Christ symbolism optional, presumably.
Find Reviews by Make:
Latest auto news, reviews, editorials, and podcasts
Clifton writes:
“My friend at [Hyundai Motor Company] was as excited about having me sample the new Genesis Coupe as I was to slide behind the wheel. I finished my official Hyundai factory tour, stepped off the bus (within the plant confines) and there she was: the Hyundai Genesis Coupe. Bewildered Korean tourists gawked as I was formally introduced to South Korea’s next big thing. They hope.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Steven “Steve” Rattner of Quadrangle Group will join the Presidential Task Force on Autos as an advisor to National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers. Rattner has no publicly-known experience in the automotive industry, although as a former newspaper man and print media investor, he surely knows a thing or two about dying industries. Anyway, as we reported earlier, Rattner’s major qualification for the position (he was previously being considered for “car czar” before that position was merged into the PTFA) appears to be that he’s a major Obama fundraiser, and is married to the finance chair of the Democratic National Committee.
Or as the Freep rosily puts it, “Most Michigan voters back aid.” Which is technically true, but also as misleading as a St. Bernard that’s been after its own brandy. Because even though the Rasmussen poll in question shows that 52 percent of Michigan’s likely voters support “additional loans” to the nation’s automakers, there’s a caveat missing: the auto industry is the local issue in Michigan. Michigan’s congressional delegation have been the most shrill bailout boosters in Washington, the local papers are as pro-bailout as they come, and, well, it’s freaking Michigan. If only half of the Wolverine state support more bailout bucks for automakers, how bad must national support be? The Freep could tell you, just not in its headline. Only 24 percent are in favor of “additional loans” accorrding to the national version of the same Rasmussen poll. 64 percent were opposed. Ouch.
When developing new car gadgetry, automakers are faced with making a very basic assumption about their potential customers. Are we the consumers willing to trade our fundamental, if somewhat-anarchistic, assumptions of freedom for some wimpy, gas saving benefit? From accident black boxes to driver-behavior monitors, most red-blooded pistonheads say, hell no! Apparently BMW reckons that more people want toys than want (perceived) freedom. And they’re developing an intelligent navigation system that will learn your driving habits to prove it.
Via Green Car Congress comes word of China’s second plug-in electric car (after BYD’s Dual Mode plug-in, allegedly on sale now), the Chery S18. Chery’s website (In Mandarin, click here for Google translated hilarity) shows the tiny city car rolling off the assembly line, implying that China is taking a two-nil lead over the US in the race for production EVs. On the other hand, it’s probably safe to say that a carboard box has a higher chance of passing US crash test. Anyway, the S18 reportedly sports a 336 V, 40 KwH electric drivetrain featuring 40 Ah Lithium Iron-Phosphate batteries which recharge in 4-6 hours from a 220 V socket (a 30-minute quick charge provides 80 percent of battery capacity). Top speed is said to be 75 mph, and range is estimated at a modest 75-95 miles. Chery’s Yuan Tao claims (in Google translation) that the S18 not only boasts “the world’s most advanced technology” but “the price is also very suitable for families to buy.” Gasgoo says the S18 will go on sale in China later this year starting at less than 100K RMB ($15K), considerably less than even BYD’s F3DM which retails for 150K RMB.
Pet lovers rejoice! GM Media is saving you months of potential shopping for the best possible vehicle for the significant canine in your life by announcing that the GMC Acadia has won the Pet Safe Choice Award 2009! What led to the choice? “Emergency services and hands-free navigation; standard third-row bench seating for restraining pets and ample room behind the seats for pet crates; tinted windows, tri-zone climate controls and a large, power-operated sunshade for comfort; and top federal and insurance industry scores for crashworthiness.” You might not need these features as much as, say, good mileage or a high-quality interior, but dammit Fido does!
Danny Westneat at the Seattle Times apparently wasn’t taken in by the “This Car Gets 100/150MPG!” signage on Seattle’s test fleet of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). And it seems that his journalistic incredulity was rewarded with some disappointing numbers from Seattle’s real-world testing of the much-vaunted PHEVs. Sure, a converted plug-in Prius might get 100 mpg in the hands of a fanatic hypermiler, but in daily use by untrained city drivers, the PHEVs return much more moderate results. Westneat reveals that Seattle’s 14 plug-in Priuses actually averaged about 51 mpg after driving a total of 17,636 miles in all kinds of conditions. And the Seattle case is no fluke.
