Autoblog

Review: 2010 Honda Insight EX, familiarity breeds discontent

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Hatchbacks, Honda

2010 Honda Insight EX - Click above for high-res image gallery

First impressions can be problematic, even more so when reviewing a vehicle. When the media gets its first shot at a new offering, the automaker typically invites journalists to a location of its choosing to drive under conditions that show the car in its best light. Such was the case with the 2010 Honda Insight. After our First Drive, we came away with the impression that Honda's hot new hybrid was an engaging alternative to the Toyota Prius, but we quickly came to realize the Insight's limitations and flaws after a week behind the wheel on our home turf.

Get our real-world impressions after the jump.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Honda Insight EX

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Review: 2010 Honda Insight EX, familiarity breeds discontent originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Second winner in Mustang Unleashed contest drag races teacher on Pinks [w/VIDEO]

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupes, Contests, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Ford

Derek Murrell and his drag racing 2010 Mustang - Click above for a high-res image gallery

For the second installment of Ford's "The '10 Unleashed" contest, the Mustang is going to the drag strip. Last time, Ford gave a blind man the opportunity to drive, and this time around, a kid fresh out of high school is going up against one of his teachers in the quarter-mile. Derek Murrell just graduated from Lake Mary High School north of Orlando, Florida, a school where his auto shop teacher Bill Rosenblum apparently loved to share his drag racing exploits with his students.

Being a typical teenager, Murrell wanted to show up his elders and compete with Rosenbleum at the track. Since Ford is heavily promoting the 2010 Mustang in motorsports, the automaker decided to give him the chance to win a new Mustang GT. Of course, to to do that Murrell would have to do more than write a contest entry - he'd have to outrun a more experienced racer.

The teenage would-be racer had his first competitive run during the National Mustang Racing Association meet at Michigan's Milan Dragway. Luckily for us, the NMRA event took place concurrent with last week's Ford Racing Invitational, and we got to spend a few minutes chatting with Murrell. Check out the video of our interview with him after the jump.

Gallery: Mustang Unleashed: Derek Murrell

Continue reading Second winner in Mustang Unleashed contest drag races teacher on Pinks [w/VIDEO]

Second winner in Mustang Unleashed contest drag races teacher on Pinks [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: Ford Mustang Cobra Jet, watch out for second!

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupes, Ford, First Drive

2008 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet - Click above for high-res gallery

Saturday afternoon we went for what may have been the shortest and quickest first drive in the history of Autoblog. When we go on a typical first drive with a manufacturer, we get to drive a vehicle around for at least a few hours in a variety of environments. Not so this past Saturday, when we tried out the latest customer race car product from Ford Racing, the Cobra Jet, a Mustang conceived at the behest of drag racers who wanted a factory built car ready to take to their local drag strip.

The original Mustang Cobra Jet appeared back in 1968 with a big, powerful engine and all of the interior bits normally stripped out by racers already absent. Those cars would go on to be some of the most successful factory-built drag cars ever. A year ago, Ford began preparing to build a run of 50 brand new cars bearing the legendary nameplate. Officially designated "FR500CJ," the new cars were delivered to customers last Fall and have been seen racing regularly at strips across the country throughout the year.

Gallery: First Drive: Ford Mustang Cobra Jet

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First Drive: Ford Mustang Cobra Jet, watch out for second! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V offers supercar performance, everyday drivability

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Cadillac

2009 Cadillac CTS-V - Click above for high-res image gallery

Despite recent products to the contrary, when much of America thinks "Cadillac," a lot of people still recall the land yachts of the '70s and '80s. Hoods and decks marginally shorter than your average aircraft carrier, and Sedan de Villes and Fleetwoods serving as hearses or transportation for those awaiting a ride in one. But something happened to Cadillac a few years back. After several failed attempts to compete with the Germans (Seville STS, Allante and Catera), General Motors began crafting a strategy to take on the luxury marques abroad. At the forefront of that movement is the Cadillac CTS and the pinnacle of their efforts is this, the CTS-V. To paraphrase and co-opt the grizzled Oldsmobile tag-line: "The 2009 CTS-V is not your grandfather's Cadillac." Not by a long shot.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V

Continue reading Review: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V offers supercar performance, everyday drivability

Review: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V offers supercar performance, everyday drivability originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2010 Audi A3 TDI, diesel with a healthy dash of sport

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 21 May 2009 11:59:00 EST

Filed under: Economy, Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Hatchbacks, Audi

Audi A3 TDI - Click above for high-res image gallery

Audi started its big push for clean diesel here in the U.S. market this spring when its big Q7 TDI finally went on sale. While the Q7 TDI is one of the most fuel efficient seven-passenger SUVs available anywhere, it's only the beginning for Audi. Assuming that Americans start taking a shine to hot oil, Audi is likely to introduce a whole series of Rudi D's disciples here. So far, however, only one has been announced in addition to the Q7, the compact A3 hatchback.

