LA Auto Show: Dislike!

I do love auto shows. I do. It's great to see the manufacturers put up their hard work from the last year or two - talented designers, engineer and craftspeople. The new car smell is intoxicating. Short of being allowed to drive everything there - including the Yokohama and Nintendo displays, it's a party where all the rock stars of my world get together in one place. Each make has their niche, each model puts their best foot forward with their new turnouts oh, and the concepts. The concepts pull the curtain aside to what is going on in the minds of the manufacturers - you get a sense of what the direction the company is heading.

So, what is the dislike part? I'm just in that mood. I need a massage. And probably knee surgery. Meh. So much in this world is just so ordinary. I want to know where the passion is. My next post will be about the cars I think I can drive to that place. Oh, bleed already!

I had a super time at press days with my stalwart partner in snark and my most ardent enabler in my automotive addiction, Troy Turbo. Before we met up, I was texting him, "I hope to god you're not wearing a black jacket" as I looked out among the sea of black jacket clad executives. I know, it's the Auto Industry. I made it a point to complement a few gray and camel jacketed men. Thank god, Troy was in a handsome heather sweater so I can pull him out of a crowd easily. I think I was the only one wearing red, now I'm just bitching.

Walking the floor, there is a feeling, a pervasive approval seeking from those normally arrogant execs, the sort of nervousness you get on a first date... so full of hope and promise. Oh I love it. How they look at you, you - who may be the one to write something good about their car and company.

As each marque had their press conference in turn, it was shark week - the journalists queued up and the photographers jostling for position, usually obscuring mine. Each CEO and SVP head of global blah, blah, blah big shot chat us up and unveil their new baby. I've been checking out some of the reviews of auto show coverage. Most of it is pretty accurate.

Here is my take:

My least favorite car again:
The Coda. The thing says nothing about being an advanced plug-in electric car. So, you pay about a grand less that a Chevy Volt for a car that looks like a '95 Accord? So what's your marketing strategy? Who is it you want to appeal to? The lipophobic? (Fear of oil) Wealthy eco-green people that loved their 1995 Accords and don't mind paying double for something so nondescript no one will suspect you are saving the world? Oh, I get it, closet Democrats in Orange County?
They call their product specialists gurus. That's so MEH. Why do they keep coming back?

Good luck, Toyota has done if for years with the Camry. Maybe it'll work for you too!



WTF!
The Doking. I did an internet search for Doking and it came up Dorking. Then docking. OK, there it is. Do-King is a Croatian company that manufactures unmanned ground vehicles for mine clearance and fire fighting. And now, electric city cars.
Hmmm.
Their tag line is "Don't send a man in to do a machine's job." Doesn't that scream for a "That's what she said" joke? Speaking of which: Joking. It looks like an angry baby Smart car, with scissor doors. From behind it looks like a middle school girl named Mimi designed it so she can sign X's on her i's.
It's super MEH.





Infinity BLAH.
The JX35. Does this really need to be done? Bumpy and boxy, it looks like one of those poor muttly dogs that resulted from odd neighborhood match-ups. English bulldog and a whippet perhaps?
OK, more like if the QX mated with a 3rd gen Chrysler Voyager and then that abomination had a love child with the Infinity EX.
I waited a long time to get a picture with the door closed, but there were execs looking at it and they just wouldn't budge so I just took it. It's a terrible picture, but a good one doesn't help it either. My bad.





SO how much do you think a Motor Trend Car of the Year Award costs?

I think if my car "won" the coveted Car of the Year Award, I would have at least a half a smile on my face, but maybe it's a German thing.

There was a hushed collective HUH? when they announced the Passat won.









Nothing will ever make me like this car. Not even making a fun manga Mexican Luche Libre wrestler mask graphic on the front of the car. Which was my first thought when I saw it.
Every time I look at one I see it sandwiched in between a semi and a freeway structure. I get nightmares.

This. Is. What? Covered in 60's psychedelic peacock wrapping paper. No, no, just looking, in horror.








