AutoWonder

AutoWonder 2.0

2005-07-18T21:54:00.000-07:00

We've just launched our completely re-designed new site:

AutoWonder (2.0)

BIG thanks to Slicksta for providing invaluable technical assistance on the smooth transfer over to the WP platform. If you've bookmarked this page, please update your bookmark to: www.autowonder.com

We appreciate your continued support and will be working hard to bring you all the wonders of the auto world.

Toyota eyes India

2005-07-15T09:28:00.000-07:00

Toyota is forging a joint venture with DaFa, a Chinese auto manufacturer, to set up a plant in the southern Indian city of Bangalore. The $1 billion investment will bare fruit in 2007 when it begins production on the compact Passo at a pace of 100,000 units/year.

Having overtaken Ford as the world's #2 car company, Toyota now has only GM in its way towards global domination and establishing market share in developing countries is a key strategy. India is the next untapped mega-market after China and it is estimated India's auto market will double by 2010, reaching annual sales of 2 million units.

Toyota already has a joint venture with India's Kirloska Group to produce cars and sold a record high 48,000 units in 2004 -- but its initial investment can no longer satisfy the growing demand, hence, the new JV with DaFa. Interestingly, Suzuki, who entered India in the early 90's, commands over 50% of the market.

see: ChinaCars

Mean Bug

2005-07-14T18:29:00.000-07:00

Subaru launched a sporty version of its ultra-compact R1 in Japan -- R1 i.

Unlike the R1, which is marketed as this cute and lovable ladybug (no joke, just check out the website); the R1 i is a rather mean-looking bug. Backing up the aggressive exterior enhancements is a 600cc (c'mon, try not to laugh) 4 cylinder SOHC engine rather than the standard issue DOHC. It also gets 14"(dammmmmmm) alloy rims...ok, ok, who are we kidding? nobody's gonna be intimated by this bug -- and that's probably why Subaru has no plans of bringing it to the States.

Sadly, this is actually best looking Subaru since they started wearing the goofy new corporate face.

see: Subaru R1 i (japan)

Swedes like Cheap Chinese...

2005-07-14T00:28:00.000-07:00

Cars, that is.

According to a market research released by a Swedish automotive consulting firm, most domestic Swedish car dealerships are interested in importing Chinese compact cars that cost less than 50,000 krona ($6,400 U.S.) -- with 64% of the dealers already having begun importing plans.

Currently, many Chinese cars do not meet Europe's safety and emission standards, but experts believe that shouldn't be a problem given the number of joint venture manufacturing plants in China with the world's top car companies.

Source: ChinaCars

It's Official...

2005-07-12T20:22:00.000-07:00

Today, Acura announced that 2005 will be the last production year of the current NSX. The replacement is widely believed to be based on the HSC concept debuted in 2004.

As Japan's first supercar, the NSX was Honda's technological and performance showcase when it hit the showroom floors 15 years ago. It's a hand-built mid-engine sports car in the purest sense, with an all-aluminum body and a transversely mounted DOHC VTEC V6 engine. It's so good that MotorTrend held it as the "the best sports car ever built" at one point. But as time went on, the aged design lost its luster as its competitors stole the spotlight with more attractive, modern offerings -- a whopping 235 units sold last year tells the story bluntly.

If the HSC concept is a good indication of what's on the way (which, it appears to be), then the new NSX will be every bit as good, if not better. It features a striking and emotional exterior that will be made out of aluminum and carbon fiber; power comes from a mid-mounted V6 producing 300+ hp; and of course, a steering wheel mounted F1 style paddle shift.

Time to start working on the "oh, my old NSX is in the shop...thought I'd take the new one for a spin" routine...

see: Acura NSX to Retire, Replacement in Development [MotorTrend]

Just as good as E-Class?

2005-07-11T18:21:00.000-07:00

This fall, Brilliance Auto, a Chinese auto manufacturer who's been building cars in a joint venture with BMW, will be sending the first shipment of 2000 Zhonghua's (pictured above) to Germany.

