Another day, another agency

Mitsubishi selects 180/LA in Santa Monica for creative duties. It will be interesting to see what they come up with that hasn't been done in the past.

Congrats Ford

Autoblog posted a Bloomberg survey showing that Ford tops Toyota in public opinion. I'm not surprised. Of all of the domestic makes, I've been partial to Ford. Let me rephrase that – my family has been partial to Fords. We have always found their interiors to be infinitely better than GM and Chrysler, their engines more robust and efficient, and their styling modern yet restrained. Of the three, they were the only ones who didn't accept a government bailout.

The new Taurus looks great but being ensconced in NYC, I have no idea if it's gaining momentum with the public as seen on the roads. I hope so. Ford's a great company run by people who seem to know what they are doing. Shocking, that.

[Hat tip: Autoblog]

Toyota becomes GM

I have to say this even though I know it won't be popular. I've never been a fan of Toyota. I've considered them 'another GM' for quite some time. To me the cars were too bland, the user base aging and category breadth confusing and unpredictable. When they started to go for volume sales and market share, I knew something would crack. Al Reis talks about this in

The automotive industry is a tough one, particularly in this country where it requires a significant investment to build and run an auto dealership. Every one of them needs to be a car palace. In order to recoup that investment, in theory one needs volume. Like housing, that's how the industry has been run for ages.

I wonder if it's going to become an unsustainable model. I wonder if dealerships can be more efficient if they became virtual or at least virtualize elements of their operation in order to be competitive. I'll be watching the industry to see.

Build your own car

Early in the life of this blog, I mentioned one concept that whose time I thought would – mass market custom automobiles. And why not? We are an individual society and there are those who have always bristled at owning something the masses also own – be that for reasons of individual expression or elitism. Funny how those two words work together.

I have finally seen one of the first products to address this. Trexa is a company offering an electric drivetrain for $16k. On that platform, one is able to design and build any variation. I can't wait to see the designs this allows. There's no steering wheel so the entire car could be driven using buttons and levers, if one so chooses.

I have a good mind to design a few myself and see how much it would cost.

Hat tip: Gizmodo

Let the culling begin

FineLine
Originally uploaded by FotoEdge

As most of us know by now, Chrysler is beginning to cull dealers, with many of them at the end of the line come mid June. There is a lot of hand-wringing over this decision. Socially I can see the issue but economically it's a non-issue.

The Former Big Three automakers have far more dealers than their current volume and demand supports. Much is made of the idea that this is a one-way relationship; that automakers push cars to the dealers, who have little choice in the matter. That's the basis for the suit and I think the dealers have the right to sue since they were forced into financial distress to save the company's hide. That is certainly true of the last few quarters when sales started to go south.

What is less discussed is the enormous influence dealers have on what automakers make and sell. In their markets, dealers compete with one another for those precious consumer dollars. Sometimes that competition is with others selling the same make but most of the time it's with consumers cross-shopping the same segment – e.g. car based SUVs.

If Joe Blo walks into a Ford dealer and asks if they have a competitor to Chrysler's mini van and the dealer has none, that information will be relayed back to the manufacturer. No one wants their dealers to give up sales, so automakers produce vehicles that don't really have much to add to the 'conversation' in terms of newness but show they can be competitive in a particular segment.

Everyone does it. Perhaps it's time for that to change. I think we'll see more automakers throwing their money into fewer segments but producing more competitive vehicles within those segments. Maybe bankruptcy is the best thing to happen to the US auto industry because it can finally function on a more rational basis rather than the neverland.

Sleepwalking the NY Auto Show

I visited the NY Auto Show this past Friday. Sedate would be the word I would use to describe it. The last show I visited was about 6 years ago when I worked on Mitsubishi. Three or four years ago I went to Frankfurt. Compared to both shows, this one was a snooze fest. All I remember is rows and rows of similar looking cars.

I guess everyone got the memo that due to 'these times,' one must pull back from any major displays. Gone are the days of thunderous video and lighting shows. In fact, few automakers had what I would call a distinct branded area. Ones that come to mind are Scion (awesome), Chevy (meh), Mercedes (snooze), VW (minimalist) and Smart (cute). The Mini display felt typical Mini, only smaller.

I understand the need for austerity in these times but it seems like false economy to cheap out on displays at such a major industry event in one of the most important car markets in this country. I was surrounded by the general public of all ages. The buzz factor from a show like this is huge. And yet so few automakers really made an impression, which is very disappointing.

I will put together a Flickr group on pictures I thought were of interest. Stay tuned.

Vortex by Jose Jorge Hinojosa Primo

Speaking of vehicles... I like this buggy. It's a street racing vehicle so it's not for road use, but I like the look. It there's any way for the GM/Segway PUMA to be as daring and rakish, they would have a hit on their hands. Double plusses for colored tires.

Hat tip [Industrial Design Served]

P.U.M.A.

Picture: Engaget

GM and Segway have introduced the PUMA concept, a sit-down version of the Segway that travels up to 35 mph. I will be checking it out at the NY Auto Show this weekend, for sure.

My gut reaction when I saw it was – gosh it looks silly. But reading further, this is just the frame. It will be prettified in some shape or form. I hope so. I can see this being useful – especially here in NYC – but given the variances in weather, a glorified scooter is not really practical in areas where there's, you know, seasons.

I can see this being a cheaper Smart car and for urban dwellers only. There's no way it can handle anything more. But who knows what will come about in a year or two when they tweak the motor. This would be great with fuel cells, I must say. I'm excited to take a look at it.