The Nissan Murano Cross Cabriolet.

Hey! I came up with a few more ways to dislike this one and a little disappointed the vitriol hasn't weakened from last year: Maybe I just don't get it. It rubs me the wrong way. I can't justify it in my head. I must not be the demographic.

It's weirdly curvy and angular all at the same time - If this car was a person, it would be caught on camera on the Real People of Wal-Mart.com wearing a fuschia wig. In production for three years, I have yet to see it top down on the road. Yes, I do look at cars everywhere I go, much to the annoyance of my friends and family. But I'm doing it for you. I'm all about the fans.

Well, I hope you enjoyed my little tirade. If it were more interesting, I might have another blog entry about the brands that didn't have anything new to speak of: Acura. Honda. (OK give them a break, they've had a tough year) GMC. No? Nothing from the design center? Hyundai, turn on some lights, will you? It looked like nobody was home. Did the AV guy leave with the password? What was with the proliferation of white cars?

No, really. I had a good time!

XOXO,
Rockit

Z-HO-6

Of the things that give me a thrill in this world, there are only a handful of which are: one: legal, two: not necessarily bad for your health and three: if you were caught red-handed, no one will laugh at or press charges. Not that that's a bad thing, but I would rather not be a high trafficked joke on You Tube if I can help it.

I had planned to post this some time ago, but since the crazy weather we've been having, it was not the ideal condition, for no other reason than the rain seems to make most L.A. drivers psychotic.

I'm a girly girl, but I'm not a wussy one. I like it when the adorable contractors in big powerstrokes let me have the right away and stare the whole way. I can tell he knows the car. Hood vent, check. Rear fender vent, check. Z06 badging, check, booming exhaust, check. My cheekbones feel higher and hey, I went up on the strokability list. I can dress more butch and talk about cars, but then I'd be just one of the guys. But if I'm femme, it's like, wow, she knows. Impressive. Quoting an ex, (we're still friends): Just because you have one, doesn't mean you are one. I think it's great that it's only available in a manual and I find little difficulty with the shift, clutch and gearing. WHY ALL THE WHINING? That and yes, an automatic is convenient in traffic, but no matter how it is geared I find that I'm annoyed on occasion when the automatic - even with Tapshift doesn't engage the shift exactly the way I want it to. A little argument goes on in my head with the engineers that I would like it to tach a little higher here or there, or let out a little more slowly to a smooth downshift. It's a moot point, the Z06 doesn't come in an automatic, rightly so, I think there should be a spot reserved for sports car enthusiasts where poseurs fear to tread.

Having a weakness for powerful and fast vehicles, this one revs up the heat by aggressively filling the senses with it's red blooded American well, American-ness. I know people from other countries have red blood, too. But if any country owns their colors, it's the U.S.

It's not only that I like fast cars. I like refined cars and cars that have fine, precise handling. But this isn't really one of them. It's not embarrassed - no, completely unapologetic about it. And that's part of the reason I like it so much. Kind of like dating a jock. Beefy, satisfying, a little scary, but thrilling too.

It can be a little rough. But I like it. I like feeling the snarling beast of 505 bhp straining at the end of my leash. I like how the confidence of the wide tires fights to deliver the raw 470 Lb-Ft of torque, with the big Brembos settling any arguments between. (Ventilated cross drilled rotors: 14" front/6 piston, 13.4" rear/4 piston). You have to get the Brembo package, OK. Enough specs, you know all the rest and if not, go visit Chevy.com and get all your giggles, but it's redundant at this point, being in production since 2004. The exhaust note is the voices of the four horsemen, really scream their battle hymnal at 72 mph and up, making a practice run for the Apocalypse. I love the thunderous backpressure when you let off the throttle on a downshift. How do you make a 7.0 liter beast that avoids the gas guzzler tax? It can be done, we have the technology...


