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Cars Coming Soon -> Horsepower and Speed at the Frankfurt Auto Show

Where’s the fun in a European auto show if there’s no horsepower?

While this year’s Frankfurt Auto Show (Sept. 15 – 27) will feature many new electric and hybrid cars, I’ll let blogger jgoods cover that fluff. I’m interested in the horsepower. I want to see the cars that provide cheek-flapping acceleration and have a sound that I can feel in my chest when I step on the gas and release the clutch.

These are some of the cars I’m most excited about at Frankfurt this year:

Porsche 911 GT3 RS

Small engine displacement, huge punch! With a 3.8-liter flat six making 450 hp, this new Porsche will redline at 8,500. By the way, look at the picture, kids. That’s how you do a rear wing.

Aston Martin Rapide

Aston Martin Rapide

If I were a mobster, I would have a garage full of Aston Martins. I’d also send someone to Germany to bring home a new Rapide and its four doors, 470 horses, and 12 cylinders. Those four doors, by the way, are what Aston Martin is calling “Swan Wing” doors; they rise upward and outward as they swing open.

Lamborghini Reventon Roadster

Lamborghini_Reventon_Roadster

Lamborghini has confirmed nothing, leaving us writers and car fans wondering if the rumors are true. If so, expect a nearly $2 million, 650-hp V12 topless Lambo to grace the floors of Frankfurt next week.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

Aston Martin has swan wing doors, M-B has gull wing doors. And we love’ em. We also love zero-to-60 in 3.8 seconds, propelled by 565 ponies out of a 6.2-liter V8.

Audi R8 Spyder

audi_r8_spyder

Maybe it shoulda been called the R10. The current R8 puts out 420 hp from a 4.2-liter V8. The new one is expected to pump out 525 hp from a 5.2-liter V10. There have been rumors that Audi would save the R8 Spyder and debut it after Frankfurt, but still it’s worth mentioning, because, well, because it’s awesome!

Volvo C70 convertible

2010-volvo-c70-convertible

Okay, I admit we just fell a few steps down the awesome ladder from exotic supercars to yuppie runabouts, but I think the C70 is worth mentioning. While 225 hp doesn’t seem like much after reading about a Reventon, this Volvo has a more aggressive look than past Volvos. Hey, combined with practicality and safety, I like it. Don’t judge me.

BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo

BMW_5Series_Gran_Turismo

Yes, it looks like a Honda Crosstour, and no, that isn’t a good thing. But add a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with 400 hp and a new eight-speed automatic transmission along with a 0-60 time of 5.4 seconds, and suddenly looks don’t matter all that much.

The Frankfurt Auto show belongs to the Europeans. This is an event that showcases Porsche, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari and Lamborghini. Believe me, we’ll be keeping a watchful eye on them all!

What do you look for in an auto show like this: Green efficiency or all-out horsepower and speed?

-tgriffith

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Certified Used: Better Than New?

Car_Shopping_Girl Buy a new car, and you’ll get fleeced when you drive off the dealer’s lot.

Buy used, and you risk getting a car with mechanical problems sure to cost thousands.

New cars lure you with the smell of fresh glue and chemicals; used cars lure you with lower prices.

New cars offer peace of mind and a nice warranty; used cars offer… umm… lower prices.

There is a middle ground between new and used that more and more consumers are noticing: Certified used cars.

Certified programs have been around a long time, so I’m not going to insult your intelligence by assuming you’ve never heard of them. But I am going to say why I think they are the better choice, as long as you do it right.

Like anytime you shop for a car, you should be on the lookout for scams. Any dealer can call a car “certified,” but it could mean only that the dealer built a third-party service contract into the price. Skip those and look only for “factory certified” cars or programs in which the car is certified by the original manufacturer.

That’s when you can be sure the car has low miles, has undergone a strict inspection, had any issues repaired, and is offered with a warranty, sometimes up to 100,000 miles. I think that’s a far better deal than buying new, because much of the original depreciation has already happened and you’re receiving all the benefits of buying new, minus the new car smell.

The downside? You’ll usually pay a couple thousand more for a certified car than you would for a comparable used car that isn’t certified. For the ultra-budget-conscious it might not be the best choice, but for those looking to save a significant amount of money versus buying new, certified programs are the best thing to come to U.S. car sales since Toyota arrived in the market.

