Want a Sneak Peek at Chrysler's New Model?

Behold, the new Chrysler: the Fiat 500 (2007-present).
Fiat is the Italian automaker that owns Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep. The automotive rumor mill thinks that their 500 is going to come to the U.S. as a Chrysler product.

What's they don't know is whether the 500 coming here as a re-badged Chrysler or if Chrysler is just going to sell it in their dealerships.

I'm leaning toward the second option.

Putting a Chrysler badge on this is like putting a Toyota badge on a Mustang. This 500 is a retro design based on the original Fiat 500 built from 1957-1975.

It's an iconic Italian people's car that's like the VW Beetle or the British Mini.

Naturally, the new one is just an update of the old design.
It's a good looking compact car, a rare breed in the United States.

But, if there's one thing the Italians know besides how to make pasta, it's how to style a car. Even the interior is cool.
While it's mostly plastic, it doesn't look cheap, and the red seats are a great touch.

The best 500, though, is the 500 Abarth.
It's the hot version. The base Abarth makes 135hp, which is 35 more than the standard one. It's not quite like putting a bomb in a shoebox, but it's pretty close.

The interior's great too.
A manual gearbox in a small, European, hatchback makes overdrive absolutely necessary.

It's About Damn Time

When I look at a car company and its products, I look at each product individually, and then judge it on its own merits.

I try to see how it stacks up against the competition and how it fits within a brand.

Which is why I'm so tired of the American media constantly bashing all American cars.

From the way they talk you'd think that GM, Ford, and Chrysler were building fuel sucking, unreliable pieces of junk that can barely crawl off the lot and were designed 70 years ago.

So I'm happy that Consumer Reports, high priest of reliability and self-proclaimed protector of the average buyer, has decreed that Ford is as good as Toyota or Honda.

I've been saying it for the last year and a half, but people didn't seem to believe me.

In fact, their V6 Ford Fusions, Mercury Milans, and Lincoln MKZs beat out the Toyota Camrys and Honda Accords with the same type of engine.

Unfortunately, GM went down in average quality. But their Chevrolet Malibu V6 was rated better than the Accord and Camry. Which is great for them, but they still need to bump up quality across the board.

And Chrysler?

They're almost at the bottom of the list. I'm hoping that they can get their act together quick and turn it around. I'm tired of seeing brands die.

For more in depth reading, Consumer Reports posted part of the article here.

2004 Lexus LFC Concept Images

2004 Lexus LFC Concept PICTURES


2004 Lexus LFC Concept PICS


2004 Lexus LFC Concept PHOTOS

The LF-C provided a hint of the direction Lexus is considering for the next generation IS sports car. The unique hardtop design allows the car to transform itself at the touch of a button from a coupe to a convertible, to a targa or to a speedster, depending on the driver's mood.

"We used a combination of convex and concave surfaces to control the balance of light and shadow on the car which creates this beautiful contrast of having sharp lines within the sculpted exterior surfaces," said Kevin Hunter, vice president of Calty Design Research, Inc. "The idea was to create a sense of strength and softness at the same time, adding an air of mystery."

2004 Lexus LFC Concept IMAGES


2004 Lexus LFC Concept WALLPAPERS

2004 Lexus IS300 SportDesign Edition Pictures

2004 Lexus IS300 SportDesign Edition PICTURES

2004 Lexus IS300 Sport Design MORE PICS ON AUTOTRADER FULL FINANCING AVAILABLE Sport Design . Fully loaded. Still under factory warranty. never seen Maine winter. must see If you re looking at this car you already know what it is Actual color is what Lexus calls. Thunder Cloud Metallic I m an anal car owner My IS300 has been professionally detailed monthly since I ve owned it I m that guy that parks at the end of the parking lot It s never seen road salt in Maine and it shows If you re unfamiliar with the Sport Design model here it is Black Leather Interior not partial. but full . full leather trim seats with piping.

2004 Lexus IS300 SportDesign Edition PICS


2004 Lexus IS300 SportDesign Edition PHOTOS


2004 Lexus IS300 SportDesign Edition IMAGES


2004 Lexus IS300 SportDesign Edition WALLPAPERS

It Floats. Really.

Behold, a better way to not drown when you drive into a lake: the Ampicar (1961-1968).

Designed by Hans Tripple it was built in Lubeck, Germany and proves that the Germans do have a sense of humor. They don't always have to build electrically complicated sports machines that have more computing power than half of NASA.

Let's face it, this is just cool, especially if you have a passenger who doesn't know it can float. Call it schadenfreude, but listening to someone scream that you're going to drown, and then finding out it floats, is amusing.

You'd just have to keep them from looking at the back.

Yes, those are propellers under the rear bumper. The engine powers them through one of the most complicated transmissions known to man. After the car hit the water, the owner had to pull a lever to send power to the propellers.

Unfortunately, it wouldn't always work. So many owners have a paddle in the back seat.

It's not the most beautiful thing in the world, but its functional.