The A3 is the entry-level model for the four-ringed brand here in the U.S. Until now, it has only been sold with a choice of a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder or 3.2-liter V6 engines running on gasoline. At the Detroit Auto Show, Audi announced that the A3 TDI would go on sale late this year. While the A3 TDI isn't yet available, one was made available to us for five days during a recent trip to Southern California. Find out what it was like after the jump.

Gallery: Review: Audi A3 TDI

Continue reading Review: 2010 Audi A3 TDI, diesel with a healthy dash of sport

Review: 2010 Audi A3 TDI, diesel with a healthy dash of sport originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 May 2009 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2010 Lincoln MKZ, a solid performer gets a makeover

Drew Phillips — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Lincoln, First Drive

2010 Lincoln MKZ - Click above for high-res image gallery

Launched in 2006 as the Zephyr, Lincoln's entry-level luxury sedan has undergone quite a few changes over the last three years. Graced with a new name - the MKZ - in 2007, as well as a 3.5-liter V6 and available all-wheel drive, the feature list continued to grow when SYNC and reverse park-assist were added to the MKZ in 2008. Like its Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan brothers, the 2010 MKZ benefits from a significant mid-cycle refresh that Lincoln hopes will make it more competitive in its segment. We recently spent a day with the new MKZ, scrutinizing its revamped exterior design, inspecting its all-new interior and testing out the re-tuned engine and suspension. Read on to see if the sum of the 2010 Lincoln MKZ's parts add up to an improved car.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Lincoln MKZ

Continue reading First Drive: 2010 Lincoln MKZ, a solid performer gets a makeover

First Drive: 2010 Lincoln MKZ, a solid performer gets a makeover originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Preview Drive: 2010 Cadillac SRX takes a swing at Lexus' RX

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Crossovers/CUVs, Cadillac, First Drive

2010 Cadillac SRX - Click above for a high-res gallery

Cadillac invited a handful of local media to its Milford, MI proving grounds for an early "preview" drive of the second-generation SRX crossover. The first official media launch won't happen until late May, just ahead of the mid-summer on-sale date, but GM wanted to provide a sneak peak at the chassis and hardware underpinning the new SRX. Contrary to popular opinion, the SRX and the Saab 9-4X aren't built atop the Theta platform used for the Saturn Vue and Chevy Equinox. Both vehicles uses a mix of Theta pieces, bits from the Epsilon II platform and a host of new components to create a new premium crossover architecture.

Unfortunately, Michigan weather just didn't want to cooperate with the SRX. After an early event was cancelled due to unseasonably warm weather in February, GM decided to let us loose on a 50-mile local road loop to show off the SRX's new chassis control and vehicle dynamic systems. Read on to find out how it fared.

Gallery: Preview Drive: Cadillac SRX

Continue reading Preview Drive: 2010 Cadillac SRX takes a swing at Lexus' RX

Preview Drive: 2010 Cadillac SRX takes a swing at Lexus' RX originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Toyota Corolla, Matrix get standard stability and traction control

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 11:04:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Economy, Sedans/Saloons, Crossovers/CUVs, Hatchbacks, Toyota

It's not every day that you get more for the same money. Yet that's what Toyota is offering with the 2010 Corolla, which will come with traction control and vehicle stability control and no price increase over the outgoing model. The MSRP of that car remains $15,350 for the base model 5-speed sedan. The Matrix also adds the two features as standard, but the price on the CUV goes up by $201, to $21,960. Both cars will arrive in dealer showrooms at the end of February, and for more pricing info you can check out the press release after the jump.