Please feel free to tell us why in a comment!

-tgriffith

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Why Cash for Clunkers Could Devastate Auto Sales

The end of Cash for Clunkers

Cash for Clunkers is over.

More than 625,000 vehicles were sold as a result of the program, so I can’t imagine anyone who wanted to take the government up on its $4,500 offer missed out. Needless to say, the Cash for Clunkers program was hugely successful at luring people into dealerships to buy new cars.

But without the program, what happens next? Who will buy new cars now?

Well, guess what - I have a prediction: Auto sales will languish once again, and dealers will have one heck of a hard winter trying to sell enough cars to keep their heat on. The recovery of the auto industry will probably take even longer than it would have had the government just kept their hands off.

I don’t think Cash for Clunkers actually increased auto sales, I think it condensed auto sales into a single month. Which means the next few months are going to hurt for dealers and auto manufacturers.

Americans just binged on buying cars. The binge made us feel good. It gave us a sugar high of sorts that quickly spread across the country, resulting in even more binging. Now comes the big crash.

The fact that Ford, GM, and Chrysler all increased production of fuel-efficient vehicles made popular by Cash for Clunkers, combined with no more government assistance for consumers, means we’ll soon see an overstock of cars on dealers’ lots with no one to buy them.

Somehow dealers are going to have to lure people into their stores without powerful rebates, and we’ll be right back where we started.

Was Cash for Clunkers worth it?

-tgriffith

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Good News and Bad for Chrysler and GM

gm-and-chrysler-logos

So GM’s eBay program is a smashing un-success. Chrysler is discontinuing it’s lifetime powertrain warranty. GM is rumored to be considering a $4,000 car. Chrysler’s Deputy CEO is leaving.

Ahh, the week in auto news!

When GM launched its eBay program, we were quick to pan the idea as nothing new. I guess consumers agree, because according to this article, GM listed 16,228 vehicles and 45 have sold. Not forty-five hundred, but 45. Total. Nice.

Chrysler introduced a lifetime powertrain warranty in 2007 in an effort to lure consumers to the company’s lackluster product and one-up the likes of Hyundai, Kia, and Suzuki. Now the company is yanking that warranty off the table. There is some good news though: The replacement 5-year, 100,000-mile warranty will apply even to vehicles that weren’t covered by the lifetime warranty (including SRT models and the Dodge Viper).

You know the world has gone topsy-turvy when GM follows in the footsteps of Tata Motors. Just months after the official introduction of the world’s least expensive car, the Tata Nano, GM announced plans to pursue a sub-$4,000 car to compete in emerging markets. We Americans know from experience that GM is really good at producing cheap cars, and now one will finally have the price tag to match. Not in the U.S., though. Pity.

Finally, Chrysler’s Deputy CEO Jim Press will reportedly quit his job by the end of the year. Press began running Chrysler in 2007, but was demoted when Fiat’s Sergio Marchionne took over as the new CEO. This is good news, as removing Chrysler’s old blood can only result in better management and ultimately, better products.

Have a nice weekend, and drop us a comment if you see any other car news, good or bad, you think people should know.

-tgriffith

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Will Young People Ever Buy a Buick?

Looks good, but will young people buy it?

I’ve been thinking a lot about Buick today.

I know that’s not a phrase most 32-year-olds are caught uttering, but I’m conflicted about where the brand seems to be headed.

Naturally, the word “Buick” still conjures images of Florida retirees driving with their left turn signals flashing on the way to a 3 p.m. dinner at the buffet. It’s such a common scene that I sometimes wonder if 1990s-era Buicks were even equipped with right-turn signals.

So when I think of people who drive a Buick, I see old people with blue hair and a pair of knuckles poking up over the steering wheel.

But then I’ll drive past a blinged-out Buick Enclave and remember that, oh yeah, Buick does have some sweet-looking rides now. But even though the Enclave looks good, I’ve still not seen anyone younger than 60 driving one. I’d never buy a Buick for the simple reason that I’m not old enough to own one yet.

