I would like to welcome you to the very first post of the MotorStyle blog. My name is Artem and I have been an automotive enthusiast for years. However, unlike many “car guys” I’m not as big on how fast a car can hit 0-60 mph, or how many ponies are under the hood. While I appreciate all those stats, I am most intrigued by car design.

The perfectly designed car is truly a work of art.

Unfortunately, lately I have noticed a number of vehicles on the road, the exterior of which certainly must have been designed around spacial requirements of a focus-group lumberjack. Certainly it’s important to provide plenty of storage and leg room – yet at what cost? Have we truly sunk to the level of not caring about driving around in import hearses?

Exhibit 1: 2009 Toyota Venza

For the 2008 model year the great business minds at Toyota did some advanced research, which seems to have proven that the eight different cars and the six SUVs the company offers in the US market are not enough. In order to fuel the demand for gas efficient, yet roomy modes of transportation they offered us the Venza. To summarize it – the Venza is basically a visually bloated Camry.

Exhibit 2: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour

The newest addition to the Honda line-up is this beauty. The vehicle fits into such a niche segment that it didn’t even deserve an original name, simply piggy-backing on the existing Accord. I do have to tip my hat to the Honda guys for referencing the European version of the Accord (better known in US as the Acura TSX) for the front facade. This gives the car a bit more edge and at least a level of competition to the Venza, which we can thank for the Crosstour’s existence.

So what’s the appeal?

Is there a new found love for station wagons? No. With the wide range of small and gas-efficient SUVs these days there is no excuse for driving a station wagon.

Are there tech goodies under the hood and behind the doors that would should make the buyers look beyond the awkward sheet metal? Nope. There are no wheels reinvented or worlds turned up-side-down here. It’s the same stuff that comes in the sedan versions of the cars as well as the small SUVs their markers produce.

Is it really the great gas mileage? If by great you mean roughly the same as the much more appealing small SUVs, then yes – great gas mileage!

Now the price – must be superb, since the looks are unappealing, the tech goodies aren’t unique, and the gas mileage isn’t overly efficient! You wish! The Toyota Venza prices (starting @ mid-$20Ks) are in the same range as the Toyota Highlander, while the Honda Accord Crosstour (starting @ high-$20Ks) slides in along side the Honda Pilot.

So who is responsible for this guilty US pleasure? Simple. I blame the guy who let the Mercedes-Benz R-Class slip through the cracks of the designers’ desks and on to the dealership lots. I mean seriously… how can this car be produced by the same company that just let the exquisite 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class onto our streets? But that’s a discussion for a different day.

Once again Toyota contracted the masterminds at Street Image to produce a couple of vehicles for the annual SEMA show. Eric Valdes was given a Toyota Venza and a Toyota Camry Hybrid this year and here are the results of the builds.

The Toyota Venza, a staple of school carpools, morphed into a dream ride for extreme athletes at the 2009 SEMA Auto Show. The Toyota/Billabong Ultimate Venza is laden with gear for outdoor lovers, including a heated shower system, a custom roof rack and a hidden cargo rack that extends from the rear bumper for skis and snowboards.

While the curious can only ogle the custom Venza via photographs at this point, Toyota says the concept will be the official Billabong Team vehicle for use by surf-, snow-, skate- and wakeboard athletes. It will be displayed at upcoming Billabong events in the U.S. following the aftermarket show.

Street Image built the concept, adding a custom body kit with “Billabong” emblazoned on the side. Large Enkei wheels with Nitto tires and a TRD big brake kit round out the package. The cabin gets seats upholstered with wetsuit materials, while the headliner features a collage showing Billabong athletes in action.

Toyota says a Verizon Wireless access point router was installed, which lets athletes get up-to-date surf or snow reports. Other details include headrest-mounted LCD monitors, an audio system with 18 speakers and an iPod interface.

The Toyota Surfrider Camry Hybrid CNG is not going to be limited to the elite crowd at the 2009 SEMA Auto Show. Toyota said on Tuesday that it will provide a production version of the Camry that runs on compressed natural gas to the Surfrider Foundation. The organization is expected to use it for outreach campaigns, education programs and beach clean-up events.

The Surfrider looks distinctive and PC, with a vehicle wrap that features CNG and Surfrider logos. The car’s gas fuel system was replaced with a CNG system in the spare tire well. A viewing window shows off the CNG fuel cylinders.

Toyota says the Surfrider has a range of 250-plus miles and returns 32 miles per gallon in city driving and 24 mpg on the highway. The powertrain is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive.

The hybrid showcar gets a body kit with a custom front grille and unique rear bumper that covers the tailpipe and exhaust system. The ride height was lowered on an adjustable coil-over suspension. A set of 20-inch alloy wheels rounds out the package.

The nonprofit Surfrider Foundation was founded in Malibu, California.

Before we begin, let us say that when it comes to cars, Time Magazine can get it right. Like the time they hired Dan Neil to write The 50 Worst Cars of All Time. That was really good. However, now Time has the “10 Most Exciting Vehicles of 2010,” and boy is it really awful. In fact, it’s so awful that we’re dying to hear what Dan Neil thinks of it. Time’s list isn’t just regular bad, it’s take all your credibility on a given subject and light it on fire bad. Akin to letting Glenn Beck run the civil rights desk. OK, but in car terms how bad? The Volkswagen Golf is one of Time’s most exciting vehicles of 2010 – and that’s not even the really terrible part. We’re making you follow the jump for the really bad stuff.

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Toyota’s Venza model is essentially in the crossover vehicle class. The reason is that the Toyota Venza appears like a cross between a car and an SUV. The Venza by Toyota was made to be flexible, making it the automobile of choice for anyone who’s drawn to the Highlander and the Camry but can’t get them both in the same package.

As an alternative to the usual full-bodied cars, the Toyota Venza is longer and narrower. The link which you has given doesn’t has any content checker.

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And below the cover lies a 0.7 liter four cylinder engine which has the capability to produce 182 horse power at 5,800 rotations per minute with 182 lbs of torque at 4,200 rotations per minute at its maximum.

