tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44542125259490589882024-02-07T16:30:41.243-08:00Kill It With FireThoughts about cars and the auto industry.killitwithfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08448878031442699099noreply@blogger.comBlogger236125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4454212525949058988.post-16244058896537932172015-03-31T07:49:00.000-07:002015-03-31T07:49:01.783-07:00The One Graph That Illustrates The S-Class DominanceThe S-Class has always been the top selling luxury flagship sedan over its long and stories existence. At times competition from BMW, Lexus and more recently Audi has given it a challenge here and there. With an ever increasing amount of challengers it would appear that the S-Class would have its most difficult time yet, but that that is not the case. Mercedes has got its latest S-Class so right in its design and all other aspects that it is crushing its competition with no mercy. This isn't a Kentucky basketball road to perfection streak but rather a Ronda Rousey beatdown. Certainly the S-Class is the newest one in its immediate class but in the US it's also delivering these numbers without six cylinder entry level versions. A quick drive around Mitt Romney's La Jolla neighborhood backs up the numbers with anecdotal evidence that the S-Class is the go to luxury method of transportation. There are photos of the upcoming next generation 7 Series out there and it doesn't look to have what it takes. Audi has more time with its next A8 but Mark Lichte has more work to do. In fact, the same drive points out that the S-Class' closest competitor doesn't come from Germany at all but rather it's the American Tesla.<div>
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killitwithfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08448878031442699099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4454212525949058988.post-16885566252914835882015-01-26T00:30:00.003-08:002015-01-26T07:22:52.955-08:00Honda's Recipe For Success With The RidgelineIt can be said that Honda has the Midas golden touch in America. Its core products are nearly always perennial sales leaders in their respective classes yet they are also often named as the choice for the enthusiast on a budget. The brand rarely strikes out on a product with the Insight and the CR-Z as the only lackluster products unbecoming of the brand's portfolio. Honda immediately fixed up its latest Civic when it arrived to a poor critical reception. For all of its success Honda however is a stubborn brand often unwilling to join the masses and preferring to go its own way infamously eschewing V8s and body-on-frame trucks. The Ridgeline's lackluster sales can certainly be attributed to its unique unibody design and Honda's complete reluctance to update the model. There is some method to Honda's madness with the Ridgeline as it is probably harder for an "import" brand to succeed in the pickup segment than it is for a domestic brand in the compact and midsize sedan segments*. In both cases the factors at play go far beyond just the quality of the product. Honda found out the hard way what it is like to lure full size and lifestyle buyers with a mid size sized unibody truck with full size ambitions. Nevertheless Honda isn't giving up as it is all but ready to unveil its long overdue second generation Ridgeline at the Chicago autoshow. Here is a recipe that Honda must follow to make the second generation worthwhile.<br />
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<li><u>Aesthetics</u>: From its silhouette teaser it looks like Honda is giving the Ridgeline conventional pickup styling and bed albeit with a car like hood. The Ridgeline's unique design was quite off-putting to many as Honda tried to hard to give it character. Pickups are supposed to be bold but in this case Honda is probably better off sticking to convention.</li>
<li><u>Towing</u>: Honda has to give the Ridgeline a respectable towing number. Towing one-upmanship is where the battle is fought for ultimate bragging rights. The Ridgeline's 5,000 pound towing figure is pathetic. A unibody setup is not ideal for towing but it's a myth that it can't as SUV's such as the Mercedes GL, Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg are all rated to tow 7,500 pounds or more. Matching that number will still place the Ridgeline behind full size pickups but ahead of most mid size competition.</li>
<li><u>Power</u>: Likewise Honda has to give the Ridgeline some horsepower to play with. In a world where the Chevy Colorado offers 305 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque, the current 250/253 Pilot setup won't cut it. A turbo V6 setup would be ideal but it's wishful thinking at this point as Honda is just discovering what turbos are. Reaching into Acura's past and bringing back the old MDX 3.7 liter V6 would be a wise decision good for 300 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. In reality the 3.5 Earthdreams V6 will likely be the powerplant of choice with not much more than 270 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque placing the Ridgeline in a hole to start out. A six speed auto is a given but the competition is moving on up to 8 and beyond.</li>
<li><u>Fuel Economy</u>: Gas is cheap once again but pickup fuel economy has become a bragging rights arena over the past few years. The Ridgeline will absolutely need to match or exceed the rear wheel drive benchmark numbers from the full size category. Sure it will have standard all wheel drive but no one is buying a front wheel drive pickup and you can't explain in a 30 second ad that the numbers Ford, Chevy and Ram are bragging about aren't quite comparable. EPA figures of 18/26 are a must to hit for Honda and are quite achievable given that the Ridgeline shouldn't be too far off behind the Pilot. In turn there is no reason why the Pilot should do any worse than MDX's impressive 18/27 rating and perhaps better it with more development and a simpler all wheel drive system. </li>
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*Toyota is continuing to compete directly with its Tundra but Nissan is acknowledging it can't compete directly. Enter the Titan XD, a unique pickup that is almost in between half tons and HD models with a standard diesel V8. Call it the 200/2000 model to give it a chance against the established makes.</div>
killitwithfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08448878031442699099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4454212525949058988.post-90443922361601416372015-01-22T00:11:00.003-08:002015-01-23T02:01:22.003-08:00Can Tesla Model X Be The Quickest People Mover Ever?Bentley is about to do it, Rolls-Royce is thinking about it, Mercedes has all but confirmed it with a Maybach, Porsche reinvented itself with one and Range Rover is ready to match any newcomers. Lamborghini has concepted it and Ferrari is experimenting on a smaller scale with the FF. All of a sudden the ultra luxury and performance SUV is no longer an oxymoron but a reality and the hottest new six figure segment. Not to be left out Tesla is on pace to join, after a few delays, as a more performance oriented rather than pure luxury entry. With a unique powertrain and falcon doors as its calling card. As the Model S P85D has shown there is potential for a special level of performance with the Model X that could be described as exotic, so let's virtually run the numbers on the Model X as with the <a href="http://killwithfire.blogspot.com/2014/10/can-tesla-model-s-p85d-really.html">P85D</a> and <a href="http://killwithfire.blogspot.com/2015/01/predicting-what-tesla-model-3-will-do.html">Model 3</a> before. Given that the Model X figures to be more of a BMW 5GT type rather than a traditionally SUV design, it should not end up more than 500 pounds heavier than the S. The base Model S all wheel drive dual motor setup should give the X enough power to keep up with forced induction six cylinder competition, figure a 0-60 in a little under 6 seconds with the1/4 mile in about 14.5 @ 95. It is the P85D setup that will make things truly interesting and place the Model X in the aforementioned realm. A combination of 691 horsepower, all wheel drive grip coupled with instantaneous torque should pull the X P85D ahead of any current hyper SUV to 60 in a sprint just a blade's edge short of 3.5 seconds. As things stand right now the Model X should keep its edge all the way through a barely over 12 second quarter mile at a little over 110 miles per hour. The latest X5M and subsequent future generation of the Cayenne Turbo and Mercedes GLE 63 AMG will get closer but still trail off the line and just begin to catch the Model X at the quarter mile. They will pull ahead then but it's rare to find enough room to push that far. Bentley's forthcoming Bentayga will fall short by over a second unless it too approaches the 700 horsepower plateau, but so far it looks like 650 horsepower will be its limit. Only a relatively light Lamborghini Urus* will stand a chance to match or edge the X in the mile a minute sprint but should proceed to put a gap at the quarter mile accounting a perfect launch. As seen <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG6veF_34QE">recently</a> that's not as easy as it seems at times and Lamborghini has been quiet on the Urus front lately. When it hits the streets the Tesla Model X P85D will very likely take the tittle of the quickest three row people mover around and even that of the quickest utility.