I also think this makes a wonderful mobility vehicle for the disabled. My Mom has MS and it would be great for her to have this to dash to the grocery store around the corner.

2009 Toyota Venza Bluetooth Streaming Audio

Wow. That's all I have to say.

Well I'll say a little more. The next gen iPhone supports Bluetooth streaming audio. For cars and car stereos who have that function, it means one is able to stream audio directly from their phone to their car stereo. No more cables. Well no more cables to the top of the device. One will still need a charger since doing so wastes precious battery life. Awesome news though. Look forward to its' implementation. And a car in which to use it.

Hat tip [TUAW]

Karma, baby

I'm behind on my auto posts – and blog reviews. I'm not sure how I could have missed the Fisker Karma. I really need to go to the NY Auto Show this year.

This eco lux sedan just signed up 32 dealers in North America. It's a plug-in powertrain that will output 400hp and 100 mpg. Prices range from $87k to $105k. It's quite sharp. I will do more investigative work on it.

Hat tip [Auto Blog]

Tesla and the new auto industry

There's good news and bad news in the auto industry.

The good news is that I predict we'll see a rash of new automakers, not unlike the early days of the auto when brands like AMC (ick) and Packard shared the road with Chevy and Buick. The barriers to entry are so much lower than they used to be, given there's so much excess industrial capacity in this country and abroad. If one could raise the capital, one could ship parts from all over the world and assemble in the US, vice versa or none of the above.

The bad news is that Detroit won't be the same. I think one of the things that has hurt GM is one of things I think they believed will help them. The rental car gave many a glimpse at what a GM experience is like, setting back their customer base for some time. I doubt GM will go away but hopefully they will change for the better, upgrading materials, cutting back on brands – more than two or three is a waste in my opinion – and revamping their dealer network.

How cars are sold in this country needs to change and I think the European model makes sense. We have laws that prevent automakers from selling direct to the consumer, with the result that we make far more cars than we need and put them on sale to get rid of them. In an era of green, taking the 'just in time' model and applying it to the sale of a car makes the most sense. The bad part of that is consumers won't be able to 'drive home in a new car today.' The good part is consumers will get exactly what they want. Personalization is so important today, particularly for Gen Y, that getting exactly what you want will be the norm. It wasn't that long ago that one waited for the car they wanted. I think those days are coming back.

I'm looking forward to seeing what the next twenty years of the car will bring.

Tesla Gorgeous

Tesla launched their luxury sedan yesterday. While this picture isn't the most flattering, I must say I love it. Geeks are going nuts over the large touchpanel dashboard and HVAC set up, which integrates 3G and full MP3 hookups. Awesome

Hat tip [engadget]

Rolls

I will never be able to own one but boy it is thing of beauty. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Rolls-Royce 200EX.

Hat tip [Inqmnd Blog]

A slimmer GM ahead

The NYT reports on how GM's recently announced slimdown – reducing the number of brands to four – figures in the context of history. 

I have to admit that I am not surprised that GM is taking the knife to their portfolio. It SHOULD have been done in the 90's, when it was clear Honda and Toyota were here to stay. The portfolio will now be – Chevy, Buick, Cadillac and GMC. Chevy is the mainstream and still the volume leader for the company. Buick is the respectable brand that sells well overseas. Cadillac is the prestige brand. GMC is the one I am not sure I understand since a lot of its line is made up of Chevy trucks. But GMC has a loyal following so if they can make it work, more power to them. 

It's sad to see Pontiac phased out and most of all Saturn. But GM was never truly committed to Saturn. Saturn was about everything that GM was not, so it's hard to see that succeed without egg on the face of the rest of the company. The great news is that it worked. The bad news is it didn't spread. Maybe they will take lessons from that and apply it to the rest of the company. 

E-Class Coupe

From sad to glad. The ultimate in status. 

Mercedes has been slowly winning me over in the last few years. I like the latest C-Class but I don't see many of them around. The brand has just gone public with the rebranded CLK coupe now known as the E-Class Coupe. Similar to previous refreshes – the S-Class comes to mind – the E-Class is far more expressive and curvy. More pictures at Autoblog. Worth a look. 

Off a cliff

There's off a cliff and there's OFF a cliff.

January's auto sales figures are mindblowingly bad. One of the worst hit was Volvo. Their sales were down 63.8% and they sold only 2910 units last month. Incredible.

Hat tip [Left Lane] Photo Credit [jjohns5182]

BMW's Chris Bangle leaving!

Thanks to the folks at LeftLane for breaking the news – to me at least.

Will the world's BMW enthusiasts be sorry to see him go? Probably. The rest of the auto world may not. His controversial designs really did change auto design. Even Toyota mimicked the 'Bangle Butt.' 

Batmobile lives

This concept Cadillac runs on nuclear power – Thorium fuel cells to be exact. It's also designed to be as maintenance free as possible. What I love most about this concept is the wide front-end, the sleek cockpit and the way the sides taper just before the back tires. 

Hat tip [Kempt]

Fat cars

I love this sculpture by Erwin Wurm. I could make all sorts of comments but I'll simply say – the car matches many of its occupants.  

Hat tip [geekologie]

Hot 'Sades CLS

If I had all the money in the world, or at least a lot more than I have now, this would be the car I would drive. 

I love the Mercedes CLS. This is a special Grand Edition with a platinum matte finish, which is drop-dead-gorgeous in my book. 

Hat tip [Autoblog]