Buick sure wants me to consider buying one, though, as evidenced by the completely lame and nearly insulting TV ad that attempts to lure a younger audience into the 2010 Lacrosse. All the ad does is make me think of my grandpa trying to act cool in front of a group of teenagers. Watch the video below and judge for yourself (the last scene is especially hilarious and slightly disturbing).

I do have to give the Lacrosse credit, because it’s following in the Enclave’s footsteps of looking more Lexus-like than traditional Buick. But until I drive one and am convinced that it’s not just another 2-ton floating cruiser, I think anyone who still works for a living will pass it over.

While Buick has always gone down the “bigger is better” path, I’m hearing rumblings of a possible new crossover based off the (get ready for this) Chevy Aveo platform.

My first instinct is to trash-talk that decision, too, but after thinking about it, it might actually be a good idea. If Buick can put together a vehicle that rivals the MINI Crossman crossover, and not just rebadge an Aveo, the brand might be on the right track to finally getting younger people behind the wheel of a Buick.

Would you consider buying a Buick before retirement age?

-tgriffith

GM Looks in the Face of Liability and Laughs

chevrolet_lumina_burned On this Monday morning, I want to open the week with a quote from a favorite movie:

A new car built by my company leaves somewhere traveling at 60 mph. The rear differential locks up. The car crashes and burns with everyone trapped inside. Now, should we initiate a recall? Take the number of vehicles in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don’t do one.

That’s from Fight Club and is pretty accurate, considering the state of auto companies today. If it’s cheaper for a company to just pay off people hurt by its products, why issue a recall and face potentially damaging PR? Those liability payments are costs car companies have to count on.

Unless of course you’re the “new GM.”

As part of GM’s bankruptcy filing, it’s possible it will no longer be liable for injuries or deaths caused by vehicles built by the “old GM.” Our friends at Autoblog reported that GM may be reconsidering, but Chrysler set a precedent earlier this month when they emerged from bankruptcy free from such liabilities.

So if you’re driving around in an ‘06 Cherokee or a ‘94 Lumina, and it suddenly bursts into flames, the folks at Chrysler can just let out a sigh of relief knowing the third-degree burns their vehicle gave you are not their responsibility. Awesome, huh?

News like this doesn’t exactly instill the kind of trust GM and Chrysler so desperately need. Why are we supposed to believe that the “new” GM will be run any differently than the old, considering most of the top execs are still in place? At least Chrysler has the advantage of an all-new CEO and top management team.

I don’t think the world’s auto buyers will just forgive and forget a century of mediocre vehicles and start buying cars from a post-bankruptcy Chrysler or GM. Especially if they keep showing signs of continuing in their old ways, only with a brand new set of government-issued credit cards.

A company can’t hide in the shroud of bankruptcy and keep screwing its customers. Eventually we’re going to catch on.

Would you buy a pre-owned GM or Chrysler if you knew the company wouldn’t assume liability if it malfunctioned?

-tgriffith

On the Road Again

Hola, compadres! I’m making a short two-week visit to Mexico, once again to resolve the drug crisis, this time driving the vehicle pictured, which is guaranteed to spook any of them cowardly killers. That’s right, a gringo in his 70s, wearing white hair and black huaraches, bent over and urging this beast forward into the night of the iguana.

You’ll notice that this bike (or whatever it is) carries the name “ICARE,” which says it all. Info is available here.

You’ll get occasional progress reports on conditions south of the border, so stay tuned. Hasta la vista, baby!

—jgoods

Porsche Moves Upmarket and Down

We’re getting a first-drive report on the new Porsche Panamera from Car and Driver. So, to cut to the chase, it’s a worthy addition to the Porsche stable. If you like four-door, four-seat, four-wheel-drive, 4,000-pound sports cars with 400+ horsepower, you’ll love it. The Turbo version (@500 hp) will put you into another dimension, says C&D, as

the acceleration is almost surreal. According to Porsche, 0 to 60 mph takes just 4.0 seconds, the sprint to 100 mph takes just 9.0 seconds, and top speed is a lofty 188 mph. Running full tilt in this car is an exquisite experience that would seems [sic] to justify every single penny of the Turbo’s $132,600 asking price.

