I’m not trying to pick on Nissan, but here’s something interesting: In July, 2010, sales of the very large Nissan Armada SUV above were up 311.4%. Sales of the Xterra SUV were up 56.6%. On the flip side, sales of the subcompact Nissan Cube were down 54%. Sales of the equally subcompact Nissan Versa were down 9.4%. This isn’t meant to bash SUVs—I’m not an SUV hater—it’s meant to show that in July, 2010, sales of large vehicles were up, and sales of small cars were down, and not just at Nissan.
It’s been said Americans have short memories. This could certainly be said for car buying trends, at least with regards to vehicle size and fuel efficacy. Gas prices have held relatively steady over the last year—the average price is still under $3.00 a gallon, although on the rise—and Americans have decided to buy larger, thirstier cars again. At least that’s what July’s sales data suggest.
July was a good month for the majority of automakers offering vehicles in the States. However, it was the bigger vehicles leading the charge, even though there’s more small cars on the market than in recent history. Autoblog, for example, reported Honda’s Civic was down 25.5% while the Pilot was up 45.4% (the Fit was down 29.5%). Nissan’s car division was down 3.7%, but its trucks went up 51%. As I reported on Tuesday, all b-segment cars on the U.S. market (sans the Kia Rio and Kia Soul; +99.7% and +65.9%, respectively) experienced a drop in sales compared to this time in 2009.
It’s not like Americans don’t have small options these days, it’s quite the contrary. There are more small car choices these days than since the 1980s, and they’re almost undoubtedly the best small cars ever to grace American soil. Even with the not-so-stellar economy, gas prices that still aren’t “cheap,” and many great smaller options, the slow sales of small cars says something about U.S. consumers: They like big vehicles and fuel economy isn’t as important as many want to think.
How soon people forget. Remember when gas prices approached $5.00 a gallon in places? It wasn’t very long ago. Remember saving money by driving a car that got 25 MPG vs. 15? Of course a subcompact, compact, or even a “car” doesn’t fit everyone’s bill. But, they likely fit more lifestyles then many people would want to believe. It’s the “bigger is better” mentality.
Hey, I’m the last person on Earth that’s going to tell someone what they have to buy. Some people need pickups, SUVs, and minivans (most “minivans” aren’t very “mini” anymore if you haven’t noticed), and you do have the freedom to buy whatever the hell you want—that’s fine. But I’d bet gas prices will rise again and used car lots will once again be strewn with copious amounts of large, gas-guzzling vehicles. I just figure it’s a matter of if not when.
Clearly, Americans decided to buy big with their vehicle purchases—at least in July—despite the influx of great small vehicles. But is this spike in bigger vehicle sales simply a blip on the radar, or is this a return to buying bigger and less fuel-efficient again? Assuming gas prices stay around where they are, the next few months should be good indicators.
Courtesy of our content partner – Subcompact Culture
E36 BMW M3
Bugeye
C4 Chevrolet Corvette
B5 Audi S4
Z32 Nissan 300ZX Turbo
SN-95 Ford Mustang GT
EM1 Honda Civic Si
951 Porsche 944 Turbo
JZZ30 Lexus SC 300
C170 Ford SVT Focus
Despite hybrid vehicles being the standard of green vehicles today, the debate rages on. The big debate in the future of automobiles comes down to these two major technologies – electric batteries or hydrogen fuel cells.
If you happened to catch the latest Top Gear episode on BBC or BBC America, the UK boys bashed the Tesla Motors’ Roadster for being irrelevant and unreliable. We know now that the unreliability was staged, and the ‘being irrelevant’ is just the Top Gear boys’ opinion. I loved it especially, when they traced the power source of the household power plug all the way to a heavy polluting power plant. It is very, very suggestive and misleading. Mr. May and Mr. Clarkson also suggested that hydrogen fuel cells are the wave of the future and introduced the Honda’s new FCX Clarity. Maybe, Top Gear is drinking Honda flavored Kool-Aid.
In a ideal world, we would have two types of vehicles in our garages… or two types of mobility. One should be a electric personal mobile, commuter, or errand-runner. Much like the Segway, you plug it in to recharge at night then you take it to do errands or go to work in it. A fine example of this would be the Toyota iReal (see left). The other mode of transportation should only be used when you need space for more than one person and/or need long cruising distances. That could be either gas, electric, or hybrid drivetrain. But realistically, most people can or will have one vehicle. If that’s the case, make it electric. As the battery technology improve, so will the performance of the electric vehicles. With hydrogen fuel cells, you might have to replace the whole entire fuel cell or the vehicle, itself, for the same improvement of upgraded batteries on pure electric vehicles.