The word "Zhonghua" simply means China and is a word often used to conjure up a sense of national pride -- and that is exactly the aim of this car. Designed by Italian legend Giugiaro, and with engineering help from Porsche, Zhonghua represents China's finest effort in building a quality car.

The E-class caliber sedan got a positive reception at the automobile trade fair in Leipzig earlier this year as it fulfills European needs at a much lower price of a mere 20,000 euros without sacrificing luxury and comfort features. Having seen the Zhonghua in person during my last trip to China, I must say I'm quite impressed with the design but not as impressed with the interior material used -- but then again, for less than $24,000, it's a more compelling offering than the American alternatives...well, before you throw in the everybody-gets-it employee discount, at least.

see: Chinese Cars To Hit European Market

Lexus Price Hike

2005-07-08T16:36:00.000-07:00

You know that old saying "you get what you pay for"? Lexus is making sure the prices its customers are paying matches up to their unparalleled quality (see Lexus' Eleven) by announcing price increases for their 2006 models:

LS430 is going up $300 to $57,175
GS models are getting $250 price increases -- GS300 FWD now $43,800; GS300 AWD now $45,750; and GS430 to $52,050.

Prices are effective as of 8/1.

So if you are in the market for a new Lexus, get yours now to save yourself a couple hundred bucks...not that the Lexus owners will really blink an eye at this chump change anyway.

Lexus' Eleven

2005-06-29T22:11:00.000-07:00

For the 11th straight year, Lexus is #1 in long-term quality in J.D. Power and Associates' Vehicle Dependability Study. The study is based on surveys conducted with owners of '02 model year cars and scored based on number of problems per 100 vehicles.

Some interesting stats:

Lexus scored 139 -- 14% improvement from last year
Lexus LS 430 scored 90 -- the 1st time EVER a model had less than one problem/vehicle
Porsche showed a 38% year-over-year improvement, moving up from 10th to 2nd place
Kia finished last with 397 while Land Rover a close-to-bottom 395

GM Design Europe

2005-06-28T16:53:00.000-07:00

On June 24th, GM announced its plans of opening a new European Design Center in Rüsselsheim, Germany in January 2006. The state-of-the-art Rüsselsheim design center will be the 12th design center that GM's Global Design operates around the world.

One day earlier on the other side of the Pacific, GM's CEO Rick Wagoner confirmed at a news conference in Shanghai, that the auto maker's plans to invest $250MM in a design center with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC).

By announcing 2 major design initiatives in 2 days, GM is trying to demonstrate their commitment to design and product as the key to their turn-around (it worked for Nissan), rather than incentives (although the "Employee Discount for Everyone" is working so well that they are considering to extend it)

... if nothing else, having really cool design centers might help attract some design talent.

Related: The rise of Shanghai [internal]

Honda gets stars

2005-06-28T12:50:00.000-07:00

Remember back in the 4th grade, when you had done something extraordinarily good like helping the teacher find her glasses, you'd get a bright shiny gold star next to your name on the wall and you'd have a grin on your face that lasted for weeks during which you'd check the wall every morning to make sure that nobody stole your star... ok, maybe it was just me.

Today, American Honda Motor Co. showed its intention to be the best of best kids in the auto industry by voluntarily putting the government crash test ratings (see the stars in the photo) on all of their 2006 cars' window stickers. This makes Honda the first company to display the star ratings awarded under the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's (NHTSA), New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) for frontal, side and rollover crash safety test ratings.

OK, OK, Honda you can get a gold star for doing this....sheeesh

Source: Honda News

Chinese Jazz

2005-06-27T11:26:00.000-07:00

The oh-so-familiar "Made in China" stamp will soon start to appear under the hood -- Honda Motor's Subsidiary in Guangzhou, China began loading 150 Honda Jazzes (a sub-compact sold in Europe and Asia) onto a ship headed to Germany, where they will be sold next to its Japanese-made twins and will then eventually be sold across Europe.

Though by no means the first cars that China has exported, this is definitely a significant event in the history of Chinese auto industry given that thus far their exporting efforts have been limited in small numbers to neighboring countries in south east Asia.

