Hummer-Hating Artist Hacks H2 Into Horse Cart, Cites Hoover
Ah, conceptual art. Clearly our country would be less colorful were it not for the efforts of, say, New York artist Jeremy Dean, who got inspired reading about horse-drawn "Hoover carts" made during the Depression from old car bodies.
From there, it was just a short leap to buying a used Hummer H2--the biggest, baddest, heaviest, meanest symbol of SUV dominance ever built for sale in the U.S.--cutting it in half with a torch, and turning it into...a horse cart.
Yep. He cut up a perfectly good H2, which he bought used for $15,000. That's a good price, apparently, since H2s have now been out of production for many months and it's not clear that GM's sale of Hummer to a Chinese company will go through.
The project is called "Back to the Futurama," alluding to the Futurama displays mounted at both the 1939-1940 and 1964-1965 New York Worlds' Fairs by General Motors, with a nod to the famous 1985 movie "Back to the Future."
Dean has quite a lot to say on the genesis of the project on his website. A few excerpts ...
"At this time of record financial gains, the auto industry began producing ever extravagant cars and SUVs. These huge American gas guzzlers became a status symbol in society leading to increased demand for oil and fuel prices soared.
"So with our very American idea of Manifest Destiny, we meddle in any country that has oil and send our men and women into harms way so that we can continue consuming almost 80% of the worlds resources. But how long can that last?
"My own satirical prediction of the future: Unless we come up with alternative fuel sources and rethink our reliance on a hyperinflated consumer based economy, we may be left with no other options than to hook our cars up to a horse.
"As a symbol of this I [will] take either a Cadillac Escalade or HUMMER H2, which have become monuments to America's consumption, greed and arrogance, and convert it to a horse cart.
"The cart will maintain all its former glitz and glamour: chrome rims, GPS, working sound system, DVD player, and TV screens. But [it] will be pulled by a horse. "
Now being built at Slick's Garage in Palmetto, Florida, the finished Hummer carraige will premiere during New York City's Armory Week, starting March 3.
Dean would like to sell the piece, to recoup his costs (he's sunk his life savings into the project), and fund a series of horse-cart Hummers and Escalades. They include one whose entire body has been chromed, a pumpkin carriage suited for Cinderella, and more.
Our final thought: Given the Hummer's military roots, it's doubly ironic to display the artwork in a functioning armory, which houses actual military Humvees that are parked on Manhattan side streets when the building is used for events.
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2010 Nissan Armada Bottom Line
TheCarConnection.com has read through many reviews from outside sources, citing highlights in a full review to bring you the most information possible pertaining to the 2010 Nissan Armada. The editors of TheCarConnection.com have also driven the Armada and bring you their expert opinion and impressions here in a Bottom Line summary.
Likes
Responsive acceleration
Strong towing capability
Nice, upright seating position
Dislikes
Clumsy handling
Lack of rearward visibility
Subpar interior materials
Very poor fuel economy
Price
An imposing stance and rugged, macho styling cues separate the 2010 Nissan Armada from the rest of the full-size SUV crowd, but the Armada fails to stand out for interior space, comfort, or practicality. The Armada got a refresh for 2009, including some revised equipment and new option packages, but it essentially continues unchanged.
With its flared fenders, chunky contours, and various other bulges around the wheel wells and hood, combined with a very upright profile, the 2010 Nissan Armada looks imposing and even aggressive, some might say. A prominent pillar at the back of the rear door almost makes the Armada look like a pickup variant, yet it also harkens back to Nissan's former versions of the Pathfinder. Inside the Armada is a little softer in its design compared to other full-size trucks, though plenty of bins and a vast center console mean business.
Towing and hauling remain strengths for the Armada, but its sheer heft opposes any quick changes in direction and drags down fuel economy. A 5.6-liter V-8 engine remains standard on the 2010 Armada, producing 317 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque. It works well with the five-speed automatic transmission, with no hesitation to downshift, and offers class-leading towing capacity of up to 9,100 pounds. The Armada is, quite simply, a guzzler; the EPA city rating is just 12 mpg, and lower real-world figures are likely if you're doing a lot of stop-and-go.
