Honda to Make Electric Desirable

Honda designers are finally coming back to their senses after nasty criticisms and embarrassment for the recent eyesores (Odyssey, Pilot, CrossTour, MDX, TL, RL, RDX, ZDX). This upcoming 2-seater will most likely be full electric. A desirable Honda to come in a long time.

Honda electric 2 seater

Honda electric 2 seater

Honda electric 2 seater

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Choosing a Porsche 911 shouldn’t be this hard

Below are the latest Porsche 911 variations you can choose from in the U.S. as of April 2011. Porsche is generally known for their notoriously long list of options – so much so it is quite possible to buy a base Boxster for well over $130,000 if you’re an options whore. The choices are overwhelming even before you get to the options list. If you’re looking to buy a 911 there are 22 variations to choose from.
Porsche 911 model line

Trim choices such as this is extreme even for a mainstream family sedan. For the record, Honda Accord has 11 variations (14 if you count the Crosstour). A great car like the 911 shouldn’t need this many trim choices. Marketing gimmicks like this will only bring down the image and ultimately the brand itself. The only 911 models you really need are the base Carrera, Cabriolet, Turbo, and GT2. Make everything else an option such as 4-wheel drive, additional horsepower. Also, why is the Black Edition a separate model at all? It’s basically a value package deal that only comes in black.

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Can a used luxury car really make you look rich?

No. Well, maybe for few weeks (in your mind). They’ll actually make you more poor. And here’s why:
2001 BMW 740iL, low miles, only $11,000! Wow, tempting  isn’t it? How could that be? You might wonder “didn’t that thing cost like $80,000 back then?” Yes, the keyword is “back then”.

Would you drive a 10-year old BMW 7-Series if you had money?

Same goes for the upper echelon Audi, Mercedes, Range Rover, etc… These once envy-of-everyone luxury cruisers just can’t seem to hold on to their resale value even after only few years. There’s a good reason for that. And why you shouldn’t be tempted into buying one thinking you’ll look rich in it. First of all, you need to know why this class of cars exist in the first place. They are not bought on the basis of quality, performance, durability or their technical advancements. True, there once was a time when luxury meant quality and durability, but not anymore. These cars are mere status symbols for those who have the means.

Now, would you drive a 10-year old BMW 7-Series if you still had money? Hell no. Driving one most likely means one of two things. Either you went broke at some point during the last 10 years or you bought one used. In either case, it doesn’t scream “I am rich”. You’re fooling no one. Think and research carefully about insurance, maintenance, gas consumption before you decide that one of these used are for you.

People with money do not hang onto them once they’re replaced with a new model. Car makers know this. Yes, they know it all too well. They are smart enough not to waste unnecessary effort to make these cars last longer than they need to. Will the power operated seats on a $100,000 Mercedes last five times longer than the one in a Camry? No. I kid you not, they actually have shorter life span then the one in the Camry.

Again, people with money do not hang onto these cars. Because, a. they can afford to upgrade, b. they realize the ridiculous upkeep cost are not worth it. Chances are if you’re considering one used, you probably are not loaded as the people who bought one new. Think about what those upkeep cost will do to your wallet.

Remember, top luxury cars lose their point entirely as soon as the next face-lifted model rolls out. Don’t fool yourself into thinking luxury used cars make you appear rich. They don’t. Save your money, time and sanity and make the right statement.

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Where is Volvo headed?

Nowhere. The brand has totally lost its identity in the last few years. Consumers these days have difficult time associating the Volvo brand with any particular characteristic or trait, let alone even recall the brand at all come time to buy a new car.

Where is Volvo headed?

From the late 70s and throughout the 80s Volvo received notable recognition by emphasizing the “safety” of its cars in their then very successful marketing. That was pretty much what shaped the image of Volvo in the minds of car buyers. But now such safety claims are no longer unique to Volvo. Everyone has caught up. Now every other car on the market is pretty much as safe as any Volvo then or now. Actually, there may be a lot more cars out there that are safer than Volvo.

Well then, if people no longer buy Volvo for safety, why do they buy them? They don’t. It’s been downhill for Volvo for some years now. Volvo tried and failed sporty, failed at luxury, practicality and ruggedness has been overtaken by Volkswagen and Subaru, respectively. What else is left? Pretty much nothing. It’s not economy or style either.

It’s terribly obvious that Volvo is faceless along with brands like Saab or Suzuki. No one in any particular demographic takes Volvo seriously or even think of a Volvo at all. That’s big trouble for any car maker.

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Moving focus away from Focus – the New Hyundai Elantra

Hyundai is on the move to seriously stir things up when most established Japanese car makers are starting to get lazy. This new Elantra is simply stunning! There has been no other car in this sub-compact segment that looked this good in recent memory.

Lately Hyundai has set a new standard in styling and design in mid-size family sedan category with the Sonata. It has done it again for the sub-compacts. Another rarity in this category besides the good looks is the new Elantra can be had with heated seats for both front and back!

