Former GM vice-chairman offers an insider’s look at a once proud industry. Bob Lutz is one of the most colorful, if not controversial figures in the automotive industry today. Although he officially retired from General Motors in 2010, ending a 47-year automotive career that also began with GM and included … Read more
Engine swap book for performance enthusiasts. The essential American performance engine title has changed hands a very few amount of times over the last 80 years. Without question, the Ford V-8 engine, also known as the Flathead, was the essential centerpiece of any V-8 hot rod beginning in 1932. With … Read more
We’ve all heard that pickup trucks are some of the worst offenders when it comes to gas mileage. To hear the media tell it, pickup trucks are tremendous low-tech gas guzzlers that waste fuel in the worst possible way…but is this true? Is this another case of the media … Read more
Automotive history books offer fascinating looks at the evolution of the ever important automobile. Books focusing on a single manufacturer show the design changes throughout the years, and each progressive generation demonstrates an improvement in refinement and looks. A book tracing the history of the Ford Motor Company, for instance, … Read more
America’s purely original art forms are rather limited. While American poets, play writes and painters have left their marks on art and society, their crafts were not of purely American invention. America’s greatest contributions to popular culture and art are undoubtedly film, jazz and the automobile. Jazz of course, is … Read more
Mercedes is about to pull the veil off of an important subcompact car, its A-Class concept, which will be unveiled at a pair of auto shows in Shanghai and New York this month. As has been the trend in recent months, Daimler AG has posted sketch work of this proposed … Read more
Small trucks have never really found lasting success in the American market. It certainly hasn’t been from lack of trying – major automakers as diverse as Volkswagen, Toyota and even domestic players like Ford and Chevrolet have all tried their hand at selling U.S. drivers on the idea of a true compact pickup, … Read more
Often described as the pinnacle of motorsport, the Formula 1 world championship provides an extraordinary level of technology. The races used to be very exciting as well, but modern aerodynamics and technical circuits have made passing a thing of the past. Still, on occasion, and usually at an old European … Read more
Before 2010, the Hyundai Sonata was a “ho-hum” if not downright unappealing midsize sedan. In its earlier years, that didn’t matter as much because the competition offered much of the same. However, if Hyundai was to differentiate itself from the pack, then offering a vehicle that was stunningly different would … Read more
Sibling to the Jeep Liberty, the Dodge Nitro was introduced for the model year 2007, a five-passenger unibody sport utility vehicle designed for on- and off-road use. Like the Liberty, the Nitro goes places most modern SUVs cannot go; unlike the Liberty, this Nitro has an edgy, retro look representing … Read more
Today is the first of two media days for the 2011 Chicago Auto Show with Friday the official start of the public segment. From February 11-20, 2011, Chicagoland residents will be able to take in what organizers say is the largest and longest-running auto show in the nation. Earlier today, we … Read more
Very much a rags to riches story, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing went from a few dirt tracks to big time business in less than half a century. Given the rather long name, it’s no wonder the acronym, NASCAR, now describes the league, the cars and a … Read more
After several weeks of debate, I decided to make the plunge: I bought myself a MINI Cooper. Like most first-timers, I was hesitant. Do good things really come in small packages? Here are a few things you might not know about owning a MINI Cooper. 1. THE MESSAGE. The marketing doesn’t … Read more
Truck tires are broken down into a broad range of categories. To decide what kind of tires to install on your truck you really need to consider a few things before jumping into a decision, perhaps regretting your purchase if you act in haste. First, ask yourself a few questions. … Read more
A working pair of car wiper blades are a must for any vehicle. When blades are worn, they’ll streak, smear and skip, and won’t adequately clear your windshield. You need to have maximum visibility when driving – worn blades should be replaced immediately. Winter can present challenges to your wiper … Read more
Chevrolet’s Corvette has been around since 1953, one of the most enduring model names of all time. Only in 1983 did the world miss out on a brand new Corvette, as General Motors worked through quality problems and production delays to bring out its fourth generation model in 1984. Six … Read more
While I only attended two major auto shows this year (the NY Auto Show and SEMA), I’ve noticed a growing trend towards “flat” or matte paint finishes…or vinyl wraps that are meant to look like a matte paint finish. While some might argue this “trend” isn’t really a trend – … Read more
Younger readers probably won’t remember Steve McQueen, the Hollywood actor who died in 1980 from mesothelioma. Avid car enthusiasts know who McQueen is, at least they recognize him as the Lt. Frank Bullitt in the 1968 classic car chase movie, Bullitt. That movie featured what is perhaps the best car chase … Read more
I am not nor have I ever been interested in designing cars myself. But, that does not mean I am not interested in what a car looks like, especially its exterior visage. Just one glance is all it takes when I survey a car – it may possess a stunning … Read more
Automotive design has had its shining moments, something we still see today in select Italian sports cars, German luxury sedans and, if I daresay, in America’s current drove of pony cars. There was a season from the late 1960s to the early 1990s, when most cars were predictable and uninspiring, … Read more
Do you have a need for speed? We hear you! There is nothing that compares to getting behind the wheel of your favorite ride and zipping down the highway. No, wait – let’s amend that statement! There is nothing that compares to getting behind the wheel of a race car … Read more
Who is going to argue with PPG? The former Pittsburgh Paint and Glass company is the world’s leading supplier of paint finishes to the auto industry and has been tracking color trends since 1990. Paint Trends The silver family — consisting of silver, grey and charcoal — has always been … Read more
I am not the biggest fan of books comprised merely of compilations of short stories written by different authors. Most of these books seem to offer a mishmash of writing styles and story ideas, taking the reader all over the place. But, that is precisely the charm found in “Life … Read more
This handheld cleaner gets the job done. I was given the chance to review a new handheld vacuum cleaner this month, jumping on the opportunity when I learned that the product was cordless and made by Dyson. Dyson is a manufacturer of household vacuum products, known for their chic design, suction … Read more
Built Ford Tough The most storied name in the world of pickup trucks is the Ford F-Series, a broad line of full-sized trucks introduced by the Ford Motor Company for the 1948 model year. More than six decades later the Ford F-150 and related trucks are the best-selling trucks in … Read more
We automotive writers will sometimes use language most everyday folks don’t understand. That’s a problem, because when you’re attempting to explain something in simple language, automotive jargon can creep in and leave the reader wondering what you are talking about. Big Six Auto Trends Magazine attempts to keep the language … Read more
Behind the Wheel With the Great Automobile Aficionados Automotive aficionados have helped shape the car industry we see today, men and women who possess a passion for speed, styling, engineering and technology. Without their exuberance and particularly their “need for speed,” today’s cars wouldn’t be much faster than a horse-drawn … Read more
Based on an article from the July 26th edition of Automotive News, it seems that start-up automaker Tesla plans is to sell cars the same way that Apple sells iPods. Tesla won’t have dealer showrooms – they’ll have manufacturer-owned “galleries.” Tesla won’t have service departments – they have field technicians called … Read more
Hyundai continues to challenge the market. The medium size sedan market, or D-segment, is a crowded field. The Toyota Camry and Honda Accord are the two biggest sellers, but both Ford and Chevrolet have enjoyed success in recent years with their Fusion and Malibu models respectively. Every automaker fields at … Read more
Electric cars, are they really better? Vehicle electrification is in the news thanks to recent announcements of the planned launch of several electric-powered vehicles, including the Nissan Leaf, Fisker Karma and the Ford Transit Connect EV. Electric vehicles offer distinct advantages over their gas-powered counterparts although their price premium can offset some of those … Read more