Think They Used To Build Cars Better In The "Old Days?"

Just because Cars were bigger, heavier, and had way more steel in them, doesn't mean they were safer. If you have any doubts, check out this video.

Ferrari Designer Hired to Speed Saab Turnaround

Jason Castriota, the U.S. designer known for creating the Ferrari P4/5 and Maserati GranTurismo, will head Saab Automobile’s design team to help the Swedish carmaker take on Bayerische Motoren Werke AG and Audi AG. 

The first assignment for Castriota’s design firm is to create an upscale version of Saab’s current 9-3 model, scheduled for release in 2012, the 36-year-old said in an interview. Aerodynamics will be a focus of the new design, he said.

“It’s absolutely vital we get this car right,” Castriota said from New York late yesterday. “This is Saab returning to its roots, not having to worry about being part of a much larger machine that they were before in the GM organization.”

Saab, sold by General Motors Co. to Dutch supercar maker Spyker Cars NV in February, aims to become profitable by 2012. The turnaround strategy includes releasing premium models more distinct and sporty in their design than when Saab was under GM, according to Spyker Chief Executive officer Victor Muller. Castriota will play a major role in fashioning the new 9-3 and other models, said Eric Geers, a spokesman for the Trollhaettan, Sweden-based Saab. 

“The 9-3 design as made by him is basically done, and I can tell you it is spectacular,” Muller said by telephone, adding that the design will be completed within weeks. “It is truly aircraft-inspired and Swedish-clean.” 

Benchmark Cars

The 9-3 was first released in 1998. The second generation, still produced today, hit the streets in 2002. The new version intends to challenge BMW’s 3-series and Volkswagen AG’s Audi A4, Castriota said. “Those are the benchmark cars,” he said by telephone. “They’re true premium vehicles and the 9-3 also needs to be a true premium vehicle.” 

Castriota started his career in 2001 at luxury-car designer Pininfarina SpA in Turin, Italy, where he stayed until 2008. He then worked for Stile Bertone in Italy until September 2009. Last December, he started his own firm, Jason Castriota Designs. The design house has five designers and is based in New York City and Turin. 

“I literally started sketching Ferraris when I was about five years old,” he said. “For whatever reason, some kids might kick around a soccer ball, I picked up a pencil and started sketching cars.” 

BMW Talks

Castriota will become part of the leadership at Saab and will help “define the strategy for the new models,” he said. Saab is also planning to introduce a smaller car with a tear-drop shape inspired by the 92 model that was in production between 1949 and 1956. Saab is in talks with BMW about using its Mini platform, as well as engines and gearboxes, for that model, two people familiar with the situation said last week. 

“A small premium car from Saab is a very important vehicle and is something that could truly help the overall production volume of Saab in a great way,” Castriota said.

U.S. Automakers Best Imports In J.D. Power Quality Survey

The U.S. auto industry edged out import brands in an important benchmark of quality for the first time in nearly a quarter-century

By Jerry Hirsch

Los Angeles Times

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The U.S. auto industry edged out import brands in an important benchmark of quality for the first time in nearly a quarter-century.

Led by improvements at Ford and General Motors, the domestic industry's ranking topped that of overseas manufacturers for the first time in the 24 years that J.D. Power and Associates has conducted its Initial Quality Study. The study measures how many problems owners experience during the first 90 days they have a new vehicle.

"This is a landmark in the quality history of the auto industry," said David Sargent, J.D. Power's vice president of global vehicle research.

Reliability and dependability problems have plagued the U.S. auto industry for decades. But Sargent said the quality gap between domestics and imports has narrowed steadily for some years now. The massive restructuring of the domestic industry over the last year and the introduction of a fleet of newly designed and engineered models appear to have pushed Ford and GM over the quality hurdle, he said.

"It was likely that the gap could reach zero, and it is a result of a huge amount of hard work. They are now designing vehicles not to have problems," he said.

Ford and GM placed a combined 22 vehicles in the top quality rankings, but Chrysler Group lagged far behind its domestic rivals and the entire industry, the auto-information company said.

Ford, with 93 defects per 100 vehicles, was the best-performing volume brand, beating Honda by two points. The Ford Focus was the highest-ranked compact car, coming in above Honda's Civic and the Hyundai Elantra. The Ford Mustang was the highest-ranked midsize sporty car and the Ford Taurus was the top large car.

Overall, domestic brands suffered from 108 problems per 100 new vehicles, an improvement from 112 last year and down dramatically from the 164 garnered by the American automakers in 2000. Imports scored 109, up from 106 a year ago.

The improvements are paying off in the marketplace.

