Category: What Were They Thinking?

I found this especially disheartening, because the vehicle looked so great. A forward-looking design that keeps real truck cues. Not another tall wagon!

We’d like to preface this entry by saying that we know that the Chinese are learning fast, and that we acknowledge that they are definitely coming here in the near future and will be a force to be reckoned with. And honestly, we’re really not trying to add to the wariness surrounding Chinese products these days. Still, the Tang Hua lineup of electric cars – and their auto show display – provided us with just a little too much fodder to resist a few jabs.


Electric Runabouts Have, Um, Eyecatching Style; Demonstrate Unique Naming and Branding Strategies
It wasn’t too clear from the display what these cars are intended for, but we imagine (no, we dearly hope) that they’re probably low-speed runabouts, much like Chrysler’s GEM cars that are only street legal for neighborhood usage. [...]

Saab looks to Chevrolet for help creating a 9-7x Aero, a 390HP Saab SUV.

Chrysler's Tom LaSorda gets a new boss as the New Chrysler is born.

Chrysler cancels ungainly Chrysler Imperial - drops it from future product plans due to uncertain fuel economy requirements.

Press reports of Ford selling off Jaguar, Land Rover, Volvo are the product of inept reporting, pure fabrication, rampant imagination or hallucinations. Due diligence in reporting is needed. AutoPacfic's Jim Hall takes on automotive and business media for getting it wrong.

Press reports of Ford selling off Jaguar, Land Rover, Volvo are the product of inept reporting, pure fabrication, rampant imagination or hallucinations. Due diligence in reporting is needed. AutoPacfic's Jim Hall takes on automotive and business media for getting it wrong.

Volvo XC90 Crossover SUV after a year. Still a nice ride.

The following letter arrived from Ms. Caryn Griffith of Winfield, Illinois. She has had an ongoing issue with replacement headlamps on her 1999 Mercury Cougar. As you read her comments you can feel her frustration with the way her dealer(s) and Ford Motor Company are handling her problem. She details problems with replacement parts for an older car.

AutoPacific challenges Michelin's shift from advertising with babies in tires to concentrate on the Michelin Man - Mr. Bibendum