The interior of the 2010 Nissan Armada is pleasant for the first and second rows, with front seats perched relatively high. The front seats are quite comfortable, though, and it's easy to find a good driving position with the available adjustable pedals. Second-row captain's chairs are also very comfortable but reduce capacity from eight to seven, replacing the bench seat. In back, the third-row bench is just OK for smaller adults, but it leaves almost no cargo space. Overall, materials in the Armada lag the competition; up close, the dull, scratch-prone plastics used around the lower door panels and center console are bound to show their age, and trims look on the cheap side. Ride quality in the Armada is firm but smooth, soaking up most major bumps, but it isn't the most refined experience, with a fair amount of wind noise in several test vehicles and an engine note that's a little too prominent.
With regard to safety, the 2010 Nissan Armada doesn't fare quite as well as its rivals, but it definitely has size and weight on its side. The insurance-affiliated IIHS hasn't tested the Armada, but it receives four- and five-star results in frontal impact protection from the federal government, with three-star results in rollover because of the Armada's high center of mass. Front side and full-length side curtain airbags, covering both rows, are standard, plus electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution. Forward and side visibility is great, due to the high perch, but rearward visibility when parking is tougher because of the thick rear pillars.
The Armada does offer a bit more standard equipment than other full-size utes. Automatic dual-zone air conditioning, a 60/40 split fold-flat third-row seat, keyless entry, rear parking sensors, and the ability to play MP3-formatted CDs are all standard features on the 2010 Armada, which is offered in SE, Titanium, and Platinum. Titanium models now add a host of heavy-duty upgrades, including a heavy-duty battery, tow hooks, a towing hitch, a load-leveling rear suspension, roof rack rails, 20-inch wheels, and fog lamps, plus Bluetooth and upgraded Bose audio. Platinum models get convenience features such as a DVD entertainment system, puddle lamps, memory seat settings, heated seats and mirrors, a power rear liftgate, a moonroof, and chrome-clad wheels. A tow package taps into the full 9,100-pound capacity and brings a brake controller and 7-pin harness.
The Bottom Line: The 2010 Nissan Armada has handsome, rugged good looks and a responsive V-8 powertrain, but in nearly all other respects, it's outdone by its rivals.
Other Choices
If you like the 2010 Nissan Armada, also consider:
- Chevrolet Tahoe
- Ford Expedition
- Toyota Sequoia
Reason Why:
Of this group, the 2010 Nissan Armada is still, to most, the best-looking, and it has a strong V-8, but in most other respects the rivals have it beat. The Toyota Sequoia became bigger and burlier with the last redesign of the full-size Titan, but it's a bit of a gas-guzzler with either of its V-8 engines. Ford's Expedition has an especially well-designed interior, though its performance lags other competitors. GM's full-size SUVs, including the Tahoe, were completely redesigned for 2007 and continue to stand out for their excellent handling and fuel-efficient powertrains, while still being as responsive if not downright powerful. The Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid might be worth consideration if you just can't get past the fuel economy issue.
Buying Tip
Nissan hasn't lowered the price on the 2010 Nissan Armada, but it's likely that you'll be able to find a substantial deal—if not on a 2010, then on a remaining 2009.
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Toyota Not Planning On Many Takers For 4-Cylinder 4Runner
Toyota is bringing an economical new four-cylinder engine back to the base SR5 version of its fully redesigned 2010 4Runner. But as we recently discovered, this doesn't significantly improve fuel economy for this body-on-frame ute. Instead though, it appears to enable Toyota to offer a value-leader model at an even more affordable price.
The 2010 Toyota 4Runner starts at $27,500 for the four-cylinder, rear-wheel-drive SR5. That's an $1,140 price cut versus the base RWD 2009 Toyota 4Runner SR5 V-6. This year's base V-6 4Runner runs $29,175, however.
Once upon a time, most of Toyota's 4Runners in the U.S. were sold with economical four-cylinder engines. That was the '80s, but Toyota did offer a four-cylinder version all the way through the beginning of this decade, and just a few years later, for 2003, Toyota began offering a V-8 on the 4Runner.
This year, the V-8 is no more. The new four--the same 2.7-liter engine that's also installed in the Tacoma-- makes 157 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque and is only offered with two-wheel drive, in 4Runner SR5 trim. An official suggested that other models weren't offered because of concerns that the model would be underpowered with 4WD or as a Trail model.
One look at the official EPA fuel economy ratings give you another perspective--and a lesson that smaller engines don't always bring better fuel economy. The four-cylinder engine isn't likely to save you much, if any, money over the long run in the 4Runner, because even in four-cylinder form the engine hauls around nearly 4,300 pounds of curb weight.
