Volkswagen has instigated a multi-faceted national poll in an effort to find out what the people want. Considering this company’s name translates as ‘the people’s car’ or something thereabouts, one could be forgiven for thinking that VW had a handle on this already. But it’s hard to keep a finger on the zeitgeist’s pulse, if indeed, geists have pulses.
“Volkswagen has a rich heritage as part of American popular culture and a deep personal connection with its customers,” says VW, seeing its new poll as “a way of keeping in touch with what matters to people today.” So naturally, the internet is involved. The curious thing is that VW hasn’t concentrated solely on car stuff like airbags, cup holders, fuel economy and such. Instead, its findings have included odd tidbits of information about Americans.
For example, 52% of respondents do not want restaurants to change their portion sizes in the face of a movement toward better health and well being. And most of them think that pets shouldn’t be brought to work. Reality TV hasn’t gone down well with the i-Generation, but they’ll still take good old-fashioned boxers over briefs.
By clicking onto the website, users are greeted by Max, a classic Beetle (well, KdF Wagen; it was never officially called a Beetle or a Bug) and the “new brand spokesman” (as seen on the latest TV ads. It’s interesting that VW isn’t pushing any new metal here). Max will invite them to vote yes or no on various pressing questions of the day and/or suggest polls themselves. They can see the results come up in real time. They can even go there, click that and buy the T-shirt displaying which poll was their idea. Cell phones may also be used to vote.
For those with even more free time between now and May 8, pandora.com is running two VW radio stations called, not surprisingly: ‘Music for the People.’ Listeners can vote for which artists they want to hear and Pandora will collate all requests into a democratic playlist. Selling cars used to be so much simpler.
Car accidents are a bit like earthquakes. No one can predict when they’ll happen. But the difference is that, according to the National Safety Council, 1 in 8 licensed drivers is involved in an auto accident each year. So the odds are worse. There is, however, something we can do to limit the amount of damage in the aftermath: A company called DocuDent USA has produced a collision kit.
As the picture shows, it has a disposable camera to photograph the scene (don’t forget to shoot any tire tracks; that could come in handy if a case went to court), a few bandages, a place for documentation, an accident report form, an LED flashlight with a built-in tape measure, a pen and a whistle. All organized in a handy case.
It's not always easy to keep a cool head after an accident. There’s invariably an element of being in shock. But if a cool head can prevail, it can record the circumstances more accurately, helping to protect against false injury claims, inflated damage claims and insurance fraud.
This $14.99 kit has already won the approval of the Department of Homeland Security, the California Highway Patrol and top insurance companies such as Allstate and Farmers.
When the Ford Mustang was introduced on April 17, 1964 (at the New York World’s Fair), it was an immediate hit. It started life being highly desirable, became a little suspect over the years, then -- with this incarnation -- made an impressive comeback into the kingdom of cool. And recently, on April 23, Ford built its nine millionth Mustang. This was a GT Convertible, earmarked for a dealership in Iowa.
Now Ford’s longest-running nameplate, the Mustang is set to celebrate its 45th anniversary on April 17, 2009, as one of the most widely recognized vehicles in the world. One out of every two sports cars sold in America today is a Mustang.
In that first year of being available, 419,000 examples were sold. The one million mark was topped within two years, out-performing sales records of any other model in the history of the automobile. The car’s become an icon.
There’s also an aftermarket parts and accessories industry worth nearly $1 billion, marking the ’Stang as the most personalized vehicle of all time. The organization that represents aftermarket manufacturers and tuners, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has also dubbed the Mustang as the most accessory-friendly new vehicle.
For any spouse or parent who is still unconvinced, the following information might sway them that the car’s a sensible buy. The current Mustang starts at $19,650 for the V6 Deluxe Coupe. The Convertible model gets the maximum five stars from the National Highways Traffic Highway Safety Association (NHTSA) for frontal, side impact and rollover protection. Hey, it’s worth a try.
Normally, whenever we see something yellow in the snow, it’s not a good thing. But then Saab has frequently gone against the wind of convention. This is the latest iteration of the Swedish automaker’s soft-top for all seasons. It’s called the 2008 Saab 9-3 Convertible Yellow Edition, to give it its full name.