Honda China plans to export 10,000 cars during the rest of the year and reach 50,000/yr within 5 years. This comes on the heels of Brilliance Automotive's announcement of exporting 2,000 of its Zhonghua sedans to Germany later this year and Chery's plan of selling cars in U.S. in 2007.

Just like Bob Lutz predicted, Chinese auto manufacturers are learning how to export on a large scale...at the moment, with Honda's help.

Spur Flying...

2005-06-21T12:09:00.000-07:00

off the shelves that is...with its official U.S. release date still about 3 month away, 1200 of the upcoming Bentley Flying Spur's have already been spoken for -- that's the entire 2005 production output plus some in 2006. At this rate, Bentley's factory in Crewe, England won't be able to keep up with the demand and it's possible that VW group might decide to build them at VW's oh-so-cool-all-glass-factory in Dresden, Germany.

I've always thought that the Continental GT is a bit heavy looking, lacking the sophistication and sexieness of the Aston Martin DB9; however, the four door version, Flying Spur has the perfect proportions of a big ultra-luxury super-sedan. With plentiful room in the backseat for the "crew" and still maintaining that very necessary "big dawwwg" look, I have a feeling that we will very soon start seeing these bad boys on "Cribs".

Bling. Bling.

Source: AutoWeek

What's in a name?

2005-06-20T13:29:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder what the car brand names sound like in countries where English is not the native language? Auto manufacturers spend lots of time and money making sure their translated names project the brand image that they've invested so much to build (Recall GM's fiasco in trying to market the Nova in Central and South America. "No va" in Spanish means, "It Doesn't Go").

So here's how some of the major name plates translate into Chinese:

BMW = "Bao Ma" -- Precious Steed
Benz = "Ben Chi" -- Gallop
Buick = "Bie Ke" -- Special Guest
Hummer = "Han Ma" -- Mighty Horse
Hyundai = "Xian Dai" -- Modern

M&M's

2005-06-16T14:52:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed the recent wave of new Mercury's all have their names starting with M?

Mountaineer
Monterey
Mariner
Milan
Montego
Meta One (concept)

Whether or not this will help them sell cars remains to be seen, but we applaud those marketing guys in find names that rhyme with the brand. What's next? Mercury Mutombo?

Ferrari FXX

2005-06-16T12:29:00.000-07:00

AutoWeek reports that Ferrari has confirmed plans of building roughly 20 of the so-called "Super Enzo", despite earlier denials.

As the XX in the name suggests, this car's performance is eXtra-eXtra-ordinary:

Its engine is a 6.2L version of Enzo's 6.0L V12.
800 HP compared to the Enzo's 680.
The revised gearbox shifts in less than 100 milliseconds.
The radical aero package generates 40% more downforce.
Shoes have been upgraded to 19in Bridgestone racing slicks.
Brakes are composite ceramic Brembo's.

Wondering how you can get one? Well, only few lucky billionares with a long history of Ferrari purchases and competitive driving experience will be "allowed" to folk over $1.8 million to get into the seat of one. But, you do get to participate in a series of Ferrari organized track events accompanied by your very own pit crew. What a deal !!!

Source: AutoWeek

Sold!

2005-06-14T22:55:00.000-07:00

1 week, 139 bids, and $42,650 later, the now famous Danica Patrick wing has been sold to J.B. Moresco, a native New Yorker who currently resides in Los Angeles, CA.

AutoWonder has been covering the story since it first broke, and we now bring you an exclusive interview with Mr. Moresco on his acquisition:

AW: What made you bid for the wing?
JBM: I found about the wing by watching the Texas race, and after visiting ebay, found out that the proceeds were going to Best Buddies, an organization that I really like (and ironically had a card on my desk for about the past two months). I've been planning on donating some money and time to a worthy group that is making a true difference, this seemed like the perfect fit where it is a win win situation for everyone involved.

AW: What do you plan to do with it?
JBM: I would like to have the wing professionally mounted and I am looking into the potential of making it available for people to see. After all, it has turned into a bigger story than I think anyone, including myself, could have imagined.