The four-cylinder 2010 4Runner is rated at 18 mpg city, 23 highway, while the V-6 4Runner, with rear-wheel drive, does almost as well, at 17/23 (17/22 with 4WD). Towing capacity is 2,000 pounds for the four-cylinder model, versus 5,000 pounds for all the other 2010 4Runners.
Last year's 4Runner V-6 rated as low as 16/20 with 4WD--the improvements mainly attributed to revised gear ratios--and with the now-discontinued V-8 engine the 4Runner achieved just 14 mpg city, 17 highway.
A base Toyota Highlander--about the same size, and with the same size four-cylinder engine (though technically not the same unit)--weighs about 3,800 pounds and gets 20 mpg city, 27 highway.
In all, Toyota expects four-cylinder models to only make up about five percent of 2010 4Runner sales, nationwide, with total sales of 25,000 to 30,000. At one time, Toyota sold more than 100,000 4Runners per year.
Surprisingly, Toyota will only make the four-cylinder 4Runner available only in select markets. In California, where there's still a market for rear-wheel-drive sport-utility vehicles, Toyota plans to sell the vast majority of them; it will likely be offered more widely in Southern states but only special-order in Northern climes.
One thing's for sure: By getting into the four-cylinder market, Toyota has an engine option that's not offered in any of its rivals like the 2010 Nissan Pathfinder, 2010 Kia Borrego, or 2010 Ford Explorer.
Although V-6 versions of the 2010 Toyota 4Runner are already at dealerships, the four-cylinder model will be arriving this month or next. Stay tuned tomorrow as TheCarConnection.com brings you driving impressions of the brand-new 4Runner, and we'll update you on how the four-cylinder version stacks up as soon as we can get some seat time.
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High Gear Media has partnered with Tesla Motors on a new writing contest where YOU can win a tour and road test of the 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport. You can submit as many articles as you like and enter multiple times. Enter now!
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Detroit Cries Foul On Japan’s Cash-For-Clunkers Program
As congress planned the controversial Cash-for-Clunkers program over the spring and summer of this year, there was some discussion of limiting new car subsidies to American brands; that provision was dropped, however, following outcries from other countries and from thousands of employees who work at foreign-brand factories and dealerships here in the U.S. In the end, foreign brands -- particularly Japanese makes -- saw a huge number of sales during Cash-for-Clunkers' brief run.
Now Japan has launched a similar program, and apparently, they're not playing quite as fairly: the Japanese government has blocked foreign automakers from being included in the program.
To be fair, the situation isn't exactly the same in Japan: although Japanese vehicles are hugely popular in America, Detroit accounts for just a tiny sliver of Japan's auto market (just 7,900 U.S. vehicles have been sold there this year), and of those, it's uncertain how many models would even meet the fuel-efficiency standards demanded by Japan's cash-for-clunkers program. However, it's a matter of principle, the Big Three argue. We're a bit surprised we haven't heard other countries like Germany chime in on this yet, but we expect to soon.
[Freep]
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2010 Subaru Tribeca
TheCarConnection.com has driven the 2010 Subaru Tribeca and brings you this succinct Bottom Line, with pros, cons, hands-on observations, and how it matches up versus rival models. Then TheCarConnection.com also researched available road tests on the Tribeca, bringing you highlights in a comprehensive Full Review.
Likes
Excellent safety record
Competent handling
All-wheel drive across the range
Sliding second-row seats
Dislikes
Overly styled dashboard design
Low fun factor
Tight legroom in front
The Subaru Tribeca underwent a major overhaul for 2008 with new styling, a more powerful engine, and retuned suspension, and for 2010 the updates have been kept to a minimum. There is one major shakeup in the Tribeca lineup; the five-passenger versions are no longer offered, so all models now have three rows of seats for seven-passenger capacity.
Once again, the 2010 Subaru Tribeca's sole engine option is a 3.6-liter flat-six engine with 256 horsepower and 247 pounds-feet of torque on tap. Drive is sent to all four wheels via a five-speed automatic transmission and a symmetrical all-wheel-drive system. Performance from the flat-six engine is respectable, but it's no match for competitors like the Ford Edge or Honda Pilot. Fuel economy is neither poor nor especially good for this class, with the Tribeca returning 16 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway; best of all, it runs on regular unleaded fuel rather than the previous generation's super unleaded requirement. Handling is one of the best attributes of the Tribeca; push hard into a corner and the Tribeca has good body control and better steering than most other vehicles of this type. The 2010 Subaru Tribeca's 8.4 inches of ground clearance and standard all-wheel drive may scream off-road prowess, but this mid-size crossover is better suited to the suburban environment. Real off-roading isn't the goal here--just all-weather performance.