For the sum of $42,830, this yellow fellow (using Saab’s Lynx Yellow paint) offers a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, which straddles the compromise between power and parsimony quite well — 210 horsepower and 18/27 mpg, city/highway. A standard 9-3 2.0T convertible starts at $40,335, so for an extra $2,500 or thereabouts, the YE has a longer list of standard equipment that includes 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, a subtle rear spoiler, OnStar navigation service from Saab parent General Motors and a premium audio system with which to enjoy the XM satellite radio subscription.
And there’s more. The first YE, which came out in 1991, has, according to Saab, gone on to attain collector-car status. Well-kept examples of the 1997 version are becoming sought-after as well. So the Yellow is no lemon, apparently. Neither is the 9-3 convertible in general. It took the award for 2008 Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety after the institute’s first-ever crash tests for open-top cars. And it’s a true four-seater, which can double the quota of convertible car occupants with a sunny disposition.
Peter Viles, our LA Land blogger, took a snapshot in Santa Monica, fueling the bad news for L.A. commuters yesterday and posted it to his popular blog resulting in an outpour of comments.
I didn't go looking for expensive gas this morning, it found me, on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica. What does it have to do with housing and the economy? Not much if you live in Manhattan and take the subway to work. A lot of you live in Southern California and drive everywhere. -- Peter Viles
In the automotive industry, the $4.00 mark has long been considered the "tipping point" which will alledgedly cause consumers to dump their trucks and SUVs for small, gas-efficient cars. At least that's been the buzz among the analysts and auto blogosphere. But what do buyers say?
The largest car-related Web site in this country, Kelley Blue Book, has been polling car buyers for years on this question and have come to quite a different conclusion. Jack R. Nerad, the site's executive editor and market analyst, believes that, even with $4.00+ gasoline prices, the SUV is decidedely not dead.
He believes it has been virtually replaced by a new animal - the CUV. "... A largely under-reported fact is the rise of the CUV (Crossover Utility Vehicle). The CUV is designed strictly as a "road car" and has become the family car of 2008. At this point, sales of CUVs outnumber SUVs 2 to 1. And, evidence is strong that it will stay that way for a while."
So, what do you think? Are we Americans ready to sacrifice seating and cargo space to conserve or do we want what we want at any price? Perhaps it will happen at $8.00 per gallon.
The American appetite for SUVs doesn’t seem to be that much on the wane, so car manufacturers are happy to keep making and selling them. The newest example is the 2009 Audi Q5, which, as logic suggests, is a smaller version of the house-sized Q7. The thing is, the Q7 is really, really good at what it does, so it follows that the Q5 should be able to deliver similar results.
If drag coefficients are anything to go by, the signs are good: the Q5’s vital statistic here is 0.33 -- better than some ‘normal’ cars. In an effort to keep weight below the gargantuan, the hood and tailgate are made from aluminum. And in an effort to keep decision-making to a minimum, the U.S.-spec Q5 will come with one engine and transmission combination. The former will be a 3.2-liter gasoline-powered V-6 pushing 265 horsepower and the latter is a six-speed Tiptronic gearbox. Basically an automatic, but with the option of swapping gears manually. Of course, Audi’s all-wheel-drive Quattro system bubbles away underneath.
There’s even some off-road ability, providing someone would dare to go deep into the wild with a pricey luxury vehicle that comes tingling with high-tech -- like a thermal heated/cooled cup holder. And an ultra-posh Bang & Olufsen audio system linked to a multimedia interface displaying real-time traffic updates. The Q5 goes on sale early next year at a price expected to be in line with its rivals. For example, the BMW X3 costs $38,000.
This Prius has covered 6,000,000 miles -- without emitting even an ounce of carbon dioxide. Of course, not having an engine helps a lot in that respect. When this thing moves, it needs a human hand to do it. Or, in this case, an extra-terrestrial one.
Kind of. Here’s the story: Hasbro's Monopoly, probably the most well-known board game in the universe, has a new ‘Here & Now’ edition coming out in September (yep, some people have their eyes on next Christmas already). Instead of antiquated things like railroad stations, this version will have airports. Plus NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
And those old place-marking tokens like the top hat, the boot and the wee Highland terrier? Replaced by things like McDonald’s French Fries (really), a Starbucks coffee mug, a Motorola Razr cell phone and, you guessed it, the Toyota Prius.