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> *The powertrain choice for the Urus is intriguing as the Huracan's V10 seems a bit out of character for an SUV while the Aventador's V12 will have more than enough power but likewise out of character somewhat for an SUV and harder to fit upfront. A 4 liter twin turbo V8 makes the most sense but that engine would need to be turned up a little to over 650 horsepower to get closer to 3.5 seconds to 60 and a 11.5 second 1/4 mile pass at almost 125. That would be quite the crossover though with 675 or so horsepower.</span>killitwithfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08448878031442699099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4454212525949058988.post-75971006175052811302015-01-18T18:29:00.003-08:002015-01-21T23:50:29.137-08:00Predicting What The Tesla Model 3 Will Do<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While the Detroit Auto Show was beaming with high power debuts, Chevy took the show
as an opportunity to go beyond its second generation Volt and present its Bolt
concept with the promise of 200 miles of all electric range for only thirty
(gov. assisted) thousand dollars. This works out to be about four times the
range of the second generation Volt for the same money. While impressive, Elon
Musk made a promise of his own that the eventual Tesla Model 3 will be even
cheaper than the Bolt with a starting price of 35,000 before any incentives.
With Chevy throwing down the gauntlet and following and previous </span><a href="http://killwithfire.blogspot.com/2014/10/can-tesla-model-s-p85d-really.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">forecasting fun</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, let's see what an eventual Tesla Model 3 might bring to the table power and performance wise. <span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Range
is king for EVs and with Chevy hoping for hoping for 200 miles of range and
Nissan mentioning 240 for its next Leaf there is no way that Tesla will go
under 200 as the Model S is EPA rated at 208 in its base form. </span>To hit that number and keep the 35,000 starting price Tesla would most likely use one of the Model S D's motors, either 188 or 221 horsepower should be the minimum for the base Model 3. Given a few more years of development and that number might climb closer to around 250, in the ballpark for entry level engines in premium models from Audi, BMW, Mercedes and others. A dual motor high performance Model 3 D with a pair of motors in the front and in the back seems all but guaranteed, giving it around 400-450 horsepower, again in the ballpark of RS5, M3 and C63 AMG. Given the price point the smaller Model 3 will likely use less exotic materials and construction than the Model S but will come with a smaller battery back too (figure 40-50 kWh) so its weight could be as little as 3,800 pounds to start if it's not all steel. With just a single electric motor of the stronger variety the Model 3 would likely get to 60 in about 6.5 seconds with a 1/4 mile in the low 15 second mark at just a little over 90 mph. About as good as any non-Tesla EV on the market today. Doubling the power with a dual motor set up upfront or using a more powerful Model S motor at the back should push a potential Model 3 P to 60 in the high 3 second range (say 3.7) and clear the quarter mile in about 12 seconds at around 111 mph. Once again in the ballpark of performance Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Lexus and Mercedes models. We are years away from seeing official Model 3 specs and pricing and eventual performance validation, but it's all but guaranteed that it will end up a significantly more aesthetically pleasing design than Chevy's eventual Bolt*. Stay tuned for Model X performance preview later this week!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little BMW i3, a little old Mercedes A Class, a little Renault, Tesla Can Do Better</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*This is based on the thought that the Model 3 will be to the Model S what the A5 Sportback and 4 series Gran Coupe are to the A7 and 6 Gran Coupe. Musk mentioned that the Model 3 will be 20% smaller than the Model S making it BMW i3 sized at which point styling gets difficult and a performance version silly. It's hard to see it be quite that small but rather 20 inches shorter in length based on the brand's design scheme and positioning.</span><br />
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killitwithfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08448878031442699099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4454212525949058988.post-14418409915443653112015-01-12T19:54:00.001-08:002015-01-13T23:35:50.766-08:00Ford Steals An Eventful Detroit Auto ShowIn a world where it is becoming next to impossible to keep a good secret, most brands have given up trying and often reveal their auto show gems as early as a month ahead of schedule. With that in mind the power of a true surprise has grown exponentially, especially if that surprise is a poster worthy supercar. The Acura NSX was supposed to be the supercar <a href="http://killwithfire.blogspot.com/2014/12/running-numbers-on-acura-nsx.html">star</a> of the NAIAS but then the Ford GT concept happened. There have been rumors of a GT resurgence and but nothing could quite prepare for a supercar more than worthy of an exotic badge. It's the Asterion that Lamborghini wished it could have debuted in Paris. The fact that the first shots of the GT came directly from the floor made this reveal that more exciting. Aside from the simple Lotus Evoraesque interior and a poor take on a racing steering wheel, the GT looks to challenge the very best much like the original GT40 did in the 1960s and a decade ago. Bucking most trends again Ford quotes as on sale date of 2016. The GT also gives credence that Chevy will finally make a mid engine "Corvette" after all those years. Following the no teaser route Ford rounded out its tremendous Monday with a worthy second generation Ford Raptor powered by a preview of the GT's EcoBoost and topped it all of with a track special Mustang GT350R complete with carbon fiber wheels from the factory. Likely a first for a car you can pronounce or hope to see. The only demerit was Ford's lack of actual horsepower numbers but others (Acura, Toyota) are just as guilty.<br />
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<ul>
<li>Acura updated its NSX to keep it fresh since its concept and normally it would a star but the Ford GT upstaged it. The lack of facts and figures for a production debut worries that the turbo V6 might not be as strong as <a href="http://killwithfire.blogspot.com/2014/12/running-numbers-on-acura-nsx.html">hoped for</a> and the interior </li>
<li> Much like the GT the Avenir is an excellent surprise from Buick but will there be a production version and would could you actually expect from it?</li>
<li>Chevy revealed a much better if a Kia Forte-esque second generation Volt but the idea of a Bolt with four times the electric range for the same money makes it almost irrelevant. The i3 blushes that someone is actually following its design formula. </li>
<li>The Q60 concept looks great aside from the kink but it will lose a bit of luster going into production and its competition looks good too. </li>
<li>Could Hyundai Santa Cruz get it right where Honda did not with the Ridgeline by making a unibody pickup small enough?</li>
<li>Likewise Nissan knows it can't compete directly with domestic full size pickups but instead of going small it went 200/2000 big along with a heavy duty diesel good enough to top the HDs just a few years ago. Clean and tidy design with search and rescue worthy head lights! </li>
<li>Lincoln looks to be getting better at makings crossovers, almost making the Porsche SUV that Porsche wants to make but its interiors don't match the outside. Can it bring it all together in a sedan?</li>
<li>Not completely new but more updated than expected, the Tacoma will continue to lead the mid size category in sales. Just give us the power ratings Toyota.</li>
