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About Me
Isn't this meadow soothing? Let's pave a road through it! I'm James Riswick and these are my random thoughts published daily. Recent Posts
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CarSpace Thoughts from the CurbCar Reviews, News and Random Thoughts from Edmunds.com Automotive Editor James Riswick Feb 13, 2009 - BMW 5 Series GT: An AMC Eagle for the 21st Century
BMW used to be the peddler of simple sedans and coupes. A convertible was thrown in occasionally. Now there are sedans, coupes, convertibles, wagons, roadsters, SUVs, sport utility coupes and now an AMC Eagle. BMW released the official images of its 5 Series GT Liftback to be unveiled at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show. It is dubbed a concept, but what you see here is incredibly close to the final version. (Read the full story on Inside Line News) It will be priced and sized in between the 5 and 7 Series, "pitched at customers seeking a raised seating position who may be uncomfortable with the idea of image of a conventional crossover SUV." Sounds like a Venza to me. But Jiminy, look at the thing -- especially from the rear three-quarter view. That does not look pretty. Sure, you could say it looks like a BMW Prius (or maybe a huge Saab 9000) but I'm going with an AMC Eagle in overall concept. The Eagle and 5 Series GT are both taller than conventional wagons, shorter than SUVs, have all-wheel drive and sport a sloping rear roofline. Heck, look at the BMW's interior trappings, they look time warped from the '70s. Is there really a market for this sort of vehicle -- whatever it is? Given the economy, it is hard to tell how the X6 and Venza (two other bizarre SUV-ish concepts) have done in the marketplace. And even if the concept is sound, especially the trick double tailgate, is it too ugly for its own good? -James Riswick
Feb 9, 2009 - 2010 Ford Ranger: More Safety Stuff, Rear 'Seat' Still Deathtrap
The Ford Ranger (pictured above), which rides on a platform introduced the year I was born, receives more standard safety equipment for 2010. Side airbags and roll stability control are now graciously included with every Ranger. But have you ever peaked at the Ranger's IIHS crash score? What, you haven't? Lazy ass. Any way, the government tested a Ranger extended cab with the inward-facing drop down rear seats. The IIHS chose not to even award the truck with a side rear rating because "the rear jump seats ... are not recommended for safe transport." In other words, you might as well strap down some lawn furniture into the bed. Although, to be fair, those new airbags are bound to improve the Ranger's "Poor" front passenger torso protection and "Marginal" overall score. In other Ranger news, Ford is quick to advertise it as the "most fuel efficient truck in America" thanks to its 143 hp four-cylinder that returns 26 mpg on the highway. Bravo, the same highway fuel economy as a Corvette from an engine as powerful as a Civic. I'm not sure if that says more about that engine or the fuel efficiency of trucks in America. Either way, Ford's got to replace that dinosaur. -James Riswick
Feb 6, 2009 - Carbon E7: Reason No. 1 to Serve and Protect
If there was ever a reason to join the police force, this is it. Other than the Italian highway patrol's Gallardo cruiser, this is clearly the coolest police cruiser ever. Straightline has the full story about the Carbon E7, which is a bespoke car designed specifically for law enforcement purposes. I too doubt they could produce it for the same price as a Charger, but if I was a cop, I'd want to roll in one of these. The prospect of spending my life in a Crown Victoria would be enough to never ever ever ever consider a career in law enforcement -- the idea of dealing with criminals, drunks, annoying neighbors and society in general would be another factor. For the nation's police, I hope the Carbo E7 happens. However, let's be honest, they'll probably just end up using the E7s to pay off the cost of the E7s. In other words, by 2012, you'd better stick to 34 in a 35, keep that Bluetooth in your ear and stick that front license plate on. -James Riswick
Jan 29, 2009 - Consumers Heed Brooke Shields' Advice; Routan on Hold
Score a big victory for parenting advocate Brooke Shields, who urged couples to have children for love, not the German engineering found in Volkswagen's Routan. (Of course, there's nothing remotely German engineered about the Routan, but that's neither here nor there.) Apparently, people have been opting to indeed have children for love and hold off on their purchase of a Routan because Volkswagen has ordered Chrysler to stop production at its Windsor, Ontario, factory. This is obviously a huge victory for parenting groups, family advocates, the core of society, and Shields. Past Brooke Shields victories included successfully keeping her boobs covered with hair in the "Blue Lagoon" and convincing Andre Agassi to "just let go" of his super 80s mullet. -James Riswick (See Brooke Shields hard at work in her family advocacy at VW.com/routan. It's quite funny, especially the credits at the end)
Jan 26, 2009 - Sneak Peak: 2011 Chrysler MiTo and 2011 Dodge Grizzly
Here's an exclusive sneak peak at the Chrysler version of the Alfa Romeo MiTo, which was hinted today over at Straightline. My top-secret source (let's call him Luigi Iacocca) says the Chrysler edition's name hasn't been finalized. Omni and Neon have been ruled out due to potential national PTASD relapse (Post-Traumatic Automotive Stress Disorder). Actually, I don't think the Chrysler badge looks that bad in the classic Alfa grille. Could you imagine a world where Chryslers looked like Alfas rather than the Sebring? Their dealers could only hope. 