So pleased were the space cadets at JSC to be honored in such a fashion, and as a way of acknowledging Toyota’s entry into the zeitgeist, they decided to take those tokens (along with an airplane, a New Balance 992 running shoe, a laptop computer and a labradoodle -- this is getting more surreal by the minute) where no token has gone before, on a giant leap to the International Space Station, orbiting about 217 miles above the Earth. In space, no one can hear you scream when you throw a six.
After re-entering the atmosphere it’s trying to save, the Prius was presented to Toyota by JSC’s president, Richard Allen, on April 22 -- Earth Day, appropriately enough. We’ll have to wait until the fall (more specifically, an edition of ABC’s Good Morning America) to find out what all the other new places on the Monopoly board will be. And whether ‘Go To Jail’ has been replaced by ‘Make A Donation To A Police Charity And Attend Anger Management Classes.’
After running in 50 races without a win, being on the top step of the podium is a moment to really savor. This time it was especially sweet, because the victor stands apart in this ferociously male-dominated world. Last weekend, Danica Patrick became the first woman to win an IndyCar Series race, the Indy Japan 300.
With two laps left of the grueling 200-lap event, Patrick took her Andretti Green open-wheeled machine past Helio Castroneves (a winner of Dancing With The Stars -- here’s another challenge for Patrick) to take the lead and the checkered flag. By this time, Castroneves was in fuel conservation mode, but Patrick’s excellent team strategy gave her the juice to go for the win.
The Hyundai Sonata has been updated for its 2009 model year. Not that it shows very much on the outside. Only the most ardent Hyundai-o-phile (and how many of those can there be?) that would notice the slightly deeper grille, tweaked lights and subtly revised bumpers.
However, anyone who has expressed misgivings about previous Sonata interiors will be pleasantly surprised by the new model. Lush, soft-touch plastics help form a tidier, sleeker dashboard and center console. With an all-new model two years away, Hyundai decided to blow most of its mid-life refresh budget allocation on the cabin and the driving experience, where the consumer will feel it the most.
There are revised seats, handsome blue-lit dials, the option of voice-activated satellite navigation (the first time such a feature has been made available in a Sonata), iPod connectivity, a USB socket for other MP3 players, plus plenty of leg and shoulder room front and rear (the Sonata is a fraction of an inch wider than a Toyota Camry).
It’s the clear the company has worked hard on improving things like power output, throttle response and handling (although the latter still couldn’t be described as the car’s strong suit), while also keeping an eye on emissions; the model powered by the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine qualifies as a Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV). The 2009 Sonata is on sale now, starting from $18,795. That price includes a decent level of standard equipment. And there’s even an available moonroof.
He’s here. The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI, has landed in America. But he can’t behave like any other tourist and rent a Mustang, His Holiness needs a special set of wheels. He needs a Popemobile.
This one is based on a Mercedes-Benz ML-Class SUV -- the perfect diplomatic solution, as it’s a German marque (the pontiff is German, known formerly as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger) but this model is manufactured in the USA. The glass is, of course, bulletproof, maybe even bomb-proof as well.
The cross and the three-pointed star have a connection that goes back 75 years. Mercedes has built many other Popemobiles, including one based on the boxy G-Wagen SUV with the shower-cubicle-on-wheels appendage. It’s now on display in the M-B museum in Stuttgart. However, the papal limousine fleet has also consisted of several stylish Landaulets from the ’60s.
The Brits made two Vatican vehicles for Pope John Paul II (who disliked the term ‘Popemobile’ because he felt it was undignified), based on Range Rovers. They were said to weigh 24 tons each (lots of armour plating) and one fetched the equivalent of $70,500 at an auction about 18 months ago. There are also Canadian, Mexican and Filipino Popemobiles.
Stateside, Pope Paul VI was transported during his 1965 U.S. visit in a specially built Lehmann-Peterson limo with an unusual provenance. Previously a Ford test vehicle, it was involved in a bad crash. The Chicago coachbuilders took it, rebuilt it and added an elevated rear seat that could raise 12 inches by the pull of a hand crank. Floodlights and a public address system also went in. LBJ and many astronauts used the car subsequently.