<li>Volkswagen will make a 7 seat crossover, eventually. After yet another sharp concept you can only hope that the production version stays full strength.</li>
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killitwithfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08448878031442699099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4454212525949058988.post-71668505841179031292014-12-30T07:31:00.000-08:002014-12-30T07:31:10.825-08:00Running The Numbers On The Acura NSXThe Acura NSX was likely going to be the most anticipated debut at the quickly approaching North American International Auto Show and with the cat out of the bag on the Cadillac CTS-V and the Audi Q7, Detroit is Acura's playground. We are only a few weeks away from seeing the final product and hearing the specs for the first time but many months away from actual performance tests making now as good a time as any to run some numbers on Acura's upcoming supercar contender, virtually. Going from a front mounted V10 concept nearly a decade ago, the second generation returns with a more authentic mid engine layout but with twin-turbos for the V6 and electric motors giving all wheel drive capability. The brand new, and seemingly unrelated to any current Honda V6, twin-turbo V6 is rumored to be around 3.7 liters in displacement. Similar sized powertrains make anything from 500 to a shade over 600 horsepower in various performance applications. Given Honda's history with turbo engines and a potential desire to reach some MPG targets with the hybrid powertrain it is hard to see a heavily boosted engine so something around 525 horsepower out of the V6 is a good basis. Nothing wrong with getting more than less here though. The RLX hybrid setup is good for an additional 67 horsepower towards peak output so when all is said and done a number of 600 combined horsepower seems very logical. Seeing the inherent weight penalty on the RLX hybrid with this setup it is hard to see the NSX dipping much below 3,750 pounds. Given the all wheel drive grip and the electric motor torque the NSX should be as quick as anything not purely exotic off the line to 60. Figure a time of 3.2 seconds or even slightly better to 60 and anything over 3.5 seconds would be a pretty big disappointment. The NSX should lose some momentum as speeds pick up going through the 1/4 mile in around 11.5 seconds with a trap speed of about 125 miles per hour placing it right in the middle of some very established competition. Competition due for replacement or thorough updates around the same time frame. It is game on for Acura and only time will tell if the newest NSX can ultimately deliver what promises to be 458 Italia performance for Audi R8 price and how it will play with the Z06, GT-R and 911s of the world.<br />
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killitwithfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08448878031442699099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4454212525949058988.post-9422910153184014112014-12-20T18:48:00.002-08:002015-01-22T00:14:54.230-08:00Good Luck Redesigning These Five CarsAs the saying goes, success breads success more often than not in life. In the automotive world an aesthetically pleasing design can go a long way towards becoming a sales success. On the flip side, a great automotive design will also create headaches come redesign time. Just like a team coming of a championship winning season the expectations are sky high for successful designs. The following five designs aren't necessarily the most beautiful cars on the road today nor are they the top five designs on the market but they are all extremely successful for their brands and their respective segments and will prove to be difficult to maintain the successful aesthetics.<br />
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Jeep Grand Cherokee<br />
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Jeep got the latest Grand Cherokee styling so spot on that it is the definition of how a modern SUV should look like. Strong and muscular and just the right size as not to be too bulky it's a breath of fresh air in a segment populated by bulbous looking crossovers. It's rugged enough that you would think it's riding on a ladder frame but has enough design elements to keep it modern. Perhaps the only downside to the current Grand Cherokee is the SRT8 model that's not as sporty as the last one, nothing a Hellcat V8 can't fix though.<br />
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Audi R8</div>
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Essentially identical to its concept version the R8 is an excellent design for a brand's first supercar. Joining the supercar club on your first effort isn't an easy task, just ask the McLaren MP 4 12 C. Going far beyond a generic supercar shape the R8 more than looks the part, perhaps even outrunning its performance in the V8 version. The second generation R8 is right around the corner and we'll soon see if it can continue the legacy.</div>
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Mercedes-Benz S-Class</div>
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It's rare when a design comes out that immediately shames its closest competition but the S-Class is just that. On their own the BMW 7 series and the Audi A8 are stately designs that work but they lack the fluidity and grace of the S-Class. The Quattroporte and the XJ are more expressive designs but they lack the presence of the S-Class. As with the Cherokee the only downside could be the AMG model that's perhaps not as strong as before.</div>
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Chevrolet Camaro</div>
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As with any successful retro inspired design a redesign finds designers in a tough place, do too little and you are lazy but go too modern and you lose the magic. After a long hiatus the Camaro's good looks helped it hold its own against its arch nemesis the Mustang.</div>
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Not only has never an EV looked this great before the Model S, it can also be argued that the Model S is a more gorgeous design than some of its closest competition from Audi, BMW and Mercedes and those models are considered as some of the best four door coupes out there. Looking a bit like a rolling concept car for the street it could be an effort that's hard to duplicate or scale to other Tesla models as the Model X might not be as graceful. </div>
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killitwithfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08448878031442699099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4454212525949058988.post-46686908224476241312014-12-14T23:37:00.000-08:002014-12-15T07:15:10.857-08:00Audi As The Most Conservative Brand It is tough to watch your favorite team have an excellent season, defeat its greatest nemesis on its way to the big game and then deliver nothing when it counts most. Broncos fans everywhere still haven't recovered from last year's Super Bowl. As much as you try to stay objective you will always have a brand or two that you will be partial to and as with sports it is hard to see one of your favorite brands deliver a disappointing product. <br />
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After years of development Audi has released its second generation Q7 to the world brimming with technology and stuff to shame any Chevy marketing guy. Unfortunately all that technology is wrapped in a design that for the majority of the buying public is far too conservative, especially for an SUV. As with many Audis, a subsequent look reveals design aesthetics hidden at first and it's almost guaranteed that the Q7 will end up looking quite alright once you see it on the road. Park it next to the first gen and the differences will become obvious. Still, <a href="http://killwithfire.blogspot.com/2014/06/first-impressions-with-cars.html">first impressions are extremely powerful</a> and the second gen Q7 is too reminiscent of its predecessor and that of an A6 Avant that's been going to the gym too much. The conservative design makes you think what could have been given all the rumors of a super aggressive initial design scrapped by new Audi leadership. Given all the technology, the Q7 deserves a little more pizzazz on the outside. At first glance it's a supreme pizza engineering effort that someone stole all the toppings leaving just a cheese design. And in a competitive segment a cheese pizza might not cut it.<br />
