Ford is the Apple of our eyes...

Forget your iPod, Dropbox, heck, maybe even your laptop or smart phone...just stay in your car.
Ford has released this:

http://mashable.com/2011/09/01/evos-social-networking-car/

I think it will even integrate Facebook. CRAZY.

What else can we do from behind the wheel? Time to call Paula Deen so we can whip up dinner too.

Click the link later...we're here to talk design.

MARK MY WORDS - this is the face of the new Mustang. It's not a stretch to visualize the pony emblem in the middle of that grille. Forget the 4 doors, of course.

Retro design is over. I think the final death toll is the new Fiat 500. I'm sure this will be coveted by a certain group of people and most likely be popular for the first year. Saw a few at the beach, they're cute, but nowhere as wonderful as the Mini. You can't beat the first one out of the starting gate.

Go Mini!

But back to Ford...the technology is amazing, but wrapped in a sexy design, the American public won't be able to say no. The Focus is officially back, looks sharp and is arguably a better small car than the sad Toyota Corolla and the mildly revamped Honda Civic. Shocking that those words could ever be printed.

By the way, have you seen the concept for the new Escape? Hello Kia, you've got an American on your ass.

Ford still ranks highest on my list of American automobile brands - they are technologically competitive, thinking about fuel efficiency (and power) in their engines and are giving their Buyers something to be noticed in while driving.

America the Beautiful

So a few weeks ago I was in NYC on a quick overnight trip to see a show, have a nice dinner (at 11pm) and sleep in a Heavenly Bed, thank you Westin.

As we were walking through Times Square amidst all the lights, sounds and visual stimulation, I notice this billboard off to the side, off the beaten path just a bit:

I love the fact that now the US auto manufacturers can start being obnoxious to the imports.  Don't get me wrong, I still love a good, reliable Japanese car as well as a heavy, solid German auto, but the fact that the American manufacturers (except Chrysler) have gotten their act together is very exciting to me.

This weekend at the beach, I've noticed several of these Chevy Cruzes parked along the streets and I personally am looking forward to a test drive in the near future.  This is why I love renting cars on trips!!!

The only thing that is now kind of pissing me off is the fact that GM - with only it's 4 brands left, still insists on "badge-engineering" it's way for Buick to give the US public this:

The Buick Verano - uninspired, unimaginative and basically a copy of the Cruze.  REALLY?  This is the same BS that got GM in trouble the first time.  LACK OF IMAGINATION.  There are few people who are going to buy this baby Buick.  Why would they?  There is no reason to buy a dolled up small car like this, it will never work.  There are too many other options.

Here's my suggestion - although too late for anyone at GM to do anything about it.
(maybe next time they should give me a call?!)

In a previous post I suggested that Buick reincarnate the Skylark badge - still think it's a good idea, but here's my new thought...  Buick needs something small, but it should really try and maintain a "boutique" quality to it 's cars.  Why couldn't they come up with a small, stylish coupe on the Chevy platform and call it the Skylark?  From there they could develop a convertible version that would potentially appeal to customers wanting a Z4 or (what was) the Lexus SC - both WAY overpriced for what they offer, but still desirable.

To round it out, then Buick could try and add a 5-door variant, that had swooping lines and versatility, a la the Mazda 3 5-door.  This would add a smaller version of the very popular Enclave to their line-up and attract some younger buyers.

Take a look at Buick's website sometime - http://www.buick.com/flash.html - they make some very nice vehicles right now, in particular the new Regal and Regal GS.  They don't need to over-sedan the assortment to appeal to the US consumers, they need to add STYLE.  That's what is selling cars these days, ask Hyundai.

SAAB story

In truth, I've always been a fan of the quirkiness of Saab. They have diligent followers and there is nothing more quintessential than a Saab convertible for the Summer. It's actually one of the few convertibles that skews neither masculine nor feminine...but that's another post.





These days, Saab is struggling to maintain an identity, after years of being a bastardized version of both Chevy's and Subarus. Sad. It seems that Saab may soon die unless they can work out a deal with of course, the Chinese.





I came across this picture today which inspired this post, and of course I can't neglect my friend Steph who this morning inspired me to get blogging again. (Hmm, she also invited me to the Kennett Square 5k in September, so now we're jogging and blogging.)

I'm not exactly sure when this was officially published, but it's just odd. Part VW Golf, part Lincoln MKX, part Saab. I want to like it, but no.

Stay tuned for the upcoming Saab 94x which is admittedly a reskinned and retuned Cadillac SRX - the articles I've read say it's very much a Saab, but since I know the background, I can't look at with unbiased eyes.

My blogging is a bit rusty, so if this post bored you, give me a little time to get back into the swing of things. As my friends know, I never am short for car commentary. :-)