The Tribeca has a firm but smooth and controlled ride, and an interior that's a step quieter than what we've become accustomed to from Subaru. The interior of the 2010 Tribeca has a futuristic theme with flowing lines that wrap around the driver and front passenger. The design, while unique, does limit front seat roominess, especially around the knees.
The 2010 Subaru Tribeca is also one of the safest vehicles in its class, scoring full marks in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) crash tests. On top of that, the Tribeca boasts a ton of standard safety features, including side-impact airbags for the front seats and side curtain airbags for first- and second-row passengers but not for third-row passengers. TheCarConnection.com advises opting for the rearview camera, which makes those pesky reverse parking maneuvers a breeze.
A new Touring model has also joined the lineup, featuring a moonroof, a navigation system, and a reversing camera all as standard. Whichever trim you choose in the lineup--Premium, Limited, or Touring--fog lights, 18-inch wheels, power driver and passenger seat, heated front seats, and third-row seating are standard equipment.
The Bottom Line: With the 2010 Subaru Tribeca, first-class safety credentials and excellent all-weather handling ensure your precious ones are looked after, but if you need more than five seats, we suggest going with a bigger vehicle.
Other Choices
If you like the 2010 Subaru Tribeca, also consider:
- Ford Edge
- Honda Pilot
- Nissan Murano
- Toyota Highlander
Reason Why
The mid-size SUV and crossover segment is one of the most hotly contested markets right now, although many of the competing vehicles are a bit lacking in the personality department. The Toyota Highlander is one such vehicle; it comes in two- and three-row versions and has an available V-6 and as well as a hybrid option. The Honda Pilot is one of the most admired crossovers available and even manages to squeeze in eight seats. The Nissan Murano was redesigned recently, but it still doesn't offer a third-row seat. The Ford Edge has almost universally appealing good looks from the outside, but from the inside it's not as quirky or fun to drive as the Tribeca.
Buying Tip
The third-row seats on the 2010 Subaru Tribeca are only suitable for small children or short journeys, so if you frequently need third-row seating, go with a larger vehicle.
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2011 Ford Mustang Gets New V-6: 305 HP, 30 MPG Highway
An all-new engine promises to make the base V-6 Ford Mustang a lot more exciting for 2011.
Today (and in advance of the LA Auto Show pressers), Ford officially announced that a new all-aluminum 3.7-liter DOHC V-6 will power the 2011 Ford Mustang, producing an impressive 305 horsepower and 280 pound-feet. Two new six-speed transmissions (versus five-speeds for 2010) will pair with the engine, and a limited-slip differential and new suspension settings will help take advantage of the boost in power.
The new 3.7-liter engine in the 2011 Mustang, part of Ford's Duratec family, uses Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) and a Direct Acting Mechanical Bucket (DAMB) valvetrain to vary valve control through the rev range (up to 7,000 rpm) and achieve a three percent improvement in fuel efficiency and ten percent more power versus the same engine without this technology. Highway ratings with the new engine will be as high as 30 mpg, and it uses regular, not premium, gasoline.
The engine also gets a number of other measures to improve efficiency, power, and durability, including tuned composite intake manifolds, coil-on-plug ignition, and piston-cooling jets, plus a cold-air induction system and a deep-sump oil pan.
In a press release accompanying the announcement, Ford made special note of the engine sound, saying that engineers have worked to on the engine's breathing with satisfying performance sounds in mind.
Both of the new six-speed transmissions get improvements in addition to their extra ratios. The manual gearbox has a short-throw linkage, while the automatic comes with a "hill mode" that helps to provide more engine braking on steep grades. A lower 3.31 rear axle ratio will be offered for improved performance, especially from a standing start.
With the new six-speed automatic, the 2011 Mustang carries anticipated EPA fuel economy ratings of 19 mpg city, 30 highway with the automatic (up 25 percent versus 2010) and 18/29 with the manual transmission. Also contributing to these improvements are a new electric power-steering system and a host of small aerodynamic enhancements.
To help handle the added power, the 2011 Mustang V-6 gets revised damper tuning and spring rates, plus a new rear lower control arm and stiffened stabilizer-bar bushings; Ford also adjusted the car's front/rear aerodynamic balance to help the Mustang feel more "planted." It also gets larger brake rotors--11.5 inches in front and 11.8 in back.
