Throughout the years the automobile has been the subject of countless tacky and tasteless trends. Arguably some are better than others, but in the end the majority of these are downright reprehensible. The 1960′s for example saw the advent of vinyl tops, the 1970′s brought us louvers that covered our rear windows and the 1980′s saw the creation of cars that actually talked to us via a funky digital microchips. Most of these trends were created by the automotive manufacturers themselves, but then in the late 1980′s and early 1990′s the aftermarket industry seemed to kick into high gear, and with that came some of the most heinous pieces of add-on trash the world has ever seen. Below is a quick list of five items that are thankfully starting to disappear into the annals of automotive history.

• Spinners

I remember seeing a set of spinners for the first time on an old Lincoln Navigator. I had pulled up to a light and actually did a double take as the big black truck next to me seemed to be rolling forward even though its body was still stationary. At first these were kinda’ cool, but then people realized that they had actually doubled the amount of rotating mass on their front wheels, thus warping their brake rotors. Combine this with the fact that they couldn’t get past 40 mph without the steering wheel vibrating out of their hands and they finally woke up. Thankfully the Spinner trend is all but dead, but if you hurry I’m sure you can still find a complete set for about $60 on ebay.

• Fart Pipes

Oh how the mighty have fallen. The fart pipe burst onto the scene in the late 1990′s. Import tuner guys were convinced that by putting a 4-inch sewer pipe opening on the back of their exhaust that they would gain at least 30 hp. The fart pipes name was given to it because it actually emits a sound that is very similar to what happens after a fly has eaten too much tex-mex. They’re actually quite pitiful really and while they do help the car breathe a little better, for the most part they’re all show and no go, as a fart pipe alone won’t do jack. Thankfully these coffee cans of doom are starting to fizzle out as people realize that you really need to modify the engine, not the exhaust to get real results.

• Big Wings

If you’re like me then you can’t help but laugh when you see a 3-foot wing on the back of a front wheel drive car. The fact of the matter is that most of the rear wings that you see on imports are not installed and or calibrated correctly, so for the most part they’re completely useless on your average street car. People however seem to love them and all through the last decade they’ve had no reservations about drilling holes in a perfectly good deck-lid to mount these suckers. They spend $700 on a wing, install it and proceed to lower the cars value by $3000.00. Yep, definitely money well spent.

• Body Kits

Where do we even start with these things. Like the rear wing before it, the idea behind a body kit was to enhance down force to help out with the cars aerodynamics as the car increased in speed. For the most part these kits are cheaply made, do not fit correctly and at the end of the day do more harm than good.

• Sticker kits

AWWWWWWW YEEEEEEEEEEAH!!!! Apex, NOS, DUB, Flowmaster, VTec, NISMO – all of which are stickers that I have seen plastered to the quarter panels of countless cars. Here’s a quick tip for those who utilize these as performance modifications – THEY DON’T MAKE YOUR CAR GO FASTER! So please… in the future, leave them off.

Ever wonder why brand loyalty exists? I do, and it’s a question that I’ve tried to figure out time and time again. Some people for instance are Ford guys, others love Subaru’s and yet others swear by BMW’s or Mercedes. It’s a concept that is nothing new and one, that in my opinion, has to do more with automotive ignorance than anything else. As an automotive journalist I am very fortunate as I’ve had the opportunity to experience just about every automotive brand out there. I’ve piloted domestics, imports and European rides and have come away with the conclusion that they all have their pro’s and con’s. Are some better than others? Well yes and no, as for the most part it depends on your price point and experience.

Brand loyalists are generally that way because of one of the following three reasons. First off it’s the only brand they’ve ever owned, secondly they’ve had a great experience with a certain model, or third it’s because that’s what their families have owned for years and they’re just following tradition. For example, I own three different Dodge’s and quite honestly it has nothing to do with brand loyalty. What it has to do with is that the models of the cars that I own happen to fit my lifestyle and for whatever the reason, I’ve been able to connect with them on some level. However, if I found a car that was made by another manufacturer I’d have no problem trying it out.