Thank you On the inside, Toyota Venza is equipped with an optitron meters with speedometer, tachometer, engine coolant temperature and fuel gauge meters, and LCD odometer with twin trip meters. Before the fuel becomes empty things noted in the CFC-free dual zone automatic climate control system and its other features are time , outside temperature and other information like settings of air condition, average speed, average and current fuel economy.

The integrated satellite radio capability with the AM/FM 6-disc in-dash CD changer and also MP3/WMA playback capability and six speakers was provided by the toyota venza for the entertainment purposes. The salient features that Toyota Venza boast are its rear window glasses for total privacy, steering column adjustable for rack and reach; this column has an gradient sensor starting feature and music buttons made of urethane. This also has a top mounted XM satellite radio antenna.

An enhanced vehicle stability control with traction control, brake assist, and an anti-lock brake system that includes an electronic brake-force distribution is given to the Toyota Venza to add to the safety features of the car. Also included for these safety purposes are driver and front passenger advanced airbag system, front and rear energy-absorbing crumple zones and 3-point seatbelts in all seating positions.

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It happened in a flash. I knocked on the door, not sure what to expect. A moment later, the lock clicked open, the door swung inward, and there you were – all dressed up with nowhere to go. “Hello,” I said nervously. “The rat’s nest is in the chimney,” you replied angelically.

And though I may just be an exterminator, a singular thought struck me in that instant. It is a thought that I’ve never had before, yet one that I’ve never been so sure of: this girl NEEDS a boat.

I see you own a Toyota Venza. A fine car for sure, but a woman of such beauty should not be confined to a vehicle that only allows her to traverse the 30 percent of earth that is covered by land. She deserves the lavish and carefree life of a proud boat owner – cruising the vast open seas at 30 knots while the warm sea breeze flows through her amber brown hair.

Clearly, your beauty is so unique and unmatched, that no ordinary boat will do. Indeed, I could search every boat catalog – from SeaArk to Overton’s – and still not find a boat that matches you in both beauty and prestige. In that first glimpse, I knew this instantly. And in that same instant, I wanted to hold you in my arms and whisper, “I’d like to build you a boat.”

But lo, I restrained myself. For certainly, a woman such as yourself receives countless offers to enjoy the ownership of a custom-built boat each year. I’m sure you have heard it all before: “the boat I’d build you would have a tapered fiat nose, hydrofoil support, center-pod rounded tunnel and stepped swim platform with sunpad.”

Certainly, it sounded both exotic and enchanting the first one or two times you heard it. But judging from the non-existent trailer hitch on your Toyota Venza, it is clear that those previous men had neither the chivalry nor the persistence to deliver on their promises.

And so, it is with great regret that I will hold my tongue, and not sing out that I’d like to build you a boat. Instead, I will simply expunge this rat’s nest from your chimney, clean the feces from the grating and patiently wait the 6 months until your bi-annual preventative infestation appointment.

And once those 6 months are up, oh how I will soar as that yellow-painted door opens wide once more to reveal your sweet visage. Because this time, I will not be armed with a simple canister of arsenic. No, this time I will also hold in my hands the keys to your very own, custom-built catamaran with azimuth thruster and pod-mounted propellers. And from that day onward, I wish you only days filled with sunshine, bikinis and FREEDOM. Because that’s what you deserve.

And maybe, just maybe, as you cruise the open waters of nearby Cuyamaca Lake, I will be there too, sipping a cold brew and smiling – not because of the kick ass custom-built boat, but because the most beautiful girl in the world is by my side.

——

If you liked this post, you may also like:

• Today Is Tugboat Day!
• Wedding Plans
• Before They Were Famous

Apparently I am not as crazy about my dog as I thought I was. When I think about buying a car, I don’t think about his comfort.  It seems Toyota might have struck gold with people who do care about Fido’s place in the car.

According to an article in PRWeek written by Nicole Zerillo, Toyota has announced that its latest crossover car, the Venza, will have an entire campaign devoted to pet lovers across America. Zerillo’s article states that the target audience for the vehicle includes empty-nesters and young families.  Trying to advertise cars in this economy seems ridiculous all on its own, that’s not even taking into consideration that Toyota plans to go to dog parks in their attempts to get to the consumer.  Once I sat down and thought about it, I think Toyota is on to something.

Before taking that step of starting a family, the popular consensus is that the young couple should try their hand at raising some sort of animal, usually a cute puppy or something. For the less experience couple, I might suggest a gold fish just incase you are truly unfit for a four-legged creature, or if your apartment complex is anti dog or cat.  A child is the next logical step; that is if the pseudo child is alive and well, if not maybe you two just aren’t quite cut out for it, no hard feelings right?  Young families and pets seem to go hand in hand, and driving that minivan around is just not as cool as it once was, if it ever was, so the new trend for people needing a bit more space is the new crossovers.  Toyota has picked up on the trend and voila, the pet-loving Venza.

On the opposite side of the young family model are the empty-nesters. Ladies and gents who have found themselves without rug rats of their own running around but still enjoy the company of little things making noise and demanding attention.  The crossovers seem to be popular with the older folks as well.  Those who don’t want to drive around in the typical “grandma” car seem to enjoy the idea of having a roomier car without the consequences of driving a gas-guzzling assault vehile (i.e. Suburban or Tahoe).

I applaud Toyota’s marketing/public relations department. It seems they did their homework and have started appealing to a different kind of crowd.  I haven’t seen another company take this approach before so they’re definitely ahead of the curve with this.  Just think, a designer car for the designer dog in mind.

If you want some more information, check out Zerillo’s article.

Okay – the craziness has finally settled down. The Pittsburgh Steelers had a last minute win. Super Bowl XLIII was great. However, its the other half of the craziness which I’m about to turn to – the ads. I’ve honestly never been interested in them before, but given that I’m beginning to blog fairly regularly and that advertising is something front and centre to my thoughts of promoting the site, it was an opportunity that I couldn’t miss – the Superbowl Ad Challenge!