Inside, the changes include some additional soundproofing and new door seals, plus an upgraded instrument cluster, including a 160-mph speedometer and 8,000-rpm tach. Ford's MyKey system will be offered on the Mustang for the first time for 2011, along with a garage-door opener, message center, and new blind-spot aids for the mirrors.
Beginning in August, a Performance Package will be offered on the V-6, bringing the lower axle ratio plus 19-inch wheels, a strut tower brace, summer performance tires, a sport mode for the stability control, and the firmer suspension from the Mustang GT.
Up through 2010, the Mustang continues with an updated SOHC version of the Cologne V-6, which dates back decades and is otherwise used in the Ranger and Explorer. We drove a Mustang Coupe with that engine just this past summer and found the torquey but uncivilized engine satisfying with the legendary pony car but not very pulse-quickening.
With the 3.6-liter V-6 engine in the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro producing 305 horsepower and getting EPA ratings of up to 18 mpg city, 29 highway, the lighter Mustang should be considerably quicker than the base Camaro while also more fuel-efficient. That's our kind of muscle car.
A hat tip to our fellow High Gear Media site MustangBlog.com for first reporting on this new engine many months ago.
Ford is heavily rumored to have other powertrain surprises in the works for the 2011 Ford Mustang GT, which might take the form of an EcoBoost V-6 version or one with the upcoming 5.0-liter 'Coyote' V-8. We'll bring you more details on that, as well as on pricing and on-sale dates for the 2011 Ford Mustang V-6, as soon as we have them.
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Stay connected with the latest from TheCarConnection.com, MotorAuthority.com, and GreenCarReports.com as we report directly from the LA Auto Show press previews later this week.
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2010 Suzuki Swift? No…But The Feds Say So!
The next-generation version of the Suzuki Swift, due out next year, isn't quite a sure thing for the U.S. market; but we've been told it's been engineered this time with federal regulations in mind. If the 2011 Suzuki Swift does come to these shores, it would take on the growing segment of sporty subcompacts, including the 2011 Ford Fiesta, 2011 Mazda2, and 2011 Volkswagen Polo.
But might it be coming early? Heard of a 2010 Suzuki Swift x? We haven't, and we'll bet most U.S. Suzuki dealerships haven't either.
It's easy to get confused. If you value fuel economy and are browsing through the EPA's fuel economy ratings, whether on FuelEconomy.gov or in the 2010 Fuel Economy Guide, you might notice that the Swift x is one of the more fuel-efficient vehicles this year.
While a spokesman for Suzuki said that the Swift definitely isn't due for 2010, it's in there, with EPA ratings of 27 mpg city, 35 highway with a manual transmission. The feds are listing the Swift x as having a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive, with five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmissions.
Spoiler alert: Turns out all those figures--including those for passenger and cargo volume--do apply to the Daewoo-built Suzuki 'Swift +' that's sold in Canada and closely related to the Chevrolet Aveo....NOT the supposedly U.S.-bound, next-generation Swift.
In the EPA's Green Vehicle Guide, the Swift x hatchback is listed as the "2010 Suzuki Swift +" and carrying the EPA SmartWay designation and certified for federal Bin 4 emissions standards, again with the same levels of specific pollutants as the 2010 Chevrolet Aveo.
Yet it's more than a little odd why a Canada-market vehicle would show up on the U.S. listings. We haven't seen it before, so it's likely someone submitted the paperwork with the feds. In previous years there was no Volkswagen City Jetta on the list, nor the Pontiac Montana, a vehicle that continued for several more model years (through 2009) in the Great White North.
Suzuki sold a previous version of the Swift in the U.S. through 2001, and many years before that, Chevrolet (and then Geo) sold versions of the Swift--badged the Sprint--that have been coveted in recent years by frugal high-milers. Meanwhile, the current generation of the Swift has received a strong reception in Europe and is lauded for its design as well as for the way it drives.
It seems unlikely that Suzuki would have brought the dowdier Swift + to the U.S. anyway, seeing that the brand has just launched the excellent 2010 Kizashi, and U.S. company officials admit that its previous Daewoo-built vehicles weren't up to the same standards as those built in-house. The 2010 Chevrolet Aveo can't quite measure up to most other models in its class, according either to TheCarConnection.com or most other major review sources.
No formal announcement has yet been made for the U.S. But for now, we'll hold on and take this as an affirmation that the Suzuki has smartly decided to green-light the car that will boost, not potentially bruise, their image.