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killitwithfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08448878031442699099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4454212525949058988.post-86246229086324938942014-12-08T19:30:00.004-08:002014-12-14T16:46:46.345-08:00No Time For Half MeasuresMercedes and BMW have shown the world their visions for the future of electric mobility with the B-Class Electric Drive and the i3. That future however might be further out still. Both models have received generally positive reviews and a bit of market buzz but somewhat lukewarm sales. As Breaking Bad's Mike Erhmantraut famously said, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPk3TN81y_c">half measures never work</a>. In this case, both the upconverted B-Class and even the bespoke i3 are nothing more than half measures from Mercedes and BMW. Considering its pricing, the Model S took EV sales to a new continent when it hit Tesla stores two years ago. Perhaps a luxury touch was all that was needed, to ease some of the electric price premium. The truth is that no half measure, half hearted, effort will cut it if you want to duplicate Tesla's success, no matter your badge. After its own half measure effort with the Roadster, Tesla went full in with the model S matching the best of the luxury brands in design, engineering and performance and racking up sales equal to its top three competitors.<br />
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Nothing less than fully matching or exceeding Tesla's range and performance will cut it for any electrified model from the established luxury brands*.<br />
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The Tesla powered B-Class Electric Drive and the i3 are two of the more impressive (non Tesla) EVs on the market today but they still fall for all of the established EV shortcomings. The B-Class has a punchy electric powertrain and a tiny bit extra range but it's housed in Mercedes' least exciting model. One whose IC version was never good enough for the US. BMW went all in on i3's carbon fiber chassis to create a bespoke and very light model but then gave it styling more expressive than the Leaf's with no extra range. Both models are very reminiscent of how the brands handled hybrids previously. Late to the party and not truly representative of the storied brands' engineering prowess.<br />
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Much like Mercedes and BMW, Audi took a very cautious half hearted effort with its hybrids, see the Q5 hybrid. It really does exist! The A3 e-tron plugin looks to be more of the same. However, Audi's cautious approach to EVs might just be coming to an end in a big way. There are strong <a href="http://www.autonews.com/article/20141203/OEM04/312039906/audi-plans-electric-crossover-in-u-s-to-challenge-tesla">rumors</a> about Audi creating a Model X fighter with 300 miles of range and a unique design of its own. The brand would be smart to take the long rumored Q8 in that direction. If true, Audi would be the first to assemble the ingredients needed for a legitimate Tesla competitor. An EV built from the start as an EV would be key as Audi isn't going to successfully make one out of an A model that matches an S for performance without costing more than the RS and still delivers Tesla's range. Nor is it going to come up with a conventionally styled sedan or coupe that will be more gorgeous and impactful than existing models without it becoming its flagship. And neither Audi, Bentley nor the market is quite ready for that yet. An EV only crossover coupe can stand on its own in the Audi lineup without really competing with its existing sedans, coupes or SUVs. Likewise, Mercedes will need to search for a segment that can take advantage of its latest gorgeous styling direction and not compete with an existing AMG model. BMW seems to be set up the strongest with its i sub brand, it's still far away as the i8 barely outruns the Model S and it takes a supercar profile and proportions to make the i styling work.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">* The Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid is technically the closest Tesla competitor. In its plug in form the Panamera has about half the MPG and a tenth of the range of the Model S, isn't any quicker and is seriously aesthetically challenged in comparison at a significantly higher price.</span><br />
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killitwithfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08448878031442699099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4454212525949058988.post-75820313733624034862014-12-01T21:27:00.002-08:002015-01-22T02:54:38.095-08:00Neatest Thing at the 2014 La Auto ShowWith lights shinning on world debuts and hundreds of models around it is hard for any car in particular to stand out by the end of the night at a major international auto show. Lines are blurring between segments it's not unusual anymore to see more advanced technology in a 15,000 entry level model from a big box brand than what is available from "handcrafted" legendary brands. Materials and craftsmanship is harder to execute or fake but brands are getting better every day at making their interiors look expensive. Leather (like) covered dashes with French stitching on mainstream models create a marketplace where it takes a truly unique feature to stand out. Unique in this case means simple and elegant. Volvo XC90's frameless rear view mirror was by far the most memorable feature at the 2014 LA Auto Show. It's a fresh take on something that is in every car and one that makes a true design statement. Much like an edgeless flat screen, the mirror looks great and makes you wonder why no one else has done it sooner. Volvo is proud of the neat touches it has put in the long overdue XC90 but the all glass mirror is the one that works the best. It won't push anyone to buy the very nicely done XC90 but it is something the rest of its very strong competition does not have and that is a win for Volvo.<br />
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<li>The Audi Prologue was the most anticipated debut of the show with Audi saving it for LA instead of Paris a few months earlier. It is a mix of old Audi proportions with some new design elements from Mark Lichte, Audi's new chief of design. Overall it is a nice concept that is production feasible but it is far from groundbreaking and does not necessarily top the S Clsss Coupe even as a concept. </li>
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<li> From initial photos, the Mercedes S600 Maybach looked a bit too formal compared to the regular S class. On the show floor it does so slightly and it is only easy to pick up when the regular S class is in the vicinity. It is not really worse but it is not any better from a design point of view, it is really the S600 LL with a fancier name.</li>
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<li>Crisp and clear HD displays are harder to come by than you would expect. Many displays look stuck in 480p land. Things were not as sharp as expected even in a brand new luxury model with a very prominently placed display.</li>
<li>The Infiniti Q80 takes top concept for being the gorgeous one off concept it's meant to be.</li>
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killitwithfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08448878031442699099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4454212525949058988.post-83325603947940193022014-11-06T23:23:00.000-08:002014-11-06T23:40:06.245-08:00A Teaser Done RightWith nearly every brand releasing one before every major auto show it's hard to get excited by a teaser these days. Audi does score a win with a video about its <a href="http://killwithfire.blogspot.com/2014/09/put-up-or-shutup-time-for-audi.html">vital</a> upcoming LA concept that is more about telling a story rather than just a visual tease. The video puts the spotlight squarely on Marc Lichte, Audi's new design chief. The concept is entirely his work and Audi appears to have given Marc significant freedom in shaping its future design. It's refreshing to see a supremely successful brand admit that it has erred and could do better with its design. Although its closest competitors have recently leaned more on the Audi design formula (clone and evolve) than their fans want to admit, it appears that the brand has extracted all that it could from it. The few glimpses of the concept promise the most powerful and impactful Audi design since the Walter de Silva designed A5. The future looks promising but Audi could have a mess to explain if the long overdue and delayed Q7 and the comparatively just slightly overdue A4 aren't true products of the new design direction. If the concept is as great as anticipated, good luck explaining to the public why your newest products don't match it. An awkward moment to have for a brand whose cars supposedly "all look alike". Of course this could all be a real tease and the change might not be nearly as drastic as promised.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/qe1NqQcIAqQ" width="560"></iframe><br />killitwithfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08448878031442699099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4454212525949058988.post-4056661428501726612014-10-23T00:42:00.003-07:002014-10-23T07:22:55.043-07:00Escaping The Dead ZoneThe dead zone between mainstream and entry level premium is the automotive equivalent of the friend zone, an area which no brand wants to occupy. You cars are generally nicer than those of regular mainstream brands and correspondingly priced a little higher than the popular competition. Your badge isn't worth much though and therefore your sales aren't that much better than some full price luxury brands. It isn't hard to see that this is not a great recipe for financial windfall for a brand as your profit per each car sold is on the low side and you aren't doing volume either. It's an area that most brands avoid and consequently there are only a few brands that find themselves trapped in this area. Over the past few years the three brands trapped in this area have all made efforts to escape and grow their sales, let's see how well they have done.<br />