The key to being a true car enthusiast is being able to relate too and appreciate ALL cars, not just ones from a certain brand. You see every manufacturer brings something special to the table, but if you’re an individual who is loyal to only one brand then you’ll never be able to find out what that special thing is. The life of a true petrol-head is all about experience, so do me a favor and don’t sell yourself short by condemning other brands just because they’re not what you own. Branch out, take in an occasional test drive and open up your automotive minds a little. Trust me when I tell you that you’ll be thrilled that you did.

Over the years automakers the world over have used animal names to describe their newest cars. These names are supposed to immortalize the true essence of these cars and portray to their owners the automobiles inner spirit. More often than not however these names are ill-seated at best and unfortunately at the end of the day, don’t do the poor animal any justice at all. Below is a listing of 20 cars that have taken their names from members of the wild kingdom. Some are appropriate, others, well… not so much. Either way though you can’t blame the manufacturers from trying to put a little personality into their rides.

• Pinto

Pinto’s, the four legged ones are considered to be light, fast and beautiful to look at. The one Ford gave us however gained its reputation because it blew up if a feather so much as landed on its rear bumper. Great name, but bad execution.

• Shelby Cobra

Probably one of the few cars that is actually deserving of its name. The Shelby Cobra packed a 427 cu in big block that would bite you back if you weren’t careful. In fact these cars were so good at killing their owners that they were dubbed the “Widow Maker”.

• Ford Mustang

A great looking horse and a great looking car. The Ford Mustang is one of those rare marketing success stories that has stood the test of time by living up to its name in the fullest sense.

• Ford Raptor

It goes off-road just like its prehistoric cousin. It’s fast, agile and can also take abuse. But where this sucker drinks fossil fuel, its namesake IS fossil fuel… crazy right.

• Mercury Cougar

Oh she’s a Cougar all right, and she’ll rip you apart if she gets the chance. I remember in high school my math teacher had a cloud blue one and dammit it she didn’t live up to its name!

• Chevrolet Cheetah

The Cheetah was Chevy’s attempt at combating Shelby’s Cobra. It was fast, but unlike the Cobra the Cheetah simply didn’t have the visceral pop needed to take the kill-all crown.

• Jaguar

Another car fitting of its name. Like the big cats, these cars are elegant, graceful and when pushed, can be made vicious. Another marketing success story.

• Dodge Ram

Like the big horn sheep these guys are named after, Ram trucks have always been tough as nails. The four legged kind however usually do better in head-on collisions.

• Plymouth Barracuda

The first generation Barracuda’s did not live up to their flashy namesake. In fact it wasn’t really until 1970 that these really got some style infused into them. Generation 1′s looked more like a fishbowl, than a fast fish.

• VW Beetle

The name fit perfectly, nuff said.

• Ford Falcon

A cute little car no doubt, but unfortunately the Falcon did not possess the flying pedigree that its winged counterpart did. In short, they were pretty damn slow in stock form.

• Chevrolet Impala

At 18-feet long these suckers didn’t handle like an Impala, but over the years Chevy dropped in some big-block mills that sure as hell made them move like them in a straight line. These were all beautiful cars, right up until 1999, when Chevy started making them look like jelly beans. Damn shame really…

• Studebaker Lark

It’s short, pudgy and is in no way graceful. The little Lark was a experiment that just fell out of the nest and unfortunately hit the ground hard!

• Volkswagen Fox

Small, nimble and quick, the VW Fox was a great little economy car that had good looks and great road manners.

• Volkswagen Rabbit

The VW Rabbit was basically a VW Fox without the trunk, and was a total chick car if you got it in the cabriolet variant. It was also cute and cuddly, just like the furry real thing.

• Road Runner

It had a horn just like the cartoon Road Runner, but unlike its cartoon counterpart this one was not cute by any means. It was big, brash and in your face and with its wicked air-grabber hood could probably swallow its feathered friend whole if it came upon it quick enough.

• Corvette Stingray

It’s beautiful from every angle, graceful and exudes power out of every seam. The Corvette Stingray is yet another instance of an automobile being named perfectly.

• Mercury Sable

Where people make fur coats out of the furry cuddly kind, these Sables were more fitting of elderly people with white hair. There was nothing sexy about it and unfortunately that held true for the people that drove them.