Considering that the Vatican is the world’s first (and so far only) carbon-neutral state, let’s hope Pope Benedict XVI is not led into temptation to don a baseball cap and a pair of dark glasses, and go rent a Mustang. Naturally, we’ll forgive him if he does.
For those who like their movies full of thrills and spills, with their colors over-saturated, Speed Racer could be just the thing. This is one of those instances where Western culture influenced Japanese culture, which in turn has become an American film.
A quick reverse to the starting position: Speed Racer is based on a Japanese anime series from the ’60s called Mach GoGoGo, created by Tatsuo Yoshida. His inspiration was Elvis Presley playing a race car driver in Viva Las Vegas and the trick, gadget-laden Aston Martin DB5 from the early Bond films.
Computer-generated imagery has now progressed to such a point that a live-action version could be made that still embraces some of the crazier, trippier ideas of the original animation, but takes the whole thing to another level. The Wachowski Brothers, creators of The Matrix Trilogy are the brains behind this project that stars Emile (Into The Wild) Hirsch, Matthew (Lost) Fox and Christina Ricci (who seems to become more gorgeous as she gets older).
The film’s official website has just posted four minutes of footage, which looks and sounds a whole lot better than the YouTube trailer. To see the rest, it’s not long until the film’s May 9 release date.
For most Angelenos, the car wash is how most of us get our vehicles cleaned. Where we can grab a coffee and read a couple of sections of The Los Angeles Times while someone else buffs our fenders. But there are several good reasons why, once in a while, we should get down and soapy ourselves.
It’s always smart practice to give a car a good going-over, to check for any fresh dings and/or bird deposits that might have compromised the paintwork, and look over the wheels and tires to make sure both are in good shape. On top of that, there’s the satisfaction of a job well done, where a little more elbow grease will really get rid of that tree sap.
However, our friends at Meguiar’s feel it necessary to explode a few myths on the great Sunday chore. With winter out of the way, April has been deemed ‘Car Care Month’ (the fact that it’s taken so long to get around to mentioning this might have something to do with our feelings toward car cleaning in general).
The big one is that dishwashing detergent is no substitute for properly formulated car shampoo. The former quite often contains salt (as a bulking agent) and salt plus metal equals rust. It will also degrade paint and any waxes that have been applied. Oh, and old diapers and T-shirts don’t necessarily make the best cleaning cloths. The detailing pros use 100% terrycloth towels and/or premium microfiber towels.
Thanks to Meguiar’s for these tips (there are more on the company’s website) and, of course, car-cleaning products are also available from other companies. And as for the video, you can have too much gunk, but you can never have too much funk.
Los Angeles isn’t short of a stretch limo or two. There are even some elongated Hummers. But if there was ever a stretch too far, it could be this version of the Smart car, called (naturally) the Smaaart. This object-defeating exercise is still powered by the same little three-cylinder engine found in other Smart Fortwo models and has a top speed of 80 miles per hour. It’s just that instead of being just over eight feet long, it goes on for 17 feet.
In this instance, the middle section has been fashioned in the shape of a popular energy drink container, complete with ring-pull, making the concept ideal for promotional purposes. But the makers are also thinking of using electric power and creating an environmentally friendly hearse. Ideal for that last, dignified trip.
Ailing Angelenos shouldn’t worry too much about this vehicle. It was made by a British company (hence the bad light in the picture), Carbonyte UK, who pioneered the HotFusion composite manufacturing technology for the Mercedes McLaren SLR supercar. It has also built the world’s only Ferrari limousine (seems the word ‘sacrilegious’ isn’t in these guys’ vocabulary) by taking a 360 Modena, making it 20 feet long and nine feet wide, and adding gullwing doors. But hey, strange things are often seen in SoCal.
The franchise known as The Fast and The Furious is heading for its fourth feature film. While the other three have been faintly funny (mostly in an unintentional way), the cars involved -- like the Nissan 350Z, Honda S2000, Mitsubishi Evolution and Mazda RX-7 -- exude their own brand of cool. Hyundai is hoping to have some of that charisma rubbing off on its new Genesis Coupe, one of the stars of TF&TF IV.
The thing is, those cars didn’t need the TF&TF movies half as much as the movies needed them. To use this dumbed-down series as a marketing tool may not be giving the Genesis its best start in life. But anything with a 3.8-liter V-6 driving the rear wheels has at least the potential to rise above such silliness.