And then there's the 2011 Dodge Grizzly, based on the Fiat Panda. Looks awesome, don't it? Seriously, though, how much you want to bet the actual Dodge version of the Panda looks exactly like this Photoshop job I did in 3 minutes? -James Riswick
Jan 21, 2009 - Fiat+Chrysler: I Have Hope ... But Not Much
I'd love to think that the Chrysler-Fiat alliance means that a flood of little Italian hatchbacks and sexy Italian Alfas will soon be arriving on our shores. I'd love to think that soon American factories will stop producing Calibers (sorry, I know its a dirty word), Sebrings (that's worse), Avengers and Jeep Compasses in favor of Cinquecentos, Pandas and Grande Puntos (never mind the Alfa 159 and Alfa Mito). Oh, what a glorious world that would be. But I'm sure that won't happen. Other than the Mini-like Cinquecento (500), I don't see Americans buying little hatchbacks -- no matter how good they may be. People would rather own an Avenger because its a sedan and consider hatchbacks ugly and/or for poor people. I just shed a tear, like that Indian standing at the garbage dump. Therein lies the rub of this merger. Fiat may be able to provide good, small, fuel efficient cars to Chrysler who can in-turn sell and build them in America, but will Americans buy them? And Fiat doesn't sell the sort of midsize sedans Americans would want to buy. Oh, they make a couple Lancias, but those aren't much better than an Avenger (they're certainly uglier). So while I have hope for the Chrysler-Fiat deal, it's only the sort of hope that has allowed me to watch the Toronto Blue Jays these past 15 years. -James Riswick
Jan 20, 2009 - Audi and Prada Join Forces
Audi and Prada Join Forces ... I guess because the Audi R8 Eddie Bauer Edition would seem a little weird, right? -James Riswick
Jan 19, 2009 - Fiat + Chrysler, Now That's an Idea
Straightline has a report from Automotive News speculating about a possible Fiat-Chrysler partnership. I'd say this actually makes sense. Fiat makes good little cars, specifically the Panda, which also underpins the awesome little Fiat 500 and the new Ford Ka (along with being James May's personal car). This platform could serve to make half-decent Chrysler small cars that are in no way related to the Caliber. It could also provide a means for Fiat to return to America along with Alfa Romeo. We car guys have yearned for those sexy Alfas for about 10 years now, while the latest crop of good small Fiats makes sense in today's economic and energy climate. I for one, really really really want to drive the 500. However, Americans must forget about the joke acronym Fix It Again Tony and the brand's dodgy reliability record that drove them from these shores. Suddenly being built by Chrysler factories is unlikely to restore confidence. Fiat also technically owns Maserati, so nightmares of the Chrysler TC (aka Maserati LeBaron) will come flooding back to car guys everywhere. It's an interesting idea and the first that actually makes a case for saving Chrysler for something other than jobs. -James Riswick
Jan 16, 2009 - Gas Prices Going Up? We Can Only Speculate
Last week over on the Strategies blog, I shared a 60 Minutes piece about a New York state district attorney who successfully prosecuted a drunken driver with second degree murder (which prompted that DA's office to e-mail our PR staff asking for my phone number. Still waiting for the call, weird). Anyway, this 60 Minutes piece was equally fascinating, delving into oil speculation and how it has caused this year's wildly fluctuating gas prices. With them going up once again, this seems even more appropriate. -James Riswick
Jan 15, 2009 - A Little Farewell to Khan
Khan Noonian Singh died 279 years from now when the Genesis torpedo exploded aboard the U.S.S. Reliant. Everyone knows that. But sadly, Ricardo Montalban died yesterday and I'd be remiss if I didn't honor him with a few items from the YouTube. Adios good sir, you will not be forgotten. -James Riswick
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