AW: Are you a big racing fan?
JBM: Years ago I was a racing fan - back in the days of the Andretti's, Unsers and Rahal. This was the first time in a number of years that I watched the Indy 500, and it was incredibly exciting - I would say that I am a fan once again.

AutoWonder thanks Mr. Moresco for taking the time to talk (well, it was actually done via email, 21st century style interview) with us and just had to ask one last question...When can I come over to see it? ;)

Related: Danica Auction Update (6/9/05) & A piece of history (6/8/05) [internal]

Italian Job Rollercoaster

2005-06-12T00:58:00.000-07:00

I love movies with cool cars and awesome chase scenes -- Ronin, The Fast and the Furious, Gone in 60 seconds, Driven...to name a few.

And of course, how can one forget those sup'd up Mini's in The Italian Job zipping through the crowded streets (sometimes sidewalks) of L.A., racing down stairs, jumping in front of subway trains...I envied Marky Mark for having that much fun making the movie, and a few other things I guess.

Thankfully, there is now a way for you and I to experience that thrill -- The All New Italian Job Stunt Track at Paramount's Kings Island (Cincinatti OH). Riders will board their very own Mini Cooper S, each a 75% replica of the red, white, and blue Mini from the movie, complete with working headlights. The Minis twist through a parking garage, race down stairs, chase through tunnels, escapes explosions and finally crashes through a billboard to finish things off. wheeeeww....how much are flights to Cincy?

btw, there's also one at the Wonderland in Toronto, if you live in Canada.

Driven to Thrill

2005-06-10T23:39:00.000-07:00

Mitsubishi will be launching an online driving game as part of the "Driven to Thrill" ad campaign next week to promote the new 2006 Eclipse.

The virtual timed driving game, "Thrill Ride Challenge" will be promoted thru Aug. 15 on Yahoo, AOL Auto, ESPN.com, Edmunds.com, and Gamespot.com, among others. The campaign will be kicked off by a Yahoo homepage take-over on Jun. 15, with a Eclipse speeding across the page -- Mitsubishi is projecting to drive 20,000 leads from this placement.

As someone who lives and breathes online advertising, I couldn't help but do a quick analysis:

cost = approx. $1mm ==> yielding a CPA of $50
imps = 100mm ==> yielding a eCPM of $10

While this doesn't look too shabby on paper, but if you really think about it, what they are doing is spending $50-a-head to get people to play the game and then each week giving away a flat-panel TV or iPod, with how many of these players actually resulting into test drives and eventual buyers? Now, I have no insight into the back-end conversions of these type of Auto campaigns...but I guess when you've lost $4.4 billion last year, spending $1mm and change to drive leads and create synergy for your hope of revival is not such a difficult decision.

And for the sake of Omnicom's Organic and BBDO(the Agencies responsible for the campaign), I hope the campaign works out well -- one need not look too far to see what their fate would be if it doesn't...just ask anyone who used to work for 10th degree (Mitsubishi's former agency).

Source: AdAge.com (registration required)

Related: Wake up and Drive (internal)

Danica Auction Update

2005-06-09T23:11:00.000-07:00

Following up to our earlier report on the eBay auction of the broken wing from Danica Patrick's Indy racer:

Bidding began on June 6th at a modest $600.
As of this moment -- 3 days and 107 bids later, current bid is...you ready for this? $33,405

To answer a few frequently asked questions:

Yes, all proceeds go to charity (Indiana chapter of Best Buddies)
Yes, Danica will actually autograph the wing
and No, she doesn't come with the wing...damn

3 days, 14 hours left...

Mrs. Trump's new ride

2005-06-08T22:23:00.000-07:00

AutoWonder friend, Adcomhabib snapped this shot last week in NY. Pictured here is Mr. Donald Trump taking delivery of a brand new Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren in front of Trump tower.