Firstly, I don’t live in the US so I missed all the ads you lucky Americans got to see. Instead, I visited superbowl-commercials.org and I’m trusting them on the different ads which appeared on the broadcast. The rules of the challenge are fairly straightforward, hit the play button and see if it works. If it doesn’t find a video of the ad that does. Watch the advertisement once, then write my gut reaction about what I just saw. In come cases I bent the rules a little i.e. when I needed to copy down a site in order to reproduce it for you. Apart from one exceptional case where I just didn’t get the ad, I stuck to simply viewing the video – none of these thoughts have been liften from anywhere else.

This is Part 1 of the challenge. Soon I’m going to be taking my gut reactions to these advertisements to produce an article about some of the trends which we saw, both good and bad, in this year’s broadcast, and then awarding some acknowledgement for the particually good and bad ads. So, here we go!

Note: Chances are that you’ve found this article while searching for a specific ad from the Superbowl. They’re all here. Hit ‘Ctrl’ and ‘F’ on Windows or ‘Cmd’ and ‘F’ on Mac to enter search and enter your search term to find the ad you were looking for.

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Toyota Tundra – Killer Heat: Yeah, we know you sell trucks, and we also know you’ve been asking the government for bailout money. So why are you telling us that burning fuel and towing a truck up a tower is the best way you propose spending some of this money.

Fast and the Furious Trailer: Its got Vin Diesel in it, but apart from that its a very conventional movie trailer for a rather lacklustre looking movie. Not interesting at all.

Pepsi – McGruber: Good use of product placement in an ad that’s not afraid to poke fun at itself. Go the PepSuber!

Bud Light Lime: Nothing particually terrible about this ad, but for a Superbowl commercial its fairly dull. Next time its fairly dull around here and I need a bit of sunshine, now I know what to do – just wait for the next ad and see what happens.

Castrol – Grease Monkeys: You gave them some Castrol Edge and the Grease Monkeys just showed up. Good mix of being on message while being randomly entertaining. Strange days indeed.

Nextel Roadies: Some guys show up, audjuct a plain and its an ad about a rugged mobile phone? Its an okay ad, but I’m kind of tired of seeing companies burn money on mediocre Superbowl ads when perhaps it might have been better spent on improving the advertising division.

Coca Cola Heist: There’s a really epic feeling about this ad, and the creativity of having insects trying to steal a bottle of coke is genius. It sends a good silent message about why one should drink Coke over the other brand (because even insects will steal it), so in this way I guess this ad succeeds.

Heroes Trailer: NBC could have just figured that since they’re airing the Superbowl, they have a free reign to just show us their regularly scheduled promos for their upcoming shows, but instead they’ve put in some effort by getting together some NFL heroes and pitted them against another crew of heroes. Nice job.

H&R Block – Death and Taxes: I’ll say upfront that I’m kind of disappointed nothing happened to the dude in the ad, but I understand that its all family friendly viewing. Watching the Grim Reaper question an accountant about his taxes is quirky but fun to watch. Perhaps the best part is what I’d imagine would happen off camera after the ad’s finished.

Angels and Demons Trailer: I must say that Angels and Demons looks fairly good to me even though I profess to being one of the few people never interested in reading or even watching the Da Vinci Code. If you’re going to just show a movie trailer, you have to make it a good one. Luckily this movie seems to be a good one worth watching.

BudLight: Right now in our economic slowdown it makes sense that bankers would be discussing how to cut costs, but cutting out the BudLight? Personally I think it works, but I admit the ad is kind of shallow.

Land of the Lost Trailer: The concept seems like it could work. The visual effects look sharp. Will Ferrell in his last few movies has been pretty funny. I guess it could work.

Year One Trailer: Year One for me looks like at could be one of those movies which could base itself on a foundation of stupidity, and still be a box office hit. Honestly not my thing, but I know that lots of you love these kinds of movies, so you have my permission to check it out in June.

Monster.com: Another timely ad given the Global Economic Downturn. While I get the analogy that having animals being stuck in the wall is like not having an ideal job, I think its kind of weird and not very interesting. On the other hand, I don’t know any other creative angles a job website could have taken during the Superbowl, so they’ve done a decent if not partially memorable job.

Race to Witch Mountain Trailer: This movie looks pretty good considering its from Disney. The Rock stars in this one, but it probably suits better considering its an action film when you compare it to his role in The Pacifier.

Coca Cola – Mean Troy: I must admit that I wasn’t around back in 1980, so hearing that this was a remake of an old ad means that its probably one that people about 40+ would enjoy seeing parodied. Apart from this, its a nice ad that gets its short but simple message across.

Toyota Venza: Another boring car ad that doesn’t do anything particually interesting. Normal guy. Check. Looks at all of car’s ‘amazing’ qualities. Check. The car moves. Check. In this case, the checks probably aren’t a good thing. These car companies need to come up with something more creative for Superbowl.

NBC – LMAO Clinic: I don’t really get the point of this. I know that you’re trying to say that these funny shows will make you go to the LMAO clinic (most of which is easily understandable), but you guys must be able to come up with something better than this.

Cheetos – Annoying Caller: I don’t think this works. Watching an annoying person on a phone being shooed off by a flock of pidgeons doesn’t seem too compelling, and then attributing it all to the Cheetos mascot guy – it doesn’t really cut it.

Budweiser – Romeo Horse: Another brand of alcoholic beverage. Another random ad. This one tries to tell the story (as simple as it is) or a horse being separated from its love, and then searching for her only to be found in a circus. They escape. I certainly commend this ad for trying to be compelling, although the results are certainly debatable.

Budweiser – Clydesale Generations: Now I get it – Budweiser’s are types of horses, so at least that’s what these ads are making me think. Pretty much the same points as the last ad (‘Romeo Horse’) except I prefer this one better, but that’s a personal preference since they’re pretty similar thematically.

Gatorade – Talking Heads: This ad tries to define what ‘G’ is. Everyone comes up with something different, although it pretty obvious everyone was prompted with what Gatorade wanted them to say. Simple but effective ad.