On a more realistic note, Disney’s animation arm, Pixar, has announced that Cars 2 is coming down the pike in time for a summer 2010 release. Occupying the director’s chair on this occasion is Oscar-winning producer Brad Lewis (of Ratatouille and Antz fame) and the film will be in 3D animation. Which should be cool.
This could come under the heading of: ‘How did we ever get along without it?’ From early next year, Ford will be fitting its new innovation -- the Blind Spot Mirror -- on to various Ford, Mercury and Lincoln models as standard equipment -- with no addition to the sticker price. It’s a relatively inexpensive thing, but could save money, pain and lives when changing lanes on the freeway or attempting to parallel park.
This will take the place of a normal side-view mirror, but it has an integrated section aimed specifically at a driver’s blind spot. Of course, we’ve all seen people who have subsequently affixed those ‘fish-eye’ aftermarket mirrors, but this is all one piece.
Ford hasn’t finished there. The company will also offer, as an option, the Cross Traffic Alert with Blind Spot Monitoring System. Imagine reversing out of a parking spot, with visibility limited on each side -- what if there are cars driving down the ‘aisles’ looking for spaces? This system uses radar to detect cross-path traffic within a 65-foot range. Coupled with Ford’s Reverse Sensing System, this can help the driver gauge how much space a car has to maneuver around in.
Yes, we should all use our eyes (and ears), but a little help is always welcome. And buyers obviously won’t make their choices solely on something like a blind spot eliminator. However, it might just tip the scales.
Pontiac will be making a hard-top version of its pert little Solstice convertible. But instead of calling it something witty, like the Winter Solstice, the company has played it straight and dubbed it the Pontiac Solstice Coupe. It’s probably for the best.
This two-door, two-seater model makes an interesting stab at bringing the targa top back into fashion, as the roof is a lightweight, removal item made from composites, aluminum and even a touch of magnesium. The thing is, it won’t fit into the trunk, so there’s an optional soft top (which is stowable) for when the weather becomes inclement.
In a strange reversal of conventional practice, the coupe version will be slightly heavier (around 31 pounds, says Pontiac) than the convertible, thanks to the roof and its supporting structure. But, with a flat trunk floor, it’s a little more practical.
Engine options will be the same as the current model: standard trim sports a 2.4-liter, 173-horsepower engine, or the GXP model has a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine developing a more muscular 260 hp. And in another odd turnabout, the Coupe is expected to be more expensive than its Convertible counterpart. But since prices haven't been released, we’ll have to wait until a time closer to the Coupe’s on-sale date, which is set for early 2009. If it’s any help, the Solstice soft-top starts at $22,165.
Not so long ago, the idea of racing diesel-powered cars seemed about as exciting as a vegan barbecue. But now that technology has come on and Volkswagen is producing cars with its Clean Diesel system (that complies with emissions regs in all 50 states), the introduction of the Jetta TDI Cup sounds like fun.
What’s more, congratulations must go to three young men from the Southland: Gary Willams Jr. (26), Dana Point; Ryan Buezter (25), Long Beach; and Evan Pflock (20), Redondo Beach. Along with 27 other drivers from around the country, they have been chosen by VW to compete in the series, which is a great opportunity to get a start in a factory-backed racing program.
An exhaustive (pardon the pun) evaluation process took place April 3 to 6 at the Firebird Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona, where a variety of factors into were taken into account, including driving ability and potential, media and communication skills, and overall fit. Of course, the series will also bring TDI tech to an audience of younger, more sport-oriented drivers, as opposed to the traditional tweed-jacketed math professor types who used to be the typical customers of Dr. Diesel.
SB1613 isn’t the snappiest of titles, but it’s going to have an impact on many of the 29.7 million cell phone users in California. And that impact will happen on July 1, because SB1613 is a new state law going into effect on that date, prohibiting the use of cell phones while driving -- unless the driver is using a hands-free device. The CHP cites the cell phone as the number one cause of distraction for drivers, leading to many accidents -- some of them fatal.
Step forward Ford, whose Sync system -- developed with Microsoft -- allows Bluetooth-equipped phones to link into the audio systems of various vehicles manufactured under the Blue Oval’s aegis. These include cars wearing Lincoln and Mercury badges. The system uses voice activation and can even read out received text messages.
