http://www.nwautoblog.com All things automotive, all things local. Tue, 13 Apr 2010 06:24:45 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Design without engineering does not equal success. But the opposite is also true. The best driving, safest, most reliable ugly car will be a failure because, well, there's that whole ugly thing... It seems obvious enough, but it's surprising how many automakers don't get it. I've said this ... http://www.nwautoblog.com/?p=276 The upcoming Chevrolet Cruze, General Motors' third attempt at the ever-important small car market (after the Cavelier and the Cobalt), is by all means a better car. Improved interior, engine packages, and a rumored 40+ MPG all add up to a great package. But one thing that stands ... http://www.nwautoblog.com/?p=267 By far, the biggest story in the automotive industry in the last six months has been Toyota's decision to halt sales of eight of its models, and announce recalls on the millions of vehicles currently on the road. You don't need to read automotive blogs to know that Toyota ... http://www.nwautoblog.com/?p=258 CNET reports that GM will be building it's own electric motor plant in support of it's hybrid vehicles. To quote CNET: General Motors plans to open a $246 million factory in the U.S. to build electric motors for a hybrid vehicle platform due in three years. Later this week, GM ... http://www.nwautoblog.com/?p=254 All sites have their year end "best of" and "worst of" lists, and this one is no exception. And with that - the top 10 worst car names of all time: 10. Lincoln Zephyr - Besides being an odd word in general, can anyone tell me - what exactly ... http://www.nwautoblog.com/?p=247 On my way to work each morning, I have the great pleasure of driving on one of the worst roads in Seattle: Airport Way. From Leary Way north, Airport Way might as well be a stage in the World Rally Championships, or the Baja 1000. It's bad. ... http://www.nwautoblog.com/?p=244 Who knew so many 40-50 year old, mullet-sportin', top button un-buttoned, auto enthusiasts were taking to the web. Full list below from Yahoo! Autos: Most Searched Car Models for 2009 ----------------------------------- 1. 2010 Chevrolet Camaro 2. 2009 Honda Civic 3. 2009 Ford Mustang 4. 2009 Mini Cooper 5. 2009 Smart ForTwo 6. 2009 Honda Accord 7. 2010 Dodge Charger 8. 2010 ... http://www.nwautoblog.com/?p=242 I feel bad for the car...not so much the owner. http://www.nwautoblog.com/?p=239 Subaru is undoubetly a popular brand in the Northwest. All wheel drive is a definite plus, and a mesh of utility and comfort make Subaru an attractive choice, despite its unattractive looks. And Subaru has made great gains in the US and Canadian market in the last year, ... http://www.nwautoblog.com/?p=234 Big news today regarding teenage drivers: Those who share a car are less likely to crash than teens who own their own car. In this study, 10% of teens who share a car were involved in crashes, whereas 25% of teens who own their own car were involved ... http://www.nwautoblog.com/?p=229