The 2014 Jeep Cherokee is the modern day bob of automotive design. Short, with an attention-grabbing mix of butch and girlish.
While I do find the Cherokee attractive, I can’t help but think the large blank space in the rear was designed to accommodate some type of Jeep-specific aftermarket module system. If it wasn’t maybe it should.
I was cutting a friend’s hair once and [Read more...]
Chevrolet recently pulled the wraps off a Camaro that is better than the two previous track-ready Camaros. The Camaro Z/28 now joins the Camaro SS 1LE, Camaro ZL1 and the Camaro NHRA race-ready chassis in a crowded room of track-inspired/ready/built Camaros.
The Z/28 will feature a host of parts from the GM Performance bin of Corvette components. An LS7 engine, uber-expensive brakes from the Z07 Carbon packaged Z06, R-compound sticky tires, and more.
To ensure everyone knew just how serious GM was about the track capability of their now 300lb lighter Camaro, they [Read more...]
Yesterday images were released of the new Cadillac CTS. Having grown up in Florida I know all too well what happens to Cadillac’s once they reach Florida showrooms.
Rather than wait for Joe General Manager to aesthetically botch a strikingly good looking car [Read more...]
What you’re about to read is totally classified…
On February 15, 2013, scientist claim that a meteor entered the Earth’s atmosphere over Russia resulting in a sonic boom that injured 1,000 people. They lied.
Sector Seven knows the true story.
At exactly 0325 GMT, five minutes after the object entered the atmosphere, communication took place between [Read more...]
During the Super Bowl we saw the first trailer for the new Fast & Furious 6. From the trailer you can already tell that FF6 will offer bigger explosions, bigger necks and a bigger dose of impractical chase scenes.
Mad respect, dawg
Over the years I’ve come to appreciate and even respect the Fast & Furious saga. These movies won’t make the world better, nor will they offer viewers a deep metaphysical look into humanity. They won’t win any prestigious acting awards or independent film accolades. They are 100% entertainment.
I respect the series because it captures, even if inaccurately at times, automotive culture and then heaves it into the faces of common people.
It’s true; Fast & Furious is perhaps single-handedly responsible for every Civic with a [Read more...]
Tonight, a friend of mine on Twitter, Peter Leung (@BaronVonClutch), asked Ralph Gilles, CEO of SRT and Beth Paretta, Director SRT/Motorsports Marketing and Operations, a great question (see image above);
“What happened to the Viper Defender?”
That is a good question, Peter. For those that don’t know the Defender was the star of a 90′s television show called – Viper. The title of this post is actually a tagline from that show.
That got me thinking, what TV shows or movies might the new SRT Viper find a role in? We already know the SRT Viper will audition on some of the world’s biggest and best racetracks this year, but will the newborn supercar seek similar fame on the streets of Hollywood? [Read more...]
Last night many automakers used their advertising spots during Super Bowl 47 to highlight partnership announcements. Most notably, Jeep announced a commitment to partner with the USO to help troops when they return from combat called Operation S.A.F.E Return. Jeep will provide vehicles to the USO and establish an employment initiative to help get veterans back to work.
During the Ram Trucks ad, the brand highlighted their continued support to the Future Farmers of America (FFA) by prominently displaying the FFA logo at the end of their ad.
There is one announcement that went unnoticed.
During Lincoln’s second Super Bowl ad a new MKZ stops to allow a herd of alpaca to cross the road. That stop was a metaphor for Lincoln’s [Read more...]
I came across the video below today (don’t ask how). Rather than spend 30 minutes trying to come up with something clever to say, I’ll just let the video do the talking.
Enjoy. I guess. [Read more...]
This letter is to my car, a 2013 Tangerine Scream Ford Focus ST. The Focus ST won the 2013 Automotive Achievement Award for ”Most Entertaining Front-Wheel-Drive Hatchback Under $25,000 Only Available in Manual.” It dominated everything else in that category.
But this Focus ST, my Focus ST, has been a terrible annoyance riddled with one problem after another.
A leaking fuel neck, a Check Engine Light, a loose rear seat, a mysterious noise from behind the driver somewhere, constant MyFord Touch issues, both operation and design. It seems the list keeps getting longer and longer.
Like I said above, the car is a remarkable performer. Aside from the fuel spraying [Read more...]
From snowy mountain passes through urban streets to summer excursions to the beach at some point we all need to stop and do Number 2. But do you want to step out of your plush, sanitary luxury sedan and into a filthy roadside restroom full of graffiti and glory holes?
That is why today Audi announced plans to offer a never-before-seen luxury vehicle option to their full line of vehicles – the Self-Cleaning Bottom (Selbstreinigung Hintern).
“Today, buyers in the luxury automobile market have the highest expectations. The driverless car has helped Audi to better understand demands of our buyers” says Jahn VonBondorsnechtinchise, Professor of Customer Needs at Audi’s American headquarters.
“More and more of our customers are opting for services that limit or remove their need [Read more...]
Things that come to mind when I think of vans – The A-Team, southwestern murals with obligatory coyote, Chris Farley’s Down by the River and child predators.
I never considered vans enthusiasts’ vehicles. They lack the seductive curves found on coupes and sedans. They are absent the performance and capability of trucks and SUVs. Vans simply carry goods and people from one place to another in a tall, uninteresting, box of metal.
Their enormous interior dimensions make them ideal for Pimp-Flip-Monster My Ride projects, but the average consumer doesn’t need to accommodate 6-12” subwoofers, an aquarium and a blackjack table.
Most vans are bought to haul kids, commuters or cargo.
Vans are not what come to mind when I think car culture. That changed last night.
While on a tryptophan-induced digital walkabout I stumbled upon a video that left me [Read more...]
Click the arrow below to have me read this post to you.
As we get closer to the auto shows automakers will begin to ‘leak’ photos, videos and stats about their upcoming product reveals. This is done to create excitement, a veritable groundswell of awareness.
But is there value in all this media foreplay leading up to a reveal? Or does it suck the wow factor out of the whole thing? What tickles your fancy more as a car person?
Think of a product reveal as seeing a person naked.
The first method is the long, erotic, drawn out dance - The Strip Tease. It makes for good [Read more...]
A DC-based automotive writer who loves cars and the communities they create. Send me a note! I'm always up for a coffee. juan@dcautogeek.com
