Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[VIDEO: Remembering the Pontiac Aztek launch with C&D]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/20/video-remembering-the-pontiac-aztek-launch-with-candd/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/20/video-remembering-the-pontiac-aztek-launch-with-candd/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/20/video-remembering-the-pontiac-aztek-launch-with-candd/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above to watch the video after the break

For the past decade, the Pontiac Aztek has been the poster child for design execution gone wrong. The malformed 'ute was intended as one of the first crossover vehicles - part minivan and part SUV, with enough space to enable drivers to go further, and with more stuff. After all, the rear seats were removable, when the hatch was open, you had access to a kickin' boombox, and the center console was removable when you needed a cooler on the fly. Instead, the Aztek was the butt of quite a few jokes, and its plastic-clad ugliness became a microcosm of all that was wrong with the domestic auto industry.

When the Aztek came in 2001, though, the public (and the motoring media) wasn't exactly sure what the quirky little Pontiac actually was, as evidenced by this amusing eight-year old video shot and edited by Car and Driver. Hit the jump to view the five-minute flick, and rewind back in time to the starting point of one of Pontiac's biggest mistakes.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Remembering the Pontiac Aztek launch with C&D

VIDEO: Remembering the Pontiac Aztek launch with C&D originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2001 pontiac aztek2001PontiacAztekcar and driver video aztekCarAndDriverVideoAztekcrossoverpontiac aztekPontiacAztekMon, 20 Jul 2009 11:29:00 EST<![CDATA[2007 big year for Pontiac Aztek: 25 sold]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/18/2007-big-year-for-pontiac-aztek-25-sold/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/18/2007-big-year-for-pontiac-aztek-25-sold/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/18/2007-big-year-for-pontiac-aztek-25-sold/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


click above for more high-res images of the Pontiac Aztek... if you dare

The Pontiac Aztek may be the butt of more jokes than Britney Spears, but even two years after its demise, the world's ugliest crossover of all time is still selling. In fact, Pontiac dealers chalked up a whopping 25 sales in 2007, and we'd like to meet the visually impaired customers who drove them off the lot and into a lifetime's worth of ridicule. Actually, we'd like to visit the 25 Pontiac dealerships that risked the embarrassment of keeping a two-year old "new" car on their lots. Any mention of Sales Person of the Year should include the fine men and women who pushed, dragged and pulled those Azteks off the lot. How do you explain to the new car shopper why his new car no longer has that new car smell? OK, we're done.

PS: We're well aware that there are many satisfied owners out there who appreciate the practical design of the Aztek's interior layout, smooth ride and the world's best built anti-theft device (i.e. its looks). We apologize for being so insensitive.

[Source: Inside Line]

Gallery: Pontiac Aztek

2007 big year for Pontiac Aztek: 25 sold originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Jan 2008 06:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>General MotorsGeneralMotorsGMPontiac AztekPontiacAztekUgliest car everUgliestCarEverFri, 18 Jan 2008 06:52:00 EST<![CDATA[eBay Find of the Day: 2003 Pontiac Aztek Custom Show Car]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/27/ebay-find-of-the-day-2003-pontiac-aztek-custom-show-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/27/ebay-find-of-the-day-2003-pontiac-aztek-custom-show-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/27/ebay-find-of-the-day-2003-pontiac-aztek-custom-show-car/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's official. The Pontiac Aztek can get uglier. Way uglier. For some reason, someone thought the Aztek would be a suitable vehicle to build into a show car (a loose term in this case), and they proceeded to give it Lamborghini doors, yellow interior trim with cloth seats, a train horn (huh?), light bar (for what?), and a paint job that includes several monkeys (are you as confused as we are?). The result is less of a show car and more of a distasteful and offensive security vehicle that patrols the monkey house at the zoo. The description states that it is a "real must have for your business or collection" and that it's "a real showstopper and a great advertisement." Yeah. Right. On a positive note, it's never been damaged (at least in an accident), and it has new tires. As of now there are no bids, so feel free to start with one at $12,000, or if you just can't wait there is a "buy it now" price of $18,500.