Bridgestone – Mr and Mrs Potato Head: Nice, simple, amusing ad. It could be nice in an alternate galaxy if our female friends had the ability for our mouths to fall off whenever they began going off on tangents, but that’s something I’ll leave for Mrs Potato Head.

E-Trade Babies: Parents especially will love watching babies talk about investments, and singing about who knows what. For the rest of its, its also rather amusing. I think it shows that if you’re aiming to do an ad that inherently has nothing to do with your product, keeping it as simple as possible is the way to go.

Doritos – Magical Chips: Everytime he takes a bite – his dreams comes true. The girl, money, monkey, getting slammed by a bus. Doritos? Amusing enough to keep it interesting after one sitting, but if I saw it again I’m not so sure I’d be interested to watch it till the end,.

Doritos – Crystal Ball: This ads pretty amusing – a guy looks into a crystal ball and predicts he’ll get free Doritos. He slams it into a vending machine, so there, free Doritos. Its probably the sort of ad that would get as much publicity if you posted it online, so while I’m still sceptical about spending up to $3 million on it, probably for Doritos it was worth it for this particular ad.

Budweiser – Drinkability: A guy with fancy drawing powers illustrates how Budweiser compares to other beers by comparing a downhill skier performing a clean trick vs a guy who magically bumps into a whole stack of magically drawn trees. Pretty mediocre for me.

Budweiser – Fetch!: Compared to the last Budweiser ad, I like the simplicity of this one. A man throws a stick, his dog fetches it and is rewarded with a stick. His horse notices this and goes to fetch a log. He’s branded a show-off. It shows once again how simplicity often makes good advertising, especially if its got nothing to do with your actual product.

Cars.com – David Abernathy: A lot of the good ads I’ve seen during the Superbowl have either stayed on message while finding a narrow area for entertainment, made an simple but entertaining ad that has nothing explicitly to do with their product but shows their logo at the end, and those who tell a good, simple story that links to their product. By telling the somewhat unbelievable story of David Abernathy, this ad succeeds in completing the last of those three observations. It probably benefitted from being aired at around the time of the successful film ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ which also struck a similar style, although on its own its certainly a successful advertisement.

Pepsi – I’m Good: Watching people get inflicted injuries that would almost certainly otherwise result in hospitalisation is not particularly funny, even if they say “I’m good”. Probably not the most interesting Pepsi ad during the Superbowl, but at least they gave it a shot.

Hyundai – Angry Bosses: I have to admit, I probably wouldn’t have gotten this advertisement if I hadn’t heard of the gorgeous, upmarket looking Hyundai Genesis. The ad shows luxury car makers around the world going crazy over the company. Unfortunately, most people probably won’t get it unless they knew more about the car, which is a shame since for me (given my understanding about the car) it was a fun ad which payed out all of those luxury car companies who’ve been hiking their prices up for far too long. Cheap luxury – I like it!

Hyundai – Smashing Pumpkins: This ad, also for the Hyundai Genesis, shows off the car (unlike the last ad) and shows off edited snip-its made by certain people. It then redirects you off to ‘edityourown.com’ where you can make your own car ad featuring, guess what? The Hyundai Genesis. Once again, probably a little more detail could have gone into defining this, but overall its a nice idea that will get people seeing Hyundai over and over again.

Hyundai – Chase: Probably its the first time in this challenge that I’ve thought that the ordering of multiple ads from a single company could actually impact on the success of the others. If they’d put this ad first out of the two I’ve seen so far, I think it would enhance the other two given the straight up knowledge this ad delivers on. There’s no entertainment factor here, but they sells their message strongly, and that’s probably all that matters here.

E-Trade – Baby Outtakes: Watching babies engaging in a mixture of adult and baby behaviour is quite humorous and works well here. The message of using E-Trade probably is second to actually getting you interested in the ad in the first place, but they do include some subtle messages about the state of the economy which might make you ring them up.

Cash4Gold: I have to say that I have no idea who EdMcMahon and McHammer are, but they feature in an ad for Cash4Gold which I don’t think could have afforded such an ad if not for people using their service to gain some cash during the downturn. While they send their message that they’ll give you cash for any type of gold, it seemed to be stretched out longer than it should have been (they go through about 8 different examples of gold items), and the final shot of the old dude not wanting to part with his possessions really puts a bad dampener on the entire ad. Probably the worst ad I’ve seen so far. If you’re going to make people part with their gold, at least make them think its a good thing.

Star Trek Trailer: A new Star Trek is hitting the screens soon, seemingly updated for a new generation of fans. It looks like they’ve tried to prepare non-fans like me to embark to the cinema by preparing a more mainstream, less geeky look at the Star Trek universe. I might actually check it out since the trailer looks okay.

Transformers 2 – Revenge of the Fallen Trailer: The sequel to the remake of Transformers looks rather sharp, but I must say that I didn’t really have any interest in the first movie, so my judgement probably isn’t the best here. If you’re a fan, I’m sure you’ve already seen it, so for the rest of us, we might have to take a look.

GI Joe – The Rise of the Cobra Trailer: Hang on – GI Joe’s back? After seeing the last two trailers, my mind has gone kind of numb to the ‘key lines’ they use and the cuts of action sequences, so I’ll probably just recommend you check it out for yourself.

Pixar – UP Trailer: To me it feels like only a short time since Disney and Pixar released Wall-E, to me one of the best movies the combination of them have created, so to be out with a new movie already seems rather abrupt. I’m not so sure I’ll be entertained by the kiddy premise of an old man who has a flying house, but I’m sure legions of fans will be queuing to watch it when it comes out soon.

Careerbuilder – If You Hate Going to Work: This is one of those ads which tells you exactly the same thing, albeit a slight variation about 6 time in a row, after which you get to see what company you’re dealing with. If I wasn’t ‘forced’ into doing this, I would have tuned off by about the third time since you’ve gotten the jist of it all by then.

