Design Notes
2010s
Design Notes
Tesla Model S’s rear styling is a fine mess
The Tesla Model S is an interesting mix of clean sheet metal surfaces dressed up with complex detailing. The taillight treatment is the car’s least successful design element — it’s gimmicky rather than elegant. Part of […]
History
When GM was king and 10 million was blue sky
Keith Crain’s prevously-mentioned Automotive News column illustrates how dramatically expectations have changed about industry volume. In 2014 sales hit 16.5 million units. That was only good for ninth place in the record books. Crain (2014) noted that […]
Random Shots
Media Analysis
Automotive News muffles the alarm
Keith Crain is the closest thing the American auto industry has to a minister of groupthink, so it is worth noting when the editor-in-chief of Automotive News furrows his brow. In a late-December column he criticized […]
Readings
Jeep: The History of America’s Greatest Vehicle
In a vague sense this book is an update of The Story of Jeep (Foster, 1998). However, like Patrick R. Foster’s other recent books, Jeep: America’s Greatest Vehicle, is much more graphically oriented. While not quite as large […]
Drive-By Musings
A paler shade of green?
Did you hear the one about the Ram 1500 diesel beating Ford’s aluminum-bodied F-150 for the 2015 Green Truck of the Year Award? “The Ram 1500 EcoDiesel exemplifies what a ‘green’ truck should be,” said Ron Cogan, […]
Photo Essay
Moon over automotive non-place
Olympia is a small capital city located at the southern edge of the Puget Sound in Washington state. On the west side of downtown is a boardwalk and marina. This is a tranquil place, with a panoramic view of […]
Drive-By Musings
And now it’s time for alphanumeric ridicule
The Truth About Cars Managing Editor Derek Kreindler (2014) recently pointed out that new Cadillac boss Johan De Nysschen is repeating what he did at his previous gig with Infiniti — moving the brand’s headquarters and changing […]
Random Shots