Seen but not photographed, Volvo SUV

This had a suspension that appeared to be independent and more robust than most.  Other than that, it was a fat brick.  It answers the question, "What if Lotus tuned an ox cart?"

When a trend has run its course.

BMW Bankruptcy

Their design is bankrupt.  I just saw their two disgusting SUV's in a caravan again, still clad by Here-Comes-A-Prototype!®.

At that moment, I made an immediate editorial decision: BMW no longer exists.

I will reevaluate my decision in a year.  It's funny to write about a bad car once in a while, but tracking their missteps is too much work.

Seen but not photographed: BMW SUV again.

This one was headed the other way.  I didn't have time to get out my camera.  I wouldn't have noticed it, but for the efforts of the friendly people at Here-Comes-A-Prototype®.  This time, the car was silver, with some wrapped accents on the front and back, and following the overly slanted line down the side.  This BMW not only looks ungainly, it looks improbably cheap.  Is tawdry next?

Suddenly, it's 1996!

Bill Clinton isn't cruising by Bob Dole tonight, but BMW sets the pace with fatter and fatter SUV's.  I saw one today.  The great techniblackandwhite yawn that wrapped the thing magnified the problems.  There are so many misshapen surfaces. It's so big. Has anyone at BMW ever seen a sports sedan? Are they expecting cheap gas? 

Toureg Hybrid

How did SUVs get their name? What sport could they possibly be used for? Their high ground clearance limits their utility, because it means a lower carrying capacity. Very few of them have any off-road capability. The only letter in the acronym with any justification is the "V," because they are vehicles.

With that in mind, here is the VW Toureg hybrid. I wonder why anyone would bother with a hybrid drive train on an affront to the laws of physics such as this. The big tires offer high rolling resistance. Elevating the vehicle means sacrifices in aerodynamics.

Still, this isn't anyone's fault. Mutual copying is the way of the business. Lexus SUV hybrids come to mind.

Seen but not photographed: Mercedes loaf of bread.

Some neighbors used to have a VW bus with a personalized license plate that said, "LOAFIE." A box with rounded corners is as valid a shape as any, but there are different connotations. What's fun for a cheap van undermines the intent of a status symbol.

The Mercedes I saw looked like most of their other SUVs in the US. Most look like loaves of bread, while there are a few G-wagens that are high crisp boxes.

There are a few possibilities I can think of for this one.

1. A future drivetrain for Mercedes or a related company is being tested. Underneath, it could be a 2017 Toureg, Cayenne or whatever.

2. This is the future of Mercedes styling. The iPhone is inspired by German design, and this SUV anticipates the advent of a fat iPhone, a loaPhone, that also doubles as a server.

3. It's an older prototype. The driving company has to return it soon, but they use it to run errands in the meantime.