Software upgrades will be added later this year; 911 Assist helps drivers connect with the emergency services if an airbag has deployed; a Vehicle Health Report can be retrieved from the Sync website. Ford also plans to make Sync available in more models, including the F-150 truck and the Escape crossover SUV. Many luxury makers have Bluetooth connectivity, but Ford should be applauded for making such innovative features available in budget models like the Focus. -- Colin Ryan
The Smart Fortwo is small, light, easy to park and cheap to run. It looks pretty interesting too. So far, so good. When the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) got hold of one and subjected it to its crash test regime, this cheeky set of wheels started to lose its charm just a little.
As the NHTSA’s Safercar website shows, there was a ‘safety concern’ from the side-impact test (where a 3,015-pound car’ hits a broadside at 38.5 miles per hour) when the driver’s door unlatched and opened. According to the NHTSA (and common sense), this “increases the likelihood of passenger ejection.” Nevertheless, the Smart still scored the maximum five stars for this section.
It also secured four out of five for a front-end crash (performed at 35 mph) on the driver’s side and three for the passenger-side equivalent. The administration says that a Fortwo passenger has a 21 to 35% chance of serious injury in this kind of impact. Five stars would have meant a risk of 10% or less.
The rollover rating was again three out of five, the NHTSA assesses the car’s rollover risk at 21 percent. For an average car, that risk is normally around 10%, although some SUVs could run to 26%.
The next bout of bashing will occur later in April when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gets the white coats, clipboards and hammers out.
Hummer, that lumbering symbol of everything that’s wrong with the American automotive world, is going green. The marque has recently announced that E85 ethanol-burning production versions of the H2 pickup and H2 SUT (Sport Utility Truck) will come onstream for the 2009 model year. And that’s not all, Hummer wants all its vehicles to have an E85 capability by the end of 2010.
Ethanol doesn’t have offer up same kind of energy as gasoline, but it does emit fewer greenhouse gases. It’s produced primarily from corn, with 85% ethanol and gasoline making up the difference. It’s also available in just 1% of filling stations nationwide, so Hummer’s parent company, GM, plans on setting up E85 pumps at dealerships and other locations.
One showroom in Texas has already spent over $500,000 installing pumps that dispense E85, E10 and biodiesel. GM is even considering dealer-located hydrogen pumps as part of its plans. Infrastructures have to start somewhere.
Recession or not, the economy is limping, many folks are feeling the pinch. So what can we do with what is usually the second largest purchase in most people’s lives -- that wonderful, useful money pit known as the car? Internet surfers who have recently clicked on to The Motley Fool (the website that dispenses nuggets of useful financial info) might have noticed one article recommending that, instead of swapping our vehicles every three years, we should run them into the ground.
The logic behind this is sound. As soon as a new car is driven off the lot, it loses a large chunk of its value. And according to Kelley Blue Book, 65% of an average car’s worth is lost in its first five years. Even cars with the strongest resale performances, like the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla, are likely to shed half their value. But, with proper maintenance, modern cars can run to over 100,000 miles, or about 10 years of duty. Some will last much, much longer. So if the owner has already taken the biggest financial hit, why get a new car and do it all over again?
Yes, older cars break down more often, spending more time on the lift than on the road. The Motley Fool argues that, over a driving lifetime, cash spent on repairs and extra maintenance will add up to less than money lost in depreciation. What it doesn’t go into, however, is the inconvenience of having increasingly unreliable transport. And most of us are willing to pay extra to avoid being at the mercy of unscrupulous shops -- the ones that say the engine needs replacing when all that’s required are four new spark plugs. Still, it’s food for thought. And with less potential buyers walking into showrooms, the deals could be sweeter.
-- Colin Ryan
Photo: Mercedes-Benz
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Our Bloggers
Colin Ryan was born in London and worked at BBC Top Gear magazine, Britain's most popular automotive publication. He now resides in Los Angeles, because "this is where the real car culture is." And also because he was weary of driving in the rain every day.
Joni Gray is a native Angeleno (second generation) who has spent more than 20 years writing, editing and creatively communicating new-car information within the automotive industry. Her past work includes stints as senior editor of Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com and in internal corporate gigs at Mazda, Hyundai and Honda.