• AMC Marlin

Another fishbowl in a sea of misappropriated names. The Marlin was not powerful, handsome or fast. It just simply “was”…

• Hudson Hornet

How the hell do you name a 5000 lbs. super canoe a “Hornet”? I mean really, naming it the Armadillo would have been a better move, jeesh…

The video game world has been waiting for the release of Gran Turismo 5 now for 3 years and since we’ve finally got a release date of November 2nd, 2010 new images, game modes and videos are beginning to fill the internet. What were learning is that over the past 3 years the designers and programmers at Sony and Polyphonic Digital have been packing GT5 with new features that we as gamers never expected. Take this karting video for example, it looks pretty good, but I suppose my question is, is it really necessary? Gran Turismo is a driving simulator first and foremost, but I am beginning to wonder if they are incorporating too many modes into the game, thus overpowering the player. We know that graphically the game is going to be stunning, but I’m curious to know that by including such facets as rally driving, Nascar, standard driving and now karting, if GT5 has bitten off more than it can chew. Hopefully it will be as good as everyone “hopes” it will be and not just another watered down version of the original game that we fell in love with all those years ago.

Source: Youtube.com

On July 18th the Mooneyes Summer Show was held down in Irwindale, CA. Hot rods of all years, makes and models, motorcycles, low riders and rat rods rolled in to strut their stuff and show off the talent of their creators. There was tire smoke galore from the vintage dragsters, rockabilly tunes and some fine looking ladies. Unfortunately I missed the event this year but you can bet your ass that next year I’m going to be there with both cars and a smile on my face that’s a mile wide.

Source: Youtube.com

Between 1950 and 1985 auto manufacturers would do anything and everything to sell you a car. They’d burn them, jump them, flood them and in some cases even make them go boom all in the name of advertising. I recently watched this compilation of classic car commercials and sat in amazement as I viewed what advertisers and automakers did to get buyers into showrooms. By today’s standards everything from the music to the basic concepts will make you shake your head and giggle like a little kid. These old commercials are hilarious, so now just sit back and treat yourself to 5 minutes and 50 seconds of classic automotive goodness.

Think you know the origins of BMW’s trademark roundel? Think you know the meaning of the blue and white checkered pattern? Think again, because it may not be what you think it is.

I’ve been a fan of the marque for years, although owning a 3 series automobile proved to be disappointing from a mechanical reliability perspective. I’ve owned their motorcycles for years, and have toured the museum in Munich, the auto plant in Munich and their motorcycle plant in Spandau, a suburb of Berlin. Like most enthusiasts, I’d learned along the line that the roundel was a tribute to their aircraft manufacturing heritage, with the alternating blue and white representing the illusion of a spinning propellor.

Not so, according to BMW historian Kai Jacobsen. The BMW roundel incorporates the original round logo and black field with the company name of Rapp Motorenwerke (which became part of BMW in 1917), but adds the blue and white of the Bavarian flag, to symbolize the brands heritage. The logo was registered with the Imperial Patent Office in December of 1917, and first appeared on the BMW R32 motorcycle in 1924. It’s first use on a BMW automobile was on the 1928 3/15, which started out as the BMW Dixi, a rebadged Austin Seven.

The Chinese have been ripping off automobile designs for years now. They imitate and generally ruin anything and everything they can get their hands on for the simple reason that they have no concept of how to design a car. They’ve ripped off everything from GM’s Hummer, to BMW’s X5 to the Smart FourTwo and by the looks of it, they have no plans of slowing down. The other problem is that when the Chinese do decide to design automobiles they go back to the 1950′s for their inspiration and make a total hash out of things. Below are 5 cars that we in New York would call Canal Street specials. These are cars that have been blatantly cloned and then sold to the public.

1. Dongfeng “Hummer”

Up first is the Dongfeng “Hummer” and believe it or not, this baby is advertised as hand crafted. Sure it looks like a Hummer and may even sound like a Hummer, but underneath it’s a pure backyard POS that would make any high school shop teacher cringe. The painted on whitewalls are definitely my favorite part.

2. Shuanghuan Noble

Bearing and uncanny resemblance to Smart’s FourTwo, the Chinese econobox known as the Shuanghuan Noble is anything but. So far this little bugger has been sold in several European countries including Greece. They even have the balls to rub it in Daimler’s face with the tag line: “Smarter than the rest”…. really, you think so?