Pedigree – Adoption Drive: This is a simple ad which delivers its message by showing people doing things with animals that should never be pets. Its pretty bland but we get the picture afterwards. Just don’t expect that people will view this video 1,000,000 times on Youtube.

Bridgestone – Hot Item: This ad is probably the ad that brings up the most questions but answers none of them. Its a teaser for an upcoming Bridgestone product, most likely a tire but the ad is so ambiguous that honestly it could be anything. It doesn’t even feature a logo, only that by the time the ad airs (February 1), we should know what it is. Maybe somewhere down this playlist I’ll see the unveiled product, but right now I’m really confused.

Go Daddy – Danica Patrick Shower: Go Daddy’s tactics on advertising are fairly well known in the web world. They’ll push the limits on 99% of their advertising which won’t make it past the Superbowl’s strict family friendly monitors, ensure the rest pushes it to the limit, and then gets you to watch all the uncut stuff on their website. And by the way, did I mention that you’re going to them to purchase domain names? This tactic, as barbaric as it is, probably will work, but as an ad its as dull and probably demeaning as it will ever get for a Superbowl commercial.

Godaddy – Enhanced: Okay, pretty much the same thing as the last ad. Why do we have a lineup of beautiful women in a courtroom being questioned about ‘being enhanced’? Pretty low stuff.

Heineken – John Turturro: This ad sounds like its trying to pack in a whole lot of information, most of which is kind of difficult to absorb in one viewing of the ad. Some of it is philosophical, others is insightful, some tries to convince you that drinking beer is ethical. Don’t know whether I believe it all, but it was deep enough that I was forced to pay attention to the entire ad, including the branding at the end. Will regular viewers who aren’t doing this challenge adopt the same view, perhaps not, but it seemed fairly satisfying for me.

Audi – Chase: A real old fashioned ad followed by the modern equivalent. Probably the best car ad of the entire Superbowl that stands on its own. Personally I thought the Hyundai Genesis ads were the best, but I knew stuff about that car which probably biases me towards the ads.

Monsters vs Aliens Trailer: I never would have thought it, but is this an advertisement about other advertisements? Now that thought is crazy. Best thing to do is just to watch it, and then think ‘How insane is the Superbowl!’

Coca Cola – Avatar: So far if my memory serves me correctly, I’m thinking Coca Cola has delivered some of the best consistency across their multiple different ads in the Superbowl. This ad which shows the different avatars which people can have is amusing and light-hearted, and definitely kept me entertained for the ad’s minute duration.

Sobe – Lizard Lake: This ad is kind of crazy. A combination of humans, lizards and other bizarre lifeforms are dancing around drinking Sobe. Personally, I think the dancing which attempts imitate ‘Swan Lake’ (prior knowledge; wouldn’t have picked it otherwise) isn’t that entertaining, so considering that there is no message to the ad, it just all falls apart. If you’re into the weirdness though, this one’s worth checking out.

Pepsi – Forever Young: Nice blend between the old and new. The music by Bob Dylan surprisingly keeps the ad on message, and the tagline ‘every generation refreshes the world’ is excellent. I think this might be the most surprisingly good ad so far, not because I doubt the ability for Pepsi to create good advertising, but because the premise of this ad is pretty bland. Pepsi have really pulled off something special with this ad.

Gatorade – What’s G: I’m not sure whether this ad actually aired, but compared to the other ‘G’ commercial from Gatorade, this one is exponentially more confusing and certainly less interesting.

GE – If I Only Had A Brain: Mildly amusing ad that plays off the Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz. The tagline is actually explained; its an analogy to the power grid which GE say they will make more intelligent. Its not the most compelling ad, but it does the job fine.

Dennys – Thugs: I confess that I had absolutely no idea what this ad was about when I saw it about the first three times. I broke the rule here, since I otherwise would have had no idea what to say. Apparently its about mobsters having to scale down their breakfast meetings because of the recession. Maybe if others got it, then it might be a fine ad, but I didn’t get it at all.

Pepsi - Ingredients: Another variation on their diet cola for men campaign. Talking about the ingredients of Pepsi isn’t as interesting as if KFC were to do an ad on it. The discussion sort of feels meaningless, its neither interesting nor informative. This one’s not a winner.

So the insanity is over! For now. Coming up soon is my analysis of the trends found in this plethora of advertisments. For now, I’m just going to bed – these Superbowl ads are kind of tiring to watch.

The LA Auto Show has come and gone and I’m finally getting a chance to write about it (more on the reasons why in a future blog).  With this year’s auto show, held at the LA Convention Center, everything and nothing had changed.  As usual, the floor was teeming with visitors taking a glance at the new models on display, there were long lines, and the food was priced as though it was Russia during a time of famine.  However, there was a dark cloud that cast a shadow on the whole event this year. 

Automobile sales were down significantly for most manufacturers in 2008 and the future of the Big Three future is still in question.  Many of the vehicle displays, which typically have models in skimpy outfits, bright lights, and huge televisions, relied solely on the fluorescent lights that basked on them from the convention center ceiling.  Nevertheless, there are still many cars that are deserving to be recognised as “winners” and represent good value and are appealing packages overall.  My choices for losers aren’t necessarily bad cars (though some are), but may be out-of-tune or just plain disappointing.

WINNERS:

Audi A3- The idea of a premium hatchback is one that American’s need to embrace.  The A3 has all the luxury trimmings, lots of space (My 6′5” frame has to pull the driver seat closer to the steering wheel!), a fast and responsive engine, slick handling, looks cool and is built to the usual Audi standard (which equates to very well).  The best part is that it’s small enough to fit anywhere and costs less than an A4 or BMW 3-Series.  Don’t forget, it can be had with All-Wheel-Drive and a turbocharged engine!

Ford Fusion- The Fusion has always been a good mid-size car ever since it was introduced in 2005.  The new 2010 keeps all of the original’s strong points and improves on its few weaknesses.  Build quality is better and the styling is more aggressive.  The best part, though, is the Fusion’s fuel economy.  The base four-cylinder is rated at 34mpg and the new Fusion Hybrid at 41mpg.