Coupe, Sport, Light. With even the slightest mention of these words near any BMW fan in the US, they’ll start drooling and panting uncontrollably. Shortly after they will pull every last hair on their head, fall to their knees and in a mad fit of rage and confusion, scream to the car gods, “WHY?! WHY NOT HERE?” OK, not exactly, but that is the equivalent emotion felt by avid BMW fans who long for this car. It was more powerful, louder, lighter, lower, stiffer, grippier, and above all, more fun than the already popular M3. Visually the car had subtle additions like the carbon fiber roof, a bumper mounted intake, a more aerodynamically sculpted trunk, and bigger, lighter wheels. Underneath the hood was a different story. What BMW did to the 3 Series to make the M3 is the same thing they did to make the M3 CSL from the M3 (So would this be the M-M3?). It’s performance increase over the M3 is significant and quantifiable but utterly irrelevant. Tiff Needell of Brittan’s 5th Gear TV show once screamed, “I don’t care if it is faster! I just sounds faster!” as he plowed up through the gears. This car brought back the true spirit of “M.” Initially the M3 CSL had no radio, no AC, no leather, and was only available in SMG (which did perform better on the track). Comfort and convenience went out the window and performance was the sole focus, a feat last seen only in the first ever M3 (E30). Why the US never saw this masterpiece is beyond me. If BMW managed to get the M3 CSL here legally, it would have instantly sold out.
OK so we finally have the GT-R here, but we never saw this one. This was the first of the Skylines to really jump off the technological deep end. It was the first real-life video game. Like the Nissan GT-R we now have, this car could make even the most appalling drivers look like pros. Whatever mistake you made, the committee of on-board computers would make appropriate corrections by diverting power funds to the proper locations. This car could read your mind. Whatever you were trying to do, it somehow knew what you wanted and gave you more. Couple that to its estimated 350BHP turbocharged 2.6L in-line six and you had a car that was almost unstoppable. All of the advantages of front, rear and all-wheel drive were present with few of the disadvantages. As if this wasn’t enough, Nissan made the V-Spec Nur variant, which improved the already fantastic suspension and engine. In 2007, our prayer was finally answered. The successor to the R34 Skyline, the Nissan GT-R (R35) arrived in US showrooms and quickly sold out for more than MSRP. Just don’t try to import an R34, even through Florida; it just may end up crushed into tin cans when the Fed’s find out, and that my car enthusiast friends, is a crime against humanity.
The Type R badge is the rice rocket wet dream. Honda had great success with the Integra Type R in the US. Before the great crash of the auto industry, a used Integra Type R in good condition would cost you well over $20,000. However, no other Type R made it to the US. Hatchback-phobia again is the problem with the Civic Type R. Critics hailed this souped-up city runabout as the typical high revving torqueless go-cart we’ve all come to expect from Honda. Although the newer EP’s suspension was less advanced as its predecessors double wishbone, it handled as well as the best of its competition.
The US did get the hatchback Civic Si, an anemic version of the Civic Type R, but it was not nearly as successful as its sedan predecessor, which played a large roll in Honda’s decision not to introduce the Type R in the US. Like the BMW M3 CSL, the Type R does not simply represent higher performance numbers. It represents a huge worldwide following which some have dubbed a religion. Other cars that received the Type R treatment include the Accord and NSX. The removal of sound insulation and the addition of under-body aero lead the NSX Type R to nearly tie the Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale’s lap time of the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Do not despair for there is good news for the Civic Type R in the US! A Type R sedan had been released in Japan with speculation that it might come Stateside. We’ll keep you posted.
Considered to be the world’s ultimate hot hatch, the Lancia Delta Integrale first hit Europe’s streets in1991. Many things we consider as ordinary features on most cars today were standard on this high performance model Delta. It had a 2.0L turbo four that churned 215HP and came with an advanced torsion AWD unit capable of sending power as need to wheels that had more traction with a distribution of almost 50:50 front to rear, perfect for lurid slides in the dirt. But the engine and drive train were relatively unchanged from it’s lesser Turbo HF leaving the only difference to the suspension. The Delta Integrale was wider and stiffer giving it better performance on and off road. (Yes I did say off road) It’s most distinguishing feature are the rally inspired light weight wheels and aggressive body kit resembling it’s rally counterpart. In 1993, computers were added to the cars brain which gave it variable ignition timing, less intrusive emission control, idle control (VW MkII fans will appreciate this), and boost control which reduced turbo lag. Emission laws again spoil our fun in the US and that inexplicable fear of hatches. However, look closely and you’ll find a few gray market imports lurking about. I spotted a black one in San Mateo, California just a few blocks from downtown.