If you don't already know this: it's FAST. Period. It's neck-snapping, eye-watering, g-pulling fast. Don't answer the phone, even with the integrated bluetooth device. Don't make a phone call or eat or especially text. You don't have time to react because it demands all your attention. If you are lucky to get the chance to take these reins, and you feel like it doesn't take 100% of your attention, you are doing it wrong. Keep your eyes moving from the road ahead, to your wing mirrors and rearview. You have a better chance of spotting cops and other hazards because they come up with astonishing quickness. You can get on the freeway with effortless power, get to cruising speed, not even half way to redline and have a whole 'nother gear on top of that. And the thing isn't even breaking a sweat. Launch is the point that you must judiciously release the 505 horses, because they really want to run and that's why they put in the traction control and conversely, albeit thrilling, sport mode.

It sticks to the ground with authority and handles everything you can throw at it, canyon roads, freeways, it's got enough good manners to not be a challenge all the time, on the streets too. Especially if you factor the enormous power that it delivers. I love that feeling that none of it's formidable power is wasted. Each tap on the throttle is an instantaneous reflex to the wheels and I out run gravity just for the moment. Of course, it's not a good car to sit in traffic, but then, that's never any fun no matter what you're in. It takes about all I've got to keep it near the speed limits. "But officer, it wanted to go fast." Don't really want to ever try that line out, but, there it is.


So many reviewers complain about the interior. It's not art. It's a bit spartan. I know Chevy can do nice work. The finish in a Camaro is really pretty great, on par with Ford and the imports in their class and in many cases, wins. The Malibu and now the Cruze are also well laid out, with a huge improvement in styling. Quite frankly, I want Chevy to put the money under the hood, in the brakes, suspension and tires. I would prefer to have it look like a NASA engineer designed it, rather than a florist. Why are some reviewers so down on it?

When I drive, I need to get my tach, fuel, and occasionally oil pressure, temperature and tire pressures. My bad, I only look at the speedo when I see a cop. I'm not really that concerned that the cover for the charger compartment cover is plastic. The head up display clearly shows me what I want to know on the fly and the G-meter is really a cool measure. For pure neck-snapping adrenaline, it's my personal heroin. If you just have to have some haterade, I would like to have a better seat, it's not bad, but I would prefer a little more hug especially since it takes lateral G so well. Maybe bigger men feel quite snug in it. I have felt the bit of a loose feeling rock in the seat, so there, that's a complaint.

It's powerful, fun and sexy and when I'm in it, makes me feel like I'm driving down the road and I can pick off this car and that car and gives me a good laugh when the occasional performance stalker in some shitbox modded Neon rides up on me. I think it's not a bad bargain, starting at $74K. You'd have to spend at least $10K more to get nearly caught by another stock competitor... And THAT is a lot of shopping.

The 2013 C7 is going to be really fantastic, I can't wait.


The Chevrolet Corvette Z06.

I would like to see this on the street! Or, when will the Charger have my respect again?

I grew up closer to my brother than my sister. I hated the way dolls smelled of off-gassing plastic and favored plush fauna. It was always such a thrill to get picked up at school in his '70 GTO he bought from my aunt.

It was a base engine, no VOE, but he swapped in a nice, noisy exhaust in auto shop. He would shift the shit out of it to mimic a Christmas tree launch and it has just enough kick to snap my scrawny little kid sister neck. He went on to own several gorgeous rods, all in varying degrees of "work in progress." He was an NHRA guy. That influence naturally rubbed off on me, even though I rebelled later in high school, becoming an F1 fan. He forgave me. So it is with great enthusiasm that I come back into the fold.

Back in 2006 , Doug Schramm had the time and passion to design what I wish would have been the re-introduction of the venerable Charger. This one updates the heritage and respects the past. I do have some qualms about how it seems like the "New" designs take too much form the old, and it seems like the retro look of the Mustang, Challenger and Camaro are just classic designs rehashed. Old is new again.

That little qualm aside, I like these Charger concepts and hope Dodge will be emboldened by the success of the Mustang and Camaro and get rid of that LX platform that is such a snoozer. It just doesn't turn my head. In the review, unless it has a low profile LED mounted on top, I'll let it pass on the right.

