It's the most boring blog title on the planet but trust me, I hope the blog isn't as boring. I am a 24 year old dude who's not a car journalist, just someone who likes cars. In particular, I like unusual cars (for the most part), luxury compacts, ultrasport sedans, new ideas, and badass sports cars (I dream of an Aston One-77 someday). I write about what interests me. Recently, I've noticed more readers, so I figured I'd finally get around to writing an intro.
Why I use hubpages with my blog? Simple - every post that I put on hubpages, gets free publicity and free backlinks.
Anyways, hope you like it. Enjoy!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
SPY SHOTS: 2011/2012 Hyundai Elantra
Already we have spy shots of the new Hyundai Elantra - which really isn't too surprising, considering the Kia Forte, its platform-twin, just replaced the aging Kia Spectra. With this newest iteration of the Elantra, Hyundai appears to be going further and further into defining their own design language, just as they've shown on the 2011 Sonata and the 2011 Kia Optima. So far, I don't find it AS good looking, but take a look at these pictures and you will see some VERY interesting details.... (continue: 2011/2012 Hyundai Elantra spy shots)
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
The death of the premium compact in America... or is it?
They've certainly been a mixed bag so far. Some have had major success over here, while others have been abject failures. On one hand, cars like the Mini Cooper have shown that a higher-dollar small car can have a BIG fanbase and major sales success - but on the other side of the coin, the Audi A3 and Volvo C30, are NOT what one might call a major sales success.
The A3's plague is one thing: It's a Volkswagen Golf with a more boring design and a higher price. There is nothing to differentiate it - the engine isn't even powered up compared to the VW version. Fuel efficiency still isn't THAT great with the 2.0t - 22/28 MPG, so for all you "green car" fanatics, forget it. Price? Starts at around 29,000 and shoots up with options, up past 37,000 pretax in some cases - the most expensive VW Golf you will ever buy. At that price point, who cares - you can strip out options and buy a much larger A4, and in America, size matters - not to mention that the A3 doesn't have enough of the "small car" benefits (driving dynamics, etc) to justify it over the A4.
The Volvo C30's problem? It's UGLY. It's much cheaper than the A3 (as it should be, considering it's smaller), but it's fatter, more front-heavy, and no more spacious than a MINI Cooper. The rear-end design is impressive to automotive journalists (the same sort of types who circle up and drool all over themselves whenever any new station wagon is previewed, no matter the company, cost or price), but considering the lack of sales success, America agrees that it's heinous. Sad thing is, if it weren't for the taillights stretching as high as they do, it wouldn't be so bad. The price ain't too bad, but for the same price, you could get a MINI Cooper S and shred circles around this clown car.
The BMW 1-series is not a volume seller in the US, but BMW only predicted 10,000 sales a year in the US, showing that they were clearly intending it to be a niche-market vehicle, at least from the start. Right now, it's doing 11,000 to 12,000 a year here, so it's right on track. It's expensive, a tad awkward looking, but unlike the above two, the 1 offers something to justify its price - in this case, incredible performance and handling. The 135i in particular, will shred an E46 M3, and even pace an E90 M3, for half the price.
Premium small cars have not been a universal disaster in the US. Obviously, the MINI Cooper is an example of how to succeed in such a business - reasonable price that doesn't overlap with its company siblings, quirky personality and look, and (as is usually important with much smaller expensive cars) high performance- that of a little go-kart. Can the price get a little high? Sure, it can top 30,000 dollars when options factor in. But this car not only MURDERS the Volvo C30 in MPG, but the blown MINI Cooper S will literally run circles around it.
Then there's the premium compact that existed before the segment became the new "it" thing - the Acura Integra/RSX. From the late 80s to the mid-2000s, this car sold like hotcakes offering a few nice things - higher performance than a Honda Civic, better handling, more style, nicer appointments inside, Honda Accord pricing. MPG was always quite high - even in the cheap-gas 90s, you were getting 34 MPG out of the perpetually 4-cylinder car.
What about the unorthodox premium small cars? The Subaru WRX, STi and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution can be considered as premium small cars, despite the lack of a premium badge and the complete absence of even ATTEMPTING luxury - these are hardcore sports cars, pure and simple. And oh yeah, they are anything BUT green - none of these three are particularly fuel-efficient. These two companies know what combination of elements to put together in order to get customers to pay 35,000 dollars for a small car - and if the premium badges were the wiser, they would be going after Mitsu and Subaru, full speed ahead.
