up, 'cause even the theoretical plug-in Volt will use gas). In this one, the actor asks the kids if they like riddles (which cracks me up, 'cause it reminds me of Peter Grave's immortal line "Do you like Gladiator movies Johnny?). So… "when is a car not a car?" "When you can't sell it for love nor money?" a pixie-faced child replies. (Just kidding.) "When it's an SUV!" the unsupervised adult informs. "What the fuck are you talking about?" a child chosen for reasons of ethic diversity demands. (Just kidding.) The spokesmodel tells his charges that the conundrum involves a GM hybrid SUV chosen as "Green Car of the Year." "But it's an SUV!" an indignant rug rat bleats. (For real.) The spokesmodel provides the logical explanation: "I guess it's smart." Why would GM draw its customers' attention to the fact that it doesn't deserve an award? I guess they're dumb.

This week I tried my hand at the long speculated and currently confirmed entry level Rolls Royce. I know it sounds like a contradiction in terms (similar to "cheap expensive car"), but they're going to build a car smaller than the Phantom and just a little bit larger than the BMW 7-Series (to justify the RR badge). I actually like Rolls' house style these days. So I pictured a third model that goes on the same lines, with a drop of exclusivity in the fascia. I didn't wanted the baby Rolls to feel just like a down-scaled Phantom. All of the lines suggest that this is a smaller and lighter car, with less inertia, if you prefer (which I'm sure you do). The Phantom looks like it is unstoppable. While my rendering has the same blue-blood-driven-self-esteem, it acts like the kid-brother that knows there is a someone bigger around. 

[For more Avarvarii photochopistry, click here]

The Detroit automakers aren't the only ones feeling the cost crunch in Canada. The London Free Press reports our neighbor to the north is also the most expensive place Toyota assembles vehicles– in spite of a distinct lack of Canadian Auto Workers' union members. And yet, in spite of higher operating costs, ToMoCo may be looking to expand their RAV-4-producing Woodstock assembly plant even before it opens next fall. Toyota's playing down the rumored expansion. They're declaring that the plant must first open and perform before they'll consider adding more capacity. When asked why they'd consider spending more on a plant that already costs so much to operate, Toyota Canada's president Yoichi Tomihara replied "Toyota's philosophy is to make the investment in the long term, not the short term." Toyota executives also said they don't let current market conditions sway their strategy; economic conditions can change. Besides, they added, they like making vehicles in Canada. I'm thinking ToMoCo likes it anywhere where they don't have to deal with a labor union.

A friend of mine wants to buy an Alfa Romeo Spider. "Do you know a good mechanic?" I asked her. Because I explained, if she didn't the car wouldn't move. And even if she found a talented wrench, the car would only run from her apartment to the shop. I told her to get a Miata instead. Bullet proof, plus the Mazda drives seven times better than the solid-axled Italian. Nope. Not interested. She wants the Alfa. Because it looks better. I ran into another friend last night, who against all my best advising swapped her ("ugly") Scion for a ("cute") Volvo 240 Wagon. "What are you doing for Valentine's Day?" I asked her and her boyfriend. "Picking up the Volvo from the shop." Today saw my take on the new Subaru STI. I'll let reader cretinx summarize what most of y'all have been saying, "Its just . . . . so . . . ugly . . . ." Big time. That said, that pig is most likely my next car. Apologies to Sheryll Alexander, but when it comes to driving, I really don't care about looks. You?

There's an old Jackie Mason joke, "I love Puerto Rico. I go there every year– just to visit my hubcaps." I mention this funny/racist joke because gasoline prices have more than doubled in the last four years and the money's going… where exactly? Sure, Exxon Mobil and their oil baron friends are posting quarter after quarter of historic record profits. But how many cigars can you light with a $100 bill? Someone else must be getting fat and happy too, right? Right. Investment adviser, Ron Paul fan and economic blogger Michael "Mish" Shedlock posits that a lot of the oil revenue is headed towards the UAE's capital city. How much oil revenue? Only about six percent of the UAE's take home comes from actual oil. However, the JAFZA free trade zone offers many perks for those with huge surpluses of cash to, uh, invest. Check it: come 2009 Dubai will feature the world's tallest building (The Burj Dubai — 2,684 ft), the world's tallest structure (The Al Burj — 3,937 ft), the world's tallest hotel (The Burj al Alam — 1,644 ft), the world's first underwater hotel (Hydropolis), the world's biggest amusement park (the Disney World trumping Dubailand) and even more indoor skiing. Not to mention the world's largest waterfront and hundreds of luxury man-made islands. Let's put it this way: Dubai is home to about 20 percent of the world's [mechanical] cranes. Have a look.

“Why should a female auto journalist give you advice on great date cars?” CNN reporter Sheryll Alexander asks herself. “Because as far as cars go, I know what turns a woman on and what really turns her off.” Is this some kind of lesbian thing? Anyway, these days, the majority of women “are rather picky when it comes to a guy's ride,” Alexander opines. “Your car really does send her all the right or wrong messages about how much money you make and what gets your engine running. Let's be honest, some girls just like a flashy ride too.” But Alexander counsels clueless men not to go overboard when picking out a four-wheeled babe magnet. “Most women are wary of extremes… I think personal integrity and animal-like chemistry should count way more than what kind of vehicle you drive, but I guess some guys feel that spending the extra money on a racy ride is certainly worth the dating gamble.” In the pursuit of journalistic insight– nothing to do with a personal desire to drive a bunch of sports cars for free we're sure– CNN’s self-appointed (anointed?) car guru gives us the low-down on cruisin' while cruisin':

Nissan 350Z Roadster: “Truly a he-man's ride come true whether girls like it or not.”

Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder: “Guys, you definitely can't go wrong with this one!”

Mercedes-Benz CL 550: “With the $100,000+ price tag, the ladies will definitely be swarming around this hive of vehicular comfort and luxury.”

Audi TT Roadster: “On the outside, the Audis… look truly sexy with their bubble-like hood, curvy haunches and wide back side. Yes, the Audi TT goes both ways as a great date car for both men and women.”

Porsche Cayman: “Just looking at the Cayman's curvy haunches, sexy sloping hood and racing rear spoiler would make any woman want to go for a ride.”

Belvidere has been down since early Wednesday morning due to a broken gear in a press in stamping area. Trucks came and removed the dies and such to other Chrysler stamping facilities. There were a lot of trucks though. More than I would imagine would be needed for one press and its dies. Is it possible they are pulling out all stamping? Is it possible they may close the doors at the Belvidere facility? Nobody knew anything on Tuesday, yet the union seemed to know we would be off at that time without notifying the workforce. I can't get any info. I know they have bounced checks and aren't paying suppliers. They intend to cut one shift next Friday. Their supply of vehicles is much higher than that posted on your site. Chrysler bullshit. That's what it is most of the time.