With a big red bow on top of the SLR and Melania next to Trump (I know you can't actually see her, thanks to the security personnel blocking the shot -- but Adcomhabib confirms that is indeed Mrs. Trump, adding "she's actually really pretty in real life"). One can't help but wonder what the occasion is:

Wedding anniversary? Unlikely -- the two have only been married for less than 6 months and 1st anniversary is supposed to be paper, but then again, this is Trump we are talking about here.
Late Birthday present? Melania turned 35 on May 6th, so it's possible this is one of those "Oh shit, I forgot her birthday, better get her an SLR" moments...
A "I'm sorry babe, she didn't mean anything to me and she's been FIRED" gift?

Who knows, it could just be a random showing of affection from Trump...wouldn't you do the same if you were a 59 year old real estate mogul whom just married a 35 year old Slovenian model? ... at least I don't have a comb-over.

A piece of history...

2005-06-08T10:48:00.000-07:00

It appears there are some Danica Patrick fans out there with deep pockets to burn...the broken piece of the front wing from Danica's race car involved in a collision with Tomas Enge and Tomas Scheckter during the Indy 500 race on May 29th is now up for auction on Ebay.

The bidding started couple of days ago at $500 and have since shot up to $2,325. So if you want a piece of Danica (or broken wing from her race car)...Hurry, there are only 5 days left!

Riding in Style

2005-06-02T20:30:00.000-07:00

I still remember the excitement I felt the first time I sat in a Benz E-class taxi in Amsterdam, "now, THIS is how it should be done", I thought to myself. Apparently, my peepz back home in Shanghai agree -- on 5/28, another 50 E200 taxis went to work there, doubling the city's total number of luxury taxis.

In an effort to improve the city's image in preparation for the 2010 World expo, a total of over 500 Mercedez cabs will be deployed over the next 5 years.

With current rates for the standard VW Santana 2000 cabs going for 1.60 RMB/km, my guess is a ride in one of these E200 cabs will cost you about 3RMB/km...if you can spot one, that is.

Source: ChinaCars.com

The Ultimate Paddy Wagon

2005-05-26T22:36:00.000-07:00

Watch out! It's a charter bus from HELL!!! And if you see one of these coming your way, you'd probably want to get out of the way in a hurry.

Presented as the world's most advanced Anti-Riot Bus, this jumbo paddy wagon was revealed at this week's 5th annual Public safety Equipment Expo in Shanghai.

The 40 foot long black monster is all business:

All windows tinted and fitted with wire mesh protection (except for a small opening for the driver to see out)
Small round openings on the side and rear windows used for firing crowd-dispersing rounds.
Wrapped in reinforced metal plates imported from Italy and the chassis alone cost over $2 million RMB (roughly 1/4 million US dollars).
Interior features adjustable seating arrangement for maximum transporting capability.

Currently, there are only 2 of these SWAT buses in service -- don't be surprised to see one of them in the next John Woo movie.

Source: ChinaCars.com (in Chinese)

Beijing Amphibio

2005-05-25T21:12:00.000-07:00

At the Beijing Technology Expo that began earlier this week, Beijing Jeep (a long-time partner of Jeep) showcased their first amphibious vehicle.

Based on the BJ2032S platform, the 3/4 ton modified jeep is a capable off-roader that can also reach speeds of over 8 mph on water -- while nothing to brag about, certainly not bad considering its hefty weight.

Despite clearly intended for non-civilian applications, it didn't stop curious spectators from asking "Can I get one?"

Source: ChinaCars.com (in Chinese)

How many people in China can afford a Benz?

2005-05-24T22:19:00.000-07:00

A lot, apparently.

According to Mercedes-Benz China Ltd's recent press release: After a 3% growth in Q1 of '05, MB's sales volume in China continued to increase in April, with sales of the S-class surpassing that of Europe and Japan, making China its second largest market worldwide.

This is particularly impressive considering a Benz in China costs about twice as much as it does in the states, with the high taxes placed on foreign imports. However, Mercedes has long been viewed as the ultimate status symbol by the Chinese, and with the economic explosion creating handfuls of millionares each day, it is no surprise Merc's are flying out of the showrooms.

Furthermore, DaimlerChrysler AG has just received approval to start producing Mercedes Benz passenger cars and vans in China. Through a joint venture with Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Company (BAIC), they will begin building E and C class sedans in Beijing mid 2005.

