Recent Comments:
Happy Independence Day from Autoblog {Autoblog}
Jul 4th 2008 10:11AM LOL @ the long-winded libertarian that posted above. Go back to your Ron Paul and Libertarian blogs and leave Autoblog out of your idiotic ramblings where they have no place.
Rumormill: Ford reviving Mustang SVO with 300 hp Ecoboost four {Autoblog}
Jul 3rd 2008 11:05AM Sounds like it could be fun, and perhaps steal some sales away from upcoming competitors like the Genesis coupe and the Camaro.
Hopefully they don't price it too high though, because all of the special edition 'stangs have been around $30k. I don't think an SVO would sell as well in that price range.
Cops now charging for gas used to catch you {Autoblog}
Jun 19th 2008 4:21PM Whenever local governments need a little extra cash, this is the sort of thing they do. They see it as politically infeasible to actually raise taxes, so they just push through something like this and talk about how it is for the good of public safety and supports our law enforcement.
I am all for going after those who put other drivers in danger by driving recklessly, excessively speeding (like >25 mph over the limit), or are under the influence. I just can't believe everyone is willing to put up with a system that is hilariously stupid and whose primary use is for local governments to make up their budget shortfalls because they don't have the balls to try to raise taxes. It is essentially a "tax lotto" on otherwise law-abiding citizens.
How about we do something rational and step back from all the law enforcement and judicial expenses from pointless things like going after minor marijuana offenses instead. I guess that would make too much sense though.
Confirmed: Chrysler still working on compact Hornet {Autoblog}
Jun 11th 2008 6:55PM Although it is apparently "polarizing", I think Chrysler should stick to this sort of styling with the Hornet. The newer Honda Fit and Ford Fiesta will be hard to beat in that area, but otherwise there are some fugly compacts and sub-compacts. To name a few in the general pricerange it will probably be competing in, the Versa, Yaris, Focus (current), Aveo, xD, and Dodge's own Caliber aren't exactly lookers.
I agree that they need to try their best to keep it relatively lightweight, as over 3000lbs for a small compact is just unacceptable to me. Hopefully they also don't saddle it with too horrible an interior since there is going to be a lot of pressure to strip costs.
If they are really smart, they will give it a scaled-down and turbocharged version of their "world engine". A small 1.4 - 1.6L turbocharged I4 would get good gas mileage and give it some pep.
Rumormill: Ford working on four-door Mondeo coupe {Autoblog}
Jun 10th 2008 3:27AM I am sure I am not alone in seeing the Mondeo make it to North American in some form.
I know the price issues are obviously a problem, but perhaps they could bring it over branded as a more upscale small car under the Mercury or Lincoln banner. That could help give either brand a stylish smaller car that could attract some younger buyers, and with rising fuel costs the market may be better prepared to embrace it.
It isn't like they could do much worse than the last time they tried to bring it over with the junk-heaps we got in the Contour and Mystique.
17-year-old drifter gets his own web-based reality show {Autoblog}
Jun 10th 2008 3:17AM I respect the skill involved in drifting to a certain extent, but drifting isn't a motorsport.
The goal of every true motorsport is to pilot your vehicle through a given course faster than your competition. In all other motorsports there are no style points and no wasted motion.
Plain and simple, drifting is the WWE of the car world. The WWE has tons of very talented athletes and can be entertaining at times, but it is not on the same level as amateur wrestling or other sports. There is nothing wrong with drifting not being a motorsport really, because if you enjoy it than more power to you. Just don't try to put it on the same stage as true motorsports, because you just make yourself look ignorant.
Hyundai to spend $80m on Genesis sedan launch, pre-sales top 700 so far {Autoblog}
May 26th 2008 5:57PM I don't think your characterization of how the design of the Genesis Sedan clashes with the intended audience is correct at all.
I think many people in the luxury segment don't want a striking design. In fact, I think many in the segment want a simple upmarket look that is elegant. The Genesis Sedan isn't a striking design, but to me at least, it does have a simple and elegant shape. That shouldn't come as a big surprise since it reproduces a lot of design elements from brands like BMW, and that isn't necessarily a bad thing.
There is going to be a hurdle for a lot of people to overcome in buying a luxury Hyundai. The people that buy a BMW or Mercedes sedan strictly as a status symbol won't be interested. However, I think there are a lot of professionals that could end up taking a look at one based on the price and being surprised at how much more car they could get for their money in a Genesis Sedan than the competition at its price.
Chrysler and Chery's lovechild not ready for export, yet {Autoblog}
Apr 21st 2008 4:13PM I don't think that is the case any more rocketboy.
The "old" demon would have been good competition for the miata as a small coupe (with a convertible option likely), RWD, lightweight, with a great engine in the 2.4 turbo out of the SRT-4.
When the rumors of the demon coming back built by Chery arose, it was to be a plodding FWD crap-heap. There is a certain segment of the population that might cross-shop it with a miata, mainly those that don't care about performance or fun as much as the fact it is a cheap convertible. Still, without RWD and on a crappy heavy chinese platform with some junk-heap of a 4-cylinder it would never be able to truly compete with the miata.
April Foolery: Kia introduces the KEE_wii sans steering wheel {Autoblog}
Apr 1st 2008 8:44AM It took me half a paragraph to realize what the hell it was. Not bad, April fools everyone.
VIDEO: Ford Powertrain Director talks EcoBoost {Autoblog}
Apr 1st 2008 5:13AM Although "why not the LS2/LS7?" is clearly a troll, I will respond anyway.
I was saying they seem to "get it" now. I wasn't talking about what mistakes they have made in the past or what they currently have available. In the near future they are making a smart move to a powertrain strategy that will help improve their MPG average noticeably while not sacrificing performance or significantly raising costs . It may be a small step, but it is a very realistic and practical one that could none-the-less have a positive impact for them.
If they properly pair the powertrain strategy with better styling and improved interiors while keeping some of the good reliability they have had with recent cars like the fusion, they might finally begin to dig out of the hole they dug themselves.
