Post by Renown on Jun 12, 2006 9:57:24 GMT -5
Last week's edition sort of fell to crumbles which was out of my own control, being that I was sleeping for most of the weekend. However, as you can plainly tell I am back and quite early in the F'N morning too. In any case, I'd like to actually continue from where the last edition left off, automobiles are my specialty and I'd like to annunciate on that fact and I will. The focus was around American automobile companies attempting to rekindle their "Christmas past" by rejuvenating old, but good muscle cars from their successful pasts of yesteryear. If you'd care to know where I stand on that particular subject, you'd have to read the previous edition of this column.
Moving on to a newer focus, I'd like to rant about how stupid (yes, stupid) American automotive companies are. Didn't you do so last week, you ask? Yes, but not in the form I plan to today. I guess where I'm going to eminently end up is in the process that automotive companies refer to as: "Concepts." What is a concept car you ask? A concept car is a theoretical (possible production prototype) of a particular car in which most companies refer to as "a new focus" Sometimes it is, most of the time it isn't. Sometimes companies produce exceptionally stunning concept vehicles only to never to actually manufacture them if you will. What is this jargon you ask? I don't know, Representatives of specific companies often refer to no-goes as "not being what the company is about"
WTF does that mean? I mean, yes there comes a time when one has to do the "extreme" (a wrestling reference but more the same) to retain attention among those old and young, but what're you to do when that attention growth discovers that concept was nothing more than a ploy? Let's use Cadillac for example, actually no, let's use a majority of them in several examples shall we? Let's use Cadillac and their Cien and Sixteen concepts. The Cien (Cadillac 100 as in 100th birthday) was a 750bhp supercar that displayed their "new" (at the time) Northstar XV12 (for those of you who don't know, that's an engine). The Cadillac Cien was one of the most sexiest designed Caddies I've seen in recent memory and to that effect Cadillac never built it. Why? Hell if I know, maybe it was there to showcase the XV12 of which majority of their lineup uses now. I can tell you this right now, though if the Cien's acceleration rate was anywhere near it's actual potential the Veyron would not (would not) be the "World's fastest car." The Cadillac Sixteen, a car of which I can't remember any specific details at the moment, was a Caddie focused toward Bentley's Continental GT, another car Cadillac never made.
Let's use Ford as our next and last example (because there are too many) with two particular concepts that could've changed the very way Ford is looked upon in the automotive industry today. One of those concepts is current and it is in collaboration with Carroll Shelby himself (no, not the Cobra concept)<----- Another car aimed to rekindle the muscle car past. That concept would be the GR-1. A car that is supposed to succeed the Ford GT (which is coming to an end later this year) Which, if you'll allow me to sidetrack is quite funny. The GT is not coming to an end because "it slayed Ferrari so to say" a trademark name which to this very day from 1969 remains true. It is because Ford sold it too cheap. I believe the current SRP is $115,000 USD or maybe a bit higher, I know for a fact it doesn't clear or come anywhere near (nice rhyme) $130,000. Ford screwed themselves by selling it too cheaply, the GT (GT40) is a legend, use that to your advantage.
Take a look at the Veyron 16.4, it's selling for 1.3 million dollars, Bugatti (the company not the man) doesn't expect it to be a worldwide success, but it's about initiative. It's about selling your most extreme idea at an extreme price, it's not about appealing to the masses. It's about sending out a message that says: "If you want what I've worked so many years to complete, you must work your way to it." Earn it if you will. It's about silently whispering to your competition (of which the Veyron only has one) that I am the cream of the crop, you're affordable (compared to the Veyron) I am not, which makes me the elite choice amongst automotive enthusiasts. For power-hungry junkies, their choice will most definitely be the Veyron. The S7 Twin Turbo (the competition) is said to gain a lead before either of them reach the 200 mph mark. The S7 may have an immediate acceleration advantage, but it's top speed is something to the effect of either 242 or 247 mph. You can surely bet when those RPMs kick in and the S7 reaches it's top speed, the Veyron will utterly blast ahead of it claiming victory, leaving it's competition in the dust.
Now, I've seem to have sidetracked with that little anecdote there, I was talking about the GR-1...Ford/Shelby has created a successor to their Ferrari-slayer, one of which is far more powerful and in some instances...better looking. Funny thing is, Ford needs our help on whether they should produce it or not, it's obviously a winner. Ford needs initiative and bad, Ive got no problem with Ford Jr., but he's not paying enough attention to the company his father left to him. Ford's motto is "For the road ahead." If they plan to innovate the future they should concentrate on the present. Only then will Ford be a power internationally known for it's presence. Ford must take risks, a new era they must have. They should begin this new era by re-creating the 1995 GT90 and relive what they called at the time their "New Edge" dilemna.
Trust me when I say this, America needs all it can muster because at the end of 2007, beginning of 2008 a legend will arise in America and will possibly shut down what we call "power" this legend is the only car (now succeeded by Porsche) to clear the 'ring in a sub-eight second lap time, it has 450bhp and it's badged a Nissan.
