Citroen wins in New Zealand

1-2 win for Citroen

Oh how harshly we misjudge cars.  If anyone is under the impression that smaller, economical cars don’t have guts or aren’t “lustable” (whatever that means), you need to check out the attached pictures of last Sunday’s Rally race in New Zealand.  Fans of WRC and the cars that they inspire certainly had to be pleased with the race which lived up to WRC’s reputation for providing some of the most exciting motorsport racing on the planet. 

Suzuki SX4-WRC

World Champion Sebastien Loeb won for the third time in as many races to win Rally New Zealand by 17.5 seconds last Sunday at the expense of Mikko Hirvonen who lost controland spun out on the second-to-last stage.  The win increased his lead over Hirvonen the in the World Rally Championship.  The win was Loeb’s 42nd in WRC rallies, aftervictories in Finland and Germany and his second in New Zealand, where he last one in 2005.  Loeb’s one-two finish with teammate Dani Sordo of Spain also increased Citroen’s grip on the manufacturers’ championship.

Mitsubishi Taking Flight

Taking a look at both the manufacturer and driver results (listed below), it’s a shame not to see a single American in the list.  Sure, this is the land of NASCAR and INDY (at least once a year), but you would still think Rally Racing would be a bigger hit in the States.  Even as heavily modified as the cars are, they are certainly more closely related to actual production cars than anything from the previously mentioned racing leagues.  And what could be more American than tearing ass around off-road?  I mean the Dukes of Hazzard was basically a Rally Race with a couple of Good ‘Ole Boys in a Dodge!  I can almost picture some kid from Alabama named Skeeter hoisting a trophy, surrounded by the Beck’s bikini team.

RESULTS FROM THE WRC RALLY OF NEW ZEALAND:

Final results and standings Sunday after the 18-stage Rally of New Zealand, 11th event in the World Championship: (After 18 special stages)

1. Sebastien Loeb, France, Citroen, 3 hours, 59 minutes, 18.9 seconds.

2. Dani Sordo, Spain, Citroen, 17.5 seconds behind.

3. Mikko Hirvonen, Finland, Ford, 41.5.

4. Petter Solberg, Norway, Subaru, 2:48.9.

5. Urmo Aava, Estonia, Citroen, 3:30.7.

6. Per-Gunnar Andersson, Sweden, Suzuki, 7:37.4.

7. Toni Gardemeister, Finland, Suzuki, 7:54.9.

8. Federico Villagra, Argentina, Ford, 8:35.0.

9. Henning Solberg, Norway, Ford, 9:15.2.

10. Martin Prokop, Czech Republic, Mitsubishi, 13:49.0.

Overall drivers’ championship standings after 11 of 15 rallies:

1. Sebastien Loeb, France, Citroen, 86 points.

2. Mikko Hirvonen, Finland, Ford, 78.

3. Dani Sordon, Spain, Citroen, 51.

4. Chris Atkinson, Australia, Subaru, 40.

5. Jari-Matti Latvala, Finland, Ford, 34.

6. Petter Solberg, Norway, Subaru, 32.

7. Henning Solberg, Norway, Ford, 22.

8. Gianluigi Galli, Italy, Ford, 17.

9. Matthew Wilson, Britain, Ford, 12.

10. Francois Duval, Belgium, Ford, and Urmo Aava, Estonia, Citroen, 11.

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The 2008 Honda Civic Si Coupe: Thanks Dave

2008 Honda Civic Si Coupe

I guess I’m something of an oddball when it comes to the Civic Si. I actually really liked the fifth generation 2002-2005 Civic Si, the one everyone else thought was ugly; I liked the console mounted shifter and the big headlights and the stubby nose and the fact that it was a hatchback, I liked the whole package. A taffeta white 2005 Civic Si with dark tint all around is a beautiful thing. So I wasn’t super happy in 2006 when Honda totally redesigned the Civic and brought back the coupe. But I recently drove a 2008 Si and it blew my mind.

I have the luxury of working at an auto repair shop, and because of that, I come into contact with a lot of different cars everyday. A customer recently came in looking for a side view mirror for his 2008 Civic Si, we ordered him a new one, and I gave him discount for letting me drive his car around. Everyone wins. On top of that, I got to drive my cousins 2004 Honda Civic Si hatchback a few years ago, and the memory of that drive will be my control.

Fifth Generation Honda Civic Si hatchback

Like I said, the look of the old Civic Si Hatchback was great, the only problem was everything else. Considering it was supposed to be a ‘performance’ car, it was surprisingly lacking in the power and handling department, with pretty obvious understeer on tight curves. The new sixth generation Civic Si definitely fixes that.