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading 2010 Toyota Corolla, Matrix get standard stability and traction control

2010 Toyota Corolla, Matrix get standard stability and traction control originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Jan 2009 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Acura TSX

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 23 May 2008 20:02:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Sedans/Saloons, Acura, First Drive

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Acura TSX.

2008 is shaping up to be a very busy year for Honda's up-market Acura division. With the unveiling of a new diesel engine and the revamp of their entire sedan lineup, Acura is attempting to reinvent itself as a credible player in the premium sedan segment. But ever since Acura's birth in 1986 as the very first premium Japanese brand, the automaker has suffered from an identity crisis. Acura has always been a mixed bag, as if Honda wasn't sure what it wanted it to be, and with a lineup that spanned the enthusiast-friendly Integra/RSX, the rebadged Isuzu-built SLX and the competent but anonymous RL, consumers were equally confounded.

After complaints that the previous generation of Acura sedans were utterly devoid of style, the automaker decided to give all of its vehicles a bold, new face for the 2009 model year. However, as anyone who has ever followed the follies of cosmetic surgery knows, it's far from a sure bet. Although surgeons claim to be able to take years off a patient's face, the result is often just some weird mutation that looks like a bad photoshop job. Case-in-point: the 2009 Acura RL that debuted at this year's Chicago Auto Show. The new shielded fascia Acura applied to its "flagship" was greeted with howls of pain from virtually all who laid eyes upon it. The RL was followed a month later by an all-new TSX, and on the smaller sedan, the overall look was better received, but many of Acura's aesthetically astute critics remained. Now that we've had a chance to spend some serious time living with the 2009 TSX, we were prepared to move beyond its controversial exterior and see how it faired in the real world. Hit the jump to see how it did.

Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Acura TSX

Continue reading In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Acura TSX

In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Acura TSX originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 May 2008 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Baileyspeed Blade goes from daydream to concept car

Chris Tutor — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Motorsports, Sports/GTs

How many times have you been stuck in traffic and let your mind wander, dreaming of your personally designed supercar? Take the beltline of that, the fenders of this, those headlights and whatever engine that is you can hear three cars over. Few of us have the resources, talent or time to make it a reality, but Neal Bailey apparently has all three, and the rendering you see above is what his mental wandering came up with: the Baileyspeed Blade.

Sure, you're thinking, "Yeah, nice computer model. Anybody with a mouse can do that." But check out the second picture. Yep, that's Neal Bailey sitting in the Blade as it's being mocked up in Baileyspeed's top-secret workshop (a.k.a. Bailey's garage).

The car's stats are as impressive as its looks, too. A Roush 353 with 480 HP. Fiberglass over box steel frame with a target weight of 2,200 pounds. Four-wheel independent suspension and six-way adjustable shocks and adjustable coil-overs. Price? Bailey only says he hopes to make it "affordable", a truly relative term if you ask someone on a blogger's income.

Bailey tells us that he hopes to have a for-sale version by the end of 2008 depending on how development goes. We asked him a few questions about the project, and you can read the interview after the jump. Be sure to check out our gallery for a few select photos of the Blade's development, and if you want more, there are literally hundreds on Baileyspeed's website.

Gallery: Original Baileyspeed Blade

Continue reading Baileyspeed Blade goes from daydream to concept car

Baileyspeed Blade goes from daydream to concept car originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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By the Numbers: October 2007

John Neff — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Earnings/Financials, By the Numbers

Apologies for the tardiness in delivering our By the Numbers post this month, but we're here with it now and all the automakers have reported their numbers. Big picture, ups and downs in the industry appear about even, so perhaps October 2007 was a wash. General Motors sales fell 1.1% compared to October of last year, while Toyota Motor Co. sales rose by only 0.5%.

GM was led by a resurgent Cadillac (up 19.9%), bullish GMC (up 10.2%) and a Chevrolet that held its own (up 0.6%). Ford and Chrysler, meanwhile, both stumbled hard, falling 13% and 12.4% respectively compared to last year. With only an 8% increase this month in the number of Wranglers sold, Jeep's only popular model just couldn't save the brand this time, which saw its rate of sales slow to 24% below last year's levels.

Standouts of the month include Nissan North America, which increased its daily average sales rate by 8.8% last month, and Kia, our Biggest Winner of the month, which rose by 20.5%. Big props to Mazda and Mercury as well, both big winners in October with DSRs that rose 13.3% and 20.2%, respectively.