The forgotten Mercedes C-class coupe was a mild success here, but Benz killed it off, and restyled the ancient model's front and rear for other markets, renaming it the CLC class (what a mouthful) instead of putting the work into a new model. If they want to return to the US market and compete again, they will need something that looks FAR better than this ugly, bizarre hatchcoupe.
What is coming in the future? The Lexus LF-Ch, for one - as well as the MINI-sized Audi A1, a revival of the BMW Isetta, a compact Buick based on the Chevrolet Cruze, a pair of Alfa-Romeo compacts, and even an Aston-Martin minicar, the Cygnet. Acura has discussed bringing the RSX back, too, while Infiniti has discussed a model slotting below the G37 and Mercedes-Benz is talking about doing up the next A-class as sort of a miniature CLS-class, and bringing it here.
The question is: will they succeed as the RSX, MINI Cooper and the 1-series have in America, or will they fail miserably? If they offer nothing unique, are overpriced, or underperform, they will die, and die fast. Complacency is a killer.
The A3's plague is one thing: It's a Volkswagen Golf with a more boring design and a higher price. There is nothing to differentiate it - the engine isn't even powered up compared to the VW version. Fuel efficiency still isn't THAT great with the 2.0t - 22/28 MPG, so for all you "green car" fanatics, forget it. Price? Starts at around 29,000 and shoots up with options, up past 37,000 pretax in some cases - the most expensive VW Golf you will ever buy. At that price point, who cares - you can strip out options and buy a much larger A4, and in America, size matters - not to mention that the A3 doesn't have enough of the "small car" benefits (driving dynamics, etc) to justify it over the A4.
The Volvo C30's problem? It's UGLY. It's much cheaper than the A3 (as it should be, considering it's smaller), but it's fatter, more front-heavy, and no more spacious than a MINI Cooper. The rear-end design is impressive to automotive journalists (the same sort of types who circle up and drool all over themselves whenever any new station wagon is previewed, no matter the company, cost or price), but considering the lack of sales success, America agrees that it's heinous. Sad thing is, if it weren't for the taillights stretching as high as they do, it wouldn't be so bad. The price ain't too bad, but for the same price, you could get a MINI Cooper S and shred circles around this clown car.
The BMW 1-series is not a volume seller in the US, but BMW only predicted 10,000 sales a year in the US, showing that they were clearly intending it to be a niche-market vehicle, at least from the start. Right now, it's doing 11,000 to 12,000 a year here, so it's right on track. It's expensive, a tad awkward looking, but unlike the above two, the 1 offers something to justify its price - in this case, incredible performance and handling. The 135i in particular, will shred an E46 M3, and even pace an E90 M3, for half the price.
Premium small cars have not been a universal disaster in the US. Obviously, the MINI Cooper is an example of how to succeed in such a business - reasonable price that doesn't overlap with its company siblings, quirky personality and look, and (as is usually important with much smaller expensive cars) high performance- that of a little go-kart. Can the price get a little high? Sure, it can top 30,000 dollars when options factor in. But this car not only MURDERS the Volvo C30 in MPG, but the blown MINI Cooper S will literally run circles around it.
Then there's the premium compact that existed before the segment became the new "it" thing - the Acura Integra/RSX. From the late 80s to the mid-2000s, this car sold like hotcakes offering a few nice things - higher performance than a Honda Civic, better handling, more style, nicer appointments inside, Honda Accord pricing. MPG was always quite high - even in the cheap-gas 90s, you were getting 34 MPG out of the perpetually 4-cylinder car.
What about the unorthodox premium small cars? The Subaru WRX, STi and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution can be considered as premium small cars, despite the lack of a premium badge and the complete absence of even ATTEMPTING luxury - these are hardcore sports cars, pure and simple. And oh yeah, they are anything BUT green - none of these three are particularly fuel-efficient. These two companies know what combination of elements to put together in order to get customers to pay 35,000 dollars for a small car - and if the premium badges were the wiser, they would be going after Mitsu and Subaru, full speed ahead.
The forgotten Mercedes C-class coupe was a mild success here, but Benz killed it off, and restyled the ancient model's front and rear for other markets, renaming it the CLC class (what a mouthful) instead of putting the work into a new model. If they want to return to the US market and compete again, they will need something that looks FAR better than this ugly, bizarre hatchcoupe.