2010-porsche-panamera-interior Three different models are available, starting at $89,800 for the Panamera S. It’s got all the sporting goodies you’d expect from Porsche, plus a very posh interior and room for lots of Louis Vuitton luggage. This sort of vehicle is definitely new territory for Porsche, at the top end of their road cars, which appeals (or should) to a very different market niche.

There’s another report, this one from German media via MotorAuthority, about an entry-level Porsche roadster which they compare to the 914 of the late ‘60s-early ‘70s. Hah! The price of the original was $3,595 in 1973 dollars; the proposed new one will be something like $48,000 (€35,000). That is the low-end price of the Boxster, and if the roadster comes about, Porsche will again be eating its own lunch as it once did with the 912 and the 924.

The report sounds totally crazy to me, particularly since the proposed new car would “be a joint effort between Porsche and VW, though the basic mechanicals would likely be drawn primarily from VW’s massive corporate parts bin.” Isn’t that what we just reported for the new concept-to-production VW BlueSport, which is closer to becoming a reality than the pseudo-914? Maybe German media, if not MotorAuthority, are confusing the two.

On the other hand, the confusion may have to do with the continuing infighting between Porsche and VW. Back in the late ‘60s they were also squabbling over who should produce the 914, and history may well be repeating itself.

On a related (or unrelated) note, in Porsche’s unrelenting quest for financial backing, it appears to be selling a 25-percent stake to investors in Qatar. The drama continues.

Should Porsche concentrate its efforts upmarket or down? What do you think?

—jgoods

Is GM on the verge of inventing a new kind of engine?

GM-hcci-engine If GM can pull off this new bit of technology, I’ll officially recommend the company as the new definition of awesome.

It seems the General is experimenting with ways to combine the fuel efficiency of a diesel engine with the cleaner burning traits of a gas engine. It’s being called an HCCI engine, which stands for homogeneous combustion compression ignition.

A traditional gas engine uses a spark from spark plugs to ignite the fuel. A diesel engine uses compression to accomplish that goal, essentially squeezing the diesel and air mixture until it ignites.

Until now no one has been able to create a gasoline engine that works on compression, which is more efficient because it burns the available fuel all at once rather than from a source point (the spark). To save all the other technical details, it translates into about a 15 percent jump in fuel economy.

GM is developing the engine to run on combustion from idle to about 3,000 rpm, above which it would switch over to traditional ignition for power at highway speeds. While the HCCI engine will run like a diesel, it won’t provide the massive torque of diesel and will power only small cars. GM hopes to have the technology available within the next decade, but I wonder if by then it’ll be too little too late.

It’s been a long time since a company has changed the way fuel is burned in an engine. While I commend GM on their innovative thinking, HCCI is the kind of technology we desperately need right now.

Come on GM, get this thing to market in two or three years! Do that and we’ll all think you’re awesome.

How much extra would you pay for a vehicle equipped with a four-cylinder HCCI engine?

-tgriffith

German Rockmeister Produces Inspirational Audi Song

Big whoop, you say? Well, Leslie Madoki (left) is no small potatoes in Germany. He’s a big-deal music producer and, as such, was asked by Audi to produce an inspiring tribute to the team which will race in the DTM, a big-deal German modified touring car championship race beginning tomorrow in Hockenheim. This is serious stuff.

So, let’s not be too sarcastic about this effort to inspire the Audi team, OK? Mandoki says, “The song is a hymn of praise for the successful Audi drivers and motorsport.” Now click and listen to “Is There a Dream Left.”

If that doesn’t inspire you, with the voices of Bobby Kimball (ex-vocalist for Toto) and Chris Thompson (ex-Manfred Mann’s Earth Band), we don’t know what will.

At the DTM, Audi hopes to win the title for three years running. At Le Mans later this summer, it hopes to tie Ferrari by winning its ninth overall victory. With the company one of a very few posting decent sales figures for last quarter, either of those victories would be a triumph to crow about, or sing about.

Do you like the new Audi song? Will it help their drivers? How does it compare with the Best Car Songs Ever we reviewed a while back?

—jgoods

What happens when an auto writer becomes an auto buyer?

lexus-rx330 My wife’s car has given us trouble since the day we got it.