Biggest Winner
Kia 20.5% at 25,185 (10/06: 20,097)

Biggest Loser
HUMMER -33.2% at 3,864 (10/06: 5,565)

BRANDS
Acura -22% at 12,886 (10/06: 15,877)
Audi 10.9% at 7,421 (10/06: 6,431)
BMW 8.3% at 23,451 (10/06: 20,822)
Buick -12% at 14,231 (10/06: 15,541)
Cadillac 19.9% at 21,267 (10/06: 17,052)
Chevrolet 0.6% at 179,825 (10/06: 171,890)
Chrysler -6.6% at 40,440 (10/06: 41,635)
Dodge -9.6% at 73,020 (10/06: 77,654)
Ford -16.4% at 159,361 (10/06: 183,188)
GMC 10.2% at 44,456 (10/06: 38,776)
Honda 3.4% at 101,913 (10/06: 94,747)
HUMMER -33.2% at 3,864 (10/06: 5,565)
Hyundai -4.6% at 30,232 (10/06: 30,479)
Infiniti 1.8% at 9,955 (10/06: 9,406)
Jaguar -27.5% at 1,030 (10/06: 1,366)
Jeep -24% at 31,856 (10/06: 40,297)
Kia 20.5% at 25,185 (10/06: 20,097)
Land Rover 1.7% at 4,237 (10/06: 4,004)
Lexus 0.6% at 25,119 (10/06: 24,006)
Lincoln 13% at 10,299 (10/06: 8,766)
Mazda 13.3% at 22,201 (10/06: 18,843)
Mercedes 6.5% at 22,820 (10/06: 20,598)
Mercury 20.2% at 12,844 (10/06: 10,277)
MINI -11% at 3,370 (10/06: 3,642)
Mitsubishi -3.9% at 9,280 (10/06: 9,288)
Nissan 9.8% at 74,992 (10/06: 65,689)
Pontiac -17.5% at 25,182 (10/06: 29,346)
Porsche 16.9% at 2,862 (10/06: 2,355)
Saab -19.9% at 2,275 (10/06: 2,731)
Saturn -5.9% at 18,908 (10/06: 19,319)
Subaru -6.5% at 14,979 (10/06: 15,404)
Suzuki 5.6% at 6,536 (10/06: 5,950)
Toyota 0.5% at 172,473 (10/06: 165,005)
Volkswagen 4.1% at 17,260 (10/06: 15,942)
Volvo -11% at 7,761 (10/06: 8,384)

COMPANIES
BMW Group 5.41% at 26,821 (10/06: 24,464)
Chrysler Group -12.4% at 145,316 (10/06: 159,586)
Ford Motor Co -13% at 195,462 (10/06: 215,985)
General Motors -1.1% at 310,008 (10/06: 301,317)
Honda America -0.2% at 114,799 (10/06: 110,624)
Nissan North America 8.8% at 84,947 (10/06: 75,095)
Toyota Motor Co. 0.5% at 197,592 (10/06: 189,011)

By the Numbers: October 2007 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Nov 2007 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Driving Impression: 2008 Acura TL Type-S Six-speed

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:05:00 EST

Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Acura, First Drive

Click the photo of the 2008 TL for a high-res gallery

Acura kicked off its 2008 model presentation with a rundown of what's new for 2008, which isn't much. The bulk of the presentation was actually about the development of the AXR-01 LMP2 race car. Once that was over, we had the opportunity to select from a fleet TL and TSX sedans for the drive out to Waterford Hills Raceway. I hopped into a six-speed manual TL Type-S to traverse the forty mile route that Acura laid out for us.

The driving route consisted of a mix of stop-and-go and medium-speed city driving, low-speed neighborhoods and twisty back roads. Under the hood, the TL Type-S has a 3.5L SOHC V-6 equipped with Honda's VTEC variable valve timing system. The V-6 has an output of 286 hp and 256 lb-ft of twisting force. The torque peaks at 5,000 rpm but feels reasonably strong at lower revs as well giving the engine a flexible, responsive feel.

