Automotive Trends

      Every time I get behind the wheel of a Lexus, I think, “This is how all cars will feel in 10 years.”
     It’s not the technology that gives a Lexus the ahead-of-its-time feel, nor is it the styling. Heck, any company can install a few gizmos in a car and call it luxury, and there are plenty of examples of cars that look cutting-edge when they’re born only to look totally ridiculous when they age.
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Another Alternative For The “Ain’t Gonna Drive A Minivan” Club

     They’re out there. They’re all around us. They are the people who will not drive a minivan simply because—it’s a minivan. Focus a bright light on them in a dark room and they’ll squirm, but admit they like the higher seating, the ample room for kids and cargo, and the comfortable ride. And they will also let you know, in no uncertain terms, they’d rather walk than arrive in the most un-cool of vehicles. It is because of people like this, and some very successful marketing, that SUVs have replaced the minivan as America’s portable people hauler of choice. Yes, you heard right. The traditional minivan segment is no longer growing by leaps and bounds. This is particularly true of the domestic vans, which face ever-stronger competition from the likes of Toyota, Honda, and Nissan. Despite a slight increase in sales so far this year, minivan sales peaked in 2000. So the segment isn’t dead by any means, but at best, future sales graphs will likely resemble a plateau, at worst, the backside of Mt. Everest. Read more…

     This is a Tacoma?
     Can’t be. A Tacoma is a dinky little Toyota truck with dinky little doors and a dinky little bench seat. There’s no way this truck — a big, tall, four-wheel-drive, four-door, honest-to-goodness truck — could possibly be a Tacoma.
     It’s just not dinky enough. Read more…

Muscle: German Style

     Time and time again Audi/VW has shown us that they can build some pretty sweet cars. As evidenced by the A6 we tested back when the snow was still flying. The S4 is no exception to the rule, placing performance, handling, craftsmanship, and stunning good looks high on the priority list. Before I even twisted the key for the first time I could tell this car was going to be hot. Then that V8 fired and all those German stallions started to whinny; my pulse started to race! Read more…

      When most people wake up in the morning, they probably don’t get excited about driving a low-priced compact car to work.
     That’s only because most people don’t have a Mazda3 in their driveway.
     Unlike many economy cars that are good for a daily commute but totally uninspiring from the driver’s seat, this new Mazda is actually a car you can get excited about taking for a spin every day. It’s like the Miata put on a few pounds and grew a back seat. Read more…

Ever Wonder Exactly What Dirt Cheap Means?

     Chevrolet marketers knew a few years back that the upcoming Cavalier replacement was going to slide ever so slightly upscale. Sure, a base Cobalt can still be had for just north of 14k, but, nevertheless, Chevy figured there were enough potential customers out there that wanted the benefits of buying a new car but wanted to buy it for next to nothing. So the powers that be put their heads together and realized a rebadged Daewoo would be the best approach. As a result the Aveo is built in a South Korean plant and shipped to the U.S. to sell at rock bottom prices. How low are we talking here? Well, four digits low to be precise. That’s right; Chevrolet sells the cheapest new car in America because the Aveo starts at just $9,995—before any discounts. That’s pretty attractive to be certain and while we can’t say the same about the Aveo’s looks, for people on the strictest of budgets, the Aveo just may offer what they’re looking for. Read more…

      It seems like only yesterday that Nissan was bragging about its stylish new Altima. Sales were hot when it was introduced in 2002, but they’ve cooled somewhat in the face of new competition, especially the ever-present Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.
     But fear not, Nissan fans. An updated Altima is already on the way for 2005. Read more…

2004 Ford F-150 reveal at the 2003 NAIAS.

Science Meets Sheetmetal

     “Is that the thing that runs on water?”
     “Pardon me?” I exclaim, with a half confused, half grimaced look on my face; yet another classic example of mainstream media leading to public confusion. Current events mix with auto tech about as well as the weather and sports. Sure, you still get the score, but what does the dewpoint have to do with the bases being loaded? Not much. But with fuel prices looming in the stratosphere, even the cameraman has something to say about gas savings. So without further ado, lets dive into the meat and potatoes of this FrankenUte (and no this isn’t a culinary review either)! Read more…

      With the way minivans have improved in the past 20 years, it’s amazing you don’t see more of them on the road.
     Case in point: The 2005 Chrysler Town & Country.
     Far from a breadbox on wheels — as the original Chrysler minivans felt like — the Town & Country provides one of the most comfortable and convenient ways to haul a family around town or across the country. Sure, you might hear a few “soccer mom” jokes along the way, but you can’t argue with the sheer practicality that this minivan offers. Read more…