Sales of Ford-badged vehicles have jumped 34 percent this year, about double the industry average, according to Autodata. The brand's market share has risen by nearly two percentage points to 15.2 percent.

Porsche was the top nameplate, logging just 83 problems per 100 new vehicles in the 2010 survey, compared to an industry average of 109.

Acura was the top luxury brand with just 86 problems, a notch better than the 87 score of Mercedes-Benz.

Infiniti G37 Convertible Offers Luxury, Performance And Lots Of Fun

By Lary Coppola

I confess, I fell in love with the Infiniti G37 convertible the first time I drove it. Of course, I was cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway just north of Malibu, with the top down, the long version of the Stones, “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” blasting crystal clear from the premium, 13-speaker Bose Open Air audio system — after descending from an exhilarating ride through the legendary hills and canyons to the northeast, that began in Beverly Hills.

I recently had the opportunity to put it through its paces again during a week-long test drive during a rare sunny week in the Pacific Northwest. That simply reaffirmed my love affair with this car.

Offered in two models, the G37 Convertible and Sport 6MT, several option packages can totally personalize your G37. There have just been minimal refinements between the 2010 and the original 2009 model, since Infiniti got it pretty much right the first time.

Walkaround: Unlike other cars in this segment, this G37 was designed specifically as a convertible — not as a G coupe with a 3-piece, clamshell-design mechanical top. Everything from the windshield back, including a revised rear suspension system, and special body reinforcements that deliver a tight, vibration-free ride at any speed, were designed specifically for this car.

Infiniti’s design priority was to retain the coupe profile with the top up. While the roofline is different from the fastback look of the coupe, it’s still attractive and done better than most rivals. Infiniti designers also kept the coupe’s proportions, not lengthening the rear deck to accommodate the folded-down top. The rear fascia and wraparound taillights are also exclusive to the convertible.

The flowing front fender curves, double-arch grille, wave-style aluminum hood, and L-shaped High-Intensity Discharge (HID) bi-functional xenon headlights mirror the coupe.

Also offered is Infiniti’s “self-healing” Scratch Shield paint in eight colors. In short — top up or down — the G37 is pretty hot looking.

Interior: The driver-oriented cockpit is a combination of craftsmanship and sophistication, featuring a one-piece steering wheel and gauge setup that moves as a unit so the electroluminescent white-and-violet instrumentation is always situated for maximum visibility no matter what the wheel position. 

The double hand-stitched leather-covered steering wheel features standard audio and cruise controls, with magnesium paddle shifters available on the 7-speed automatic transmission (G37 Convertible with Sport Package only). 

Special Japanese-inspired Silk Obi aluminum trim is featured, with genuine African Rosewood also a choice. Leather-appointed, heated 8-way power driver/passenger seats are standard, with Climate-Controlled Seats (heating and cooling functions) available with the Premium Package. Also standard is Infiniti’s Intelligent Key with Push Button Ignition, and an Adaptive Dual Zone Climate Control System. The advanced A/C system automatically adjusts to provide maximum comfort with the top up or down.

There’s two audio systems available. Standard is a 6-speaker AM/FM/6CD with MP3 playback capability, Radio Data System (RDS) and optional Sirius/XM^® Satellite Radio.   

The other is the killer 13-speaker Bose^® Open Air Sound system, featuring microphones that automatically optimize EQ settings for open/closed top positions. The system’s special Bose^® front seat personal speakers, mounted in the head restraints, deliver superior front audio quality regardless of the top position. An iPod interface is also included.

A Bluetooth hands-free Phone System is also available along with and a 9.3GB Music Box Hard Drive with CompactFlash^® slot. 

A standard 7-inch multi-function color computer display, controls the available backup camera, voice-recognition navigation, XM NavTraffic^® with Real-Time Traffic information (XM^® subscription required, sold separately) as well as the climate controls and all other functions and settings. It tops the center stack above Infiniti’s signature analog clock. 

Under The Hood: The G Convertible features Infiniti’s outstanding 3.7-liter, 325-horse, V6 powerplant with VVEL (Variable Valve Event and Lift), rated at 267 lb-ft of torque.  

The VVEL system combines hydraulic-controlled variable valve timing and electronically controlled variable valve lift to improve not only performance, but also fuel efficiency, with cleaner emissions.

The V6 is married to either an electronically controlled 7-speed automatic transmission with manual mode, downshift rev matching, Drive Sport (DS) mode and Adaptive Shift Control (ASC), with available magnesium paddle shifters; or a close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission on the Sport 6MT. I drove both, and unusual for me, preferred the automatic. 