This weekend we’re finally succumbing to the reality that we probably need to replace it before it leaves us stranded somewhere in the middle of Wyoming.

And so begins the process of shopping for a car. As an automotive writer, it’s easy for me to dish out advice and recommend certain makes, models, and strategies for getting the best deal. But when me-the- writer turns into me-the-consumer, things get more complicated.

My wife decided she wanted to look at a pre-owned Lexus RX 330 and a pre-owned Nissan Murano. After looking online at CarGurus.com and searching local listings, we headed first to the Lexus dealership and then the Nissan dealer. What a difference in experience between the two!

At Lexus, we were warmly welcomed, shown a few cars, and then asked to test drive one. The salesman quickly sent us on our way. We returned wanting to look at a few other older models that would save us some money. The Lexus salesman never put pressure on us and even asked us what we wanted to happen next. He’s crunching some numbers as I type this.

nissan-murano Next we drove to Nissan, where the environment was completely different. We parked in front of a group of 5 salesmen and were approached by one before we even got out of our car. He showed us a few Muranos, but wouldn’t let us drive them alone as the Lexus dealer did. During our test drive they managed to take our car for a trade-in appraisal, assumed we were going to buy the Nissan, and acted shocked when we said we weren’t interested in it.

Then they played the whole “let me go find your keys” game while we stood and waited as someone else tried to talk us into buying the Murano.

The idea of car shopping is exciting and fun. Actually doing it can be frustrating as heck.

Today we want to look at Mazdas, Subarus, and Volkswagens. I can only hope we run into more dealers like Lexus! Tomorrow I’ll fill you in on the deals I’m seeing and provide insights from the dealers on the state of their business. I’m surprised at what they’ve said so far!

What family-friendly domestic models would you consider buying? If you have advice or experience on car shopping, let’s hear it!

-tgriffith

From New York: Which foreign automaker is making a car for dogs?

The one and only jgoods gave us a great overview of what the domestic automakers will be showing off at the New York Auto Show. What about our foreign friends, you ask? Mercedes and Lexus will be showing off some hybrid SUVs (RX 450h and ML450, respectively), and Mitsubishi will reveal their aggressive new Outlander.

Here’s a preview of some of the other vehicles foreign automakers have brought to the show:

Porsche 911 GT3

2010-porsche-911-gt3

With the controversial Panamera taking up so much of the auto world’s press, it’s nice to see this refreshingly sexy 435-hp stunner.

Scion iQ concept

scion-iq

Remember the Toyota iQ we’ve talked about before? Scion’s getting a concept version, too, with a look they call “fierce.” I call it “jet ski on wheels.”

acura-zdx

Acura ZDX

Acura says the production version of this concept will go on sale this fall. Acura’s VP of sales says,

The emotional coupe styling coupled with a luxurious and dramatic interior and surprising versatility, allows the ZDX to define its own segment and attract an entirely new customer.

Right. They could’ve at least acknowledged that BMW created the segment with their X6 (which is getting its own attention, mostly due to the new M version and its 555-hp V8).

2010 Land Rover Range Rover

I have a thing for Range Rovers. High price and reliability issues aside, I find the look striking and the luxury inviting. The 2010 version gets an all new and all mighty 510-hp, 5.0-liter V8, along with updates to that intimidating appearance.

2010 Volkswagen Golf GTI

VW’s press release for this car compares the driving experience to that of a Porsche 911. If that were true, VW wouldn’t able to build enough of these. I will acknowledge, though, that it looks slightly less like a bar of Lever 2000 soap than previous versions. And that’s a good thing.

Dog-Friendly Honda Element Concept

Just for fun, I want to share Honda’s latest innovation. We all know people haul their dogs in their cars, and now those dogs can travel in comfort! This car features: a cushioned pet bed in the cargo area with an elevated platform; pet restraint systems;a load-in ramp to accommodate access to the cargo area; second-row seat covers with a dog pattern design that matches the bed fabric; all-season rubber floor mats with a toy bone pattern; a spill-resistant water bowl; and Dog Friendly exterior emblems.

No, I’m not kidding. But I sure wish I was.

Concept or not, do you think it’s smart to build a car that caters to dogs?