M, RS, V, F, AMG. The alpha alphabet represents five manufacturers’ best efforts to create something unique, exciting and memorable from their more prosaic mainstream motors. The resulting “performance tuned” sports sedans are so powerful, so capable, so versatile, that they’re the ground based equivalent of the all-weather fighter jets that battle for control of the skies. While the shibboleth “there’s no such thing as a bad car” applies here, there are always going to be winners and losers. And it’s our job to sort the wheat from the chaff.
OK, so I don’t expect (most of) the B&B to be entertained by a Flash-based, Frogger-clone “driving game” for more than a few seconds, but if iMotor’s “Save Chrysler” game isn’t a sign of the times I don’t know what is. The gist? Choose from Chrysler’s best products (PT Cruiser, Sebring Convertible, Viper ACR or The General Lee) and hit the road to keep Chrysler afloat. Avoid other cars and hit bonus icons to earn “cash” and weeks of viability for the Cerburian dog. Best of all, when you hit a Fiat logo you get to hear “Mama Mia!” and when you hit a Terminator icon you can hear Arnie assure you that he’ll “be back.” Hilarity! Now if only revamping Chrysler were as easy as not crashing a PT Cruiser, we’d be getting somewhere. Sadly, mashing arrow keys has not yet been proven to have a salutory effect on failing businesses.
Well, the headline is there and the news is there. But is it? The Freep reports that a UAW-Ford deal on VEBA has been announced by the UAW, but there’s nothing there that you can’t find in the UAW’s press release. Go figure. Sure, it may be the first reported agreement on the future of VEBA, but there’s basically nothing to go on. “We appreciate the solidarity, understanding and patience the members have demonstrated throughout the bargaining process,” says UAW President Ron Gettelfinger in his press release and nearly every news report on the item. “The modifications will protect jobs for UAW members by ensuring the long-term viability of the company.” But how? The UAW rejected stock for VEBA out of hand a few short days ago, as VEBA became the sticking point that kept union concessions out of last Tuesday’s viability plans. And like all UAW “concessions,” this one has to go to the membership for ratification. Furthermore, according to the Freep, “proposed changes to the VEBA will require court approval.” Meanwhile the only possible insight we have into the UAW’s strategy comes from a boilerplate Gettelfinger op-ed in the Washington Times. And there’s little there to indicate a VEBA deal.
Instead of digging into the murky finances of federal teat sucker and Chrysler owner Cerberus, The Detroit News has focused its investigative expertise on the automotive lifestyles of the Presidential Automotive Task Force. I’m not sure exactly how this counts as “gotcha” journalism—and neither is author David Shepardson. “The vehicles owned by the Obama administration’s auto team could reflect one reason why Detroit’s Big Three automakers are in trouble: The list includes few new American cars.” Care to expand on that thought David, or just fan the flames of anti-DC hatred simmering in the automotive heart of Bailout Nation? Thought so. Sherpardson reveals that the ratio of domestic owning to foreign driving members is two to eighteen. Shock! Of course, “information was not available on all of the officials, and records for some states were not complete.” Never mind. ‘Cause in this particular witch hunt, if you EVER owned a foreign car you’re named and shamed, I shit you not.
A newly elected member of Congress is leading the effort to ban the imposition of tolls on existing interstate highways. Last week, US Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pennsylvania) introduced HR 1071, the Keeping America’s Freeways Free Act. “Tolls are taxes, plain and simple,” Thompson said in a statement. “The Interstate Highway System—the greatest public works project in history—was built with federal funding to unite our nation. The Interstate Highway System’s profound effect upon the American economy has contributed significantly to development and improved quality of life through increased economic efficiency and productivity. The Keeping Americas Freeways Free Act will preserve this notion and allow for the free flowing of commerce not only in Pennsylvania, but across the nation.”
I’m not much of a biblical scholar, but I did see Schwarzenegger’s End of Days. All sorts of weird shit happened before Arnie finally sent the devil packing. As we head down the home stretch for the auto industry reckoning, there’s some odd stuff percolating-up in the autoblogosphere. To wit: TheDetroitBureau.com’s suggestion that a newly independent Saturn or Saab should consider adding examples of HUMMER’s strategically doomed product line to their freshly liberated (or not) portfolio. Michael Strong makes the weak argument. Cross yourself and we’ll continue.
Recent Comments