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Volkswagen: Compact 62%, Midsize 22%, CUV 7% of Market Leader<br />
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Volkswagen is the world's best selling brand outside of America by a million or two (literally) and to jumpstart its US operations the brand recently went very mainstream with its core products, the Jetta and Passat. Closest to entry premium of the trio in their last generations there is no denying that both models were cheapened both figuratively and literally as Volkswagen moved down market, cut the price of admission at retail but also made obvious sacrifices to get there. The immediate payoff was fantastic for Volkswagen as the Jetta and Passat posted their best sales ever in a then still recovering marketplace. VW's progress has since stalled against fresh competition even with VW retreating back from most of the ruthless cost cutting. There is hope though as the USDM (and China) Passat is a better effort than the Jetta and its upcoming crossover looks promising to be an even better made for America product. Here's to hoping it arrives while crossovers are still a trend.<br />
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Mazda: Compact 35%, Midsize 13%, CUV 34% of Market Leader<br />
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Unlike the other two brands stuck in the dead zone, Mazda has made few if any concessions to the mainstream in the last few years (though it was closest to mainstream to start out) and has in fact upped its game significantly. The brand has done a tremendous job of improving its styling resulting in some of the best designs in their respective classes. Likewise Mazda is one of few brands delivering on its EPA fuel economy promise in the real world along with above average performance. It must be somewhat disappointing for Mazda to not see its sales dovetail with its vastly improved products and remain last in sales in this trio.<br />
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Subaru: Compact 49%, Midsize 53%, CUV 53% of Market Leader<br />
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Of the three brands, Subaru has done the best sales wise by staying true to its mantra of standard all wheel drive and all around quirkiness. The brand has made a few mainstream concessions mainly chasing higher EPA fuel economy ratings by relying on CVT transmissions and dropping horsepower on its models. Even with <a href="http://killwithfire.blogspot.com/2014/10/subaru-most-baffling-brand-in-america.html">questionable styling</a>, Subaru has topped the 40,000 monthly sales plateau recently giving it a decent cushion ahead of Mazda, Volkswagen and the luxury brands. More impressively it's done so selling an unreal amount of wagonoids!<br />
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killitwithfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08448878031442699099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4454212525949058988.post-11812254668325832842014-10-21T19:38:00.004-07:002014-10-22T07:35:14.815-07:00Subaru: The Most Baffling Brand In America As a fan of excellent design this blog is an ardent supporter of the idea that if you make a great design they will come. A great design will usually yield benefits in sales for the brand and it doesn't even have to be beautiful, a properly boxy SUV or pickup can work just as well. With that in mind this blog was a pretty big fan of the fourth generation (2003-2009) Subaru Legacy and Outback. Featuring a crisp and sophisticated design far beyond your standard midsize, the Legacy could have passed as a near premium product. Its Subaru signature all wheel drive, decent interior and stronger than usual available engines let it play in a niche between mainstream and entry level luxury. Unfortunately for Subaru that generation had niche sales figures as well. A funny thing happened next, Subaru design deserted the brand but its sales have surged ever since. It's not hard to figure out the design direction of almost any brand as some lean towards bold, outrageous and swoopy. Others are clean, sharp and lean towards conservative while others still are boxy and purposeful. Subaru design direction on the other hand is impossible to read, its cars lack true beauty, clean lines nor do they make a bold statement. The brand has just enough awkwardness sprinkled throughout to separate itself from mainstream. The Subaru redesign philosophy seems to consist of blowing up its cars in every dimension and adding enough random jagged lines to meet a mandated quota. There are definitely some very redeeming qualities about Subaru that have certainly helped its surging sales over the past few years but it baffles this blog to see Subaru so hot with so little eye towards design*. Nevertheless it certainly looks like Subaru knows what it's doing in the US as it successfully escapes the sales dead zone between mainstream and luxury.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">* In WRX/STI form the Impreza does have some style but those models aren't driving Subaru sales. There is hope, the 2015 Legacy and Outback models show a nice design improvement over the last generation.</span>killitwithfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08448878031442699099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4454212525949058988.post-51670551802996628072014-10-19T20:10:00.002-07:002015-01-22T00:15:33.982-08:00Can The Tesla Model S P85D Really Outperform the McLaren F1?Having considered how legendary luxury brands can both be challenged and <a href="http://killwithfire.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-news-that-mercedes-couple-of.html">learn</a> from Tesla and its continued drive for improvement let's take a closer look at what the dual motor P85D can do against its competition. And perhaps more importantly can it really outperform the legendary McLaren F1? Officially Tesla quotes the P85D and its combined 691 all wheel drive horsepower as needing only 3.2 seconds to reach 60 mph and 11.8 for the quarter mile. Given the right conditions we can see someone dip under 3 seconds in the signature test, once though to be an almost unbreakable performance barrier.<br />
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This essentially puts the P85D slimly ahead of its closest competition, 3.2 seconds is coincidentally the best times recorded by the all wheel drive Audi RS7 and Mercedes CLS/E 63 AMG S models. Given that the P85D will do these numbers "mash and go" versus the launch control and brake torquing gives Tesla the advantage here. Things should stay close through the quarter mile as the RS7 and AMG S models have posted 1/4 times as quick as 11.5 seconds with most tests showing a tenth or two advantage to the Audi and Mercedes, still that's close enough to call it even with the driver's reaction time making the bigger difference. Looking at the trap speed things begin to change as the RS7 and AMG models have a trap speed of around 123. Tesla didn't provide a trap speed estimate but it should come in under 118. For reference the Tesla will be about half a second quicker to 60 than everyone's favorite 707 horsepower Dodge Challenger Hellcat and post an almost identical quarter mile time. The Hellcat does dominate with an unbelievable 126 trap speed. The gas powered cars should pull ahead past the quarter mile towards their higher eventual top speeds but you need an airfield to have that kind of fun. The AMG, M, and RS competition will trounce the Tesla around the track and not overheat after one lap, but the Model S wasn't really made for that. <br />