It goes by the name of GT-R Proto (R35).
Transgression will perspire, not even the mighty Veyron can compare to the Skyline. The automotive industry (namely American for the their dire lack of anything related to risk) has their greatest enemy creeping closer and closer, what will they do?
My bet is just taking a previous model and just giving it more power.
That's America.
Moving on to a newer focus, I'd like to rant about how stupid (yes, stupid) American automotive companies are. Didn't you do so last week, you ask? Yes, but not in the form I plan to today. I guess where I'm going to eminently end up is in the process that automotive companies refer to as: "Concepts." What is a concept car you ask? A concept car is a theoretical (possible production prototype) of a particular car in which most companies refer to as "a new focus" Sometimes it is, most of the time it isn't. Sometimes companies produce exceptionally stunning concept vehicles only to never to actually manufacture them if you will. What is this jargon you ask? I don't know, Representatives of specific companies often refer to no-goes as "not being what the company is about"
WTF does that mean? I mean, yes there comes a time when one has to do the "extreme" (a wrestling reference but more the same) to retain attention among those old and young, but what're you to do when that attention growth discovers that concept was nothing more than a ploy? Let's use Cadillac for example, actually no, let's use a majority of them in several examples shall we? Let's use Cadillac and their Cien and Sixteen concepts. The Cien (Cadillac 100 as in 100th birthday) was a 750bhp supercar that displayed their "new" (at the time) Northstar XV12 (for those of you who don't know, that's an engine). The Cadillac Cien was one of the most sexiest designed Caddies I've seen in recent memory and to that effect Cadillac never built it. Why? Hell if I know, maybe it was there to showcase the XV12 of which majority of their lineup uses now. I can tell you this right now, though if the Cien's acceleration rate was anywhere near it's actual potential the Veyron would not (would not) be the "World's fastest car." The Cadillac Sixteen, a car of which I can't remember any specific details at the moment, was a Caddie focused toward Bentley's Continental GT, another car Cadillac never made.
Let's use Ford as our next and last example (because there are too many) with two particular concepts that could've changed the very way Ford is looked upon in the automotive industry today. One of those concepts is current and it is in collaboration with Carroll Shelby himself (no, not the Cobra concept)<----- Another car aimed to rekindle the muscle car past. That concept would be the GR-1. A car that is supposed to succeed the Ford GT (which is coming to an end later this year) Which, if you'll allow me to sidetrack is quite funny. The GT is not coming to an end because "it slayed Ferrari so to say" a trademark name which to this very day from 1969 remains true. It is because Ford sold it too cheap. I believe the current SRP is $115,000 USD or maybe a bit higher, I know for a fact it doesn't clear or come anywhere near (nice rhyme) $130,000. Ford screwed themselves by selling it too cheaply, the GT (GT40) is a legend, use that to your advantage.
Take a look at the Veyron 16.4, it's selling for 1.3 million dollars, Bugatti (the company not the man) doesn't expect it to be a worldwide success, but it's about initiative. It's about selling your most extreme idea at an extreme price, it's not about appealing to the masses. It's about sending out a message that says: "If you want what I've worked so many years to complete, you must work your way to it." Earn it if you will. It's about silently whispering to your competition (of which the Veyron only has one) that I am the cream of the crop, you're affordable (compared to the Veyron) I am not, which makes me the elite choice amongst automotive enthusiasts. For power-hungry junkies, their choice will most definitely be the Veyron. The S7 Twin Turbo (the competition) is said to gain a lead before either of them reach the 200 mph mark. The S7 may have an immediate acceleration advantage, but it's top speed is something to the effect of either 242 or 247 mph. You can surely bet when those RPMs kick in and the S7 reaches it's top speed, the Veyron will utterly blast ahead of it claiming victory, leaving it's competition in the dust.
Now, I've seem to have sidetracked with that little anecdote there, I was talking about the GR-1...Ford/Shelby has created a successor to their Ferrari-slayer, one of which is far more powerful and in some instances...better looking. Funny thing is, Ford needs our help on whether they should produce it or not, it's obviously a winner. Ford needs initiative and bad, Ive got no problem with Ford Jr., but he's not paying enough attention to the company his father left to him. Ford's motto is "For the road ahead." If they plan to innovate the future they should concentrate on the present. Only then will Ford be a power internationally known for it's presence. Ford must take risks, a new era they must have. They should begin this new era by re-creating the 1995 GT90 and relive what they called at the time their "New Edge" dilemna.
Trust me when I say this, America needs all it can muster because at the end of 2007, beginning of 2008 a legend will arise in America and will possibly shut down what we call "power" this legend is the only car (now succeeded by Porsche) to clear the 'ring in a sub-eight second lap time, it has 450bhp and it's badged a Nissan.
It goes by the name of GT-R Proto (R35).
Transgression will perspire, not even the mighty Veyron can compare to the Skyline. The automotive industry (namely American for the their dire lack of anything related to risk) has their greatest enemy creeping closer and closer, what will they do?
My bet is just taking a previous model and just giving it more power.
That's America.