With a maximum of 75hp, this car/boat wasn't made for anything besides cruising...slowly. But, when you're in the water, you have to steer with the front wheels. So the slow speed is probably a good thing.

But, really, this is what the car was made for:
In some ways it's the ultimate toy. It's not practical, it's not fast, it doesn't corner very well, and it's an old car, making reliability a major question.

Still, who wouldn't pay for the ability to drive a car into an ocean and live to tell the tale?

2004 Lexus GS300 Photos

2004 Lexus GS300 PICTURES


2004 Lexus GS300 PICS


2004 Lexus GS300 PHOTOS


2004 Lexus GS300 IMAGES


2004 Lexus GS300 WALLPAPERS

2004 Lexus ES330 Sport Design Wallpapers

2004 Lexus ES330 Sport Design PICTURES

The Lexus ES 330 is the smoothest, quietest car in its class. Smooth and quiet are good because it can be a rough, noisy world out there at times. This quietude can be shared with others. The ES 330 is a four-door mid-size luxury sedan that seats five.

2004 Lexus ES330 Sport Design PICS


2004 Lexus ES330 Sport Design PHOTOS


2004 Lexus ES330 Sport Design IMAGES


2004 Lexus ES330 Sport Design WALLPAPERS

Enough Cool to Make Your Head Explode

Behold, one of the best commercials known to man: the 2005 Ford Mustang ad.

Now, at the end, it does utilize the standard and overused imagery of a car driving really fast along a road. But, this is a great example of commercials targeting a specific audience.

This was the year that Ford launched the retro-styled Mustang. They partially aimed it at the Baby Boomers because, well, Baby Boomers have money, and they'll get the reference.

The other target were car nuts. Putting Steve McQueen back in a Mustang probably made gear-heads all over the world blow out the front of their pants.




That being said, the best part of Bullit is the car chase scene. If not for that part, I believe the movie is simply average.

All the same, this is a great ad.

2003 Lexus LX470 Photos

2003 Lexus LX470 PICTURES

This 2003 Lexus LX470 is stunning in every detail. An immaculate vehicle in Blizzard Pearl white with tan leather interior and only 42.5k miles that will please the most disciminating buyer. It is powered by a 235hp 4.7L V-8 engine that puts out 320 ft-lbs of torque and gets an EPA estimated 13/17 mpg city/highway. It is extremely nicely equipped with: Mark Levinson premium sound system, climate control, digital information center, navigation system, leather interior, dual-front airbags, traction control, stability control, Xenon headlights, electronic suspension control, power heated mirrors, descent control, locking differential (center) and MORE! This vehicle has passed the stringent 161 point inspection and is Certified Pre-Owned and comes with a 3yr/100k mile Lexus Factory warranty, so bid with confidence! You will love everything about this single-owner, non-smoker's vehicle. If this vehicle seriously interests you, please take advantage of our Buy-it-Now feature as all of our eBay vehicles are for sale on our retail lot and may not last the duration of the auction. If you have a question about this or any of our other vehicles, please don't hesitate to call me (Carl) at 703-998-6600 or just email me. Thanks for looking, good luck and happy bidding.

2003 Lexus LX470 PICS


2003 Lexus LX470 PHOTOS


2003 Lexus LX470 IMAGES


2003 Lexus LX470 WALLPAPERS

2003 Lexus IS430 Project Images

2003 Lexus IS430 Project PICTURES

I just recently took a ride with my parents in the new 2010 Camaro with the SS Package. I was fine, but both my parents had turned green, complaining that it was way too bumpy. So for all you mercedes and lexus drivers, don't expect to be riding smooth in the Camaro.

2003 Lexus IS430 Project PICS


2003 Lexus IS430 Project PHOTOS


2003 Lexus IS430 Project IMAGES


2003 Lexus IS430 Project WALLPAPERS

2003 Lexus GX470 Wallpapers

2003 Lexus GX470 PICTURES

Have a look-see at this 1999 Toyota RAV4. This 4x4 SUV is in great shape, has a 4 cylinder engine, automatic transmission, power brakes/windows/steering/locks, A/C, radio, rear defrost, and just 74,160 miles. VIN: SXAA10227072. It was formerly used as a law enforcement vehicle but is now being offered up to the public as surplus. To learn how to bid on this great deal or countless other surplus SUV auctions then we suggest you register with us now.

2003 Lexus GX470 PICS


2003 Lexus GX470 PHOTOS


2003 Lexus GX470 IMAGES


2003 Lexus GX470 WALLPAPERS

2006 Mini Concept Detroit

2006 Mini Concept Detroit PICTURES

It almost goes without saying that MINI Concept Detroit offers ade­quate space for four, the front seats swivelling to the side for easy and convenient access to the rear. And when tilted down, the rear seats form a flat surface flush with the floor of the luggage compartmen

2006 Mini Concept Detroit PICS


2006 Mini Concept Detroit PHOTOS


2006 Mini Concept Detroit IMAGES


2006 Mini Concept Detroit WALLPAPERS