There is just so much that goes into creating a new vehicle. The level of detail is almost beyond comprehension, in fact. Not only does a car company have to develop engines, styling, interiors, suspensions, and so on, but they have to fine tune all of those components too. Developing a new vehicle is truly a task of monumental proportions.

Last week, a few of your intrepid VehicleVoice correspondents got the chance to spend the day at Chrysler's test track in Chelsea, Michigan. It's a giant facility with all kinds of simulated roads and environments so that they can develop new vehicles in secrecy, away from the public's prying eyes. You can see the layout of the place in this pic:

Continue reading "Ever Wonder How They Develop New Vehicles?"

Posted by Ed Kim at 03:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Tustin, California, June 30, 2008 – An “ideal” is defined as an excellent or perfect example. In the annual Ideal Vehicle Awards (IVA), announced today by automotive research and consulting firm AutoPacific, owners rate their new 2008 model year cars and trucks by how close they come to their ideal, as measured by 15 key vehicle attributes. The cars or trucks that owners would change the least are the most ideal.

Continue reading "AutoPacific Announces 2008 Ideal Vehicle Awards"

Posted by Katrina Ohlemacher at 09:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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It seems that VehicleVoice, along with most other publications, are becoming overindulgent with conversations on how skyrocketing fuel costs are destroying our lives. On my way in to the office Friday, I heard oil broke the $140 mark. The situation isn't getting any better.

But, though I may be alone, I'm tired of talking about high gas prices. Really, really tired of the subject. Eye-wateringly-high gas prices are likely here to stay. We all know this, and new-car buyers are dealing with it. Most either by delaying a new-vehicle purchase or by buying something more fuel efficient, both options that add to the woes of a difficult industry, but the subject has been beat to death.

Was a $100,000-plus Chevrolet inevitable?

I'm pretty sure we'll talk about gas prices again, but this week we take a break from that painful subject. This week, Exhaust Note looks at the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1, specifically at pricing of the supercar from America's heartland. We haven't driven it, but we can talk about pricing. This 638HP beast gets a base price of $103,300. Not including $1700 gas-guzzler tax but including destination charges. Really and truly. A Chevrolet with a base price above $100,000. And I bet you thought the Z06 had a notably significant base price when it launched for 2006MY at $65,800.

Continue reading "Exhaust Note #18: $117,000 Chevrolet, Anyone?"

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 08:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Hokay, so. We’re talking about hybrids this week here at the VehicleVoice Interntronic Webblargh. Saving gas (and gas money) is a subject near and dear to my heart, as the more patient and visionary among you may have gathered from last week’s slightly garbled missive. This time around, let’s talk about the two-mode hybrid system that George liked so much on the Yukon earlier this week. Development of this particular system was a joint project between BMW, General Motors, Daimler, and Chrysler.

That guy from Futurama approves

Continue reading "Two-Mode Hybrid: Simpler than the stupid Internet would have you believe."

Posted by Katrina Ohlemacher at 07:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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The 2008 GMC Yukon Hybrid starts with a weird chuffing coughing sound and a mild shudder and then settles down to a 1000RPM idle. What you have here is one of the first dual mode hybrids available. A vehicle type that has quickly become a pariah in the market is transformed to social responsibility. Fuel economy goes from abysmal to acceptable especially for a vehicle of this weight and performance. Fuel economy increases almost 50% over the base 5.3L V8 in the GMC when the dual mode hybrid is added. While the numbers aren't impressive compared with a small car, the percentage increase is huge.

Continue reading "2008 GMC Yukon Hybrid - Socially Responsible Large SUV"

Posted by George Peterson at 07:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind anymore: fuel prices have reached a level where people’s driving habits are beginning to change significantly. We at VehicleVoice have conducted our own research that quantifies just how much people’s attitudes towards driving have changed as a result of these high fuel prices. And indeed, my own habits have changed drastically.

You see, I’ve always loved driving. More than most other things. Ever since receiving my driver’s license, there has been nothing I’ve loved more than jumping into the driver’s seat and just driving. It didn’t matter where to, or whether I was alone or with others…I simply have always loved piloting a vehicle. Today however, fuel prices and my own personal views on oil issues have conspired to put the brakes on my old favorite past-time. Nowadays, I only drive when I have to. I combine trips and try not to make any unnecessary extraneous ones. Of course, I savor every moment of those necessary trips because those represent my times to simply enjoy being behind the wheel.

Continue reading "Exhaust Note #17: Driving…You'll always be #1 to me"

Posted by Ed Kim at 07:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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Hey, you know what I’m totally not sick of hearing about? High gas prices. Let’s talk about that.

Continue reading "It's an expensive world out there, kids. Just stay home."

Posted by Katrina Ohlemacher at 01:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Here at VehicleVoice, we get the opportunity to test a lot of different vehicles. After a while, it’s all too easy to start drawing conclusions about some of those vehicles that show up at our office before actually driving them. Take the 2008 Chevrolet HHR SS, for example. Ever since the regular HHR came out a few years back, this writer had basically dismissed it as a PT Cruiser clone…several years too late. Sure, it had a spacious and functional interior package, especially relative to its tidy exterior size, but PT Cruiser pulled off the same high-function retro package years ago.

So it was too easy to dismiss this bright blue SS model. It was the same basic package, but with lowered suspension, 18-inch alloys, some fancy seats, and an engine upgrade. Big whoop. And then we drove it.