Hyundai Genesis- The Genesis is a milestone for Hyundai.  It is Hyundai’s first attempt at the luxury market and to take on Lexus, Mercedes and BMW.  The beauty is that the rear-wheel drive Genesis starts at $32k (about 50% less than its competition) and does not need to rely solely on price for merit.  It’s fast in both V6 and V8 form, extremely comfortable, amazingly well-built, has scored higher crash test ratings than comparable BMWs, and features truly luxurious appointments that you’d expect for…oh..about $60k.  No wonder it recently won North American Car of the Year.

Mini Cooper- No intro needed here.  Minis are just plain cute.  And fun!  The Mini corners like it’s on rails and grips the road tenaciously (it was engineered by BMW after all).  The regular Mini isn’t particularly fast, but the Cooper S makes up for it with a turbocharger.  There’s surprisingly lots of room inside and funky retro features everywhere, making it a blast to drive and own.  Not bad for a starting price of $18k. Oh, and did I mention it’s cute?

Nissan Cube-  The Cube may seem like a new idea with it’s boxiness, upright windscreen and slabbed sides, but it has been around in Japan for over a decade.  We’ve also seen the Scion XB in the States, which is similar in concept.  But the Cube is what the latest XB should’ve been, and takes cool to a new level.  Funky features abound.  The rear hatch swings to the side by using a huge refrigerator-inspired door.  The interior lights change colour with the speed of the vehicle.  Even the headliner is formed with ripples to look like a drop of water.  Although not driven, I predict Nissan will rightfully sell lots of these.

Scion XD- I’ve unfairly often overlooked the XD.  Its predecessor, the XA, was cramped, tacky, and was shaped like a wedge of cheese.  I dismissed the XD as being the same ol’ same ol’.  But after spending some time in it I’ve changed my mind.  It’s youthful in style and substance, well-built, much roomier than before, and although $16k may seem like a lot for a small car, Toyota has packed it full of standard features.  As long as you can get over the looks, it’s a terrific package. 

LOSERS:

Chevrolet Malibu- The Malibu isn’t really a bad car.  It is leaps and bounds better than the old Malibu or any Chevy in the past.  How the Malibu represents GM is what’s bad.  Bob Lutz, Vice-chairman of GM, was quoted when the new Malibu was introduced “we can’t make a better car.”  It was a good effort, but still falls short of the competition and seems half-hearted.  The interior is cheap and nasty, it’s noisy to ride in, and the Hybrid only achieves 2mpg more than the regular Malibu. 

Ford Focus- Everytime I see the new Ford Focus I am reminded of what might have been.  It’s drowning in bad design now, covered up with lazy sheetmetal flourishes and embarrassing chrome devices, transformed into some kind of shrunken Grand Marquis.  But once the Focus represented the leading edge of thinking at Ford, and the best engineers and designers worked on the project.  You can still sense a little personality here, even though the car has been dumbed-down over the years to suit a dumbed-down audience. 

Hummer H3- Driving a Hummer was once the envy of your friends and family.  Nowadays it’s like driving a moving target, except the weapons of choice are dirty looks and being shunned by society.  The Hummer’s time has come and gone; but this Hummer was never good to begin with.  For such a large vehicle, it is cramped.  The windows are like mail slots and restrict visibility and the interior reeks of cheapness that would be out of place in a Daewoo.  The five-cylinder engine is terribly slow and don’t even ask about fuel mileage.

Mazda 6-  The new 6 is a good car, so why is it here?  Because it’s become mainstream.  The original 6 was smaller than its competition and more nimble.  It was the perfect size for small families who wanted some sleek style and excitement during the daily grind.  Mazda prided itself on that the 6 had the “zoom zoom” gene and was different than the average sedan.  But all good things must come to an end and now the 6 is all grown-up.  It’s not as sexy as before, and doesn’t handle like it used to.  The American version has been stretched to be larger and the versatile hatch and wagon are gone.  It’s become bland, and just another copy of a Toyota Camry.  YAWN!

Pontiac G8 ST- What may work in Australia may not work in America.  The G8 ST is based off of a Holden Ute, a psudo-truck, El-Camionoesque vehicle that is wildly popular in Australia by tradesmen, florists, and farmers.  I love these things, but knew that it wouldn’t take off in America.  Americans love the benefits of pickup truck too much; high seating position, extra cab space, and payload.  They may not use any of it, but by golly, they have to have it…just in case.  Recently, it has been announced that the G8 ST will not be sold in America, which in my opinion is good.  I’d rather keep the best things back in Australia.

Toyota Venza- An answer to a question no one asked.  Think of the Venza as a spiritual successor to the Toyota Camry wagon and that may be the simplest way to justify its existence.  But it’s not a wagon, but is tall like an SUV.   But wait, isn’t a Highlander a tall Camry wagon?  Maybe it’s supposed to be a more fuel-efficient alternative, but that’s the RAV4’s job.  It has some luxurious creature comforts, but that’s the Avalon’s and Sequoia’s duties.  It has three rows of seats, but so do five other Toyotas SUVs.  Maybe it’s a minivan, but the Sienna has that task already.  Now I’m getting a headache.  Someone will buy it, even though the front looks like a cat’s bum.

Grabbed a few images from various places on the web to show some highlights of SEMA 2008.

Eric Valdes & the Street Image Sportlux Toyota Venza had premium placement in the Toyota booth. This a cell phone image sent to my from Eric.

Heavy Hitters Magazine’s Ford Flex in the Studio.

Scion Challenge awards 1st John P 2nd Eddie H 3rd Mark A ~ I blog about the contest a few weeks back. Go here for the post. Photo from UrbanRacer.com

JP’s winning Scion TC

One of the Challengers Topo did for SEMA

Street Image’s Sportlux 2009 Toyota Venza is all over the net. Here are some shots sent over by Street Image of the vehicle at Toyota’s media preview.

Topo’s working on 3 more Dodge Challengers for SEMA. As of today there will be 4 widebody Challengers at SEMA.

