Hammer Time: Finding A Good Home for a 1988 Saab 900 Turbo

The old Saab was virtually perfect. 1988 900 model. Turbo. Convertible. It was as if the vehicle had been taken through a 21 year time warp right to my lot. The prior owner had become tired of frequent $85/hr fixes and now needed a four door instead of two (in Orwellian speak). He traded it straight up for a 1990 Volvo 240 that had also been cared for so that part of my work was done. But what next? This beautiful red Saab had only 150k original miles and had plenty of life left thanks to a healthy maintenance regimen and the use of OEM parts. The owner was downright wonderful and it was now my responsibility to make sure this level of care carried forward to the new owner… and hopefully beyond.
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Curbside Classic: GM’s Deadly Sin #4 – 1983 Chevy S-10 Blazer

This Curbside Classic took the same trajectory as the Blazer. It started as a legitimate nod of acknowledgment to the S-10 Blazer as the trailblazer of the compact SUV market. But as I got further along, I realized just how badly GM bungled the huge opportunity for the baby Blazer in a segment that became a monster money machine for Jeep and Ford. With the mistakes being all so prototypical GM, I just had to re-write it as a Deadly Sin, even though it would have been easier to just leave it as it was. Which is exactly what GM’s Deadly Sin was: leave it as it was, forever. Well I’m not ready just yet to have someone document my Deadly Journalistic Sins, so here goes: Blazer, take Two.

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Whats Wrong With This Picture: Compact Co-Branding Rolls On Edition

Autocar confirms that BMW has green-lighted a “MINI by Rolls-Royce,” featuring a “totally individual, coachbuilt” interiors finished at Rolls’ Goodwood plant. The Aston Martin Cygnet and Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari have been put on notice… as have the marketing geniuses who thought they were good ideas. At least Rolls-trimmed MINIs have good precedent.

Remember The Aztek!

When Pontiac’s infamously retina-searing Aztek pops up in popular auto industry analysis, it’s usually as little more than a throwaway punchline. So credit Thebigmoney.com’s Matthew DeBord for trying to leave the Thesaurus entry for “ugly” out of a recent piece dedicated entirely to one of the great modern styling miscalculations. Unfortunately, his admirable restraint serves only to further a wholly unsupportable thesis:

GM needs to remember the Aztek, because it represents the kind of risk-taking design that the post-bankruptcy firm will need to go forward. The temptation for the New General will be to copy successful market formulas, rather than try to define new market segments.

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EV Mode Creates Crisis Mode For Engine Parts Makers

For manufacturers of engine timing chains, main bearings or any of the hundreds of unique components for engines and transmissions, EVs like the Nissan Leaf pose an enormous threat. Decades of investment in the manufacturing technologies and IP are potentially rendered irrelevant if the switch to battery-powered EVs progresses at the rate that its optimists proclaim. Bloomberg tells the tales of woe from anxious Japanese suppliers: “It’s a crisis-like situation,” said Toru Fujiwara, head of Tsubakimoto’s auto-parts division. “With electric cars, there’s no way we can apply our current technology.” Especially when their current technology lacks AC or DC. (Read More…)

Geely Keeps Volvo Unions Guessing On Money Issue

Sweden’s unions are on a hot trail. They think that –ohmygod- the Chinese government could be pulling the strings with Geely and Volvo. China’s Geely won’t say where they get the money for buying Volvo from Ford . Geely says its backers include Chinese banks. Sweden’s union leaders are concerned that the Chinese government may ultimately be behind the takeover. Well duh, most (if not all) Chinese banks are owned by the Chinese government. Kindof. Somehow.

Honda: What's coming in 2010 - - and beyond

ACCORD: The labeling on the climate control buttons has been updated to make them easier to use. EX models get rear-seat ventilation ducts, and Bluetooth is now standard on the EX-L.

ACCORD CROSSTOUR: (photo) The Accord Crosstour is a new BMW X6-style fastback SUV similar in shape to the Acura ZDX. (Acura is a division of Honda.) Honda says the Crosstour offers a car-like driving experience with the all-weather performance of a CUV.

CIVIC: No changes.

CR-V: (photo) The CR-V gets a mid-cycle refresh with a new hood, front fascia, bumpers and alloy wheels. The 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine is up 14 hp to 180, and EPA fuel economy estimates rise by 1 MPG. Inside, the front-seat center armrests have been widened, the seat fabric is new, and a few details have been changed, including revised stereo controls. EX-L models now get automatic headlights and an iPod-compatible USB port, and the optional navigation system now includes Bluetooth phone connectivity.

ELEMENT: A new "Dog Friendly" package (photo), which includes a cargo-bay pet bed, rubber floor mats, rear seat cover, dog restraints for both the back seat and cargo bay, and a ramp for dogs who can't make the jump into the Element's cargo bay, will be available as a dealer-installed option on the Element EX starting in fall of 2009. The package is not model-year specific, so it may show up on 2009 as well as 2010 Elements.

FIT: Unchanged.

INSIGHT: (photo) Honda's new affordable hybrid is called the Insight. It features a 1.3 liter gasoline engine with Honda's Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system, and a video-game-like dashboard designed to coach drivers into hypermiling.

2010 Honda Insight test drive
2010 Honda Insight photo gallery
ODYSSEY: No changes.

PILOT: The Pilot was all new for 2009, and is unchanged for 2010.

RIDGELINE: Honda's pickup is unchanged for 2010.

S2000: Discontinued. A replacement S2000 was reportedly in the works, but has been cancelled as a cost-cutting measure. Sad. Very, very sad.

BEYOND 2010:

CR-Z: (photo) The CR-Z is a two-seat hybrid-powered sports car. The CR-Z will reportedly use a powertrain similar to that of the Insihgt, but with a slightly larger (1.5 liter) engine and a 6-speed manual transmission. The production CR-Z will be shown at the Detroit Auto Show; it's expected to go on sale in 2010 as a 2011 model.

RUMORED:

ODYSSEY: A new Odyssey minivan is rumored to be in the pipeline for 2011