Cheap Fraud from Subaru

Lots of companies play tricks with their prototypes like this, but this one is from Subaru.  Yes, it's part of the extended coverage, but too many of the same headline makes things hard to find.

Notice the mirror that's too small.  Notice how the roof is the same piece as the front quarter panel!  The only thing that's feasable (done before) is the lack of door handles.  In person, you can see that they innovated by copying Tesla!  Yes, they are planning integrated door handles, now that someone else has done them for years.  Also, the window tint is too dark to be legal in most places.

This is what makes the auto industry frustrating.  Their people have the training to innovate, but instead, they just do stupid things like this every year.

2015 Los Angeles Auto Show, Extended Coverage

Sometimes, you like a car right away.  I have always liked the Chevy Aveo.  It gets bad reviews in the US and good ones in other countries.  The Spark is the same way.  The Aveo is the Sonic in the US.  At least it's not the Whopper.

2015 Los Angeles Auto Show, Extended Coverage

Here's another one from the "Are they still here?" Department.  Smart Cars are still on the market!  Easy to park, nippy, lots of good things.  It's too bad that car buyers are taking current cheap gas prices personally and making other choices.  They'll be surprised later, but Smart buyers won't.

Seen But Not Photographed: Ferrari 3000 GT

I saw a new Ferrari that looks like an old Mitsubishi 3000 GT, which had been designed to look like a Ferrari.  Why is Ferrari still in the car business?  They run a theme park.  They used to lead in style, but did they ever lead in anything other than winning races?   Now, Ferrari is just a logo and some cans of red paint.

Automotive Predictions for 2016

Since nothing happens in the auto industry, we're recycling the predictions from 2 years ago.  Don't worry, all of them came true.  You can bet on them again.

http://prototypepics.blogspot.com/2013/12/automotive-predictions-for-2014.html

Lexus Hoverboard!

They said it was real, but one wonders.  They had a virtual reality booth where you could ride one.  Still, this piece of wood was more interesting than most of the cars at the auto show.

2015 Los Angeles Auto Show, Extended Coverage

I have mentioned what's wrong with Italian design in general.  Here's what's wrong with Alfa in particular.  While the sports car and the sedan exaggerate the point, it's still valid.  In 1965 Alfa stood for many things in terms of design and engineering.  The 2016 Giulia shows why this company should close.  It is a Camry that lacks the excitement of the original.  The reliability is most likely missing as well.  Alfa-Romeo is over.