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In its marketing materials Tesla claims that the P85D's goal was to outperform the McLaren F1, one of the greatest supercars of all time according to Tesla. According to this <a href="http://media.caranddriver.com/files/mclaren-f1-road-test-review-car-and-driver1994-mclaren-f1-archived-road-test.pdf">test</a> the P85D will in fact match the McLaren F1 to 60 as both do it in 3.2 seconds, the F1 though will obliterate it going forward making the comparison very short lived if technically true.<br />
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*Update: <a href="http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/alternative/1411_2015_tesla_model_s_p85d_first_test/">Motor Trend</a> ran the numbers and 0-60 was in 3.1 seconds and 1/4 in 11.6. Kudos to Tesla for being spot on in its estimates. As predicted trap speed was below 118 @ 115.2 (115 was my internal thought all along!) which does mean that the quickest gas competition will pull ahead above 100. Still the dual motor upgrade would certainly qualify the P85D for a spot in our <a href="http://killwithfire.blogspot.com/2014/08/dramatic-engine-in-generation-changes.html">seriously dramatic in generation powertrain updates list</a>.killitwithfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08448878031442699099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4454212525949058988.post-88581105769571063872014-10-16T07:48:00.001-07:002014-11-05T07:33:59.401-08:00Tesla As Foil To German Luxury BrandsThe news that Mercedes sold a couple of thousand more cars than Audi in September wasn't particularly noteworthy in itself. It was however a great reminder at the total volume that the leading German luxury brands including BMW are doing worldwide putting them ahead of many "mainstream" brands. The brands all claim that sales aren't what they are chasing but sales are linked to profits and combined the two powers certainly impact the cars the brands produce. The other piece of news from last week, the Tesla D intro, actually serves as quite the foil for the Big 3 German luxury brands. Tesla's worldwide sales for all of 2014 will be about what Mercedes and BMW do in one month in the US alone, but it's the progression of improvement over at Tesla that makes it noteworthy. The D is set to match if not even surpass comparable AMG, M and RS models acceleration wise well up into big ticket range. The leap in performance and assistive technologies over the original Model S looks like an incredible commitment to the product and the vision of creating their version of the best possible car out there. It's the kind of product improvement that makes you question how true to words are the German brands to their famous taglines and what more that they could do if they were focused more on product rather than profit. Could they push even more performance today or make designs that much more daring and stunning? It will be intriguing to see over the next few years how the Big 3 change their products in response, if they do at all. Possibly completely uninfluenced, the Audi LA Auto Show concept is something to watch with Audi letting go of some of its design restraint. It's the kind of thinking that the established brands might need in the future.<br />
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killitwithfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08448878031442699099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4454212525949058988.post-23121809433070255262014-10-08T19:21:00.002-07:002014-10-09T07:38:59.339-07:00The Biggest Technological Failure of This DecadeEach on their own the engineering teams of BMW, Chrysler, General Motor and Mercedes have produced some amazing products over the years. In a rare case of teamwork, cooperation and perhaps desperation the four diverse brands teamed up on the Dual Mode Hybrid System in a project called the Global Hybrid Partnership. The combined engineering synergy resulted in a much hyped hybrid powertrain too complex to explain yet one promising the world. As with many overhyped projects the Global Hybrid Partnership began to dissolve literally as soon as the first models hit dealerships and saw some of the brands sell fewer hybrids than Ferraris Enzos.<br />
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The Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen versions debuted in October of 2008 packing a Hemi V8 at a hard time for the auto industry in general and even more so for Chrysler in particular. Printing out the marketing materials for the Hemi hybrid probably took longer than the model's lifespan as the entire Durango/Aspen lineup including the Dual Mode Hybrid was canceled in November. Chrysler's former ally Mercedes didn't fare much better as Mercedes had no plans to carry the Dual Mode Hybrid into the current generation ML platform. The ML 450 hybrid thus only existed for two model years. BMW took by far the most performance oriented approach with its X6 Activehybrid to the tune of 480 combined horsepower and a nearly 90,000 starting price. The Activehybrid though wasn't any quicker than its regular twin turbo V8 counterpart and while it delivered a 20% fuel economy boost, it's a hard sell when that translates to 3 mpg. BMW dropped the Activehybrid after two model years just like Mercedes not even bothering to wait until the second generation X6. Without a doubt, General Motors achieved the most success with its full size SUV and pickup Dual Mode Hybrids. You can still occasionally spot one on the road with many still sporting their loud and proud hybrid stickers. In this group though sales success is akin to speaking the most Italian in Inglorious Bastards. General Motors like the others decided not to pursue the hybrid setup for its current generation of pickups and SUVs. With the introduction of the second generation BMW X6 the loop has closed on the Dual Mode Hybrid forever relegating it to transit bus duty. <br />
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<br />killitwithfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08448878031442699099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4454212525949058988.post-3550477971082244332014-10-01T01:35:00.002-07:002014-10-01T07:28:17.067-07:00Most Memorable Cars on the ScreenCars and movies have been around for about as many years and it didn't take long for the two to form an inseparable bond that would yield many classics over the years. From James Bond and the DB5 to Steve McQueen and the Mustang and Marty McFly and the DeLorean, cars have starred in movies just as much as the actors. Likewise Miami Vice, Magnum P.I., Knight Rider, and Dukes of Hazzard have made their corresponding cars famous on the TV screen. While these iconic collaborations have withstood the test of time here are a few recent ones.<br />
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Breaking Bad: Pontiac Aztek<br />
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Before Breaking Bad swept all the Emmys this past year and Walter White entered the empire business the Pontiac Aztek's only claim to fame was making essentially every ugliest car list there is. These days the first thought spotting an Aztek is to quickly scan the area to stay clear of any possible kingpin danger. The show came too late to help the Aztek or Pontiac but it does leave the Aztek with a slightly more respectable legacy.<br />
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Psych: Toyota Echo <br />
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The blue Echo hatchback featured prominently throughout the series with its cozy confines and general lack of performance setting up the duo for many a laughs. You could never buy the hatchback Echo in Santa Barbara where Psych took place but you could in Canada where the show was filmed. It's another prominent vehicle cameo that likely didn't do much for the brand.<br />
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Dark Knight Trilogy: Lamborghini<br />
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While the various Batmobiles steal the spotlight as Batman's mode of transportation, the Murcielago and Aventador are Bruce Wayne's preferred methods of transportation during the day and to swanky events. No other vehicle but a dark Lamborghini can quite match Bruce Wayne the man so perfectly.<br />