Behind The Wheel: The Infiniti G37 convertible is a blast to drive — top up or down. Built on Infiniti’s FM (Front Mid-ship) platform, the exceptional front/rear weight balance creates a rigid, stable foundation for the 4-wheel independent suspension. Ride and handling are exceptional — especially for a convertible, since the usual body twist and vibration are missing. Steering is responsive courtesy of the power speed-sensing system. Sport-tuned steering is offered on the Sport 6MT and G37 Convertible with Sport Package. Standard on all G Convertibles is Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) with cancel switch and Traction Control System (TCS).  

Acceleration is exceptional under all conditions, with braking provided by standard 4-wheel vented discs with 4-channel, 4-sensor ABS, Electronic Brake force Distribution, and Brake Assist.

Also available is Infiniti’s Intelligent Cruise Control with Preview Braking, which assists in maintaining a consistent following distance from the vehicle ahead. It also identifies sudden braking situations with laser sensors that determine distance and relative speed of the vehicle ahead and “pre-pressurizes” the Brake Assist system before the driver steps on the brake pedal. I’m not a fan of these systems in general, but this one works better than most.

Whines: None worth mentioning.

Bottom Line: This is an exceptional, well-though out, high-quality automobile in absolutely every respect. It’s beautiful, fast, luxurious and comfortable. At some point, I’ll own this car. If you love convertibles like I do, drive it, and you’ll want one too.

Dodge Gets Retro Challenger Completely Right

By Lary Coppola

As Chrysler's biggest styling hit since the PT Cruiser, the Dodge Challenger looks very much like the 1970 version. It’s all about attitude — the in-your-face kind that's been the hallmark of every high-performance Dodge as long as anyone can remember. After a hiatus of almost four decades, the rear wheel-drive Challenger has victoriously returned to the Dodge lineup, sharing its platform with the four-door Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger.

 Walkaround: Dodge stylists got this car right the first time, and thankfully, in spite of it having an entirely new, body, they didn’t mess with it like they did the Charger. It has a very commanding presence and just about everyone who saw it while I drove it remarked about it being as cool-looking, and faithful to the original as possible. 

It's a big car — bigger than the original — and just four inches shorter than the Charger. It’s also wider and lower. The long, flat hood is larger than most modern pickup trucks, while the four round headlamps and wide, horizontal grille of the original are still there. However, the inside lights are now turn signals and the outer pair the headlamps. Where signals originally were positioned below the bumper on the '70, fog lamps now appear. Spoilers and tail lamps also accentuate its width, as do the haunches over the rear wheels where the roof flows into the trunk. Careful sculpting has retained the classic look without destroying aerodynamic efficiency — or its overall menacing appearance.

Model Lineup: The Challenger comes in three models — the SE, R/T, and the high-performance SRT8. This is a large, American-style muscle car, with a large, commanding presence, and large power. Its principal competitors are the two other 1970’s-style retro muscle cars from the old “Big 3” days — the Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro.

I’ve had the opportunity to drive all three versions of this car, and each will appeal to a different buyer.

The SE comes standard with cloth upholstery, A/C, power windows/locks/mirrors, tilt/telescoping wheel, cruise control, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/CD/MP3 four-speaker stereo, 60/40 split-folding rear bench, and 17-inch aluminum wheels. 

Options include leather upholstery, eight-way power driver's seat, heated front seats, moonroof, 276-watt Boston Acoustics audio system, navigation with real-time traffic, 18-inch aluminum wheels, compact spare tire, ABS and electronic stability control and traction control. 

SE buyers will be influenced by the look, content with a 250-hp 3.5-liter V6 and four-speed automatic that’s EPA-rated 18/25. 

R/T buyers may be older and wanting the Challenger they lusted after in their youth but perhaps couldn’t afford. With its 370-Horse 5.7-liter Hemi V8 delivering 398 pound-feet of torque with the standard five-speed automatic, it may become their adult hot rod. Power jumps to 375 horses and 404 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel with the optional Track Pak group, which includes a six-speed manual gearbox with twin-disc clutch and pistol-grip shifter, limited-slip differential, load-leveling shocks, performance steering, hill-start assist, bright pedal covers and different mufflers. 

The Hemi also uses a multiple displacement feature that shuts down cylinders to save fuel, and boasts EPA ratings of 16/23 with the automatic and 15/23 with the six-speed manual. Mechanical upgrades to accommodate the added power include 18-inch aluminum wheels and wider tires, stability control, bigger antilock brakes, and firmer suspension.

The R/T adds a leather-wrapped wheel and shifter, illuminated visor mirrors, heated outside mirrors, body-colored mirrors and rear spoiler, metal fuel filler door, dual chrome rectangular exhaust pipes, and fog lamps. 