3. Shuanghuan CEO

Now take a look at this masterpiece that is yet another creation from the honest folks at the Shuanghuan automobile company. This is the Shuanghuan CEO and to say it looks like a BMW X5 would be an understatement. My question is how much money do they really save on design work? We know flat out that these guys are not putting the money into safety components, so why not just hire some competent designers and be original.

4. Great Wall Florid

Another casualty that fell victim to the Chinese clone wars is Toyota’s little runabout, the Yaris. This copy is called the Great Wall Florid – the name rolls right off the tongue doesn’t it? Just look at the grill and the emblem placement as they’re in the exact same place! Seriously, on this one they just grabbed the tracing paper and went buck wild.

5. Lifan 320

Our last offering is the Lifan 320 which looks eerily close to the wonderful little MINI Cooper. The roof line is all but identical, as are the door panels and front end. This 5-door compact was showcased at Auto Shanghai in 2009 and is currently being sold to the public.

I suppose the thing that most surprises me about all of these companies is the blatant lack of originality and morality that comes with copying another designers work. All of these cars are being built somewhere, which means a plant and assembly line was created, parts were developed and workers were hired. I guess I’m just surprised that the hire ups in all of these companies actually gave the sign off on these cheap, knockoff copies knowing the original idea was stolen.

The past thirty years have not been kind to automakers who sell cars in the United States. We’ve seen financial collapse, rising distribution and product liability costs, skyrocketing oil prices and a fickle buying public that no longer understands the concept of brand loyalty. Selling cars in the U.S. of A, it seems, requires deep pockets for marketing and promotion: if you’re not constantly in the face of the American consumer, chances are you won’t be a brand for very long.

Toyota’s recent $16.4 million fine got me thinking about how many automotive brands, good, bad and otherwise we’ve lost over the past 30 years. Following is a collection of car logos that have received last rites in the United States since 1980. Some of these companies continue to enjoy success in the EU or Asia, while others are dead and buried, with no chance of resurrection. It begs the question of how different the automotive landscape will look in another 30 years, assuming we’re still driving cars at all.

The dates below reflect the automaker’s lifespan in the US market, ranked from oldest to youngest.

1. Oldsmobile

Born: 1897
Died: 2004, age 107
Cause of death: Product mediocrity, combined with branding confusion and an aging demographic.

2. Pontiac

Born: 1926
Died: 2010, age 84
Cause of death: Branding confusion complicated by extreme corporate indifference.

3. Fiat

Born: 1908
Died: 1983, age 75
Cause of death: Product build quality that led consumers to believe Fiat really did stand for, “Fix It Again, Tony”. Fiat’s return with a revitalized and vastly improved product is anxiously awaited by U.S. enthusiasts who remember cars like the X/19 and Spider. Fortunately, Fiat is alive and well outside of the U.S. market.

4. Plymouth

Born: 1928
Died: 2001, age 73
Cause of death: Branding confusion and consumer indifference. Even halo cars like the Plymouth Prowler failed to draw much attention to the brand in its later years.

5. Isuzu

Born: 1953
Died: 2009, age 56
Cause of death: A shrinking product line that, in the end, consisted solely of rebadged GM leftovers. Isuzu continues to manufacture light and medium duty trucks worldwide, including trucks for Budget Rental in the United States, but their car, SUV and pickup truck business is gone.

6. Triumph

Born: 1932
Died: 1981, age 49
Cause of death: Abysmal build quality and a product line that consisted only of small, underpowered and ill-handling sports cars. The TR7, sadly, was not the shape of things to come after all.

7. Alfa Romeo

Born: 1950s
Died: 1995, age approximately 45
Cause of death: A product mix that was non-competitve in price and variety, supported by too few dealers. Fortunately, Alfa Romeo continues to exist in foreign markets, but has seen shrinking sales in the past few years. American “Alfisti” anxiously await the return of the storied marque, possibly supported by the vast network of Chrysler dealers.