-tgriffith

A “pinnacle of Aston Martin’s design ethos” and Porsche’s “bloated look”

Hard to believe that the same company now producing this:

“Our cars must look beautiful from all angles” —Dr. Ulrich Bez, Aston CEO

has also produced the blimp at the right. We slammed the Lagonda’s appearance last month, but the new Aston Martin Rapide is about the most beautiful 4-door yrs trly has seen in his car-fancying lifetime. Beyond its looks, the Rapide is designed as “a real sports car but with four doors,” a 6-liter 500-bhp V12 engine (from the DB9, as is the platform), and the company’s VH architecture.

The latter’s “chemically-bonded structure (using glues derived from aircraft manufacture) is mated with bodywork that mixes aluminium and composite materials,” according to the company’s lengthy press release.

The Rapide brings to life a 2006 concept vehicle that already has inspired much comment and anticipation.

Now, we shouldn’t be too hard on the Panamera, but the phrase “bloated look” came from Dan Edmunds, who was a “test passenger” in the car at Weissach. Porsche’s goal was to accommodate four full-size adults and their luggage in a V8 tourer that does the standing kilometer in 5.6, 5.0, or 4.2 seconds, depending on the engine configuration (three are offered).

It isn’t nearly as attractive a vehicle as Maserati’s Quattroporte or the Rapide. But it’s not as costly, either. Available in October, the rear-wheel-drive Panamera’s price will start at $89,800, the 4WD version will add another four grand, and the 4WD turbo will set you back $132,600.

Those prices make it a veritable steal, compared to the Rapide, whose pricetag is a reported £250,000, or about $170,000. Thanks, I’ll take one of each.

When you’re paying these kinds of bucks, how important is the styling factor?

—jgoods

The Chevy Vega: Motor Trend’s Car of the Year?

When auto writers make lists of the worst cars ever, the Chevy Vega is nearly always on that list, along with a Renault or two.

1983 Renault Alliance

Look back through the years, however, and you’ll see something fascinating: Vegas and Renaults on some very well respected lists of annual BEST cars. Shocking, I know! Now, Car and Driver magazine is attempting to right those wrongs by formally apologizing for missteps like this: naming the Renault Alliance to their 1983 10 Best Cars list.

The apology is proof that even the highest profile automotive magazines can easily get sucked up into the hype of a new product or a new brand entering the market. Using their own words:

It’s always a risk making judgments based on the initial exposure to a car, and sometimes a vehicle’s ultimate crappiness only reveals itself with the fullness of time.

Other cars of ultimate crappiness that have received past accolades are now notorious stinkers.

2002 Ford Thunderbird

The 2002 Ford Thunderbird has been exposed as an overweight and overpriced clunker whose good looks initially stole the hearts of many. This was Motor Trend’s Car of the Year.

Also winning Motor Trend’s coveted Car of the Year award was the infamous 1971 Chevy Vega. That’s a completely laughable notion today, but think of the poor people who went out and bought one on that advice. Seems like those folks need more than a simple apology; perhaps a reimbursement of towing costs incurred throughout the ‘70s!

1980 Chevy Citation

Remember the 1980 Chevy Citation? I sure do, but I think it’s only because my brother became trapped in the backseat of one by a seatbelt that refused to detach. Maybe we only had it because my dad was a Motor Trend reader and this, once again, was a shameful Car of the Year choice.

I’m sure some cars getting attention today will turn out to be serious stinkers or simply fade into automotive mediocrity, but I also think some of today’s cars will be remembered and collected as classics for years to come.

What award-winning cars of today will fade away, and which will go down in automotive history as true classics?

My votes: The North American Car of the Year, the Hyundai Genesis, will be discontinued while the Motor Trend Car of the Year, the Cadillac CTS, will be remembered as the car that brought Caddy back.

-tgriffith

Get a Free Fiesta from Ford!

ford_fiesta_five_door_hatchback_1

I want a CarGurus reader to get a free Ford Fiesta.

As part of Ford’s plan to finally launch their little European superstar in America, they’re giving 100 Fiestas away to deserving drivers for a 6-month test drive.

What makes someone any more deserving than anyone else? Well, that’s for you to prove. Ford is using this website to ask for a 2-5 minute video that explains why you deserve an opportunity to take a…well…Fiesta!