Hyundai Elantra

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Acura TSX Sport Wagon – station wagon revival

Hipsters are turning away from heavy, large and cumbersome SUVs for various reasons – green or otherwise. They’re looking for something smaller but without losing the cargo capacity that they became so used to. Car makers have responded to this subtle yet significant change in the marketplace by introducing smaller alternatives in the form of station wagons. In addition to cult favorites such as Volvo XC and the Subaru Outback and Forester, station wagons from Audi and BMW still hold their niche. Cadillac debuted the CTS wagon. Now Honda joins in with the new Acura TSX Sport Wagon. The TSX wagon may not become a huge seller here in the U.S., but it’s sure to be a niche hit.

The TSX Sport Wagon is essentially a Euro version of the Accord Wagon (the TSX is the Honda Accord outside of U.S.). The Euro Honda Accord wagon was always a sharp looker. It’s a smart move by Honda to bring this redesigned version into the U.S. despite being badged as an Acura. Even smarter if Honda would offer an all-wheel-drive version of this wagon sometime down the line to seriously battle the Outback and the Volvo XC.

Acura TSX Wagon

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Mid-cycle Facelift – for better or worse

Mid-cycle facelifts are done for few reasons; it keeps the aging model from looking old. Slightly modifying easy-to-replace trim pieces or accents on an aging model gives it the appearance that something has changed. It also works to generate new parts sales. Sometimes it’s used to correct mistakes or bad design choices. Whatever the case, mid-cycle facelifts are usually done with less intense design effort than the original. Not much thought goes into the facelifts – most do nothing to enhance the original design and some downright ruins whatever it had to start with.

2011 Honda Accord
Here’s an example of a mindless mid-cylcle facelift. While the latest Honda Accord isn’t something that was designed beautifully to begin with that can be ruined by something like this, it just goes to show how thoughtless these facelifts can be. For 2011, strips of fake taillight trim pieces are tacked onto the trunk lid. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against the taillight extensions on the trunk lids. But this particular one just looks so out of place. None of the lines flow with the design, no effort was given to make it look like it’s part of the original design. It was simply just tacked-on. I strongly believe Honda has hired bunch of GM and Chrysler designers who were laid-off.
2011 Honda Accord

2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Here’s an example that fixed the initial design mistake. The tacked-on body-colored taillight strips on the original design was one of those what-the-hell-were-they-thinking variety. But German car makers never admit their faults, at least not right away. So after four years of producing an eyesore, Mercedes finally decided to do away with the silly tack-on taillight strips. About time.
2010 Mercedes S-Class

2010 Ford Edge
Here’s an example that has made something good better. The Edge was never a strikingly good looking car but it isn’t ugly either. It’s a solid design. The 2010 facelift, however, made the Edge look really sharp. This is one of those rare cases when a facelift actually works. Quite impressive.
2010 Ford Edge

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Nissan Murano Convertible – The Ultimate Stupidity

Historically, Nissan has never failed to amaze us every now and then with their oddballs. The Nissan NX, Pulsar, Sentra, Cube, Juke, Altima, Quest, the list goes on and on. Some are more retarded than others and occasionally, there are the “WTF are they smoking?” variety. The latest Murano convertible is one of them. Nissan calls it the CrossCabriolet – whatever it’s called, it’s one F’ed up thing both in concept and design.

Nissan Murano convertible

Years ago I used to joke about some crackhead coming up with a convertible SUV. But no car maker ever did. After all, what kind of car company would be so brave and so stupid at the same time? I thought we had the last of the SUV absurdity with the Porsche truck and BMW X6 and that the SUV fad will finally come to an end. But little did I know what an oddball Japanese car company under the influence of Frenchman’s twisted imagination was capable of. Don’t these goofballs do any type of market research? It’s just amazing how dumb some of the people working at these companies are. Not only are they messing with a segment that is losing interest, experimenting with a model that wasn’t even popular nor good looking to start with is just plain retarded.

Recently, I gave the BMW X6 the thumbs up for being the most useless piece of crap. But hey, it’s still a BMW and that must count for something. The BMW X6 has no game compared to the Murano convertible when it comes to absolute stupidity.

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5 Best New Designs

Inexpensive doesn’t have to look cheap. The new Hyundai Tucson is a good example. Lines, shapes, and proportions are very pleasing and balanced. The styling is very edgy and pronounced but it doesn’t feel overdone. There are lots of creases and lines all over this car but they all seem to compliment each other. Very nice.
Hyundai Tucson

There is no rule saying family sedans must look like home appliances. Hell, even home appliances now don’t look like home appliances. The new Sonata brings a sense of style, aggressiveness, and just simple good looks to otherwise humdrum family sedan segment.
Hyundai Sonata

The new Ford Fiesta is not only the best looking car in its segment, it’s a strikingly well designed car period.
Ford Fiesta

Ferrari has not produced a decent design worthy of an exotic for last few decades. Most were just mindlessly put together lines and bulges with the Ferrari signature round taillights tacked on. But the new 458 is different. Looks like somebody finally gave a damn about the design.
Ferrari 458

Prepare to see a lot of these on the streets. It’s one really handsome SUV.
Jeep Grand Cherokee

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