So earlier this week I posted some shots I took of the 2009 Toyota Venza SEMA show project Street Image was assembling for Toyota USA. At the request of Toyota and Street Image I removed the photos so the car can make its formal debut at SEMA. Here is a rendering and the press release by Toyota USA. Photo and text courtesy of Toyota’s Open Road Blog. Visit the blog for all your Toyota news! Here’s a link to the blog. My apologies to Toyota and Street Image for the leaked shots.

The second project is called the SportLux Venza. The idea behind this vehicle, developed by Street Image, Inc., is to give the occupants the feel of a refined sports car while retaining Venza’s utility and functionality. Body kit modifications have been added to the exterior, with an upgraded black/burgundy leather treatment inside.

Complementing the interior is a premium navigation unit that is equipped with a full entertainment system. The engine’s output has been enhanced, and so has braking and suspension performance.

Toyota just unveiled the Venza “crossover sedan,” which is really another name for, you know, “crossover.” With the Nissan Murano and Ford Edge obviously in its sights, the 5-passenger Venza neatly and stylishly fills the void left when the Highlander grew a third row and got bigger. Powered by either a 268-horsepower V6 or a 2.7L four-banger, the North America-designed and built Venza will be sold as a single trim level vehicle. The primary differences are that the six gets dual exhausts and 20-inch wheels, while the 2.7L has a single outlet and 19-inchers. Both engines are connected to a six-speed automatic with sequential shift, and the V6 has a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, which exactly matches that of the Ford Edge and the current Nissan Murano. The front end clearly communicates Toyota’s current styling themes while being Edgelike in its bright, large grille, and headlights that arc out towards the fenders. Inside, the Venza has an upscale, airy cockpit with niceties like contrast-piped leather seats. Storage is typical for vehicles in this class, and like its main competitors, it offers a panoramic glass roof. Pricing is to be announced, but if past performance is any indication, we expect to see a lot of Venzas filled with families on the road before long.

PRESS RELEASE:
Toyota Stages World Debut Of All-New Venza At 2008 North American International Auto Show

January 14, 2008 – Detroit, MI – Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., unveiled the all-new 2009 Venza crossover sedan at a press conference here today at the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). Venza will raise the crossover vehicle to new levels by combining a unique blend of sedan refinement and sport utility vehicle (SUV) functionality.

“The all-new Venza was developed as a vehicle that combines the styling, comfort and fun-to-drive performance elements of a five-passenger sedan with the surprising utility of an SUV,” said Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager. “This winning combination will be ideal for active ‘boomers’ and young couples with small families.”

All aspects of Venza’s engineering and design were targeted specifically for the North American market where it will be sold exclusively. Venza was primarily engineered at Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Mich., and designed at Toyota’s Calty design studios in Newport Beach, Calif. and Ann Arbor, Mich. Venza will be assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK), in Georgetown, Ky.

The development focus of the Venza design team was to create a new crossover vehicle that shifted away from the more traditional SUV styling themes that tend to dominate the segment. Calty designers leaned more heavily on a sleek sedan concept with a wide stance that featured a sporty exterior and premium comfort interior but would also be equipped with important SUV attributes such as cargo space, towing capability and all-wheel-drive performance.

The exterior design of the four-door Venza begins with an imposing front end featuring a distinctive grille, headlights and fog lamps for an aggressive, yet classy appearance. The front conforms to a sleek and aerodynamic shape with short overhangs, crisp character lines and a roofline and ground clearance that are lower than a typical crossover. From behind, Venza’s refined appearance is complete with an angled rear hatch, rear spoiler and wide wraparound tail lights that interconnect with the hatch door.

On the inside, Calty designers and TTC engineers made comfort, refinement and utility a priority for the five-passenger Venza. A lower rocker design will allow occupants to more easily step in and out of the vehicle than a typical sedan. Venza will also feature a higher ride height and hip points that will help provide significantly better driver visibility than most sedans and easier ingress and egress than most SUVs.

Venza will feature a spacious interior providing ample room for all five passengers and abundant SUV-like cargo space behind the second row of seats. The rear hatch provides a low cargo height that allows for easy loading and unloading of luggage and outdoor gear. Easy-to-use levers, one on each side of the rear cargo area, allow the 60/40 split rear seats to fold flat, providing additional storage space for extra long items such as surf boards, skis, camping gear and gardening equipment. For added passenger comfort, the rear seats recline up to 14 degrees.

A creative interior design complemented with an array of comfort and convenience features provides Venza with a refined look and feel that is commonly reserved for a luxury sedan. The flow of the instrumentation panel (IP) creates a unique 60/60 design that gives both driver and front passenger the look and feeling that 60 percent of the IP is accessible from their seating position.

An extra long center console extends from the IP and slopes down to a center compartment with a unique sliding console cover. Sliding open the compartment lid reveals a large storage well deep enough to hold a large purse. The compartment is also illuminated and equipped with an auxiliary audio jack and 12-volt power point. The upper portion of the center console houses the gear-shift lever for easy and comfortable driver access. Climate control functions are centrally located on the upper center console, providing easy accessibility for both driver and passenger. The center console also contains an iPod/MP3 storage compartment with wire management and illuminated dual cupholders.

All Venza models will be equipped with an array of standard features including auto dual zone air conditioning, AM/FM six-disc CD, tilt/telescopic steering wheel with audio controls, remote keyless entry, electrochromic rearview mirror with compass, a multi-information display, cruise control, optitron gauges, rear wiper, privacy glass, and much more. On V6 models Venza will come standard with dual exhaust tips and will be the first Toyota model to ride on standard 20-inch alloy wheels. Four-cylinder models will come standard with 19-inch alloy wheels.

Chrome accents throughout give Venza a refined look and feel. Models equipped with an optional leather-trimmed interior will feature wood-grain-type trim and seats stitched with dark piping that is tastefully coordinated with Venza’s standard linear grain dashboard and steering wheel. An array of storage space will be available throughout the vehicle to accommodate passenger belongings. A large storage compartment with an additional 12-volt power point located on the passenger side of the front center console will be sizeable enough to contain maps and magazines.