Here’s a sample entry:

There does seem to be a catch to the promotion, though, which could end up being either a ton of fun or a serious road block on the way to wherever it is you want to go:

You’ll receive monthly secret assignments from Ford Mission Control that will take you to places you’ve never been, to meet people you’ve never met, and to experiences you’ll never forget.

Secret assignments from Ford Mission Control? Maybe the 100 winners are actually being wrangled into a gold-smuggling scheme, like the MINI Coopers in The Italian Job.

More likely, the winners will make scheduled pit stops at malls across America to promote their ride, but still, it could be a real adventure! I think going anywhere in a vehicle that could redefine the American economy-car class would be a real kick in the pants.

Expect the Fiesta to actually be fun to drive, have useable interior space, and spoil drivers with innovative technology and a comfortable cabin, a combination of features that hasn’t ever been seen in a car of this size from an American automaker.

Personally, I believe the readers and friends of CarGurus are more deserving than anyone to get a shot at the Fiesta before they go on sale, so we want to see you enter and win! We’d also love to see your videos, so if you do enter, be sure to leave a link to your video in the comment section!

Do you plan on entering to win a Ford Fiesta? What do you think of this promotion?

-tgriffith

As you might assume, the study is intended to give auto designers a peek ...

An Austrian anthropologist recently released a study on what features we find most appealing on our cars’ faces.

As you might assume, the study is intended to give auto designers a peek into the heads of Mr. and Mrs. Consumer. While a study can tell us what kind of face we prefer on our cars, it can’t tell us what a car’s face says about the driver.

That’s why I’m here. Behold:

1. The Angry Face.

The above-mentioned survey concluded that ‘angry’ faces, like on a BMW, topped the list of attractive traits. The further the stock market slides, the angrier these owners are.

2. The Startled Face.

The Mini Cooper always looks surprised to be where it is. Especially when it ends up at Costco and the driver needs to load in a weeks’ worth of groceries.

3. The Sad Face.

Some cars try to look luxurious, but end up looking like the sad kitten from Shrek. Owners of this droopy-lidded Jag are sad they didn’t wait for the newly introduced XF.

4. The Aggressive Face.

Designers were going for a look that demands authority of the road. What they got were owners who demand authority of themselves, and need a car to suit the image.

5. The Happy Face.

When a car smiles at you, you just have to smile back. Even when the driver is applying lipstick, talking on her cell phone and sipping a non-fat caramel macchiato.

6. The Confused Face.

“Are we designing a tug boat or a car? Oh an SUV? OK, well this should still work.” Luckily the owners get to sit behind this car’s face, and drive in a state of blissful unawareness as the rest of us just shake our heads.

What does your car’s face say about you?

-tgriffith

If you have one, maybe you’ll have a relic of American history and laugh ...

Big SUVs: Coming back in style?

Whoa, put on the brakes folks because we need to take another look at gas prices.

Believe it or not, as of September 24, prices of our addiction had FALLEN for 6 straight days. And get this: during the summer, prices actually fell for 34 straight days.

There’s probably not any hope of prices going back to the comfortable good ol’ days of $2 a gallon, but with prices comfortably below $4, imagine what could happen if prices stabilize or even continue to fall.

It’s certainly possible that Americans will get used to our current prices and fall right back into our old habits of driving big SUVs. Before we know it, we won’t even think twice before piloting our Expeditions across town just to pick up a Blizzard from Dairy Queen.

Hey, it could happen. Just as auto manufactures begin panicking and shifting towards smaller more fuel efficient cars, the industry could just go back to the way it’s always been. Auto makers would be in a real lurch after that!

It all makes me wonder if the current consumer demand for high MPG cars is a short or long term shift.

If prices stay where they are for a long period of time, I’d bet on our collective love for the SUV and even venture to say that instead of a backlog of Sequoias, we’ll see Sentras clogging dealers’ lots.

Hybrids? HA! If you have one, maybe you’ll have a relic of American history and laugh as you remember the time we freaked out and lost our faith in good ol’ gasoline.

So what do you think? Is now the time to pick up that Yukon Denali, while the value of SUVs are at historic lows?

-tgriffith

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