Recent Comments:
GM gives very early sneak peek at next-gen Astra {Autoblog}
Sep 8th 2008 11:55AM As long as they offer a nice wagon in the US, I'll be happy.
In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Volkswagen SportWagen SE {Autoblog}
Aug 4th 2008 6:09AM They need to build that car in the US to get the cost down. Then, a minor revision of the interior to put in decent cup holders, along with a better engine, perhaps that new 1.4T. Then, they'd have something they could actually advertise and market here. I'd be in line to buy the wagon, along with those that don't want to buy a VW and former Focus wagon buyers. The lovely hatch would sell itself.
In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Volkswagen SportWagen SE {Autoblog}
Aug 1st 2008 8:40AM I hope Jill what's-her-name at Saturn is reading this.
When we were in Europe last year, we loved seeing the Opal wagon equivalents to the Saturn Aura and Astras. They are such nice looking vehicles - but sadly, not available here.
I hope that the high gas prices will bring the wagon back in the US. Wagons are the most practical, usable bodystyle.
Now that the Mazda 6 has dropped the wagon, what's left in the US market that's affordable?
Bring 'em over, Jill!
NHRA driver Scott Kalitta killed in NHRA qualifying {Autoblog}
Jun 22nd 2008 12:53PM What a shame.
Just a few days ago, I came across some Funny Car racing on Speed. I thought to myself, how ridicules these cars are. How many years ago was it that Don Garlits "invented" the rear-engined dragster which was heralded as being so much safer, because it put the engine behind the driver, so that if it became a ball of flames, or blew up into a million pieces, it would all be behind the driver. Garlits did this as a result of an accident he had had, and the rest is history.
I remember when Funny Cars were born. They started as modified stock cars with altered wheelbases and maybe fuel injection stacks sticking up out of the hood. They probably had 600 horsepower, at least until Jack Chrisman put a blower on his Comet. They've become, not "funny" cars, but Ridiculous Cars, possibly even worse than NASCAR's silly Nascars that have Ford or Chevy front-ends painted on them. Today's eight-thousand horsepower Funny Cars bear little resemblance to actual cars. In fact, all they are are front-engined dragsters with streamlined bodies painted up something like Ford's, Chevy's or, yes, even Toyotas.
So now, a man has lost his life driving one of these cars in an NHRA race. Now NHRA has this to contend with. No one can say it happened at a little "outlaw" strip; it happened at a major NHRA race. What would Wally Parks think?
These silly cars should be retired and the class abandoned. Let them drive real dragsters - rear-engined dragsters. But for the sake of the next driver to have an accident like this waiting for him, put the class to bed. And, no, don't even think of simply putting the engine in the rear, making "Funny" cars even more ridicules.
U.S. Postal Service to celebrate the tailfin starting in October {Autoblog}
Apr 26th 2008 3:52PM Art Fitzpatrick is the famous "AF" of the "AF & VK" duo that used to do so many automotive illustrations. Van Kaufman was "VK". Go to Art's web page: http://www.fitz-art.com/
His work is incredible. Back when he and Van worked together, Van did the backgrounds and Art the cars. You may remember in particular all the work they did for Pontiac. Sometimes their initials didn't show but even then you could always spot an AV & VK rendering. Back then, their work was done with paint, probably guache.
I had the pleasure of meeting Art a few years ago at a Pontiac convention. I told him of how we Industrial Design students used to idolize he and Van when we were in school. At the time I met him, he had just done the '50's stamps of a few years back. They were done on the computer as I presume these new ones were. I was amazed that a man his age had learned to do the same thing with computer technology. Most people his age are lucky to be able to use e-mail.
Read more about Art here: http://tinyurl.com/3omhsz
Spy Shots: Nissan GT-R Spec V confirmed, caught running the 'Ring {Autoblog}
Apr 13th 2008 7:11AM No matter how fast it is, it's still just an ugly Japanese car!
Spy Shots: Camaro SS finally gets busy on the 'Ring {Autoblog}
Apr 11th 2008 10:11AM Oh, but this car is soooooo.... ugly!!!
What were they thinking???
In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Saturn Astra XR {Autoblog}
Apr 11th 2008 9:44AM This is a nice car. If only they'd import the wagon!
Detroit 2008: The Heart of the King, the LS9 is born! {Autoblog}
Dec 20th 2007 9:48AM If you guys think that pushrod engines are so great, then why are all the 8,000 hp Top Fuel boys running highly-developed, ricer-based DOHC engines? Ha, Ha, Ha!!! - NOT!!!!!
AutoWeek releases more images of Nissan GT-R {Autoblog}
Oct 16th 2007 3:52PM Boy, the japanese sure are good at making ugly cars.