Look out, Audi.

Source: ChinaCars.com (in Chinese)

See ya later, alligator...

2005-05-23T20:48:00.000-07:00

With its name taken from the caiman species of crocodile known for its strength and agility, and 295hp on tap, the upcoming Porsche Cayman S's rear view will soon become a familiar sight.

And frankly, I wouldn't mind staring at it as it speeds past me...THAT ass is beautiful! I haven't felt this way about a car's rear end since the TT and the DB9; and now, Porsche has out-done them in the booty department:

Every line is purposeful, from the side edges of the large rear lid, extending through the license plate housing and down to the dual exhaust pipes, forming a perfect tear drop shape and gives a new meaning to "vanishing point".
The muscular shoulder arches blends in smoothly with the rest of the rear quarters, achieving a perfect balance of ying and yang.
The slick rear wing, which raises at 75mph, has also been sculpted to look like a natural extension of rear deck.
And the subtle creases along the lower bumper and down the sides of the rear lid gives it a touch a refinement like a beautifully tailored fine Italian suit.

All together, a masterfully designed, beautifully executed piece...and this is just the rear.

I need to go take a cold shower.

The Spirit of the Le Mans

2005-05-21T09:41:00.000-07:00

will be coming alive in a couple of years when Audi's new supercar based on the Le Mans quattro concept hits the showroom floors.

Debuted at the 2003 Frankfurt Auto Show, this will be Audi's first foray into the super car territory -- in terms of both price ($100k) and performance (0-60 in 4). It will likely be powered by the RS4 4.2L 414hp V8 and possibly also the 444hp W12...sweeeeeeeeeet :)

Wake up and Drive

2005-05-20T21:50:00.000-07:00

The 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse took me by surprise...I was surprised how much I liked it. We all remembered back in the 90's how popular these things were with tuners -- as illustrated by its staring role in the tuner classic flick, "The Fast and The Furious" (one of my personal favorites); and then Mitsu went into a funk with the uninspiring 3rd gen Eclipse featuring those unsightly body cladding much like the ones found on the last generation pontiacs. Now it seems, the execs at Mitsu has been awaken by the horrible numbers of last years sales, releasing this hot new Eclipse ahead of schedule...

I have mix feelings about the design of this new Eclipse:

the rear end is nearly a carbon-copy of the TT.
the twin pod instrument cluster that is stirkingly similar to the 350z's.
the circular air vents are again, borrowed from the TT - but then again everybody else had already borrowed them...
the "hmmmm, I'm not so sure how I feel about it" front facia.
but the very cool and innovative front fixed triangluar window that not only allows the side mirrors to be set back further for better visibility but also reduces wind noise when the (main) side windows are opened.
the profile is very sleek and seductive, particularly in the "Total Eclipse" shot.

Overall, I'm excited Mitsu has decided to bring back the flare from the good old 2nd gen Eclipse, and I can already see tuner shops working on the next coolest kit for the new Eclipse. The question is -- will that pop-locking girl in the commercial return as well?

The Next Audi A2

2005-05-19T22:46:00.000-07:00

For most people in the US, A2 is an unfamilar name. In fact, the premium sub-compact segment had been non-existence here until the recent introduction of the Mini Cooper. With all the wide open space and roads dominated by big SUVs, the idea of a premium sub-compact is as strange as dipping our "freedom" fries in mayo.

Such is not the case in Europe, where the streets are narrow and gas are super expensive (yes, even more expensive than it is now in California), sub-compact cars account for a significant portion of the cars on the road -- hence the birth of the premium sub-compact class: Merc has its A-class, BMW has its Mini (and the upcoming 1 series), and of course, Audi has its A2.

The current A2, constructed on Aluminum Space Frame (ASF), together with the flagship A8, showcased Audi's technological achievements but at a hefty cost. With the current model ending in August, it appears Ingolstadt has decided to ditch ASF in favor of a new platform being developed by VW code named PQ25 -- also will be used for future VW Polo, Seat Ibiza and Skoda Fabias.

