RideLust

In an article just the other day we briefly discussed Pontiac’s wish to challenge BMW’s grip as what some believe to be the top sedan builder on the market. Well now they are making the fight personal with their latest commercial: Pontiac G8 GT vs BMW 550i. The first mention of such a comparison came in an Automobile Magazine article that pitted the cars against one another and actually reported favorably on the Pontiac G8 GT.

Both brands have been around long enough for drivers to build up a personal reflex to the mere image of the two auto makers grill. One instills a sense of breeding and sophistication, along with a sense for many of “I can’t afford that.” The other references to a long gone age of Excitement and a recent age of plastic interiors and average looks, or more poignantly a sense of “I’m not buying that!”

Pontiac’s new G8 GT, based off the Holden Commodore and rousing 361-hp, is GM’s attempt at a return of some of that Excitement and a reaching out for a new sense of class in cockpit styling. While it is going to take a lot of years to reverse the conditioned response of many car buyers to the Pontiac grill, the G8 GT is at least making an aggressive stab at it.

But do not rely solely on our estimation here… Check out the Pontiac commercial to follow the leap and see if they can convince you. If nothing else, enjoy the laugh as American advertisers are still able to achieve what American auto designers struggle at: Catching our Attention. Read More…

Even the “refined” tastes of the UK appear poised for the arrival of some Holden horsepower & design as the HSV W427 and its 570-hp fresh from their Melbourne debut are getting rebadged as the Vauxhall VXR8 for the UK market. Powered by the new Corvette ZO6′s LS7 7.0 liter V8 engine the HSV W427 has been stated to have 570 hp, the Holden HSV W427 is aggressively targeted at the BMW M5 and the Audi RS6. Why should they aim for less?

The Holden HSV W427 (not the easiest name to say) is priced in the area between $140,000 to $170,000 Aussie dollars and will have its rebadged Vauxhall version in the UK priced at 55,000 Pounds ($110,000 US).  The HSV W427 is certainly a brute force sedan with reclassed styling and refinement for a GM product, but at a price similar to the M5 will the Holden/Vauxall name plate win against a BMW head-to-head. Judging by Automobile Mag’s comparison of a G8 GT to a BMW 550i…. maybe.

The Pontiac G8 GT is based off the same Holden Commodore design as the HSV W427, and with its 361-hp engine it competed nicely against the 550i of BMW at nearly half the price. The only disparity was in the interior where the GM plastics, while much improved from prior attempts, were really no match for the classic elegance of the BMW’s.  However, at half the price some disparities can be forgiven. By pricing the Vauxhall VXR8 too close to the BMW M5, and despite the Corvette power, it could be a tough sell in a Euro-first market. As long as they can keep the US executives/designers hands out of the rebadging process the Vauxhall VRX8 will have a better chance. Read More…

The idea for Volvo’s full-body decorative film is curious at best. If you think of it as an opaque clear-coat to protect your cars paint from chipping and scratching then you might be able to sell yourself on it. However, when you take in the full array of designs available to the Swedish only market in which these decorative wraps are selling they immediately evoke images of Pez dispensers and Pixie Stix. Now while I may be 34 and still enjoy those tasty candies I am not sure a cute C30 2-door with fluffy clouds stuck to it is quite what I am looking for.

Volvo is offering the service to its Swedish customers at a cost of 18750 Swedish Korona or about $3100 US. Straight from the production line your new C30 will travel to the independent contractor Volvo has hired to apply the body film. All the buyer has to do is go to their website or dealership and select the wrapping they desire. Check out the website for yourself to see the many flavors available.

The target market for the Volvo C30 has always been the young-hip crowd who seek stylish, sheik cars that before the C30 were more than likely shopping elsewhere. Volvo has never been the monaker for Sheik before. However, with their new body wrapping it seems that Volvo has taken a lessen from the Tobacco industry by advertising their product to the younger generation… those still not legal enough to take the keys and cruise their pretty striped C30 to the local mall.   …Check out a sampling of some of Volvo’s C30 Body film after the leap… Read More…

It seems that science, engineers and consumers in general are all looking for the same things these days – fuel savings. While many are still unwilling to pry their paws from the peddle of their SUV or sporty coupe (..guilty), it does not mean we are not looking for other advantages that lead us toward better fuel economy. Well, Mobil motor oil has just provided us with another option that is touted to achieve a potential 2% increase in fuel efficiency.

Mobil’s zero-weight Advanced Fuel Economy oil is positioned to improve lubrication and ease the labors of the engine’s fuel pump enough that an average automobile could save a mind boggling $400 over the 150,000 lifetime of the vehicle. They say that their 0w-20 and 0w-30 oils can be used in place of the 5w-20 and 5w-30 oils that the manufacturer calls for with no negative side effects.

Here is what Mobil has to say about their new oil:

         Mobil 1 0W-30 Advanced Fuel Economy is engineered to deliver outstanding engine protection and to offer improved fuel economy in vehicles where SAE 0W-30, 5W-30 or 10W-30 oil is recommended.  This low friction, fully synthetic formulation increases engine efficiency and offers outstanding fuel economy.  Over the life of your vehicle, Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy can save over $400 in fuel costs.

Convinced yet? Read More…

2008 smart fortwo – NHTSA side impact crash test 

The Smart ForTwo has been selling in the US for months and yet it is not until now that the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has completed its crash testing of the minuscule auto. Ofcourse, with the car being the size that it is in comparison to most other vehicles on the roads of America safety is a primary concern. Then again in spite of a lack of reporting from the Crash-Ologist’s of the US Government the Smart ForTwo has been selling faster than they can arrive on our shores.