Honda hasn’t really done much with the Si since they redesigned it in 2006, but it’s still a major improvement over the hatchback Si. Where the 5th gen hatchback had 160 hp from the 2.0 VTEC engine, the new 6th gen coupe has 197 hp, and the 6 speed trans that the hatchback should have had. You don’t have to push the 2008 Si the way you had to push the hatchback, it wants to go. And the transmission is perfect, shifting is swift and easy, almost effortless.

The power is only a small part of the improvements though. Like I said earlier, the hatch Si had some pretty severe problems with understeer, it just wasn’t as tight as it should have been, and the new coupe corrects that. The 2008 Civic Si took the tight curve on the south end of Wheatsheaf lane perfectly, whereas the old hatchback nearly threw me up on the railroad tracks at the same speed a few years ago. This car handles beautifully. It wouldn’t do it justice to say the new Si is just an improvement on the fifth generation, it’s so much more than that, it really is one of the most enjoyable cars I’ve ever driven.

It is a much tighter ride than the hatchback was, but the whole class has upped their game. The 2008 Civic Si has some very stiff competition. The Chevy Cobalt SS, Mazdaspeed 3, and Volkswagen GTI all have more horsepower than the Civic Si, the Cobalt SS considerably so. And the Mazdaspeed 3 and VW GTI are both on Car and Driver’s 10best list. So what’s the deal?

The Civic Si is a twisty car. Yes, it’s beat in the power department, but I doubt the the Cobalt SS could take the hairpins I’ve taken in the Si. And the Honda is more refined, it has a quality interior, not the chintzy plastics of the Cobalt. Plus, the overall quality of Honda…the car will last. And starting at 21k, it’s the cheapest of the 4 sport-compacts.

As for the look, I still don’t like it the way I liked the hatchback Si. The rear spoiler makes it look silly and the tiny headlights give it a much less aggressive, more boring look. Still, this car was a thrill to drive. I’ll take mine in taffeta white.

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<i>Detroit News</i> web poll asks if buying a foreign car is un-American

Filed under: Etc.

It's really hard to figure what's dumber here: the Detroit News "CyberSurvey" that asks, in the wake of the vandalism (four cars) that took place in the Detroit area over the weekend, "Is buying a foreign car un-American?" or the fact that 60% of respondents answer it in the affirmative. Good grief. A quick refresher for everyone: the American thing is to buy whatever car you like. That's one of the nice things about living here, having the freedom to make that choice without it becoming a litmus test on your patriotism. Expect more stuff like this as the histrionics regarding the Detroit bailout climb to new heights with each passing day that doesn't include a White House press conference making it official.

[Source: The Detroit News via TTAC]

Detroit News web poll asks if buying a foreign car is un-American originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW X1 Set for 2011 U.S. Release, but Does it Makes Sense?

BMW has been teasing the arrival of its newest compact SUV for a long time, but yesterday officially confirmed it would arrive in the U.S. sometime in 2011.

The X1 shares the somewhat awkward styling of the X3, but is smaller and has less interior space and less power, all at a cost that probably will reach X3 levels once properly optioned out. Frankly, I think the arrival of the X1 should mean the demise of the X3. Why on earth would BMW offer such similar models, considering the X3 is such a slow seller? Seems to me like a GM-style mistake!

Regardless, the X1 will debut in Europe this fall with one gas and three diesel engine choices, each available in rear-wheel drive or with BMW’s xDrive AWD system. According to a BMW press release:

The X1 will set new benchmarks in the premium compact segment for efficiency, comfort, utility, and of course driving dynamics. Achieving up to 45.2 miles per US gallon on the European test cycle, the BMW Advanced Diesel-powered X1 sDrive18d will provide remarkable fuel efficiency while still achieving a top speed of 124mph.

Well, I guess 45 miles per gallon should sell a few cars… that and some more pictures of a bikini model!

Engine choices for U.S. consumers will be announced closer to launch, but I hope we can count on at least one diesel option.

Does it make sense for BMW to offer both the X1 and the X3?

-tgriffith

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As GM sinks, who’s rising to take their place?

A diesel-powered roadster, VW's Bluesport concept could help them reach their goal

Volkswagen is one step away from world domination.

As we’ve mentioned here before, VW wants to be the world’s biggest automaker. A few years ago we all would have had a nice hearty laugh at such a notion, because GM was strong, invincible, and American. But then the wheels began falling off the ol’ GM bus, and Toyota overtook them in 2008 as the world’s biggest automaker.

Now GM (which some now call Government Motors) is poised to slip to number three, thanks to the determined and surging Germans. It could happen this year, as GM continues to reduce production by an expected 31 percent.

