2006 or 2007 Chevrolet Nomad

Lat January, GM teased us with this great, almost ready for production, concept based on the same platform as the new 2006 Pontiac solstice. (An actual production car). Rumors are that GM will build this car, but it hasn't been announced officially yet. What's the deal??? Can't they see that if they price this under $20 000, it'll seel like crazy?!?!?! What are these guys waiting for???

The new Nomad is a modern interpretation of the old 1954 Nomad Concept. Which was actually a 2 door wagon version of the then just released Chevrolet Corvette.

The actual production version, the 1957 Chevrolet Nomad, turned out to be "just" a 2 door wagon version of the popular (and much cheaper) Chevy Bel-Air.

It's coming!!!!!

They say it's just a matter of weeks until the all new Mustang appears in a giant media blitz, that will include tie-ins with many popular shows like the crappolla King: American Idol.

The flying car,Part 2 .The Skycar.

Paul Moller seems to be our only hope for a real flying car. This guy has actually been working on it for years! And they just tested it . Here's how they describe it: "Can any automobile give you this scenario? From your garage to your destination, the M400 Skycar can cruise comfortably at 350+ MPH and achieve up to 28 miles per gallon. No traffic, no red lights, no speeding tickets. Just quiet direct transportation from point A to point B in a fraction of the time. Three dimensional mobility in place of two dimensional immobility." Sounds pretty amazing to me!!! They hope to sell the 1st ones within 3 years and a price of $500 000! But they expect the price to drop down to $60 000 once production takes off. (that might take quite a while...) Wouldn't that be great!? For more info on the dream, go to:
Mr.Moller's SKYCAR

2006 VW Jetta Convertible

Let's go nuts and call the Concept C (shown last year at Auto shows) the Jetta convertible. Because that's pretty much what it is. The all new 2005 Jetta is coming out in a few months, and this "Concept C' looks just like it. Replace the ugly chrome wheels by smaller ones, and you pretty much have the production version. And one of the rare affordable hard top Convertible available in the US.

The engines will be the same as in the new Jetta. The new 2.o Liter for 150hp, and maybe the turbo version of that engine for 200hp. (same as in the new GTI). As you can see, the interior is still nothing to be exited about. But hey, at least it'll be well made. And not cheap looking. And the car shouldn't cost much more that around $25 000.

The flying car is here!!!!!

Well, almost. The PALV stands for Personal Air and Land Vehicle. And it is supposed to fly in about a year from now. All we know so far is that it use a rotary engine from the new Mazda RX8! So in 2005, it'll still be 5 years late. If it actually works. And what about controling that air traffic???

Suzuki "Heart Stand"

For some people, this car is so cute it'll make them throw up! But I happen to think that it is pretty cool. God knows if we need fun cars. In a world of Corollas and Civics, that little thing looks like an amusement park! Of course, we'll NEVER get that over here. Suzuki prefers to sell us warmed up Daewoo cars from Korea. They are good cars, but really, that "Heart stand" looks like it would put a smile on your face every time you take it for a drive...

Like most cool cars, the Heart stand is based on another model, usually a boring one. Liek the PT Cruiser/Dodge neon, the Ford Thunderbird/Lincoln LS or the VW Beetle/VW Golf. This one is based on the,Japanese market only, Alteo. A tiny little thing of unremarcable design...

Even more girls!

The auto shows are becoming the poor man"s Playboy mantion. That's why car journalists are fighting to be the ones sent to cover these events! I have to appologize for posting these.... I guess...

The Old and the New...

Cars are not the only things that have changed in 50 years...

2006 Infiniti M35/45

As you can see, the production version (top) is very close to that teaser/concept they showed us last year (bottom). One of these "concept" that was actually the production car with a few changes. What a change from the current M45! That car looks like one of these generic cars from an Architecture illustration.. And for the 1st time, the G35's V6 will be the base engine. The V8 is still available.

The production interior replaces the aluminum finish with wood. Tons of it. That's a bit too bad. It is still one of the most modern interior out there. And with an aggressive and classy exterior design, that car can't loose. Let's hope they'll price it right. That is pretty much the last nail in the Cadillac STS coffin.That "all new" model now already looks completely out dated next to the Infiniti M35/45, the new Acura RL and the new Lexus GS!

2006 Mustang V6

That's right. The 2005s are not out yet,(there might even be delayed due to some engine problems...) that we already have a picture of the 2006/07. The V6 that is. The GT will not change, but a year after introduction,(maybe later if there are any more delays) the base model is scheduled to get an all new 3.5 Liter V6 engine. That engine will be smaller than the 2005 4.0 Liter V6, but will easily out power it, with better fuel mileage. Power should be at least 220 hp, versus 200hp for the older, but larger engine. It will find its way in the Ford 500/Mercury Montego as well as the all new Lincoln Zephyr.