The video at the top of the page demonstrates the side-impact test on the Smart ForTwo. The NHTSA gave the ForTwo a 5 star rating, their highest award, despite the driver side car door becoming unclasped and opening. An open door in a crash is never a good sign, as the NHTSA noted it could lead to passenger ejection, but it did not worry the NHTSA enough to lower the score accredited to the car.

The video below demonstrates the frontal-impact test for the Smart ForTwo. The combined score for the frontal assault was 4 stars; 4 star rating for the driver with a 3 star rating for the passenger. With a 3 star rating on the passenger side you should make a note to yourselves – always volunteer to drive when getting into a Smart ForTwo. Read More…

Tata wastes no time after acquiring both Land Rover and Jaguar in a $2.3 billion purchase from Ford: Land Rover LRX and the Jaguar F-Type concept receive an immediate go-ahead.

After Ford sat on the decisions for the two concepts, and appropriately so since they were planning to unload them, Tata took no time at all in the aggressive decision to target them both for a 2012 release. Both the Jaguar F-Type Concept or XE as some refer to it and the Land Rover LRX give a “Tip of the Hat” to the respected design heritage of their British Auto Maker, while also giving a nod toward the future.

The Jaguar XE/F-Type is intended to be a sportscar that can compete with the big names of Porsche, Ferrari and Maserati. The open air roadster shares some of the design cues of great roadsters and racing roadsters of the past. It is uncertain as to whether the roadster design will be bolted to an XF or XK chassis, but either way it is certain to be a show-stopper.

The Land Rover LRX has made its way through a show or two and has found some outside support of its own. As a sleek two-door sport concept model it would certainly stand out among the great 4×4′s associated to Land Rover. The interior carries that Concept flare toward future gadgets and elegant seating and trimming, but unlike other concept autos Land Rover has expressed the desire to keep much of their concept LRX’s design intact well into production… as evidenced in the photo galleries to follow. Read More…

In the mega-hit film adaptation of Transformers: The Movie last year Bernie Mac’s character said something to the effect that… the driver doesn’t pick the car. The Car picks the Driver.

It is with that in mind that we began to collect some information from some very kind Cars and their willing Drivers. The goal was to answer the question, as simply as possible, What Does Your Ride Say About You? In this multi-part series we will be assembling a montage of Rides and their Drivers and occupants in an attempt to explore that question.

The following 10 volunteers have provided their answer to the question, along with our own RideLust offering of what we think. Let’s see what we have here: Read More…

As the Pontiac GXP Sedan receives praise for its performance and design by among the auto scribes of both print and web, Edmunds InsideLine reports that hope for the GXP Coupe version is still alive… but barely.

Immediately following the passing of the recent CAFE standards fuel mileage bill into law the mighty execs. at Pontiac and GM scrapped the ideas for their performance cars the G8 GXP Sedan, Ute and Coupe like children tossing toys when their mother says “Go to bed.” After some wrangling and since they were obviously far enough ahead on the project to have it out this year, the G8 GXP Sedan version has survived to see production. The Ute model has also been revived and is now working toward seeing the dealership showrooms, as some believe it was Bob Lutz’s affinity for the Ute that got them this far. Now the battle begins for the Coupe, and word is that right now the battle is at a stalemate.

Pontiac’s recent flirtings with the “excitement” that they feel GM and the Government is trying to deprive them are all based on designs from their Aussie GM family member Holden. The G8 is derived from the Holden Monaro and the Holden Commodore Ute, that is Monaro from the cab forward, is the bases for the G8 Ute here in the states. So too the G8 Coupe would find its design inspiration from a recently unveiled design at the Melbourne Auto Show in Australia. It is the Holden Coupe 60 (full gallery to follow) and it is the latest refashioning of the older design last known as the GTO in the states. Read More…

The news has come out of AutoBlogGreen that the New York City Council has voted 30 to 20 to make part of Manhattan a congestion free driving area. Fees will be levied upon those who drive into Manhattan south of 60th Street, and even parking meters will be getting in on the increase. The next hurdle for the NYC Council will be getting the Senate to pass the bill “empowering” them to enforce the resolution.

As if the costs of being in the Big Apple were not enough, now the City Council will be looking to cash in on those doing business within its grasp to the tune of $491 million – potentially. The collection of those fees is said to be designated toward improving transit and presumably public transportation as a lot more foot traffic will be making its way into the Congestion Zone of Manhattan.

If anyone has a handle on fee structures it would certainly be the NYC Council as they have discovered a way to tack a fee on everything. Pretty soon your shoes may be taxed for increasing traffic South of 60th Street in Manhattan.

Get a Sneak Peek at the Daily Congestion Free Fee structure after the leap. Read More…

After stepping out with their first supercar at the Tokyo Auto Show in 2007, a left hand drive version of the Mitsuoka Orochi is ready to stretch its wheels beyond the borders and across the Sea of Japan. But do not get your hopes up Americans, as so far the plans are only for a few particularly wealthy countries in the Middle East and Thailand.

The Orochi was originally built and sold just in Japan, but after being approached by a wealthy collector out of Qatar Mitsuoka decided to engineer the Orochi for sale outside of Japan. Hmmm… I wonder what kind of persuasion was used by said wealthy tycoon from Qatar? Other Middle Easter countries to receive the LHD Orochi are Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.

The grinning snakes head front end of the Orochi is certainly a unique design, if not slightly cartoonish. It does maintain a sleek performance appearance housed around a questionable Toyota 3.3 liter V6 powerplant. However, with light-weight construction there may be plenty to surprise from the mid-engined Orochi. It would fit right in with what the Wachowski Brothers are using in the latest Speed Racer Movie.

Be sure to check out the Photo Gallery and Video footage of the Orochi after the leap. Read More…