Looks like we’re witnessing a bit of a changing of the guard in the automotive world. I can just imagine sitting in my rocking chair when I’m 80 years old and telling stories of when a company called General Motors made more cars and trucks than any other company in the world. Who knows, if  they continue sliding like this, my grandkids may know GM only as a niche maker of heavy-duty pickup trucks. After all, to GM’s credit, those are what it seems to build best.

Is anyone out there bold enough to say GM will earn back their title of the world’s number one automaker?

-tgriffith

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Hot Car Videos

Given that it’s Friday and we’re heading into the weekend, I thought it might be fun to take a look at three car videos getting lots of attention on YouTube over the last couple of days. The first is an animated video of the new BMW Concept 5-Series Gran Turismo:

BMW generally seems to get technology very well, but don’t you think they could have added some sound to that video? I’d happily trade all those animated rulers for a good soundtrack.

Next up is a video that should appeal to Corvette fans. GM’s VP of Global Design provides a guided tour of the new Stingray concept, which was created to represent the autobot Sideswipe in the new Transformers 2 movie. It won’t see mass production, but it looks great and clearly reflects a bunch of Corvette history:

Last up is a video that shows a race-ready version of the new Hyundai Genesis Coupe drifting around a track in preparation for a series of events Reese Millen will drive the car in this summer:

Have a great weekend, everyone, and please let us all know if you’ve seen any other great car videos recently.

-Steve Halloran

Acura NSX: Collectible or Forgettable?

When I was entering high school, I helped my dad restore a 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado. (By “helped,” I mean “watched,” but I still felt involved just by being there as he worked!)

As the Barrett-Jackson auction in Arizona ended last week, I remembered that old Toronado and wondered which cars from today my son might someday collect or even restore. Of course there isn’t a scientific way to predict what models will skyrocket in value, but we can certainly take educated guesses.

Below are four modern cars I believe will eventually sit behind red ropes at auctions or await restoration in garages across America.

I could’ve really used any full-size American SUV here - the Suburban, the Navigator, the Yukon, etc. I think the Escalade is unique, because it’s the only one that has taken on an image like no others: A symbol of excess used by athletes and rappers nationwide. In 40 years or so, we’ll look back on these and remember a time when America truly believed that size mattered.

Cars that influence the design of their competitors’ cars are truly innovative, and the xB came along at a time when there was nothing like it. Soon we had the Honda Element and Ford Flex. The first Scion xB will be remembered and collected because of the impression it has made on today’s youth.

The Mustang is a perennial collectible… I still fantasize about one day having a cherry red ’65 in my garage. The Shelby GT500KR is the version of Mustang today that is rare enough to warrant collectibility in the future. Buy one now and watch as its value increases over the coming decades.

Honda recently scrapped their plans to build a new NSX, but the ones in existence are primed to take on a near-mythical quality. This is the car that caused Ferrari to rethink their build quality, for goodness sakes. Find one now and pay what you must for it, because this car will bring in even bigger bucks in the future, assuming you (or your grandkids) are ever ready to sell it.

Which modern cars do you think will be collected in the future?

-tgriffith

 

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In 2007, Toyota built 1.3 million cars in America.

Alfa Romeo: Coming to America!

Of the 15.5 million vehicles built in America in 2007, foreign manufacturers built 6 million. That’s a number primed to grow as the U.S. automakers struggle and foreign companies see value in increasing operations here.

Cars will always be built in America, even if our homegrown Big 3 go belly up.

Even Alfa Romeo, who withdrew from the U.S. market in 1995, is coming back with new models and could possibly move production here in 2011 or 2012.

Honda has built cars in the U.S. for years, with a major operation in Ohio and another being built in Indiana. Last year 1 million Hondas were built in America and the Indiana plant will add capacity to build 200,000 more. Honda is also considering moving production of the Fit stateside, as Honda is looking for ways to keep up with demand. Honda’s overall sales were down 28% in October of this year, but sales of the Fit rose by that same percentage.

Toyota has a similar philosophy, having recently opened a new plant in Texas, and is building another in Mississippi to handle the production of Highlanders and Prius hybrids. In 2007, Toyota built 1.3 million cars in America.

BMW produced 150,000 vehicles in America last year and is investing to bring their capacity up to 240,000. Production of their X3 will move from Europe to South Carolina. Nissan is building a new plant in Mississippi, Kia is building a new plant in Georgia and Hyundai recently completed a plant in Alabama. Volkswagen will build a U.S. production plant in Tennessee, where they intend to build a car designed for the U.S. market.

All of these new plants are paying decent wages and have real advantages over Detroit, with younger workers and much lower benefit costs.

There’s a lot to be excited about in America’s future of auto production, even if that future is void of GM and Chrysler.

If automotive jobs are still in America, what are your thoughts on foreign companies providing those jobs?

-tgriffith

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