Gonzo Engineering - Big Block Cadillac

For some bizarre reason, General Motors, throughout its history, has enjoyed building V-8 powered, front-wheel-drive cars.  This is a compromised endeavor from the get go.  A big, heavy V-8, hanging ahead of the front wheels of a car, makes for dreadful weight distribution, awful torque steer, and generally bad driving dynamics.

Yet the madness continues with the Deville / DTS sedan, which sports a 4.6 V-8 driving the front wheels.  With an ancient 4-speed auto, the car is neither fast, efficient, or fun to drive.  It has its charms, no doubt, but its more novelty than actual appeal.

Well, someone tired of such silliness and asked that their FWD '03 Deville be made into a RWD sport sedan powered by a 572 cubic inch crate motor (9.4L!).  Tallant's Auto, of Kansis City, MO was happy to oblige, and the result is a work of absolute gonzo genius.  Bravo gents.


[tallantsauto.net]

2012 VW Passat

Sometimes, it makes sense to sell the exact same car all over the world.  Look at Ford, for example.  For the past several years they have been pushing to integrate their European and North American car models to be exactly the same.  The Focus, Fiesta, and coming C-Max are also sold on the continent.  The savings in development costs are obvious.

Sometimes, though, such a business model doesn't work out.  The Volkswagen Passat has never sold that well in America.  Although a nice midsizer, with a sweet turbo four cylinder engine, the car was simply too expensive and too cramped to compete against ubiquitous Camrys and Accords.  In order to sell in significant volumes, you need to follow the midsize playbook: big size, good fuel economy, and base price of $20 grand, $7k less than the current Passat's starting price.

Building cars in Europe is an expensive proposition, and so Vee-Dub has built a $1 billion plant in Chattanooga, TN, to build this one-off North American Passat.  This car is big and doesn't take too many risks style-wise, though it's certainly handsome and well proportioned.  The back seat looks huge and materials seems to be on par for the segment.  Base price?  You guessed it, about $20,000.  Engines include the long-serving 2.5L five cylinder and the carry over V-6, and a class unique diesel.

Problems?  A new factory means unknown quality / reliability, and the base five cylinder might not have the best fuel economy, a sticking point in this segment.  And if VW has sacrificed those unique, teutonic characteristics that are the trademark of VWs, what's the point in buying the new Passat?

Are Higher Gas Prices Really Bad for America?

In 1999, I remember seeing regular gas on sale in New Jersey for 89 cents.  89 cents!  For a gallon of liquid that had to be pumped out of the ground, piped or shipped to land, refined, loaded into a truck, and driven to a gas station.  I can't believe big oil made any money (they did). 

Those days are long over.  Due to a number of factors, including natural disasters, exploding demand,  and economic calamity, the average price for gas in today's America is around $2.85 (Jersey is a bit cheaper).  Still, that's better than the peak in 2008.

Paying more for gas always stinks, but I have the feeling that some good came out of it.  Back in the roaring nineties, cheap gas and a booming economy meant everyone, everyone, was driving around in a gigantic SUV that got 10 MPG.  Soccer moms eschewed pedantic minivans for chic Navigators and Escalades.  I recall seeing such a mom load her two young kids into a Ford Excursion, with a V-10 engine, 8 MPG, and a curb weight of 7,000 lbs.  The low point came with the introduction of the Hummer H2, the automotive mascot of waste, avarice, and poor taste.

The driving public has sobered up a bit since then.  Hummer is dead (yay!), Escalades and Navigators sell in vastly fewer numbers, and more and more compact cars are being sold.  Fuel economy has become the new buzzword on the showroom floor, instead of horsepower and off road capability.

I'm sure there are plenty of people out there lamenting the end of cheap gas, especially in dour economic times such as this.  But considering most Europeans easily pay double for gas than in the states, we should manage.

[Flickr]

Wrangler to get New Motor in 2012

The V-6 in the Jeep Wrangler is pretty awful.  In fact, its likely one of the worst motors you can buy in any new car.  At 3.8 liters and 202 horses, it's not only weak, but inefficient as well, considering it has to push the boxy Wrangler around.

Some were hoping for a respite in 2011, when the Jeep received a nice new interior and trim changes.  Unfortunately, folks will have to wait until 2012 to get the new, excellent Pentastar V-6, good for nearly 300 horses.  Improvements in fuel efficiency are also likely.

Considering the Wrangler continues to sell in respectable numbers, I guess Chrysler figured they could hold off on the update a little while longer.

Charger / 300 Will Not Get 8 Speed Auto - Yet

Car and Driver took out the new 2011 Charger for a spin, and the word is that the car will not receive the enticing new ZF 8-speed automatic at the outset.  Rumors about this transmission have been around for quite some time, including spy shots of a new Charger with a unique shifter and ZF testing equipment. 

That's all too bad, since such a transmission would be a boon to performance and fuel economy.  It's especially needed by the Grand Cherokee, which unfortunately is quite slow, despite have an excellent new V-6.

[Caranddriver.com]

Saab 9-4X Crossover

Although we've known about the 9-4x for quite some time, it's still a big deal for the newly reinvigorated Saab.  Even though Saab has never been big on SUVs,  they're an absolute necessity to have a complete product portfolio, and this 9-4 should go a long way to boosting the brand's sales.

It doesn't hurt to make your cars attractive, and this vehicle, along with the new 9-5, are the best looking Saabs in years.  It shares it's platform with the Cadillac SRX, though I'd say the Saab's exterior is the more successful of the two.  I especially enjoy the blacked out A-pillars, a design touch which seems to be popping up on a lot of cars lately.

Problems?  Well, considering it based off the Cadillac, expect it to be heavy, slow, and not so good at the pump.  Also, considering the asking price of the new 9-5 sedan, the 9-4X will not be cheap.

Cars You Can't Have - New Ford Ranger

Although pickup trucks are often thought of as a purely American concept, they're surprisingly popular thoughout the world, especially in developing nations.  They've found fans in all corners of the globe, from Central American coffee farmers to the Taliban.  Non-US pickups all follow the same formula: medium size, four doors, small bed, rugged construction, and a diesel motor. 

The new Ford Ranger is no exception, sticking to the tried-and-true formula.  It's pretty sharp looking, and should be as rugged as any vehicle can be.  Alas, we won't be getting it here, as Americans are simply too willing to step up to full size, gas powered F-150s and the like.