8. MG

Born: 1945
Died: 1980, age 35
Cause of death: Frequent changes of ownership, questionable build quality and a product line that lacked sedans or hardtop coupes. MG continues on, now owned by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC).

9. American Motors Corporation

Born: 1954
Died: 1987, age 33
Cause of death: Pressure from majority shareholder Renault, who had their own financial and labor issues, forced the sale of AMC to Chrysler. Chrysler bought AMC primarily for its Jeep brand, which continues to be a sales success.

10. Peugeot

Born: 1958
Died: 1991, age 33
Cause of death: Declining sales, a shrinking U.S. product line and a modest dealer network that didn’t promote the brand. Peugeot continues to be a success in other global markets, but a rumored return to the U.S. market isn’t likely in the near future.

11. Saturn

Born: 1990
Died: 2009, age 19
Cause of death: GMitis, a combination of branding confusion, corporate indifference and no cohesive product strategy.

12. Hummer

Born: 1992
Died: 2010, age 18
Cause of death: Declining consumer interest in a product line that consisted only of fuel sucking SUVs with modest off-road capabilities.

13. Eagle

Born: 1988
Died: 1998, age 10
Cause of death: Rebadged products from other manufacturers, brand ambiguity and poor marketing caused Chrysler to pull the plug on the brand after a ten year run.

14. Geo

Born: 1988
Died: 1998, age 10
Cause of death: A brand built on selling entry level, badge engineered product without a distinct identity never lasts long. Killed so GM could focus on entry level products in other brands.

15. Yugo

Born: 1985
Died: 1992, age 7
Cause of death: Arguably the worst car ever sold in America, Yugo proved that cheap was only a selling point if it was coupled with reliable.

16. Lancia

Born: 1975
Died: 1982, age 7
Cause of death: Poor build quality and steel so thin you could watch it rust through, coupled with a tiny dealer presence, killed the Lancia brand in the US years before it died in the UK. Lancia, a division of Fiat, remains a strong brand in the EU where it’s positioned as an upscale alternative to Fiat.

17. Renault

Born: About 1980
Died: 1987, age 7
Cause of death: Collateral damage of the decline of American Motors, Renault pulled out of the US market for economic reasons just as their popularity was beginning to grow. They continue to be a viable brand in the rest of the world.

18. Sterling

Born: 1987
Died: 1992, age 5
Cause of death: If you’re going to launch a new car brand, make sure the first models you deliver are properly put together. Essentially a rebadged Rover 800 with a Honda motor, early production Sterlings had problems with trim, electronics, paint and corrosion. Buyers never gave them a second chance.

19. Daihatsu

Born: 1988
Died: 1992, age 4
Cause of death: Too little effort to launch the brand in the U.S., combined with too few dealers. Even critical praise for the Daihatsu Rocky, their counterpart to Suzuki’s Sidekick, wasn’t enough to save the brand in the U.S. market. Worldwide, Daihatsu remains a viable brand, benefiting from their partnership with Toyota in select markets.

Blame it on the fact that we’re based in Philadelphia, but we do not usually lump professional football fans and luxury car enthusiasts in the same category, unless by “enthusiast” you mean “thief.” Nevertheless, this afternoon Herndon, Virginia-based Audi of America announced the launch of a 5-year sponsorship deal with the Washington Redskins.

According to Audi, the promotional partnership will provide a unique and valuable branding opportunity that they intend to extend beyond the obligatory beer Koozies. In addition to more signage than you can shake a first down measurement stick at, Audi will also add its name to the heavy reconstruction currently in process on the east end of FedExField that will eventually become (dramatic pause) The Audi Club.

Scheduled to be officially opened on September 20th, the 13,000-square-foot, climate-controlled Audi Club is intended to provide an über luxury experience for “premium” fans and will feature two Audi display vehicles, 16 large flat screen televisions, and 4 flat-screen screen monitors displaying intelligent commentary sent by Redskins fans via the team’s Audi-sponsored Twitter app, “Twackle.”

“We’re thrilled with the way Audi has integrated its product and brand into a signature presence at the stadium,” said Washington Redskins Chief Operating Officer, Mitch Gershman. “The exposure of Audi and its world-class automobiles to our fans is particularly appropriate in the FedExField setting.”

Source: Audi