Other options include leather upholstery, navigation system, 368-watt Boston Acoustics audio system, bi-xenon headlamps, keyless go, remote start, HomeLink, a trip computer with 128 total functions, steering-wheel audio/data controls, 20-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels, hood-into-fender stripes and functional hood scoops.

The R/T could double as a daily driver, and strongly competes with the Mustang GT.

SRT8 buyers demand ultimate performance. The SRT8 is Dodge's fastest car save the twice-the-price Viper. It features a 6.1-liter, 425 horse Hemi that’s EPA rated at 13/19, as well as the same transmission options as the R/T, plus the firmest suspension, limited-slip rear differential and big Brembo brakes.

Many items optional on the R/T are standard on the SRT8, including premium audio, bi-xenon headlamps, trip/data computer, leather, keyless go, and Sirius/XM satellite radio. 

The SRT8 rear spoiler is flat black, the front spoiler deeper and ducted for brake cooling, hood scoops are functional, the fuel filler is polished aluminum, and 20-inch forged aluminum wheels and heated sport seats are standard. Options are the Track Pak, 522-watt 13-speaker Kicker audio system, navigation, hood stripes, remote start, and high-performance staggered-size tires. 

Safety features on all Challengers include dual frontal airbags and side curtain airbags front and rear. Antilock brakes with brake assist, stability control and traction control are available on the SE and standard on R/T and SRT8.

Interior: The interior is reminiscent of the muscle car era in that most were spawned from generic sedans and had similar interiors. In this respect, the Challenger mimics recent Dodge and Chrysler sedans.

The front seats are very comfortable and deeply bolstered. Front legroom is ample, while the rear seat is seemingly more for show that utilization. But it was marginal back in 1970 as well, so no harm, no foul.  

Although the pillars are on the wide side, you sit far enough away from the windshield to avoid forward blind spots. Rear visibility is fairly good too, because the side glass goes well back and the rear window is as big as the mirror view. 

Instrumentation is light-faced with dark numbers and blue-green illumination matching the various digital displays. 

Under The Hood: It’s what’s under the hood that defines the Challenger’s personality. Of all three powertrains, the 376 horse 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 with the automatic is perhaps the best all-around choice, although it can also be had with the 6-speed manual. However, the Challenger SRT8 with the 425 horsepower V-8 and optional 6-speed manual transmission is definitely an E-Ticket ride.

The V-6 Challenger SE has the same cool appearance, but it’s all show and not enough go — at least for me. Both the V6 Mustang and Camaro have more going for them.

Behind The Wheel: The Challenger is a big, heavy, rear-wheel-drive car and handles like it. You won't mistake it for driving a sports sedan like an Infiniti G37X, Acura TSX, or Audi A5, but you aren’t supposed to either.

The Challenger is smooth and surprisingly quiet enough over long distances, and deals well with marginal roads. Body roll is considerable, but the car is surprisingly well balanced in turns. The brakes are strong, but the Challenger's mass becomes apparent under heavy braking on rippled roads. However, many lesser-tuned lighter cars have the same issue. 

There’s massive authority in the V8’s exhaust note — especially as the pedal gets closer to the floor.

Whines: The trunk is relatively large, but the lift over is quite high. The wide rear pillars block your view when backing out of parking spots.

Bottom Line: The reborn Dodge Challenger delivers style at a very reasonable cost. It’s an attention getter that isn’t about being conservative — but all about fun, power and attitude.

Ford To Retire Mercury Nameplate

According to Bloomberg News report, Ford is planning to retire its Mercury nameplate — which was created in 1939 by Edsel Ford — on the heels of a 74 percent decline in sales since 2000, said two people involved in the plan. According to those internal sources — who asked not to be identified — the automaker's top executives are preparing a proposal to kill Mercury, which will be reviewed by the Board of to be Directors in July. The plan calls for Mercury, which will lose  two of its four remaining models next year, to be starved of products and promotion.

Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally emphasized the automaker's namesake brand as he revived the only major U.S. automaker to avoid bankruptcy. The timing of Mercury's demise depends on how fast executives can convince the brand's dealers, who also sell Lincoln models, to close or merge with Ford dealershps, they said.

Locally, the only Lincoln-Mercury dealer on the Kitsap Peninsula, Thomas Lincoln-Mercury, closed its doors earlier this year. Owner Aaron Capps, who also owns Advantage Nissan located across the street at the Bremerton Auto Center, turned the facility into a major used car and service operation.