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: 2003 Pontiac Aztek Custom Show Car originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Nov 2007 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AztekPontiacPontiac AztekPontiac Aztek Show CarPontiacAztekPontiacAztekShowCarugly pontiac aztekUglyPontiacAztekTue, 27 Nov 2007 10:25:00 EST<![CDATA[TCC lists 10 concepts Detroit should have built]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/12/tcc-lists-10-concepts-detroit-should-have-built/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/12/tcc-lists-10-concepts-detroit-should-have-built/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/12/tcc-lists-10-concepts-detroit-should-have-built/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



Show cars, dream cars and concept cars have long been a staple of the auto show circuit. Ever since Harley Earl dropped the 1938 Buick Y-Job on the unsuspecting public, automakers have been teasing us with concepts that more often than not fail to make it to production. Sometimes certain design elements or powerplants or nametags make it to showrooms, even whole vehicles occasionally slip through with minor changes, but there are always cars we wish automakers would have built but didn't. That's what The Car Connection addresses in its newest top ten list. "Ten Concepts Detroit Should Have Built," as you may guess, focuses on concepts American manufacturers should have made.

TCC gives a thorough description of each choice and an explanation of its merits, and also invites readers to weigh in on which they would choose as the pick of the litter. We encourage you to click over and check them out for yourself, but here's the list:
  • Chrysler Norseman, 1956
  • Chevrolet Astro II, 1967
  • Chevrolet Corvette Four-Rotor, 1972
  • Chrysler Phaeton, 1997
  • Pontiac Aztek, 1999
  • Jaguar F-Type, 2000
  • Chevrolet Nomad 1999 and 2003
  • Lincoln Continental, 2002
  • Cadillac Sixteen, 2003
  • Ford Reflex, 2006
Add our votes for the Astro II (pictured), the Nomads and Cadillac's Sixteen concept, though ourl list would have also included the Dodge M80, Ford 427 and Buick Velite.

[Source: TheCarConnection]

TCC lists 10 concepts Detroit should have built originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Apr 2007 18:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Cadillac SixteenCadillacSixteenChevrolet AstroChevrolet Corvette Four-RotorChevrolet NomadChevroletAstroChevroletCorvetteFour-rotorChevroletNomadChrysler NorsemanChrysler PhaetonChryslerNorsemanChryslerPhaetonconcept carConceptCardream carDreamCarFord ReflexFordReflexJaguar F-TypeJaguarF-typeLincoln ContinentalLincolnContinentalPontiac AztekPontiacAztekshow carShowCarThu, 12 Apr 2007 18:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Cartalk names Top 10 Scariest Cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/30/cartalk-names-top-10-scariest-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/30/cartalk-names-top-10-scariest-cars/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/30/cartalk-names-top-10-scariest-cars/#commentsFiled under: ,




What do the 1980 Chevy Monza and the 1973 VW Microbus have in common? They are among Car Talk hosts Tom and Ray Magliozzi's Top 10 Scariest Cars list. Of the Monza they say, " Whenever one of these beauties reared its ugly grille in front of the garage, every mechanic with more than six weeks' experience would go running for the men's room and lock the door." Another car on the list, the 1987 Ford Festiva, gets this derision from the brothers: "We once got in trouble for saying this car came right from the factory with a funeral wreath on the grille."

If these cars aren't scary enough, submit your own nomination.

The whole list after the jump.


[Source: cartalk.com]

Continue reading Cartalk names Top 10 Scariest Cars

Cartalk names Top 10 Scariest Cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Oct 2006 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aztekcartalkchevrolet monzaChevroletMonzachevy monzaChevyMonzaclick and clackClickAndClackford festivaford mustangford pintoFordFestivaFordMustangFordPintoh1halloweenhalloween carsHalloweenCarshummermicrobuspintopontiac aztekpontiac trans amPontiacAztekPontiacTransAmRay MagliozziRayMagliozziscariest carsScariestCarsscary carsScaryCarssuzuki samuraiSuzukiSamuraiTom and Ray Magliozzitom MagliozziTomAndRayMagliozziTomMagliozzivolkswagen microbusvolkswagen thingVolkswagenMicrobusVolkswagenThingvw microbusvw thingVwMicrobusVwThingMon, 30 Oct 2006 19:55:00 EST