What is coming in the future? The Lexus LF-Ch, for one - as well as the MINI-sized Audi A1, a revival of the BMW Isetta, a compact Buick based on the Chevrolet Cruze, a pair of Alfa-Romeo compacts, and even an Aston-Martin minicar, the Cygnet. Acura has discussed bringing the RSX back, too, while Infiniti has discussed a model slotting below the G37 and Mercedes-Benz is talking about doing up the next A-class as sort of a miniature CLS-class, and bringing it here.
The question is: will they succeed as the RSX, MINI Cooper and the 1-series have in America, or will they fail miserably? If they offer nothing unique, are overpriced, or underperform, they will die, and die fast. Complacency is a killer.
Monday, September 14, 2009
INTRODUCING: The bizarro Bugatti Galibier
So, after all the teaser shots, most of which revealed nearly nothing (except for the strange 8 exhaust pipe setup and the glow of the taillights), Bugatti has let its new four-door "sedan" supercar concept leak out. Reactions have been mixed so far. I, for one, like it, but then again, I like odd cars, especially four-door cars that aren't floaty barge sedans for rich old men who want to be chauffered to Ruth's Chris every day of the week.
The name? Not the Bordeaux as previously hinted; it's the Galibier. Gali-what? How the hell do you pronounce that? Oh, who cares. Here it is: Bugatti Galibier
Friday, September 11, 2009
Compact premium cars and buyers of 100,000 dollar luxury cars
Quick thought for the day:
I always read idiots (especially Autoblog comment idiots) say that small premium cars in the 23,000-30,000 range (MINI Coopers, the BMW 1-series, Benz A-class/CLC/B-class, the coming smaller BMWs, Audi A1, Lexus LF-Ch, even the rumored Acura RSX revival) say that people don't want to buy their 100,000 thousand dollar cars at the same dealer who's selling the 23 year old at the next sales desk, their 25,000 dollar compact.
Do you think anyone who buys a 7 series CARES if someone else is buying a 1 next to them?
How often will they actually GO to the dealership? Once in their life? Every several months for service? Like a buyer of a 7-series cares who's buying cheaper cars, as long as their 7 gets good service, and the servicepeople and salespeople treat them well.
In fact, might a wealthy man who buys a 7 or Audi A8 might see that MINI or 1-series or Audi A3, and decide to possibly buy one of those for his 18 year old daughter?
No car buyers are going to be so offended by what other people are buying (or what the dealership is offering) that they'll refuse to buy that 7 or S-class. It's right up there with comments about "drinking the Kool-Aid" as far as overdone Autoblog tripe goes.
I always read idiots (especially Autoblog comment idiots) say that small premium cars in the 23,000-30,000 range (MINI Coopers, the BMW 1-series, Benz A-class/CLC/B-class, the coming smaller BMWs, Audi A1, Lexus LF-Ch, even the rumored Acura RSX revival) say that people don't want to buy their 100,000 thousand dollar cars at the same dealer who's selling the 23 year old at the next sales desk, their 25,000 dollar compact.
Do you think anyone who buys a 7 series CARES if someone else is buying a 1 next to them?
How often will they actually GO to the dealership? Once in their life? Every several months for service? Like a buyer of a 7-series cares who's buying cheaper cars, as long as their 7 gets good service, and the servicepeople and salespeople treat them well.
In fact, might a wealthy man who buys a 7 or Audi A8 might see that MINI or 1-series or Audi A3, and decide to possibly buy one of those for his 18 year old daughter?
No car buyers are going to be so offended by what other people are buying (or what the dealership is offering) that they'll refuse to buy that 7 or S-class. It's right up there with comments about "drinking the Kool-Aid" as far as overdone Autoblog tripe goes.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
The Ferrari 695 Tributo
Yep, you read right. Ferrari is releasing a hatchback. A tiny little exotic hatchback. And guess what else? It comes equipped with front wheel drive. And guess what else? It has a four-cylinder engine with less tha
n two liters of displacement. It's tiny, it's red, and it's a Ferrari. I guess the Aston Martin Cygnet has company now, because there have been two real nice Ferrari concepts shown this year that are going into production: The Ferrari 458 Italia, and the Ferrari 695 Tributo. Look out kids, Ferrari is going green!
Or... are they?
Well, take a look at this car. It's a Fiat Abarth 500 special edition, but it's being released as a Ferrari. I don't know what the cause of such a special edition is, but this will serve to do one thing, and do it VERY well: It will drive Ferrari's average fuel consumption down big time. It's smart business on their part.
More after the jump: Ferrari 695 Tributo
Friday, September 4, 2009
SPY SHOTS: 5-door BMW 1-series
Follow the jump for more: 2011 BMW 1-series
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