Continue reading "2008 Chevrolet HHR SS: Retro Looks Belie its Cutting Edge Technology"

Posted by Ed Kim at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Five Days without Power, and I Wonder...
Some terrific storms blew through the Midwest this week, with more to come today. Many areas have seen more dramatic devetastation, like the house in Wisconsin that literally floated away in a flooding lake, but Michigan's storms meant power outages across the region. Our local energy provider, DTE Energy, has been unimpressive in their effort to restore power to the 320,000 or so customers who lost service during storms over the weekend. By Friday, there are "only" 30,000 left without power. Unfortunately for us, we're in that number, with our restoration estimate just bumped to Saturday at midnight. I'm writing and posting this from my office, which never lost power.

It occurs, as I sit in my nice electrically air-conditioned office, typing on my electrically powered laptop, and about to post this story, that if I relied electric car, I wouldn't have been able to get to work today. Not after five days without a source at home for recharging the car.

Some have hope that electricity is a large part of the answer for vehicle transportation in a world of $4-plus gas and environmental concerns, on top of all the other things we rely on electricity for, with lots of interest in plug-in hybrids as well. While serial hybrids like the Chevy Volt would stand a chance in this situation, because it can use the gasoline engine for motive power and for recharging the electric motor, but what happens if you can't recharge your Tesla?

Continue reading "Exhaust Note #16: Electric Cars and Power Outages"

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

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So, by now you’ve seen BMW’s GINA concept car. (And if you haven’t, jeez I have to do everything around here.) Opinions here at VehicleVoice World Internet Headquarters and House of Waffles are sharply divided: Steph thinks it’s intriguing, and I think it hungers for human souls.

We were going to argue about it – you may not have noticed, but I’m only happy when I’m in a quarrel – but then I realized, “Wait, this is just what BMW wants us to do!” Because GINA isn’t so much as a car as a Rorschach test made from an umbrella frame and an old swimsuit.

Work with me here.

GINA: The blank slate upon which the observer inscribes her insecurities.

Continue reading "Psychotherapy With BMW's GINA Concept"

Posted by Katrina Ohlemacher at 10:30 AM | Permalink

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Ford has been teasing us with the Ford Flex for months now. We've seen it as auto show after auto show and been given rides in it, but not able to actually drive it. Finally, Ford let us drive its new Large Crossover SUV.

GM Lambda Crossover SUVs are Primary Competitors

Competing with General Motors Lambda Crossover SUVs - Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook and the upcoming Chevrolet Traverse - the Ford Flex adopts a much different styling strategy. Where the Lambdas are serious looking, formidable and SUV-like, Flex takes a much more flamboyant approach to style. In some ways it looks like an XXXL Mini Cooper. This is especially true when its roof gets its optional white paint.

While we really like the flamboyant stying (apparently Flex style is a gestation from a Land Rover styling exercise that Ford chose for itself), we wonder if the Flex may be so much of a fashion statement that it will operate like a sporty car. Most sporty cars have an effective life of 18 to 24 months. They are extremely desirable when they are new and fresh, but quickly soften as time goes on. The utility of the Flex may offset that swoon, but Ford would be smart to have an update in the wings for Year 4.

Package is Flex Forte

But style isn't the only story the Flex tells. The Flex is based on Ford's excellent D-Platform (Volvo S80/XC90, Ford Taurus/Taurus X, Mercury Sable and Lincoln MKS). This means it has adopted Volvo safety strategies and even improved upon them. The wheelbase of the Flex is 5-inches longer than the Taurus and all that length is behind the B-Pillar giving the Flex a limousine-like 2nd row seat. The two-passenger third row seat (all Flexes have a third row seat and are 6 or 7-passenger vehicles depending on seating configuration) is a tight fit and useful for small people (defined: kids) or extremely occasional use.

Being a stickler for good ingress/egress the Flex excels. Ford stylists did not go for a fast sloping windshield, so the upright A-Pillar provides excellent access to the front seat. The long rear door gives excellent ingress to the rear seat. Ford also has adopted hidden rocker panels that move the rocker panels inboard so stepping into the seating positions is very easy. In addition, Flex has nice big windows and outstanding visibility.

Continue reading "Ford Flex - Finally a Distinctive Crossover"

Posted by George Peterson at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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For years, many automotive enthusiasts have bemoaned the fact that both GM and Ford make beautifully executed vehicles for Europe, while we Yanks get cheap and plasticky land yachts with marshmallow suspensions. It killed me that – for example – we would get crusty old Ford Tauruses while Europe got the slick Mondeo – the latest generation of which Europeans genuinely consider to give the BMW 3-Series a run for the money, despite its everyman market positioning. It also annoyed that American GM owners on a budget were stuck with Cavaliers and Ions while Europeans got the stylish Opel Astra – a sporty and stylish small car with build quality that most American GM cars of the time could only dream of.

Sometimes, GM and Ford’s American operations would bring over Americanized versions of their European cars. For the most part, however, they were simply sad shadows of what they were in Europe, with all the appealing features and finish removed for cost. Why? The rationale was that Europeans pay a lot more for their vehicles than we do, and in order to bring those costs down to levels amenable to price sensitive American customers, all the cool stuff had to come out.

Things have changed though. Gasoline’s $4.00 per gallon now, and GM is undergoing something of a product renaissance. Saturn, as a GM brand, is undergoing a transformation as well with customers being asked to “rethink American”. The new Aura, Outlook, Sky, and Vue are clear winners (the latter two are AutoPacific’s 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Award winners in their respective segments), and the new Astra aims to continue that success.

Continue reading "2008 Saturn Astra XR 3-Door: "American" is Not Its First Language"

Posted by Ed Kim at 06:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

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