I’m excited to be writing a series on the various cars I’ve driven over the years for a website named Curbside Classic. Up first: my 1993 Honda Prelude.
Category: Cars
Feels like the Future⇢
Underscore David Smith, writing about his Tesla Model S:
I know and am keenly aware that writing a blog post extolling the virtues of an undeniably expensive car is ripe with peril. I thought long and hard about whether I even should. In the end what made me write this post was the overwhelming excitement I feel about driving it. It genuinely feels like the future. Each time I walk up to it, even months later, it puts a smile on my face.
DeLoreans going back into production⇢
The DeLorean Motor Company has some news:
In December 2015, the language from the “Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act” (H.R. 2675) - which creates a reasonable regulatory structure allowing small companies to produce a limited number of completed replica motor vehicles that resemble the appearance of cars produced 25 years ago or more was inserted to the federal highway bill (H.R. 22) and signed into law.
[…]
In anticipation of this legislation, DeLorean Motor Company has been working for some time to identify a supplier for engines and other parts that must be reproduced to facilitate this production for 2017. A number of hurdles exist before production can begin, and we’re still early on in this process of determining the feasibility of moving forward. Further updates will be posted here.
Why do we love the DeLorean?⇢
Tamara Warren:
“If it wasn’t for Back to the Future, would we recognize the DeLorean DMC-12? In the first film, the DeLorean’s acceleration to the magic speed of 88 miles per hour marks the moment when everything changes: Marty McFly and Doc Brown leave 1985 and land in October 21st, 2015 for the sequel’s opening scenes in the future, where we find ourselves today.
In its time, the DeLorean Motor Company was an epic failure, but its sole enduring product has earned more pop cultural cachet than any other vehicular flop of the 20th century. Out-of-business automakers Packard, Tucker, and Studebaker have nothing on the DeLorean brand power. History is made from these instances of perfect timing — and perhaps the DeLorean’s offbeat resonance had something to do with a car stumbling upon its time.”
Volkswagen Group CEO steps down⇢
Martin Winterkorn:
I am shocked by the events of the past few days. Above all, I am stunned that misconduct on such a scale was possible in the Volkswagen Group.
As CEO I accept responsibility for the irregularities that have been found in diesel engines and have therefore requested the Supervisory Board to agree on terminating my function as CEO of the Volkswagen Group. I am doing this in the interests of the company even though I am not aware of any wrong doing on my part.
Apple rumored to be gearing up for car testing⇢
Mark Harris at The Guardian:
Apple is building a self-driving car in Silicon Valley, and is scouting for secure locations in the San Francisco Bay area to test it, the Guardian has learned. Documents show the oft-rumoured Apple car project appears to be further along than many suspected.
In May, engineers from Apple’s secretive Special Project group met with officials from GoMentum Station, a 2,100-acre former naval base near San Francisco that is being turned into a high-security testing ground for autonomous vehicles.
The Apollo Edition Mustang⇢
For nearly a decade, Ford has auctioned off custom cars in support of the Experimental Aircraft Association youth educational program. This year’s caught my eye:
“The Ford Apollo Edition Mustang salutes man’s greatest technological achievement, with the ingenuity, precision, and power that defined the spirit of American innovation,” said Edsel B. Ford II, a member of the Ford Board of Directors. “Inspired by the Apollo program, Ford Motor Company committed itself to including exhilarating power, cutting-edge technology, and extraordinary craftsmanship in this automobile, which will support the next generation of pilots in EAA’s aviation education programs for young people.”
Ex-GM CEO weighs in on Project Titan⇢
Tim Higgins at Bloomberg:
Dan Akerson, retired chief executive officer of General Motors Co., said Apple Inc. should steer clear of the business of making cars, though a push into automobile electronics would be a better move for the iPhone maker.
[…]
“I think somebody is kind of trying to cough up a hairball here,” Akerson said in a telephone interview. “If I were an Apple shareholder, I wouldn’t be very happy. I would be highly suspect of the long-term prospect of getting into a low-margin, heavy-manufacturing” business.
Thoughts on Project Titan
Yesterday afternoon, the Apple-centric corner of the Internet freaked out over a report from The Wall Street Journal that said Cupertino has “several hundred” people working on an electric car project named “Project Titan:”
Mr. Cook approved the car project almost a year ago and assigned veteran product design Vice President Steve Zadesky to lead the group, the people familiar with the matter said. Mr. Zadesky is a former Ford engineer who helped lead the Apple teams that created the iPod and iPhone.
The Golf turns 40⇢
There are few cars that I love every generation of, but the Golf is definitely one of them.
On Breaking Bad’s Cars⇢
Patrick George:
Lots of great television shows will highlight an awesome car or two, even if they aren’t necessarily “car shows.” Though you may not realize it at first, Breaking Bad — AMC’s uniquely American story about a cancer-stricken high school teacher who goes into business cooking and selling meth — deserves to be on that list as well.
Once I read this article, I realized just how perfect most of the car choices are — especially Walt’s Aztek.
Flying Cars Are Keeping Our Childhood Dreams Alive Even Today
Ever since The Jetsons, every child dreams of flying cars. Well, our dreams are coming true. Engadget:
We’re definitely psyched to hear that the “roadable aircraft” went airborne in a super-secret test flight that took place in the early hours of March 5th at Plattsburgh International Airport. The vehicle left the ground for a good thirty-seven seconds, traveling some 3,000 feet. At a press conference today, the company’s CEO Carl Dietrich remarked that “with this achievement, Terrafugia has set the stage for personal aviation.” Which, considering how folks light up I–95 on an average workday, might at first blush seem somewhat unsettling – but to each his own, right? According to the company, more than forty people have put down the $10,000 deposit for the new aircraft, which – if all goes according to plan – will be hitting the road sometime in 2011.