A panoramic roof will be offered as an option and will be a first for the Toyota vehicle lineup. The roof will feature separate glass panels over the front and rear seats. The front glass panel will have a power tilt/slide function.

Venza will also offer an Automatic High Beam headlight system, another Toyota first. When high beam headlights are in use sensors in the Automatic High Beam system will detect oncoming traffic and automatically switch the headlights to low-beam. When the Automatic High Beam sensors no longer detect oncoming traffic the system will switch the headlights back to high-beam mode.

Additional optional equipment will include a navigation system equipped with a JBL audio system, integrated satellite radio capability and Bluetooth® technology; a premium JBL audio system with AM/FM six-disc CD changer, satellite radio capability and Bluetooth®, rear seat entertainment system, a Smart Key System, back-up camera and a power rear door.

The sleek and sporty styling, refined interior and outstanding utility features are complemented with fun-to-drive performance attributes expected by owners with active lifestyles. Aggressive handling typically found in a performance coupe is well-balanced by the on-road comfort of an upscale sedan.

Venza will be available in front- and all-wheel-drive configurations. It will provide drivers and passengers the best of both worlds by delivering the quiet comfortable ride expected from a full-size sedan along with the peace-of-mind that comes with all-wheel-drive.

Power will be generated by an available 3.5-liter V6 that will produce 268 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 246 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,700 rpm with a towing capability of 3,500 pounds. Standard power will come from an all-new 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine that will deliver capable performance and provide excellent fuel efficiency and low emissions. Both engines will be mated with a six-speed sequential-shift electronically-controlled automatic transmission.

Venza will be equipped with a comprehensive list of standard safety features. It will provide a total of seven airbags, including a driver’s knee airbag, front seat-mounted side airbags, and side curtain airbags for both rows of seats. Venza will also be the first sedan with Toyota’s STAR safety system, featuring anti-lock brakes, traction control, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, and vehicle stability control. Venza will also feature active head rests as standard equipment.

“Venza will establish an exciting new crossover niche that will combine the finest attributes of Toyota’s diverse vehicle lineup,” said Carter. “It will cater to buyers who are looking for the value and reliability of a Camry, the comfort and upscale refinement of an Avalon, and the utility and functionality of a Highlander SUV in one very stylish and sporty package.”

“When it goes on sale in late 2008, the Venza crossover sedan will represent Toyota’s latest commitment to driving change in the marketplace.”

2009 VENZA PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS

POWERTRAIN
2.7-liter four-cylinder engine
Horsepower: TBD
Torque: TBD
Six-speed sequential shift automatic transmission

3.5-liter V6
Horsepower: 268 @ 6,200
Torque: 246 lb.-ft. @ 4,700 rpm
Six-speed sequential shift automatic transmission
Drive System: Front- and All-Wheel-Drive

DIMENSIONS (inches)
Overall Length: 189.0
Overall Width: 75.0
Overall Height: 63.4
Wheelbase: 109.3
Ground clearance: 8.1
Wheels: 19-inch alloy wheels (four-cylinder only)
20-inch alloy wheels (standard on V6 and available on four-cylinder)

Tire Size: 20-inch: 245/50R20
19-inch: 245/55R19

Towing Capacity: 3,500 lbs. (V6 model)

Seating Capacity: 5

Toyota expands its crossover crop with a new five-passenger, five-door Camry-based SUV.

Unveiled at the North American International Auto Show, the 2009 Toyota Venza will combine “the styling, comfort, and fun-to-drive performance elements of a five-passenger sedan with the surprising utility of an SUV.”

This is the gospel according to Toyota, but forgive us if we find it strangely familiar, since it’s been used to describe almost every crossover SUV since the word crossover stopped being limited to the music industry.

Other elements of the Venza seem familiar, too. For example, at 109.3 inches, the Venza’s wheelbase is just a half-inch shorter than that of Toyota’s Highlander, another crossover that delivers sedan drivability. Overall length—189 inches—exceeds that of the Highlander by a half-inch, and at 75.0 inches, the Venza’s width is just 0.2 inch slimmer.

This, plus familiar powertrain components—the upgrade engine is the same 3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve V-6 that propels the Highlander, rated here for 268 horsepower with a choice of front- or all-wheel drive—strongly suggest architectural elements shared with the Highlander.

But there are also differences. For one, although the Venza has dirt-road-worthy ground clearance—8.1 inches—its roofline is almost five inches lower than the Highlander’s, and that roofline is more curvaceous, sloping down to a faster backlight.

The front fascia, with its curving grille blades, is also a styling departure from the Highlander and the smaller RAV4. It’s the newly fashionable SUV/sedan look, one that negates the possibility of third-row seating—the Venza is strictly a five-passenger ride.

Another difference: The Venza’s base engine will be a new 2.7-liter four of unspecified output, sending its power through a six-speed automatic transmission. Also, there was no mention of plans for a hybrid version at launch, although given Toyota’s hybrid track record, this seems a likely option in the future.

The Venza was engineered at the Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and the design was developed at Toyota’s Calty studio.

Toyota was mum about pricing for the Venza, which is due in showrooms this fall. To be built at Toyota’s plant in Georgetown, Kentucky, it could use capacity freed up by the Camry-based Solara, which we expect to be discontinued at the end of the 2008 model year.

TORRANCE, Calif. — Toyota will unveil the all-new 2009 Venza, which it describes as a “crossover sedan,” next month at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show.

The Venza was designed and engineered in the U.S. and will be assembled next year at Toyota’s Georgetown plant in Kentucky, which currently builds the Camry and the Avalon.

The Venza is thought to be an evolution of the Toyota FT-SX, a midsize crossover concept that was displayed at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show. The FT-SX was based on the Avalon platform.

Toyota said the Venza will accommodate five occupants and will be “a unique blend of sedan and sport-utility vehicle, offering…easy ingress and egress, a carlike ride and functional utility.”

What this means to you: Just when we had started to worry that Toyota’s product arsenal might be getting a tad depleted.