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killitwithfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08448878031442699099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4454212525949058988.post-25080680988645137502014-09-30T03:17:00.002-07:002014-09-30T07:31:28.606-07:00We Will Buy What We Want To BuyThe power of a simple yet bold design is something that is hard to put in perspective at times. It may come as a surprise but the "Geländewagen " G class AMG is the best selling <a href="http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/suvs/1409_2015_lexus_nx_200t_f_sport_300h_first_test/">AMG model</a> in the United States. The slowest, heaviest, worst handling AMG you can buy is the most popular one in the land. AMG is spending millions on its Formula 1 program but its most popular model relies on recirculating ball steering, live axles and aerodynamics of a box. The AMG model makes up over 60% of all Gs sold and sales worldwide are surging this past decade. Equipped with the same twin-turbo V8, the ML63 and even the larger GL63 AMG easily out accelerate the G class and slay it in every performance category. In fact even the Ford SVT Raptor and Ram Power Wagon on knobby tires demolish it on the skidpad, as does a 4 ton dually. This matters little to the G class as sometimes a design catches fire and the image it projects becomes everything. The G class enjoys tremendous popularity among image conscious celebrities many years after the Hummer lost its popularity even though the G is the thirstiest SUV on sale in America today. Brands will spend billions on developing new platforms and designs and then millions more advertising them but sometimes as the G proves one of your hottest products will be the one you don't spend any money on. It's hard to understand but people will buy what they want to buy! And all you can do is give them what they want.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The G Still Looks Great</td></tr>
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killitwithfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08448878031442699099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4454212525949058988.post-51736614167288021882014-09-25T18:19:00.001-07:002014-09-25T22:48:14.879-07:00Outside Perspective Can Be AwesomeAt times you think you know it all and you have considered all the angles to the story only to be rudely awakened when something new appears. The common perception is that the minivan segment is on a permanent decline never to be relevant again. Perhaps a Volkswagen hippie bus revival could make it exciting, but that ain't happening. Enter a little outside perspective from France that shows there is something still left to be done with the minivan shape. The Renault Espace has always had spacey styling and Renault even stuffed an 800 horsepower Formula 1 V10 into it before. Thus it's not unexpected that the newest Espace is the most stylish looking van you will ever find. About 10 inches shorter than American vans and lacking sliding doors the Espace nevertheless has an abundance of style that makes you believe that the van isn't quite dead, yet. Perhaps Nissan can take a gamble on it as you can almost pass it off as a crossover.<br />
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<br />killitwithfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08448878031442699099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4454212525949058988.post-76115515527297668672014-09-24T01:27:00.000-07:002015-01-18T18:31:01.067-08:00Baby Designs That RuleShrinkage in general is never a good thing whether from the warehouse, your bank account or from your favorite sweater. It's also true in design as at best a shrunken-down design ends up being cute but rarely fierce or gorgeous. Fortunately there are exceptions as the following three recent "baby" designs prove that a tailored slim fit look can do wonders at times. Not only do all three do an excellent job of adapting the brand design to their smaller proportions but arguably end up with better and fresher designs than their more expensive brandmates.<br />
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Audi A3<br />
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The A3 sedan reminds many of the popular fan favorite "B5" Audi A4 based on its size and tidy design. The A3 sedan leans heavily on the current A4 but sharpens up every angle perfectly. It is one of the rare sedans developed out of hatchbacks that actually looks better than its five door counterpart and has a completely own identity. While both are stylish compacts the A3 works the Audi design theme better than its rival CLA does the Mercedes theme. <br />
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Maserati Ghibli<br />
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The last generation Quattroporte was a brand savior selling at level never before seen for its four door sedan. The Quattroporte stood out among its competition with a unique style even after many years on the market. The Quattroporte however was a tweener, a few inches shorter than the rest of the executive sedan competition. This time around Maserati added nearly ten inches of length but unfortunately also lost a lot of the athletic look of the previous generation. Enter the Ghibli, which takes all the cues of the latest Quattroporte into a compact package slightly shorter than the last giving it very few empty flat surfaces of the larger sedan. The aggressive Maserati sedan is back and early sales indicate a great success.<br />
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Porsche Macan<br />
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The first generation Cayenne is a vehicle that many love to loath for its existence, design and eventual sales success. Porsche made significant design improvements its refresh and the second generation Cayenne. Still, the Cayenne is on the bubbly side for an SUV with its performance credentials. The Macan looked almost identical to the Cayenne under the covers in testing but the reveal brought a much sportier and edgier package. 918 inspired lights and a faster roofline help cement its design as the better looking Porsche SUV.<br />
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killitwithfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08448878031442699099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4454212525949058988.post-88196030232748631082014-09-23T02:02:00.000-07:002014-09-24T18:36:21.133-07:00The Future of The Auto IndustryEven among best sales figures in a decade there has been lots of chatter of the future of the auto industry, in particular in regards to its waning interest from young adults and teens. Many causes have been cited for America's disappearing love affair with the automobile from simple to complex. Unfortunately for the auto industry the biggest reason is also one that can't be changed simply because that's how the game works. This past week has seen the release of two different phones that perfectly illustrate the difference between the auto and phone industry and the excitement each generates. The Porsche design Blackberry retails for almost ten times the iPhone 6 yet features roughly the same hardware specifications as the iPhone. And unlike with cars there is only so much that you can do with the candy bar smartphone shape. The beauty and appeal of the smartphone game is that you can post an iPhone 6 release date selfie on Instagram just like your favorite celebrity. You won't get nearly as many likes but for all intents and purposes you can own the best smartphone on the market<span style="font-size: xx-small;">*</span> just like your favorite millionaire or billionaire. This is certainly something the average person can get excited and feel good about as they certainly aren't driving the same car as their favorite celebrity. It's hard for the auto industry to compete on this level and generate the same buzz. Nevertheless it's not all lost as long as the industry continues to deliver well engineered and designed products, they might not catch as many headlines as in the past but the foundation will be solid. An important followup key is then to be able to explain the technology in meaningful and relatable ways.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">* if you think Galaxy or HTC or LG makes the best phone there is no difference they are all priced the same.