"Mercury is a forgotten brand," said John Wolkonowicz, an auto analyst with IHS Global Insight. "Many Americans probably already think it has been discontinued. Mercury was too similar to Ford from the very beginning."

However, "We continue to evaluate all of our models and brands," Mulally told reporters in Washington, D.C.. "We have no change in our position about Ford or Lincoln or Mercury."

Mercury would join Pontiac, Saturn, Oldsmobile and Plymouth among the departed Detroit brands of the 21st century. Sales will end within four years, one of the sources estimated. General Motors, as part of its U.S.-backed reorganization last year, sold or closed four of its eight brands sold domestically — Pontiac, Hummer, Saab and Saturn.

Edsel Ford, son of founder Henry Ford, established Mercury during the Great Depression as a midprice alternative to mainstream Ford and upscale Lincoln. Edsel's great-granddaughter, Elena Ford, now the automaker's director of global marketing, initially opposed discontinuing Mercury, which she was in charge of promoting before 2002, the people said.

Doing away with Mercury is reportedly supported by Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford and other members of the founding family, who have 40 percent voting control of the automaker through a special class of stock. With Mercury accounting for 1.9 percent of Ford's global sales in the first quarter, the family has decided ending it is best for the business, the sources told Bloomberg News.

Mercury sales peaked in 1978 at 579,498. Deliveries fell 84 percent to 92,299 last year. Mercury had 0.9 percent of the U.S. market through April, unchanged from 2009. As Mercury's sales plunged, so, too, have its profits, Wolkonowicz said. With one-quarter of the sales it had a decade ago, it's hard to rationalize the line's continued existence, he said. "I'm not surprised to see Mercury go because they don't sell enough of them. It's been a case of benign neglect for years."

The brand's cultural heyday came in the 1950s, when hot-rodders favored its engines, which were larger and faster than those under the hood of Fords. As a cultural aside to the brand's heritage, actor James Dean drove a Mercury in the 1955 iconic  movie "Rebel Without a Cause."

Honda Accord Most Stolen Car in Washington State

Washington state is continues a hotbed for auto theft despite a 15.8-percent dip in theft rate last year, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s (NICB) annual Hot Spots Report.

Yakima ranked sixth-highest in the nation for auto theft rates, down from third in 2008, and while the Seattle-Tacoma metro area fell from 26th in 2008 to 37th last year, Spokane leaped to the 18th spot, up from 35th in 2008 — the last year for which full statistics are available.

In 2009, auto thieves copped an average of 73 vehicles per day — three per hour.

Vehicle theft is the nation’s number-one property crime, costing more than $180 million in Washington, and an estimated $6.4 billion nationwide in 2008, according to the FBI. The average value of a motor vehicle reported stolen in 2008 was $6,751.

Washington’s Top 10 most stolen vehicles, according to NICB statistics:
1) 1992 Honda Accord
2) 1995 Honda Civic
3) 1990 Toyota Camry
4) 1995 Acura Integra
5) 1994 Nissan Sentra
6) 1995 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
7) 1994 Saturn Sl
8) 1995 Nissan Pathfinder
9) 1994 Ford Explorer
10) 1993 Dodge Caravan

Washington cities with the highest theft rates:
1) Yakima 1,525 637.93
2) Spokane 2,218 473.24
3) Seattle/Tacoma/Bellevue 13,635 400.11
4) Longview 348 341.29
5.) Vancouver/Portland 6,837 304.97
6) Olympia 578 230.30
7) Kennewick-Richland-Pasco 467 190.11
8) Mount Vernon-Anacortes 211 176.52
9) Bremerton-Silverdale 392 162.75
10) Lewiston, ID-WA Metro 80 131.92
*The theft rate is based on the number of thefts per 100,000 inhabitants using 2009 U.S. Census Population estimates.

The NW Insurance Council offers the following tips to help you reduce the risk of your vehicle being stolen:
• Keep your doors locked and windows completely rolled up.
• Remove keys from the ignition, even when briefly leaving your car.
• Keep valuables such as bags, purses, cell phones and briefcases out of sight.
• Always park your vehicle in well-lit areas.
• Activate your vehicle’s security or alarm system when parked.
 
If you witness or have knowledge of an auto theft, contact your local law enforcement agency. Auto theft is considered a form of insurance fraud when automobile owners stage phony accidents or arrange to have their vehicles stolen with hopes of collecting the insurance money.

If you know of anyone who has filed a false insurance claim, you may be eligible for an award up to $5,000 offered by NW Insurance Council. Call the Fraud Hotline at 800-TEL-NICB. For more information about the Hot Spots Report and insurance fraud, call (800) 664-4942 or visit the NICB fraud website.