Test Driven: 2011-2012 Chevrolet Cruze (ECO and LTZ)
Posted: September 11, 2012 Filed under: Green & Economical, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: Blue, C-Segment, Chevrolet, Comeback, Compact, Cruze, eco, economy, LTZ, Mind over motor, Test Driven, Top Seller, turbo, USA, Winner 1 Comment »
GM has had a spotty history with smaller cars over the past 35 years or so. Its 1970s attempt, the Vega, was plagued with reliability issues stemming from an underdeveloped engine block and corrosion problems. The 1980s were no better, when the Citation (and its X-car brothers) became best remembered for massive recalls and a class-action lawsuit which ruined Chevy’s reputation for reliability (beyond its tarnished state). The Cavalier and Cobalt over the past years have been remembered as cheap transportation with little more than basic frills (although the Cobalt at least went fast with its SS turbo). However, the new Cruze, which has been on the market for a few years now, has quickly become a success, even outselling all of its competitors last month (and not for the first time). I’ve driven a few of them over the past 12 months and would like to share some thoughts. Read the rest of this entry »
Test Driven: 2013 Dodge Dart SXT Multiair Turbo
Posted: August 9, 2012 Filed under: Green & Economical, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: 1.4, 2013, 2014, 6, Abarth, Alfa, American, backfire, burble, Car, Chrysler, crackle, cubby, Dart, Dodge, Drive, economy, exhaust, Fiat, front, Fuel, fun, Giulietta, Italian, manual, Mind, motor, Multiair, Nick, Over, overrun, review, Romeo, seat, Sedan, speed, Sport, storage, Test, tune, turbo, under, Walker, wheel 6 Comments »
The new Dart is the first car to market that is truly a joint effort between Fiat and Chrysler. The chassis and mechanicals come straight from the European Alfa Romeo Giulietta, while the exterior, interior, and Tigershark engines are all American. This is a critical product for Chrysler, one that will serve as a first impression for their alliance with Fiat, and the things to come. I went in to find out for myself if this new car marked a positive beginning for “Second Half America”, or a fumbled, Frankenstein-like creation from two companies caught in their own financial struggles. In many ways I felt a lot was riding on this drive when I stepped into this hot blue Dart. Read the rest of this entry »
Test Driven: 2012 Hyundai Veloster
Posted: February 10, 2012 Filed under: Green & Economical, TEST DRIVEN | Tags: 1.6, 2012, 3, 4, cheap, CRX, cylinder, DCT, door, Drive, economy, four, fun, FWD, GDI, handling, Hatch, Hatchback, Hot, Hyundai, Mind, motor, Nick, Over, reliable, review, Test, three, Veloster, Walker Leave a comment »
Hyundai Veloster
In the world of small, economical cars it is hard to find something that is remarkable. Most cars offer basically the same package as all of their competitors, making any differentiating factors superficial at best. Hyundai has changed this game with the Veloster dramatically. Everything from its design, to its features, to the driving experience, the Veloster has charged into the market with a new and unique package, and it is selling like hotcakes. Read the rest of this entry »
SUV Hot Hatches, Why Not?
Posted: June 28, 2011 Filed under: INDUSTRY TALK | Tags: 4, Car, Countryman, Cross, Crossover, CVT, cylinder, economy, Evoque, Fuel, Gas, GTI, Guzzler, Hatch, Hot, Juke, Land, Luxury, Mind over motor, Mini, Nissan, Over, Range, Rover, S, Small, Sporty, stylish, SUV, SUVs, trendy, turbo, Volkswagen Leave a comment »
Mini Countryman S
There is emerging a new market for a sort of tiny SUV/crossover. There are entrants in both the normal and luxury realm coming out, so clearly manufacturers believe this will be a market segment with some appeal. Read the rest of this entry »
My thoughts on the whole Hybrid/Electric thing….
Posted: June 16, 2011 Filed under: AUTOMOTIVE INSIGHTS, INDUSTRY TALK | Tags: activists, Al Gore, An Inconvenient Truth, Battery, Cars, CR-Z, Diesel, disposal, economy, electric, EV, fuel mileage, Global Warming, green, Hybrid, ignorant public, Leaf, Mind over motor, Mistake, Prius, Roadster, technology, Tesla, Truth, vehicle, Volt 2 Comments »
The Top Gear crew pushing a Nissan Leaf that ran out of juice during a test
Ever since Al Gore’s little film there has been a bit of a frenzied panic going on in many areas, but especially in the car industry. Everyone has sudden obsession with green technology in an effort to save the earth from turning into an igloo in two days time without warning. Now I’m not one of those people who says that global warming is not real, not by a long shot, but the overwhelming majority of people do not actually know anything about what actually it is, and have just jumped onto the panic bandwagon like a bunch of spontaneous, ignorant, morons. This hysteria has become a detriment to much of the automotive industry because it has forced many companies to rush development and quality has suffered. Read the rest of this entry »
