And there's more from where that came from. Here's what Reynolds wrote on Motor Trend:
"Guess what, automotive blogosphere, Honda's Accord Crosstour is not the design catastrophe you so deliriously predicted."
"Prior to the new Crosstour's traditional introduction, Honda, rather innocently, released early images of the Crosstour on Facebook. However, these social networks can often be less than sociable gatherings."
"Snap a finger, and a bunch of collegial car-loving "friends" can transform into a pack of frenzied piranhas. And on their menu last September was the complicated-looking Crosstour, which was spilling blood in the water even before it was properly introduced to the mainstream press."
And for all of you "collegial car-loving friends" and "frenzied piranhas" that dared to express your opinion and are now seeking answers, fear not, because pastor Reynolds will lead you to the path of understanding.
Reyonold writes: "In my humble opinion, the miscalculation with the Crosstour's Facebook moment was that its shape is so complex, so unusual, it's almost impossible to accurately convey to a 2D audience (even here in this story)".
"The car almost refuses to be photographed; it needs to be physically pondered on two moving feet, watching the surfaces blend and emerge as you change perspective."
And Motor Trend lived happily ever after....
You, our readers on the other hand, are invited to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Link: Motor Trend - Kudos to Greg for the tip!
People seem pretty excited about the recently revealed Infiniti M executive saloon. Frankly, I don't see what all the fuss is about. While it looks decent enough and its interior really shines (literally, thanks to the silver powder-coated wood), it's no game changer. But there's one Infiniti that really caught my attention this year, a concept that inspired some of the M's styling and might, just might, still be in the cards: the Infiniti Essence.
Yes, you read correctly: if you buy a small duffel bag from BMW's online shop, which by the way, points to your nearest dealer, and have it delivered to your home, it will cost you $68 (plus taxes and delivery fee), but if you decide to pay (...) a visit to your local dealership, the same exact gift may cost you much more - up to 63.4 per cent more in my case. Sounds ridiculous, but it's true.This happened when I made the mistake of bending going over to Wagner BMW of Shrewsbury in Massachusetts to buy some gifts. Bought the accessories, handed them over, headed home and then (duh) checked out the invoice.
Out of curiosity, I went to BMW's online shop to compare prices: Key ring (Item No.: 80230408546) - $12.80; Duffel Bag (Item No.: 80220433964) - $68 and Snow and Ice Remover (Item No.: 82110017663) - $19.90 (all parts excluding sales tax).
Surprisingly, two out of the three items, the key ring and duffel bag, were priced substantially lower than at the dealership which charged me $16 and $111.95 respectively, while the snow and ice remover cost the same at $19.90 (again, all prices without sales tax).
From a consumer point of view, a 55.5 and 63.4 per cent hike in prices for the key ring and bag respectively, definitely justifies a call to the dealer.
The next day I was informed by the dealer's wholesale parts department that BMW's corporate online shop and the specific dealership are two separate business entities and as such, have a different price strategy when it comes to accessories - even though the official BMW accessory website points to your local dealer.
The person that I spoke to at the department said that the Bavarian firm sells the accessories to the dealer at a much higher price and that they have to make a profit to pay off things like coffee, bagels and their employees - seriously, that's what she he said.
However, in all fairness, the folks over at Wagner BMW of Shrewsbury kindly offered to reimburse the money if I returned the parts so I could reorder them online and save a few bucks. However, since the gifts had already been handed out, this wasn't an option anymore.
The lesson to be learnt here is that, if for whatever reason you want to buy gifts from BMW (or from any maker, for that matter), do your homework before you head over to the middle-man dealer / shop to avoid any 'pricey' surprises like I did.
Links: BMW of Shrewsbury and BMW Online Shop
"They make cars?" used to be the common response when asking people about Suzuki's automobile offerings. That's about to change, though, because the runt of the Japanese litter has decided to go head to head against the first-stringers. With its Kizashi mid-size sedan, Suzuki thinks it knows what mid-size car buyers want, but the big question is: how can this stubby mid-sizer hope to compete?For the time being Suzuki is playing it smart and starting out simple, offering a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder with either a 6-speed stick or a CVT. The controllable all-wheel drive system is a nice option in the segment, and with a V6 and hybrid rumored to be in the works, this mid-size saloon should be more than ready to take on the world (putting a few more nails into the Mitsubishi Galant's coffin...).
In the cockpit is where the Kizashi scores some serious points. Compared to its contemporaries, it's easy to tell time was invested in designing it for driver/passenger comfort, ease of use, and a sport-luxury ambiance - apparently I'll hold off quality opinions until I feel the polymers with my own bare hands.
The Kizashi's center stack doesn't choke you with switches, but it doesn't bore you to death, either (take a look at those metallic fangs).
For comparison, the Toyota Camry's dash is to the point, but oh so boring. There's nothing there that stands out. Add to that the top-heavy, anorexic-Dolly Parton gated shifter and you have an interior that's as charismatic as a corpse. In fact, I feel like I'm aging just looking at it.
The Honda Accord's dash layout is a step up from the Camry, but not by much. At least Honda's "robot designers" threw in some bisecting lines, making it more stylish than the Camry but drowning drivers in buttons and knobs.
Also, to let everyone know that the Kizashi isn't messing around in the entertainment department, there's an available Rockford Fosgate sound system to go up against Toyota's optional JBL stereo setup and Honda's "premium" one.
From the outside, the Kizashi is possibly the most youthful in the segment. I like its tough, chunky form and stubby up-ticked rear, but that doesn't blind me to the fact that it's lines are far from original.
Easily identifiable on the production model is a blend of the Kizashi concepts' facial features with those of VW's Jetta (the proportions seem much better than the Jetta, though). Now follow the sculpted line along either side of the hood, up the A-pillar, over the flared fenders and back towards the trunk. While admiring the rear three-quarter view you'll see hints of Toyota's Mark X sedan.
Below the rear bumper, you'll either like those geometric tailpipe surrounds or you won't. They're not the best part of the car, but at least the exhaust pipes can be seen inside them (unlike the superfluous faux exhaust tips found on the . . . ahem . . . nigh-$60,000 Lexus IS-F). Up above, I would have liked that third brake light mounted flush in the trunk lid, but that's a minor deal that shouldn't deter anyone from taking a look at this car.
More and more it seems like Suzuki has a potential winner on its hands, one that could draw plenty of people out of the competition's showrooms. The runt has put out a cute and butch car that, if there isn't a whole lot of brand loyalty in one's diet, may get some serious attention over the next few years. Now if only they would release the rest of the specs. After all, those mid-size sedan buyers are a finicky lot.
By Phil Alex
Phil Alex was born in Rhode Island in 1985. He graduated with degrees in Finance and German from Wofford College in 2007 and has had an obsession with cars and travel. Currently he resides near Japan's international airport in Narita. He makes no apologies for his articles and welcomes all feedback, as long as it is adamantly worded. If for any reason you are inclined to vent some more, check out more of his posts on the Examiner here.