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Video: Changing A VW Fan Belt With The Engine Running
Although combustion engines will remain a part of the car mix for several decades to come, it seems pretty clear that electrics are the way of the future. And while many will be sad to see gas engines go the way of their fuel source (i.e. the dinosaur), there are many things we won't miss about 'em -- like all those moving parts that tend to break down. On the other hand, without all those moving parts, we wouldn't have nifty displays of gearhead virtuosity, like this clip of a guy who changes his VW fan belt with the motor running. Don't try this one at home, y'all:
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Chrysler Expands Its Ram Fleet With Fiat Doblo Compact Van
Over the past year, we've spoken a good bit about the 2010 Ford Transit Connect. Our own John Voelcker gave it a positive review after his test drive last May, and the fuel-efficient van aims to be a major contender in the American market. But before long, the Transit Connect will have some spirited competition: yesterday, Fiat announced plans to rebadge its revamped Doblo van and include it as part of Chrysler's new Ram lineup.
Of course, the Transit Connect will have a significant head start. Ford began selling it in the U.S. last July, but the Doblo won't arrive stateside until 2012. However, the Doblo launches in Europe this coming January, and the renderings look great -- considerably more stylish than the Transit Connect. In fact, a more apt comparison might be with the Honda Element, which is commonly pitched as a personal vehicle, but is often used for commercial purposes because of its clever, convenient layout. Also like the Element -- and unlike the cargo truck-ish Transit Connect -- the seven-passenger Doblo could conceivably look at home in any suburban garage.
Tech specs for the American Doblo haven't been revealed, but the European model offers five powertrain options -- one for gasoline, one for compressed natural gas, and three diesel engines. The Doblo has been touted for its roomy interior, long wheelbase, and low CO2 emissions. In Europe, it will come with a stop-start system to increase fuel economy.
Along with the Doblo (which will receive a different name in the U.S.), a larger Fiat-based Van will also be joining the Ram line up. Between those two vehicles and refreshes of existing Ram trucks, Chrysler hopes to ramp up sales of its rugged new brand by nearly 50% over four years -- from 280,000 in 2010 to 415,000 in 2014. We're not clairvoyant, but if the rest of the Ram lineup is as interesting as the Doblo, Senator McCain might want to rethink some of his recent statements.
[AutoNews sub req'd]
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Mercedes-Benz May Launch Smaller Cars In U.S. By 2012
Readers of a certain age will recall a time when America's roadways were clogged with Gremlins, Rabbits, and other fuel-efficient minicars. That historical moment was caused by spiking fuel prices in the 1970s (remember when Jimmy Carter told everyone to put on a snappy cardigan?), which rear-ended a recession in the early 1980s. If you've been paying attention, you might've noticed that today's financial and automotive landscapes are looking awfully familiar....
And so, just as they did 30 years ago, every automaker worth its salt is now looking to cash in on the American compact and subcompact markets. BMW has its MINI (not to mention its rumored, tinier Isetta), Audi has its A3, and even Aston Martin is looking to tart up a Toyota iQ. The latest manufacturer to enter the B- and C-segment ring: Daimler, which will likely bring a handful of compact European Mercedes-Benz models to America by 2012. These models will be more luxurious than Daimler's Smart models, which fall into the smaller microcar segment (and which have suffered from, shall we say, less-than-stellar sales).
Now, on the one hand, adding a few gas-sipping Mercedes compacts to its U.S. lineup could be a good move for Daimler. New emissions and efficiency regulations will be implemented soon, and some fuel-efficient vehicles would help Daimler's fleet meet the EPA's stringent standards. Also, the new models could address the shifting needs of Mercedes buyers, since, according to Daimler's CEO Dieter Zetsche, the definition of "luxury" is slowly changing: "It will be fewer CO2 emissions and more modesty in appearance."
On the other hand, we're pretty sure that this "changing standard of luxury" argument was thrown around in the 70s and 80s to justify vehicles like the Pacer. Furthermore, while Zetsche's predictions seems reasonable now, we're not sure they'll remain accurate as world emerges from recession, and we forget about fuel costs, and the green movement inevitably fades (as all trends do, and just as the green movement of the 1970s did). It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that Americans change their habits when necessary, but when the necessity passes.... Well, as Rebecca Lindland, senior auto analyst at IHS Global Insight points out, "in the U.S., luxury is still very much equated with size". It's going to take more than a fuel crunch or two to change that.
[WSJ]
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