Characters Wanted

So it had to happen.  Sometime.  Or so it would seem, because often it was as if it would never happen: GM vice chairman Robert A. Lutz, has announced his retirement effective May 1.  Lutz is 78.  He’s been in the industry for 47 years.  Served stints with BMW, Chrysler, and Ford along the road of a career that is unlikely ever to be duplicated in its range and scope.

Who else in the industry is going to be at it for so long—and if there are people who manage longer tenures, who among them would have the degree of power and influence that Maximum Bob has had throughout his storied career.  And I’m sure there are stories that could curl the straightest hair. – Read More

The Acura ZDX

2010 Lexus GX 460

2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Lamborghini SuperVeloce LP 670-4

Nissan GT-R

Auto: Not the Only One in Deep Stuff
Let’s face it: Nowadays, things in the auto industry seem to be about as appealing as a series of periodontal treatments by someone with the dental inclinations of Max von Sydow’s character in Three Days of the Condor. – Read More

Luxgen: Taiwan, Too
The world’s automotive stage has gained another visible player as Luxgen, said to be the first automobile brand from Taiwan, has announced its plans to focus on markets in the Middle East, Central America, Russia, China, and southeast Asia. – Read More

The LA Times vs. Toyota
About four years ago, former Los Angeles Times auto critic—a Pulitzer Prize winner, to boot—Dan Neil opened up a review like this: "At the moment the news broke, I had written two words of a review of the Pontiac G6: "Dump Lutz.""– Read More

Volvo: She Blinded Me With Safety
Everyone wants to be safe. Except, apparently, for Volvo. The brand that has been synonymous with safety has had an on-going campaign for the past few years trying to shed the market reputation of being the producer of the kind of vehicles that you’d feel confident putting your loved ones in. – Read More

Upcoming Industry Events:

CompositesWorld Investment Forum
Mar 15-16, 2010

Great Designs in Steel Seminar
May 5, 2010

PDx/amerimold
May 11-13, 2010

Beyond the Wienermobile
We would like to take this opportunity to diverge from things like unintended acceleration and deliberate downsizing to consider something a little more palatable: Cheese.

Specifically, Tillamook Cheese from Oregon, cheese that comes from the Tillamook Country Creamery Association, which was established as a farmer-owned cooperative in 1909.
... Read More