Gallery: 2008 Acura TL Type-s ride

Continue reading Driving Impression: 2008 Acura TL Type-S Six-speed

Driving Impression: 2008 Acura TL Type-S Six-speed originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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By the Numbers: August 2007

John Neff — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 10:05:00 EST

Filed under: By the Numbers

You didn't think we forgot to report the numbers, did you? We imagine some automakers wish we had, for instance Jaguar and Mercury, which share our Biggest Loser honor this month by dropping an identical 20.2% in sales. Another of Ford's brands, Land Rover, was the Biggest Winner, jumping 32.2% in sales last month versus August 2006.

Kudos to General Motors for pulling out a 5.3% increase in sales thanks to a big effort by Chevrolet (up 8.6%) and GMC (up 21.2%) that offset losses at the automaker's other brands. FoMoCo, meanwhile, took a hit by dropping 14.4% in sales (thanks Biggest Losers!). Even Toyota felt the crunch, slipping 2.8% in sales last month despite Lexus being up 3.6%. The newly christened Chrysler LLC reported a 6.0% fall in sales, with Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler brands all reporting lower sales last month versus 2006.

Overall, August 2007 seemed like a mixed bag for automakers, with some pulling out a victory (GM, Honda, Nissan, BMW) and others taking it on the chin (Ford, Toyota, Chrysler). This makes it hard to label August 2007 a good or bad month for the industry, but at least it's in the bag.

Biggest Winner
Land Rover 32.2% at 4,853 (08/06: 3,671)

Biggest Loser
Jaguar -20.2% at 1,359 (08/06: 1,704)
Mercury -20.2% at 12,296 (08/06: 15,417)

BRANDS
Acura -10% at 16,436 (08/06: 18,263)
Audi 7.1% at 7,620 (08/06: 7,115)
BMW 18.5% at 26,562 (08/06:22,421)
Buick -15.4% at 19,324 (08/06: 22,853)
Cadillac -2.8 at 19,481 (08/06: 20,036)
Chevrolet 8.6% at 229,012 (08/06: 210,860)
Chrysler -7.0% at 43,650 (08/06: 47,132)
Dodge -8.0% at 82,841 (08/06: 89,790)
Ford -16.1% at 180,282 (08/06:214,759)
GMC 21.2% at 51,222 (08/06: 42,262)
Honda 6.7% at 141,906 (08/06: 132,990)
HUMMER -15.4% at 5,677 (08/06: 6,711)
Hyundai 1.0% at 45,087 (08/06: 44,635)
Infiniti 8.7% at 10,252 (08/06: 9,429)
Jaguar -20.2% at 1,359 (08/06: 1,704)
Jeep -1.0% at 41,712 (08/06: 42,243)
Kia 7.0% at 26,874 (08/06: 25,114)
Land Rover 32.2% at 4,853 (08/06: 3,671)
Lexus 3.6% at 32,199 (08/06: 31,074)
Lincoln 16.1% at 10,423 (08/06:8,979)
Mercedes 1.8% at 20,980 (08/06: 20,602)
Mercury -20.2% at 12,296 (08/06: 15,417)
MINI 25.4% at 4,077 (08/06: 3,252)
Mitsubishi 19% at 13,020 (08/06: 10,954)
Nissan 6.0% at 85,275 (08/06: 80,419)
Pontiac -1.0% at 39,324 (08/06: 39,711)
Porsche 6.0% at 2,548 (08/06: 2,397)
Saab -5.0% at 3,011 (08/06: 3,168)
Saturn -4.2% at 21,117 (08/06: 22,050)
Subaru -7.5% at 16,573 (08/06: 17,809)
Suzuki 6.0% at 8,916 (08/06: 8,399)
Toyota -3.7% at 201,272 (08/06: 209,104)
Volkswagen -7.5% at 21,655 (08/06: 23,420)
Volvo 13.8% at 9,119 (08/06: 10,582)

NA: Mazda

COMPANIES
BMW Group 19.3% at 30,639 (08/06: 25,673)
Chrysler Group -6.0% at 168,203 (08/06: 179,165)
Ford Motor Co -14.4% at 218,332 (08/06: 255,112)
General Motors 5.3% at 388,168 (08/06: 368,776)
Honda America 4.7% at 158,342 (08/06: 151,253)
Nissan North America 6.3% at 95,527 (08/06: 89,848)
Toyota Motor Co. -2.8% at 233,471 (08/06: 240,178)

By the Numbers: August 2007 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Sep 2007 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Freudian slip in the Chelfing Razzle's spec sheet

Alex Nunez — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, China, Safety

The Chelfing Razzle is just one in a parade of heinously dated-looking cars available to buyers in its home market of China. There's really nothing particularly interesting to report about the car itself, which the automaker describes as a blend of "Japanese style and Italian reliability, giving you the edge in the city," but a perusal of the spec sheet gives us some insight as to where Chelfing stands on the matter of female drivers. You'll find what we're talking about under the car's "safety" features, and for your convenience, we've pasted a screen-capture of it after the jump.