On the design front. The new A2 wears the new corporate grille and its exterior design language follows Walter de'Silva's vision of a more sporty, aggressive and emotional era of Audi's. And I have to say, I like it. The old egg-shaped A2, was drawn up with an understated elegance that defined the last generation Audi's. While that design philosophy worked very well for its larger cars, on the A2, it simply looked uninspiring. The new A2, with a sharply rising shoulder line and a front facia reminiscent of the LeMans coupe (which, Audi has confirmed they will build), communicates a sense of strength and aggresiveness that gives it the feeling of "moving while standing still".

It is unlikely that Audi will bring this A2 to the states...but I would love to catch one zipping thru the crowded streets of LA some day, some day...

The New Audi A4 Coupe

2005-05-18T13:10:00.000-07:00

Edmunds.com just reported that Audi will be building the Nuvolari concept they showed at the 2003 Geneva Auto Show as the next-gen Audi A4 coupe! Audi fans around the world, myself included, are jumping off their seats trying to figure out how to sign up for one right now.

The Nuvolari concept, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful concepts introduced in recent memory. It's also the first audi concept to debut with the new corporate grille, and it looks much more intergrated than the current production models. As well, many of its design cues first found on the Nuvolari have already made their way to the showroom:

The tail light can be seen on the newly redesigned (B7) A4.
The wrap-around instrument panel/center console can be seen on the new 2nd gen A6

Initially, it was rumored that the Nuvolari will become the A6 coupe -- to compete with BMW's 6 series; and if you've seen the sticker price of the 6, you will understand why this makes me overjoyed when I found out it's actually going to be the next A4 coupe. Strategically, this makes sense for Audi AG, as it fills a major whole in its product offerings and strenghtens its challenge on BMW -- given that the entry-level models (A4, 3 series) accounts for a significant portion of the overall revenue for both companies; and up until now, the one missing piece of the puzzle for Audi has been an A4 coupe.

So, Audi, where do I sign up?

The rise of Shanghai...

2005-05-17T23:40:00.000-07:00

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp., to be exact.

Having spent most of my adolesence in Shanghai, and being the car fanatic that I am, I'm naturally drawn to any automotive news coming from the other side of the pacific...and as of late, things are really getting heated up:

Jul 2004 -- SAIC makes the Fortune Global 500 list
Oct 2004 -- SAIC buys Ssangyong Motor, Korea's 4th largest auto co.
Jan 2005 -- SAIC to form joint venture with MG Rover, but the deal eventually fell apart as the heavily-in-debt MG collapsed; but SAIC retains the IP rights to MG's future models.
May 2005 -- GM may help SAIC develop its own brand.

so maybe one day in the near future, instead of the crowded street of Shanghai being filled with the SAIC's versions of VW's and Buicks...they will be replaced by a #&^*? I guess it's too soon to speculate as to what that new brand will be... but personally, I'm leaning towards "Shen" -- an old chinese character that represents Shanghai which also translates well into a symbol as it's very symetrical...I will post an artist(me) 's rendition of it later.

Have you seen this stolen A3?

2005-05-16T23:54:00.000-07:00

well, ok, it hasn't actually been stolen...it's just a new daring unconventional ad campaign that Audi AG is doing to build buzz for the recently launched A3, it's gotta confusing storyline, fooled a bunch of people (at least for a short while), got some gamers really interested, and definitely caught my attention as I read my IAB smartbrief:

"A New Kind of Car Chase" -- BusinessWeek

and if you go to Yahoo today, you'll see the "missing A3" creative in the hmpg east mantle placement -- coincidence? I think not, especially considering those precious Yahoo hmpg placements are scheduled way ahead of time and requires lengthy approval by the Yahoo hmpg team...not to mention the perfect timing of it coming on the heel of various online publications picking up the story -- THIS is a carefully planned-out campaign.

I must tip my hat off to the boys (and girls) at McKinney & Silver...nice work :) Although, in my humble opinion, the creative could have been better. Nevertheless, pretty slick.