Recent Comments:
Design Exercise: Ferrari Concept 2008 {Autoblog}
May 15th 2008 2:12PM I don't see why the entire car has to be that damn long. It's nice looking, but there is no way you'd be able to build this, put it on the road, and be able to drive it the way a Ferrari should drive.
HSV Tourer super-wagon set to haul stuff, ass {Autoblog}
May 12th 2008 2:39PM I'm playing something approaching devil's advocate here but it could be because Saturn has no real history to speak of, while Pontiac has been a well-known brand in the GM family.
HSV Tourer super-wagon set to haul stuff, ass {Autoblog}
May 12th 2008 10:01AM If only this thing got something approaching good gas mileage.
eBay Find of the Day: The Jerrari {Autoblog}
May 12th 2008 9:53AM This is a mini-9/11
Spy Shots: Baby Cayenne caught on 'Ring! {Autoblog}
May 8th 2008 4:13PM I never said they weren't trying to make money. I did, however, say that the money they do make can also fund improvements to more traditional Porsche products. Porsche is turning the best profits in the industry thanks to a loyal customer base and now a product that reaches more fickle purchasers. Still, there is absolutely no actual evidence of brand dilution save for commenters who are complaining that a Porsche badge now sits on things with 4 doors. The 911, the signature Porsche, has NOT suffered as a result of the Cayenne. If this were the case, that would be brand dilution. What we're observing here is brand expansion. If Porsche can build an SUV or a sedan that is preferred in the open market to other SUVs or sedans, why shouldn't it do so? In the end, loyal Porsche customers can still get the pure, sportscar experience they so desire while rich suburbanites can get their kids to school in style. If someone can demonstrate that the 911 is getting worse, and can indicate that the Cayenne (or this small Cayenne-derivative) is the cause of this, I'll buy this dilution argument. If not, posters complaining about Porsche SUVs or sedans are just being babies.
Spy Shots: Baby Cayenne caught on 'Ring! {Autoblog}
May 8th 2008 1:01PM Really, the debate over the meaningfulness of the Cayenne is a waste of time. Porsche is trying to make money. If Porsche turns a big profit off of this car, it stands to reason that some of those funds will go towards making better 911's, Boxters, and Caymans. If I recall correctly, Porsche turns the biggest profits of any automobile manufacturer, so it must be doing something right.
If you make the case that building the Cayenne dilutes the Porsche brand, then you would have to explain why Porsche owners aren't defecting en masse to other car companies. In fact, Porsche owners are among some of the most brand-loyal individuals. Porsche's sales of its car models have not declined since the advent of the Cayenne. If anything, the thousands of Cayennes on American highways have raised the companies profile even more in the last few years. You also can't claim that Porsche's other models are suffering as a result of this SUV. The most recent 911 GT3 and Turbo are stellar cars. Is there any worry about the next-gen 911 not selling well?
All I'm saying is, if the Cayenne isn't for you, then don't buy one. However, it's outright foolish to criticize Porsche for making it. It has been a terrific business decision, and Porsche has improved its entire model range since introducing the SUV. If you want to make the case that SUVs are bad for the environment and such, that's a better argument, but not germane to the current debate about the Cayenne's validity.
Another bloody Veyron: Presenting the Sang Noir {Autoblog}
May 4th 2008 6:43PM Name a more impressive car. Please don't tell me you're another one of those Ariel Atom cheerleaders who want adult go-karts. The Veyron is truly amazing. It's an engineering feat while having (IMO) excellent stylings, plus you can actually drive it comfortably. Also, it's performance speaks for itself.
That said, I like the unpainted carbon fiber with the black painted aluminum body panels. I don't like the interior, but I'll never sit in one so my vote doesn't count.
Lamborghini wants less Audi DNA in its products {Autoblog}
May 2nd 2008 1:25PM Lambo should watch what it says. Under Audi's watch, it took off and expanded in a huge way.
Audi planning TT and R8 lightweight "Sport" models {Autoblog}
Apr 8th 2008 6:25PM To me, Audi is a quattro company above all. I think much of their engineering takes place with AWD in mind. While it surely adds weight, the handling and traction advantages of quattro are really excellent. I can attest that my quattro A4 has saved my ass a few times when I've made a poor decision or hit a massive puddle. Audi is also getting better at sending more power to the rear wheels for a sportier feel for those who want RWD. Still, having the option to send power to the front wheels for when it's needed is a really great thing to have. Even the GT-R, which behaves as an RWD vehicle most of the time, makes use of this technology. Plenty of companies make crappy FWD cars wearing the same badges as their better models. It's silly to scoff at a GT-R because of the Sentra, a Corvette because of the Aveo, or an F430 because of the Fiat Panda. Car companies need to make money too. They do that by selling cars to the 90% of people who aren't enthusiasts and are primarily interested in safe transportation. FWD takes care of their needs, making money that can be spent on building better AWD and RWD rides.
Fireblade concept makes for a hotter ZR1 {Autoblog}
Apr 6th 2008 2:12PM It's hard to say whether or not he added mass. I imagine whatever materials go into creating those body panels and wheels will dictate the mass of the car. That being said, it's hard to argue with the styling of the car. I think the main draw of the ZR-1 is its supercar engine at sub-supercar price (100k is out of my price range, but more than affordable for someone pricing Gallardos and 911 Turbos). Still, you can't make the claim that the styling on the ZR-1 is particularly exciting. It still looks mostly like the base Corvette and its probably indistinguishable to anyone who isn't into cars (read: women). This remix of the design gives it true exotic styling to match its performance numbers. If they can also figure out a way to make it turn like a proper supercar, I don't see why anyone wouldn't want one. Of course, there would be a price jump; but, supercar performance and looks to match are not cheap.