As for Dodge actually producing this, I won't get my hopes up since they are producing the second generation starting last year, with just a few cosmetic changes, butch-ing up the fascia, tail lights will keep wishing every time I see the current one slither by and digress in my head to fondly remembering the menace that bullied Steve McQueen in Bullitt. No, I never saw it in the theater, but I get that it was pretty exciting - the if not first, the definitive car chase in a feature film. Exasperated breath, I digress, which is just about to the year 1969.


Xoxo,
Rockit

rockit's daily commute

Awesome Super Bowl spot for the 426 Horsepower Camaro SS. Which one was Rockit?



Sorry, I'm sworn to secrecy!

Troy

Santa's got a GTO

Okay, another Christmas season is upon us, so it's time to put a little ho-ho-ho in our horsepower. Most of you know I'm crazy about the Ramones, and that enthusiasm extends to some of their tribute bands as well. Today's stop on the tour of the truly unusual features the world's only all-female Ramones tribute band, the Ramonas, and their festive little holiday number called "Santa's Got a GTO". This video features original imagery including renderings by legendary advertising artist Art Fitzpatrick.

So put some Octane in your holiday and take a look:

Rockit's rides: LA 2010

Matte is a color, too. The Audi A8 GT. 'Cause a regular A8 isn't fast enough.













The stunning Camaro convertible. Looks good in topless.













And the long awaited A8 Spyder. But now I want the GT.

LA Auto Show: My two cents

I love Los Angeles. And I love autos. And auto shows. This year, not really a surprise - and I'm not going to rehash the current state of affairs - was light on substance, but hey, if you can't win them with substance, dazzle them with theater. Or shall I spell it theatre, just to be pompous?

A few standouts: yes, I like a car with a heart shaped ass, so the CTS-V coupe, paired with the delicious LSA is a full audacious boner. My inside head voice says the Rapide, but that might be because of a Daniel Craig backseat thing I have in my head if MGM can sort out there troubles... Love the styling of the Jag C-X75 and thank you for the departure on the styling away from Aston. GT-R and I'm a Godzilla fan too. Bravo, Fiat Cinquecento, welcome back. Go Buick, GO! Porsche, encore performance as usual.

A few WTF's? CODA, not. Saab, well, sort of like watching Ice melt. Dodge Ram Laramie: I didn't check to see if it had a chewing tobacco loogey compartment. Murano Cross Cabrio - that color is a glamour don't.

Wow, every back wall has multimedia with giant I mean, ginormous screens pounding you with evocative imagery - making the place a surreal live action car magazine slash action lifestyle made for tv movie with interactive 3D ads. The wood, the chrome, the giant ephemeral architecture. Doubling the usable floor space by making two tier lounges and more usable footprint was as inevitable as it is clever. Most marks had mid-model tweaks; pretty light for the most part. Lots of emphasis on personalization, making you car your own. A few things I expected to be there, were not. I guess they have to save something for Detroit...

My criteria for favorite cars: Pick one I can plausibly afford, and pick one that has a reservation in my dream garage.

One I will definitely put on the shopping list: The Chevrolet Camaro Convertible; has nice strokability in the 2SS turnout. I have a fondness for the unapologetic styling and RWD. I would upgrade the exhaust because I think I should reciprocate my neighbors kids noisy escapades that most often conflicts with my schedule. When will it come with a full screen navigation? Not a deal breaker, but it would sure help to ink it.

My intrepid car gossip partner, Troy, nabbed that Speedster for his fav, as I was completely dazzled by the 1955, took the number two on my list: The Audi R8 GT. Just as Troy pointed out, "just in case the standard R8 isn't fast enough," and about as attainable as the Speedster too. Limited production numbers (only about 100 coming to the states) and a MSRP tipping in at 198K. Dropping weight and bumping power, such a huge win. Being in the standard R8 is spectacular and memorable, I just love that they are taking a good thing and making it outrageous. Don't hate me because I'm an Autoslut. Or, you've let the terrorists win.

XOXO,