</span>killitwithfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08448878031442699099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4454212525949058988.post-43217631203192431442014-09-22T00:56:00.001-07:002014-09-23T20:01:17.299-07:00Put Up or Shut Up Time for AudiAudi is the best selling luxury brand outside of the United States but like everyone the brand is not without its faults. Known for creating elegant designs that very rarely have anything really wrong with them the biggest downside for Audi is that many find them cold, clinical and conservative. The flagship A8 is perhaps the biggest offender lacking the flair and in your face panache that many expect in its segment. Over the past few years Audi executives have promised a new Audi design direction throughout numerous interviews but so far there have been more changes of the aforementioned executives than actual change. Given the promises, Audi's upcoming A9 concept carries a heavy burden of expectations and responsibility to give people more of what they want. The four door coupe is an excellent starting point for a dramatic design and Audi should be smart enough to give the A9 plenty of length to work with to develop dramatic proportions. To differentiate the design Audi should give the A9 unique head and tail lights not seen on current Audis. To complement the design it would be great to see Audi throw away all reservations when it comes to the powertrain and turbo its W12 to over 650 horsepower though a hybrid 4.0T is much likelier for the concept. A great interior is a given from Audi and should be the cherry on top if everything else goes well. The promises have been made and it's now time for Audi to deliver, at least in concept form.killitwithfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08448878031442699099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4454212525949058988.post-53024380771217585662014-09-17T07:14:00.001-07:002014-09-17T07:39:56.492-07:00Toyota FCV Spy Shots With a ViewDeath Valley is usually the go to place for automakers to test their new vehicles to their limits in extreme conditions away from most prying eyes. Occasionally though, you can spot new cars testing in slightly more hospitable and picturesque places as a few weeks ago the Toyota FCV was undergoing some testing in some milder climates, perhaps to see if it could handle 75 degrees and a little sea breeze! Or the test driver just wanted to go to the beach. The FCV immediately sticks out as something new and intriguing thanks to its triangle shaped lights, especially the reflector in the bumper. Unfortunately for Toyota, the first impression is not entirely favorable for something meant to carry the fuel cell banner. It is definitely a vehicle that will be noticed and has an alternative look, but the overall vibe is that of a reboot of the first generation Prius and one that is a bit too tall and narrow. Toyota knows best though given its success with the design of the Prius in the past and a unique model makes more sense for a fuel cell push than say a Tuscon.<br />
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<br />killitwithfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08448878031442699099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4454212525949058988.post-57113467292795520032014-09-16T01:29:00.001-07:002014-09-16T01:45:54.235-07:00Cars & Coffee Symbolic Round Two HighlightsSymbolic hosted another <a href="http://killwithfire.blogspot.com/2014/06/cars-coffee-symbolic-edition.html">Cars & Coffee</a> (and Krispy Kremes) event this past weekend and as always there were certainly quite a few interesting cars to check out. Along with the usual collection of Audi, Bentley, BMW, Mercedes, Ferrari and various other exotics there were certainly a few standouts in the Carrera GT, Bugatti Veyron Vitesse and the brand new Lamborghini Huracan. Follow the link for more photos and impressions.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>The Carrera GT was certainly a cool sight even though the model is no longer new nor is it the flagship Porsche as the 918 Spyder plays that role now. Still not something you see everyday in its signature grey.<br />
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The best of show was definitely the newly delivered Bugatti Veyron Vitesse. There is just so much to see and take in of the Veryon to truly appreciate it. You can see the Veyron's age but it's still a sight to see and is one of a kind in every aspect of its design and engineering.<br />
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The most impressive debut certainly goes to the Lamborghini Huracan. The Huracan is somewhat restrained compared to the Aventador that was next to it but everything about the design works in perfect harmony. The detailing from the front bumper through the interior to the rear exhaust tip is well done. The Huracan also sounds amazingly angry, it is by far louder than the Aventador and even the Veyron at idle and at low speeds even if all three use the same "box" muffler design.<br />
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killitwithfirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08448878031442699099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4454212525949058988.post-84306604524808435812014-09-15T20:30:00.002-07:002014-09-16T01:33:32.393-07:00Concept Cars That Should Be Built Right NowIt's fun and easy to pretend play with someone else's money and there is nothing better than imaging how you would run a multi-billion dollar auto company. Fantasy sports are a close second though. It's particularly fun to greenlight awesome concepts that brands have deserted over the years. Usually this involves ignoring technological feasibility or market demands but there are concepts that seem to be guaranteed slam dunks if they were produced. Here are a few concepts from the past with awesome design and strong business cases that would need minimal updates to succeed today.<br />
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Volkswagen Microbus/Bulli<br />
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The 2001 Volkswagen Microbus Concept is still one of the best concepts to never see the light of day. It's the one that got away. Certainly the minivan market is not strong enough today for Volkswagen to make a case for the Microbus anymore and the Routan experiment doesn't help one bit. <br />
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<a name='more'></a>The only hope for the Microbus is that there is finally a platform to produce it in a costly manner as it theoretically could be done off of the upcoming VW US crossover platform. More reasonable is the 2011 Bulli Concept, itself a fresher 7/10th take on the Microbus. With the runaway success of the Kia Soul there is a business case and VW has claimed that its super versatile MQB platform can produce fun vehicles at minimal expense. So far nothing has materialized of these claims, at least in the US. VW desperately needs a shot in the arm in the US in the way that the New Beetle did years ago and a retro mini/compact van is the best way at it.<br />
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Lamborghini Estoque<br />
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There is certainly <a href="http://killwithfire.blogspot.com/2014/09/why-you-should-not-fear-ferrari.html">nothing wrong</a> with Lamborghini picking to (possibly) go ahead with a SUV/Crossover as its third model instead of a sedan based on current global trends. Porsche did so a decade ago when luxury SUVs and crossovers were less accepted. The Estoque though was a rare concept done so well to receive unanimous praise. The Urus on the other hand was not the same grand slam even among those that were accepting of it. The VW group should have a suitable platform for the Estoque be it the Porsche led MSB or the Audi led MLB-Evo if they ever decide to go with a sedan as a fourth model.<br />
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Ford Bronco<br />
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With the surging success of the Jeep brand and the Wrangler it's hard to see why no one has attempted to emulate the success. Sure it's hard to beat the intangibles and goodwill of the Jeep brand but it might certainly be worth it. The 2004 Ford Bronco concept still looks as the best possible challenger now that the Toyota FJ Cruiser is gone and Nissan is letting the Xterra age. Certainly the Bronco would clash with the rest of the Euro trending Ford lineup and it's unknown how suitable the international Ranger or F-150 platforms are for it. Still, it's not hard to imagine that the Bronco idea is brought up frequently in Ford product planning meetings after every banner Wrangler month.<br />
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Jeep Gladiator<br />
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As mentioned Jeep continues to crush it with the Wrangler month after month going against every current trend. It would make sense to spin off a pickup version. The midsize pickup market is certainly on its last legs with just 2.5 players left but if anyone can make a comeback it would be a Jeep. The Gladiator would go far beyond its pickup capabilities and usefulness for pest control companies and sell on the same qualities that drive the Wrangler. It's hard to see Jeep not strike gold with the way it's going right now.<br />
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