Jalopnik: Usa

Official Car Pundit Drinking Game: Early In The Morning Edition

Ray Wert — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:25:08 EDT

I'll be on NPR's The Bryant Park Project tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM talking about whether Japanese automakers create more environmentally friendly cars than American automakers. My answer will be a resounding no. Feel free to play along with some early morning shots of mimosa and some new rules in the comments below. If all of this sounds unfamiliar to you, read through this for the gist of it. [Bryant Park Project]

Americans Crossing The Border For Mexican Gas, Tom Tancredo Under Suicide Watch

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 30 May 2008 11:20:00 EDT

We miss the golden days of our innocent past when people crossed that glorious border into Mexico for tequila, weed and whores. Then their laborers started creeping across the border into our country in larger numbers. As revenge, we passed NAFTA and sent all of our jobs to Mexico. Suckers. But now Mexico has something of the non-illicit variety that we pine for: cheap gas. Residents in Southern California near the border can, for instance, cross into Tijuana for gas as cheap as $2.75 a gallon, as opposed to upwards of $4.00 on the US side. Diesel fuel is almost half as expensive in Mexico.

Said one Mexican resident, "I'm tired of these dry backs crossing into OUR country to take OUR fuel. If they're not smart enough to take care of their economy I don't get why we have to support them." Check it out, an entire post about Mexican gas without a taco joke. Victory! [NBC San Diego, Photo: RunOfTheWorld]

2008 Suzuki Swift: Around The Block

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EDT

When we found out Suzuki had an event with a Euro-only 2008 Suzuki Swift just a short distance from Chicago we jumped at the chance to take it for a quick spin. A volume seller in Europe, Asia and other markets, the Swift has a mostly inglorious past here in the states as the almost indistinguishable cousin of the Geo Metro between 1995 and 2001. Anyone who has driven either might wonder what made us so excited about the prospect of driving this particular Swift. There are two reasons. The first is that there's more than an ocean's worth of difference between that Swift of old and this completely reworked global compact car. The second reason is that although this particular version wasn't meant for American consumption, one similar to it will be here as a U.S.-spec model. Also, I'm not crazy enough to pass on an opportunity to drive one of the only two new Swifts in the US.

A little background. The event was part of a series taking place around the country meant primarily for Suzuki dealers to show off the new SX4 Sport model. Coming along for the ride is the Kizashi 3 concept car, one of the Suzuki Equator pre-production concepts and the Swift Suzuki was kind enough to let us drive. Though sporting a bright orange metallic paint and wheels of questionable origin, this car was a fairly standard mid-level version, sporting the 1.5-liter fourbanger good for about 100 horsepower. Though they have a five-speed manual version back at HQ, this particular model unfortunately carried the four-speed automatic.

Until we start seeing new Fiestas or Mazda2s on the street, sporty and small Euro-style econoboxes are still a rare site. Though there are Mini Coopers and the occasional Smart ForTwo in urban areas, Americans aren't necessarily used to this quality of design from their smaller vehicles.

Given that the Swift name has been used on enough rebadgings to make your head swim, the car benefits from carrying little aesthetic baggage, allowing the designers the freedom to make a car that looks sharp without having to pay homage to any of the crap coming before it. With the exception of the nose of the car featuring grille and fender work inline with the new and sporty Suzuki design language, the car can stand on its own. The high belt line, which looks out-of-place on certain small cars (we're looking at you, Chevy HHR), manages to give the Swift a larger, more athletic presence. The blacked out A and B pillars also help, minimizing focus towards that part of the greenhouse in a way that carries your eyes away from noticing just how small that rear window is. Compare this to an Aveo, which looks small from any angle (hilariously, the Aveo in Canada is marketed as the Swift).

The interior is straightforward and simple, which is what you expect for a car this size. The three-spoke steering wheel isn't cartoonishly large and is even slightly sporty thanks to the ribbons of chrome-looking plastic which also support the thumb controls. The audio and climate control buttons are tiny, leaving the impression that the interior is actually larger than it is. For an economy car the materials aren't insulting and even a sensitive claustrophobic could survive a short trip (for comparison, the five-door Swift is approximately as wide and long as a first generation MINI but with a three-inch shorter wheelbase).

Like many small cars this one is more fun batting around corners than down the straightaway, especially with the automatic transmission. Nevertheless, the little 1.5-liter engine features Suzuki's version of variable valve timing, allowing for a slightly more aggressive power delivery when accelerating. Tossing the Swift around a 90-degree turn at speed was no problem with the little hatch able to main sufficient traction to keep us pointed in the right direction. There's a little lean when turning aggressively, but it's nothing out of the ordinary.

Over uneven roads the ride was a touch bumpy, but not enough to cause premature labor for any pregnant passengers. Braking? The Swift weighs approximately 2,400 pounds (a bit more with two souls on board), meaning the rear drums are more than able to slow us down before we go rolling off of an embankment or into another car during hard braking.