Thanks to Sid for the tip!

UPDATE: It's satire. The best part is that it seems so entirely believable...

[Source: Chelfing Automotive]

Continue reading Freudian slip in the Chelfing Razzle's spec sheet

Freudian slip in the Chelfing Razzle's spec sheet originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Jul 2007 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrysler celebrating 20 years of modern concept vehicles

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 25 May 2007 13:26:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Frankfurt Auto Show, LA Auto Show, New York Auto Show, SEMA, Convertibles, Coupes, Economy, Hybrids/Alternative, Minivans/MPVs, Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, SUVs, Trucks/Pickups, Wagons/Estates, Geneva Motor Show, Paris Motor Show, Tokyo Motor Show, Crossovers/CUVs, Hatchbacks, Supercars, Chrysler, LLC., Dodge, Jeep, Misc. Auto Shows

click on this photo of the Portofino for a HUGE gallery of Chrysler concepts

At the 1987 Frankfurt Motor Show, Chrysler opened a new chapter in its history with the introduction of the Portofino Concept (above). The Portofino introduced the world to Chrysler's cab-forward design philosophy that would dominate its next generation of mainstream cars. In the two decades since, Chrysler has continued to crank out at least 3-5 new concepts every year, some making their debut in Detroit every January, while the rest were revealed in locations like Geneva, Frankfurt, Paris and Tokyo.

In that time, the team from Auburn Hills has created some truly inspired vehicles and others that are not so much. Some of the design details have made it into production, while some vehicles have been moved straight to the assembly line such as the Viper, Prowler, first-generation Neon and the upcoming Challenger. Other concepts that people clamored for such as the Plymouth Pronto Spyder and Dodge Copperhead did the show circuit and then faded away. Then again, some concepts that made it to production might have been better left in the museum like the Crossfire. One of the consistent themes that has popped up every couple of years is a flagship for Chrysler, and after some gorgeous models like the Atlantic Coupe and the Chronos have all gone unbuilt, it appears one is getting called up for active duty on dealer lots. We've learned that the Imperial sedan will start rolling off the line in a couple of years. Regardless of your opinion of any individual Chrysler concept, the debut of new ones are always highly anticipated at auto shows, and they are rarely dull.

[Source: Chrysler]

Gallery: Twenty years of modern Chrysler concepts

Continue reading Chrysler celebrating 20 years of modern concept vehicles

Chrysler celebrating 20 years of modern concept vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 May 2007 13:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dozen reasons to send car designers back to school

Joel Arellano — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 10:03:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Etc., Tech

Bill Howard reviews a new vehicle each week for the website, TechnoRide. While most people envy this aspect of his job, he points out that driving so many vehicles exposes him to flaws and foibles that generate responses ranging from "Huh?" to "What were they thinking?" to "Stop the car, I want to get out."

Here are the twelve designs elements that particularly peeved Howard...

Space-wasting ashtrays
Mechanical transmissions
No digital owners' manuals
Bad PDF manuals
No PDF hot links
Dumb button placement
Overly reflective wooden consoles
Nag screens
Where's the Map button
No LCD screen controls
Unintelligent night settings
Dumb speaker systems

Note from JN - We've driven a few media vehicles in our day, and disagree with a few of Howard's criticisms. Ashtrays don't bother us too much anymore, as they're usually pretty small and make great places to stuff wads of paper in a jam. We're guessing Mr. Howard's love of electronics makes him loathe the mechanical, but there's nothing like feeling the components of a good transmission do what you ask. And PDF manuals? Who reads manuals? If I can't figure it out in five minutes, it's a bad design. We're with him on dumb button placements, nag screens, map buttons for nav systems, and pretty much the rest of the list, though.

Related: Technology Overload

[Source: TechnoRide]

Dozen reasons to send car designers back to school originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Jul 2006 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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