The Imprezza 22B sold out just after it went on sale. It was in such high demand that it was rumored even the late Colin McRae had to pay for his. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this beast, Subaru decided to celebrate their 40th birthday and dominant 3rd title of World Rally Championship by making the 22B. Their driver, Colin McRae, was largely responsible for their success that year. Subaru claimed their car made 276BHP, the mandated limit for cars sold in Japan, but many have spun the dyno rollers at a higher number. Although it was based on the Imprezza chassis, the 22B was noticeably wider and was equipped with road clawing suspension, eye-popping brakes and a more aggressive AWD setup. The WRX Coupe R the common man’s 22B. It lacked the wide body and power but had equally aggressive suspension and had a detuned version of the 22B’s engine. Both cars had enough power to hurl themselves up against their top-gear rev limiter thanks to the short ratio differential. This made it the perfect weekend track warrior. Emission laws barred these mischievous siblings from the US.
The biggest criticism of American cars is the notion that they are undesirable. Well, here’s a very desirable one. Meet the Ford Focus RS. It’s a more powerful, more nimble Focus. Ford’s European design division came up with the internationally successful Focus and consequently entered it into WRC competition which was also driven by Colin McRae. Their tribute car came in the form of the Focus RS. Though not a huge departure from the standard Focus, the first RS was equipped with a 2.0L turbo four producing a modest 205 HP. Earlier this year, the second generation Focus RS hit European showrooms with a whopping 300+HP turbocharged five-cylinder from Volvo. The first generation Focus RS would have been a patriotic and unique alternative to the Japanese Evo’s and STI’s. More importantly it might have helped put the US automaker back on the map at home.
No, the year range is not a typo. This is one of Italy’s most quintessential cars. Its style and superior performance was everything that was Italian all in a compact aluminium shell with wheels. In Italy during the 60′s a gorgeous woman could be called “Abarthizzata.” Other than working it’s way into modern Italian vocabulary, the Abarth’s racing counterparts were successful in their classes which included touring cars. Early versions put out only a mere 27BHP while the later 850SS models were rated a almost 100BHP and were capable of reaching speeds close to 120MPH. Fiat has revived this model in Europe and has specifically announced its plans to bring the car to America. With its purchase of Chrysler, Fiat has perfect distribution method for the 500 Abarth. Just as BMW did with Mini, Fiat will sell the 500 through Chrysler dealerships.
We have yet another car inspired by rally racing; this one is from the Group B era. For those who don’t know, Group B era ended because the cars were too fast and too dangerous. So, Porsche decided to make a production version of the car that was too dangerous for racing drivers. This monstrosity gave new meaning to the word ridiculous. Remember, this car showed up in the mid 80′s and could time warp you to 60MPH in 3.7 seconds and to the quarter mile in 11.8 seconds. These figures were pure insanity in the 80′s. The only car to out accelerate the 959 was the famed McLaren F1, which showed up in the 90′s. Speed wasn’t the only thing it had. Style, reliability and handling were in equal abundance. The Porsche-Steuer Kupplung (PSK) AWD unit, the most advanced of its time, could direct 80% of available power to the rear when needed, the shocks could be adjusted electronically to various comfort and sport settings, it’s aerodynamics produced no lift which made it drivable at its top speed of almost 200MPH, and it sported super light weight magnesium alloy wheels which burn a blinding white when lit on fire. Porsche refused to send the US Department of Transportation the four 959s required for crash testing, so the car was never brought here by Porsche. However, since the “Show and Display” law, the car now meets crash test standards and can be fitted with emissions equipment to make the car legal in the US.
This is the great grandmother of all of Audi’s AWD cars. The Audi Sport Quattro housed the same AWD unit used in Audi’s legendary Group B rally car and has been handed down to all of Audi’s cars. Quattro is the pride of all Audi fans and it was the reason of the car’s dominance in Group B. The rally version eventually made well over 500BHP and is still one of the most powerful rally cars ever built. The production version made a modest 305BHP from a 2.1L in-line five. Even 17 years later, the Audi Sport Quattro could up keep up with the far more advanced Mitsubishi Lance Evolution VI. Only 224 were ever made and none were sent to the US, although gray market cars have been spotted. Emission laws again prove to be a thorn in the side of many automakers attempting to bring cars into the US.
Yet another feather-weight rally inspired hot hatch that never saw the Red, White, and Blue. This car is like a baby Skyline GT-R. It had similar AWD unit and an exclusive turbo-charged engine with 2 less cylinders and 1 liter less displacement. Other goodies included a snazzy body kit, sporty suspension, and big brakes. This car was available in left hand drive but only made it as far as UK in its westward travels. It was very quick for its day and had a matching chassis making a great competitor to the Subaru WRX and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, but in a smaller, cuter package.
1985-1992 BMW 325i (E30)
