SUV to Crossover to...

Back in the mid 90's nearly everyone was clamoring for SUVs, so the car companies had to come up with something new to appeal to the American public (much shorter attention span than most of the rest of the world - me included!). Hence the Crossover vehicle.

Lexus was pretty much the first automaker to hit this category back in 1998 with it's RX - still it's best selling model. It wasn't long until nearly every car maker had it's version. The draw was that it is high up, like an SUV, but drove like a car. Well, sort of. Either way, it worked. People loved them (me included! still rave about my 04 Nissan Murano - one of the best cars I've ever owned.)

Now the automakers have a conundrum - what next? I personally think station wagons are cool, versatile and DRIVE LIKE A CAR. :-) However, most people cringe when they think of a wagon - the faux-wood paneled tank that they grew up with. Not good.

So, we're starting to see a series of new "types" of cars, that have a coupe-like profile, ride high up, but they're cars. Some with a hatch, some with a dual hatch, some with a trunk. Either way, most of them look strange. Functional, yes, but strange. Maybe they will grow on me. Who knows.

My favorite strange looking on is the BMW X6 - and now they've added an M version, which I simply don't understand. BMW didn't sell regular ones, so let's make them crazy powerful and overpriced - that'll sell more!!! Hmmm.

But take a look at this one - Honda's new CrossTour. Yuck.

Good thing they're also making an Accord wagon for 2010.

more thoughts on GM

So yesterday I went to my trainer at noon and in the midst of my first set, I decide to get extra clumsy and a hurl myself chin first into the floor. I'm sure it was funny as hell to watch, but 11 stitches later I was starting to feel the not-so-funny part.

Regardless, I wasn't interested in accomplishing much last night so I spent some quality time in front of the TV. One of the things that perked me right up was a new advertisement by GM (my mother said that while growing up I always preferred watching the ads - I guess some things never change!)

In the advertisement, Ed Whittaker, the new chairman was touting the quality of GM automobiles and their new 60-day satisfaction guarantee. It really caught my attention - good visuals, good music, good tempo. At the very end, not only do they show a premiere new vehicle from each of their 4 brands, but they proclaim "May the Best Car Win".

Honestly, since this whole bail out thing and the Cash for Clunkers deal, I've been impressed with Ford - they didn't take any cash, and they sold more cars than any other domestic manufacturer in the frenzy of clunker trade-ins. GM has always been on the radar for me - ever since hiring Bob Lutz over PD and then taking on designers like Brian Nesbitt, I knew that they would pull it together provided they could streamline.

Now, in the light of them getting rid of Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and (finally) Hummer, I think they are ready to give Ford a run for their money. They just need the support of the American public and I'm going to do what I can to push people in that direction.

More than ever, Americans have a reason to buy American. If you know anyone who needs advice, send them in my direction. Always happy to help someone narrow their choices and provide options they may not have thought about.

Here's a link to the GM commercial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0te5pU_3qk&seo=goo__2009_GM_MTBCW_Branding_YouTube__Phase_II_-_60_Day__Divisions_Commercial__gm_commercial#watch-main-area

Have a great weekend.

Lexus vs. Everyone else

OK, so to continue the theme from yesterday's blog, lets examine the relentless pursuit of Lexus by several car companies.

Specifically, and most recently the RX has come under attack from the Audi Q5 and now the totally revitalized and redesigned Cadillac SRX. Very exciting to me.

When Lexus debuted the RX, it was truly the benchmark and first of the breed now known throughout the country as the "crossover". It's to date the best selling model Lexus offers and anyone driving on the US roads can see that for themselves. Lexus had the market cornered for a long time - even Infiniti never really came out with a competitor - the FX is the closest thing, but not really. Maybe Nissan's Murano, but again, that's not an apples to apples thing.

So, Audi launches the new Q5 about 4 months ago with the BEST commercials out there that showed endless RX's painted that vapid golden beige and made fun of the fact that everyone followed like sheep and all own the RX. The Q5 was different. It sure is.

Now we have an American car company with the RX in the crosshairs. Cadillac's new SRX looks as though it could conceivably be a significant competitor for the RX. That thrills me. Better Cadillac to fight Lexus than Buick. I haven't yet seen the new SRX in person, but I'm sure that it will be a distinctive piece of machinery.

My favorite part of all this is that my significant other drives an RX, and I would have never guessed him for one of those. It's nice enough, but very understated. I challenged him to go test drive the new Cadillac and tell me that it wasn't just as good, but he resists... until yesterday when a potential new client, who owns the local Cadillac dealer told him that he insisted he come test drive one.

You can bet I'll be in the passenger seat with a big grin on my face.
Happy Humpday everyone.

Buick vs. Lexus

So we were driving south on I-95 today on the way home from stone for the outdoor kitchen and we pass a billboard for the 2010 Buick LaCrosse that boldly stated "Something else for Lexus to relentlessly pursue" - or at least something to that effect.

WOW

Really Buick? I'm all for the second-coming of American automobiles. I've been following the careers of several design types over the last few years and admiring the fresh, clean and exciting designs put out by our domestic big three. Unfortunately for Buick, I just don't think that the Marketing folks should so brazenly poke Lexus.

From what I've read and seen, the new LaCrosse is a respectable competitor for many automobiles out there. I'm happy for it - and the many other fine products that GM is offering; arguably the best products in decades.

I want to see Buick succeed, I think the Enclave is a benchmark of design to which other Buicks should aspire and improve upon.

Let's see some exciting boutique automobiles from Buick - how about a standard size luxe convertible to knock the Chrysler Sebring off the road? but there's another topic for another day...

Thanks for reading my virgin post. More tomorrow as the creative commentary pops into my head and into cyberspace.