In the cab on the way back to the train station my driver retold a tale of his old Fiesta. As embarrassed as he was to drive it, he says he rarely had as much fun behind the wheel. The nice thing about the Swift is it's a small, quick and most importantly for the buying demographic — cheap car that you wouldn't be embarrassed to drive. Add to that gas-sipping on par or better than some of the more thirstier hybrids and you've got a car that'll embarrass cheaper-looking alternatives like the Toyota Yaris and the Kia Rio. Just because you're on a budget, it doesn't mean you should settle for crap. If this Swift is a good indicator of the Swift to come, budget buyers at least have a little something more to look forward to.

[ED Note: This car is a foreign-import version of the Suzuki Swift, meaning that there could be significant differences between the version tested and the eventual US Version. That being said, the car should give an indication of what we have to expect from a new Swift]

Now You, Too, Can Own Your Very Own Professional Drifter

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 09:30:00 EDT

There's not much history to drifting in America... yet. Here's a chance to get in on the ground floor of automobilia by purchasing Takahiro Ueno's D1GP USA-spec Toyota Soarer (aka Lexus SC 400). With no drifting series for 2008 there is suddenly a need to sell the drift machines, making it one of the fastest ways to get into highly-tuned JDM metal. There's no word on price, but we're guessing it won't be cheap, especially after looking at the parts list. Better description below the jump.

JZZ30 TOYOTA SOARER D1 SPECIAL VERTEX RIDGE 30 SOARER Yes, you read that correctly. Vertex USA would like to announce Mr. Takahiro Ueno's famous D1 USA Vertex Soarer is up for sale! For SERIOUS inquiries only, please call our offices at: 888-3-Vertex ext. 401. Below are images and specs of this D1 legendary drift machine.
The JZZ30 Soarer is established perfection with [VERTEX] Body Kit and it reminiscence GT500 racing car. The bonnet and Doors are made by Carbon Fiber and all the windows replaced to Acrylic Windows to achieve lightweight special car. Front Bumper Canards and Front Aero Fenders manufactured to give effective aerodynamics and engine cooling. They also produce wide and aggressive visual. All the parts are balanced each other and fitted to make best potential of JZZ30 Soarer.

[Vertex USA via JPCN]

Canadians Taking American Cars, Leaving Barenaked Ladies

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 14:30:00 EST

With the U.S. dollar falling even with Canadian currency, our northern neighbors are going loonie for American cars... or at least cars sold in America. According to the North American Automobile Trade Association, there's been a 68% increase in cross-border sales since September. This currency fluctuation provides another impetus for Canadians &mdash they already feel cheated when it comes to buying new cars, often paying thousands more than Americans for the same automobile.

In response, dealerships across Canada are lowering prices, offering cash incentives and giving out free hockey tickets. We're just waiting for a cross-border car accident between a Canadian driving his new Porsche and an American driving a Suburban loaded with prescription drugs. NAFTA! [National Post]

Top Gear Coming To US With Clarkson, Hammond And May Sitting In The Driver's Seat?

Ray Wert — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 11:30:44 EDT

BBC News is reporting, via The Sun, that the BBC (how metadorable!) is in talks (again) to take the show over the big pond to their colonial shores. More importantly, based upon the report from The Sun, rather than picking up a rag-tag group of 'merican autonistas to front the show, they're planning on just importing the current A-team over here. If the reports are true (we've heard them like a million times...this week) it would mean Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May would be creating a

"...US show...the same as the UK version, but focusing on American cars, such as Cadillacs."

Boy am I glad to hear that the culmination of the BBC's knowledge of 'merican cars consists entirely of "Cadillacs."

BBC Top Gear in US TV deal talks [BBC.co.uk]

Mazda Says Screw You USA And Europe, Seeks 23% Increase In Global Sales

Ray Wert — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 10:20:34 EDT

I guess it must be yet another example of the overall cost of manufacturing in the US and European automotive markets when a company like Mazda's looking to boost global sales by a ginormous 23%, and not base those sales advances on expanding production in either of those markets. Of course, it could be because they didn't learn from that whole Cougar Ace thing. Or, you know, maybe FoMoCo's still of the belief you can't make stuff here in the US profitably. Sure, that makes sense, although some would believe it's because FoMoCo can't find a way to get lean enough. Of course you could turn it the other way and say that if ToMoCo-light can't get lean enough to build cars over here using lean manufacturing, maybe that whole "lean" thing may not be the only issue separating US and Nipponese automakers. But, whatevs, our head hurts, and there's still more to talk about. Specifically, sales growth isn't the only goal in what they're calling the "Mazda Advancement Plan." The specific MAP to the future in addition to sales growth, is below the jump.

* Achieve an operating profit of more than 200 billion yen, or $1.70 billion at current exchange rates;
* Achieve a consolidated return on sales of 6 percent; and

* Achieve a stable payout of dividends.

* Keep the mullet in North America.

Ok, so we added that last one, but whatevs, it's probably sorta kinda possibly true. – Ray Wert

Mazda targets 23 percent boost in global sales (sub. req.) [Automotive News]

Obvious!

Ray Wert — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 11:40:13 EDT

The AP's just dropped the world's most obvious headline on top of the world's most obvious report. On top of those amazing findings, the report also notes domestic automakers are making less money on the cars they are selling than Japanese rivals. Oh, and the sky is blue and grass is green. When you're done letting it all sink in, feel free to start drinking before you bash your head into a wall.

Report: U.S. automakers would benefit from common platforms [Detroit News]