2005 Opel Tigra TwinTop

The best part of the deal is the price, just a bit over $21000, including high European taxes. So it could be actually less than $18000 before taxes. Don't tell me that GM can't find a way to bring this over here, if they really want to. There have been recent talks about bringing Opel designed cars under the Saturn name. Wouldn't that Tigra make a cool small Saturn???

2006 Ford Explorer

Ford is now testing prototypes of the revised 2006 Explorer. It will have a new front end, new bumpers and a revised rear design with new lights. Nothing else is known so far. I will post more news as I get them...

Next 9-5 ???

Despite Saab' own illustrations of their next large car, the 9-5 replacement will probably end up looking closer to this. A more modern version of the same thing... But, let's hope not.

2005 Honda Legend !

And as it is always the case in Japan, the new model will also be available with aftermarket sporty (I call them crappy) enhencements...

More on the new SAABS !

With the new sedan I was talking about earlier, Saab has the intention to offer a Wagon, as well as this fantastic looking hatchback sedan! If the production cars could only look half as good as these, SAAB could be back!

Farewell Axiom....

That's right, we have to say good bye to the cool looking Isuzu Axiom. That's too bad really. Isuzu was never able to find a way to sell it... Just a few years ago, it started the trend of good looking SUVs. The new breed, the ones that don't look like a brick. The Axiom is a very modern and classy design. With a nice interior as well. But Isuzu did make a big mistake. People are looking for SUVs that look like trucks. An ego thing. But they don't mind the ride of a car. The Axiom looks like a car but drives pretty much, still, like the truck it is based on (The Isuzu Trooper). And that's pretty much the exact oposite of what the market is today...

New SAABS !!!!

Saab made a press presentation a while ago, where they showed this illustration of their next top of the line model. Which is now the aging, and very conservative 9.5. Well... These look nothing like the 9.5. But they are, after all illustraions created to make them look good. To tell us that the company "has a future"... After putting out crap like the 9.2 (A re- badged Subaru) and the 9.7 (A re-badged Chevrolet truck!), they want people to know they have "great stuff" coming. These look like could be based on the platform GM will se for the big Opel. But that's a rear wheel drive, so Saab would use the all wheel drive version of it. By the way, the lower pic shows the wagon version of the car. More on this later...

Babs Muller!!!

Babs Muller is our favorite girl. My roommate Phil Schwartzetti and I have know Babs for many years. Maybe even too many... Babs was Phil's brother's girlfriend for a while. It's actually a long, somewhat sick and pathetic story. But everything you want to know (and everything you don't) about Babs is here:
Who is Babs Muller?Don't say I didn't warn you..

New Saab 9-3 Allroad/Wagon

This wagon based on the Saab 9-3 will be available within a year. But they won't call it a wagon. They'll give it a "in" name like Sportwagon, Sporthatch or Allroad. Whatever they call it, it's a wagon. And 4 wheel drive will be available. They might even offer their all new Turbo V6 with 250hp. We'll see..

2004 Holden Torana concept

That Australian concept looks pretty close to production to me. Except for maybe that huge glass top. Looks like it is based on that new rear wheel drive platform GM is working on. It will be used on a few of their brands around the world.

They showed us this platform first, a couple of years ago with the German Opel Insignia concept. That is supposed to become the new top of the line Opel for the European market. But you can tell the Torana looks much closer to production.

Then came the Buick Velite Concept last year. Another tease of what a good looking Buick could be like. ( GM's been doing that for years...) Suposely, these 3 concepts have a good chance of becoming reality. They'd better hurry up, because they look pretty modern now, but that's about it. In 2 or 3 years time, they'll almost look boring to most people...

Future Cadillacs

This is what the "small Cadillac" model might look like. It is still a couple of years away, and is mainly designed for the European market. Well... So they say. Small, overpriced cars from Europe like the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 or Mercedes C Class are very popular over here. So you know Cadillac can't wait to have something to compete in that area... It will be based on the next Saab midsize platform. And might even be built over there. That would make it an import over here. Just like the Alante in the 80's...

And that's pretty much what the 2006 DTS will look like. That's right, no more Deville. It's all letters now at Cadillac's. In their obsession to compete with European brands, they are throwing their history in the toilet! Unlike all other new Cadillacs, the DTS isn't intended to compete with german cars. But to keep the older customers "home". So the car will be based on the current Front Wheel Drive platform. And the ride should stay smooth. Thank God!