Category: Design

Caddy tries to resurrect the wagon

Posted by: David Welch on November 19

Will Americans buy wagons? History says no. And by history I mean after 1980. Sure, Subaru sells wagons quite successfully to some outdoorsy types on the coasts. You also…

Toyota, Aston Martin team up to make the Cygnet

Posted by: Ian Rowley on June 30

It’s seems an unlikely combination, but is the deal between Toyota and Aston Martin, announced yesterday, such a bad idea? Under the plan, Aston Martin will sell a version…

Ford To Sell Global Crossover SUV Designs

Posted by: David Kiley on June 18

Ford’s global product strategy has been focused on three main products—the next Focus; the Fiesta, which debuts in the U.S. next year having already made splashes in Europe and…

New Beetle Design for 2012

Posted by: David Kiley on November 26

I was a little surprised when new VW of America chief Stefan Jacoby told me in September that he was pushing for a new design of the New Beetle….

Audi Plug-In In Tokyo

Posted by: David Kiley on October 24

Audi surprised media attending the Tokyo Auto Show by showing its plug-in hybrid Metroproject concept. It’s a four-seater with three doors. The concept features a prototype hybrid system that…

Will Euro Style Cars Ever Catch on In Detroit?

Posted by: David Kiley on October 02

Will European style cars ever fly in Detroit? I have been pondering this question in the last two weeks as GM seems intent on making a mid-sized notchback car at…

Respect for the Minivan Please

Posted by: David Kiley on May 25

There’s hardly been a vehicle more maligned in the new century than the minivan. It’s not justifiable. Ask anyone with a couple of kids, and they’ll tell you that…

Are Sub-compact hatches dead or alive?

Posted by: David Kiley on February 05

There is a difference of opinion about the market for sub-compact hatchbacks. And it’s hard to figure out which way to turn if you are an automaker. The new…

Ford Interceptor Grows On Me

Posted by: David Kiley on January 09

When I first saw the Ford Interceptor concept car last month, I didn’t like it. Not sure why. But the more times I walk by it at the Ford…

Next Up at Mazda Design: Nagare

Posted by: Matt Vella on December 07

Mazda has turned itself into the de facto purveyor of inexpensive but quintessentially sporty imports. Arguably, it’s produced some of the most compelling new products at lower price points…

VW Tiguan A Year Away

Posted by: David Kiley on November 29

Volkswagen showed a close-to-production concept car of its Tiguan SUV, due in showrooms a year from now. The show Tiguan is powered by a diesel engine that uses Bluetec…

Ford Explorer: Interior Shortcomings Spotlight Distractions at Ford

Posted by: David Kiley on September 29

It took me this long to drive a 2006 Ford Explorer because I only went back on the car beat last May. I had heard from peers of mine…

Chrysler Greenlights Challenger. Shows Chrysler is Getting Smart About Niche Cars

Posted by: David Kiley on June 30

Chrysler Corp. this Saturday is expected to announce that it will build the much ballyhooed Challenger muscle car concept car, which made its debut at last January’s North American…

Ghosn tells it how it is

Posted by: Ian Rowley on April 28

After attacking “cookie cutter” designs at the New York auto show earlier this month, Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn took another swipe at the commoditization of the auto industry in Tokyo…

Even Toyota Cuts Corners

Posted by: David Welch on April 18

Yeah, it’s true. Sometimes, the best auto makers in the world cut corners. Even beloved Toyota, with its $46 billion cash hoard, sometimes does things on the cheap. For…

VW’s Fast Making Big Bucks

Posted by: David Kiley on March 17

Some publicity surrounding these little plastic figuresnow appearing in Volkswagen’s GTI TV ads have made them collector’s items. Fast figures are selling on ebay.com for between $350.00 and $1,000…

VW Concept A….Sweet. Now, Let’s See if You can Build It.

Posted by: David Kiley on March 01

When I was working on a book about Volkswagen, I learned there are two kinds of time…the time it takes Volkswagen to bring out a car from concept to…

Is Mazda the Design Leader?

Posted by: David Welch on January 17

Of America’s carmakers, there is no doubt that DaimlerChrysler’s Chrysler Group is the healthiest and strongest. But as I have written before, their turnaround is on fragile footing. Witness their…

Chris Bangle: Damned by success

Posted by: Gail Edmondson on January 12

Leftlane news notes today that BMW Group Chief Designer Christopher Bangle has gone from car design pariah to messiah, based on the fleet of BMW look-alike models cropping up on…