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Where do we go from here?
Posted July 8, 2008
It seemed like things could never get any better in car culture. Just when it seemed the 500-horsepower BMW M5 was the pinnacle of performance sedans, the Bugatti Veyron brought us 1,000 bhp and a sub-3 second 0-60 time. The Camaro was resurrected for the first time since 2002, and the Dodge Charger and Challenger made triumphant returns -- with Hemi V-8s.
Then it happened. Prices at the pumps seemed to be tethered to a Saturn V rocket, and no one had any explanation. At least no intelligible one, anyway. And while our empty-headed president and pandering politicians argue it over, nearly all the Big Three find themselves staring down the precipice of oblivion. Think it sucked when Oldsmobile was killed? Let's see what happens when the rest of General Motors -- and every other domestic automaker -- follows it (I hope I'm being grossly pessimistic, since I think GM has made the biggest strides of the Detroit Trio in terms of quality and enthusiast vehicles).
Even though we've seen the greatest cars in 100 years hit our shores (WRX STI, Lancer Evolution, Mark V GTI, etc.), people flocked to the SUV set, with every automaker -- even Porsche -- building one of those hideous, glorified station wagons. Think of it as wasted horsepower and overestimated utility. All the while -- thanks to SUVs -- the CAFE regulations for cars are ratcheting up, threatening to suck all the life out of cars. Again. The question is: Will they be held to the same stringent fuel economy standards? Heavy-duty pickups (think Ford F-350) don't even have to list gas mileage on their window stickers! Thankfully, we'll be seeing fewer of those tin eyesores, if there is an upside to higher fuel costs.
Whether it's the fault of crude oil speculators or gluttonous consumption from China and India (seems like they're taking a page from our book), we'll likely see fewer decent vehicles down the pike -- if the '70s were any indication. Let's hope it isn't. One thing's for sure: Don't go looking for 300-horsepower Camrys and 500-horsepower Escalades any time soon.
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Posted by MassachusettsLiberal (Massachusetts Liberal) on July 9, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That's what American automakers get for devoting their technology departments to engineering muscle. Just look at how far 0-60 times have dropped.
Maybe this decade, they can focus on engineering better fuel economy.
Posted by Becky.Wilhoit (Becky Wilhoit) on July 9, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have to say I love my for Explorer, but it's purely for the practicality of hauling my dog around and keeping my head from hitting the ceiling (I'm a tall gal).
However, I can see your point. World-class acceleration isn't as big a consideration once you start buying your own gas. The Explorer is spending a lot more time in the driveway these days...
Posted by ApathyFades (Marc Palardy) on July 10, 2008 at 12:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think grossly pessimistic is correct. First of all, it’s not only an American car manufacturer, but also a GLOBAL corporation. In the United States, it may struggle against the quality of imports from Germany and Japan, but abroad, GM ‘s overseas brands have no problem at all. Why? In order to survive in markets in Europe and Australia, they had to adjust to the demands of their customers. That meant building vehicles that are competitive with their domestic markets that deliver quality, technology, and economy, which are very important attributes in the face of high pump prices.
On a side note, Road and Track magazine ran a cover story that featured ten of the best performing cars per gallon. Utilizing an ingenious formula, the editors calculated the accumulated performance stats (0-60, ¼ mile, skidpad) and divided the product by their accumulated fuel economy stats (avg. mpg, tank size, range). Some very big surprises popped up. Amongst the three American cars that made the list, all were GM products! The Pontiac Solstice GXP, Chevrolet Corvette Z51, and Chevrolet Cobalt SS represented the three most fun and frugal domestic vehicles. Even better, the most unlikely of the bunch, the Cobalt, ranked the highest score! This was amongst fun fuel sippers like the Mini Cooper S and the Mazda MX-5! Just goes to show you that with a little bit of R&D, Americans can create world-class driving machines.
So even with high fuel prices, there’s no shortage of fun to be found. This is no way like the 1970s where cubic inches were the only measure of fun. Technology and engineering have come a long way. I would say that the current gas crisis has resulted in a new Golden Age of real driver’s cars.
Posted by MikeMcMillan (anonymous) on July 10, 2008 at 4:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I've been a big fan of the new Cobalt SS. It's a true sleeper.
Posted by ApathyFades (Marc Palardy) on July 11, 2008 at 10:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hell, yes! In fact, if I were ever to come into the ownership of a Turbo SS, I might go as far as ordering Cobalt LS tail lamps from the GM catalogue. After removing the rear wing, debadging the entire car and installing those lamps, it'd look extra low-key!