Brand Graveyards.

Take a look at www.pontiac.com, www.oldsmobile.com, www.hummer.com, www.saab.com, and www.mercuryvehicles.com.  

Kinda sad.

Then there's http://www.suzukiauto.com/.  Not as sad, since they never really took off.

Who's next?

I nominate Misubishi and Smart, but who knows?  Maybe they have lots of money left to yet lose.

New Jeep Cherokee... Maybe Not That Bad

I am willing to give the 2014 Jeep Cherokee a second look, but only if it has body-colored fascia.  With body colored front fascia  the split lamp design doesn't seem as bad, and the front end looks (slightly) more harmonious and less squinty.

I hope the two-tone model was a pre-production mule and not a planned trim level.

Image courtesy of Autoweek.

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Have an older Jeep? Checkout Mechanicadvisor.com for a list of Cherokee mechanics.

The Leaked Jeep Cherokee Reminds Me...

The leaked Jeep Cherokee reminds me of something a that might have happened if a Chinese car company tried to rip off Jeep by slapping Jeep-like styling on the grille of a Hyundai knock-off small SUV.

Yes, I am saying it is like a bad self-imitation.

2014 Jeep Cherokee = FUGLY

Jalopnik has dropped some spy shots of the 2014 Jeep Cherokee, apparently taken inside the assembly plant.  

Chrysler must be hitting the grappa really hard over there in Auburn Hills, because this thing is gorram ugly.  I realy don't think squishing the vertical trademark vertical grille, and putting squinty-eyed headlamps on the front of a Jeep does much for the brand.  The sides profile is also very organic and anonymous, like they are trying to remind us of Kia and Hyundai.

Remember that the old Cherokee, many of which are still running, was a small, square wagon with serious off-road chops.  This thing, I am not sure what it is.  I guess we'll find out.

(Image (stolen from) courtesy of Jalopnik.)

Cruze Diesel: Does It Make Sense?

How much sense does the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze Diesel make in today's U.S. auto market?  I think it mostly will depend how much money GM offers as incentives.   MSRP is $25,695, which is a premium over the gasoline Cruze Eco, which is $21,685 MSRP, of $4,000.

Currently, premium gasoline in Detroit (the Cruze Eco gets its high EPA number with premium) costs about $3.70/gal.  Diesel costs about $3.80/gal.

The combined EPA FE of the Cruze Eco is 33mpg.  If the diesel gets a combined number of 34 mpg (matching the VW Jetta), then the cost per mile for each vehicle (fuel only, not including urea) is $0.11/mile!

This means that break-even will never happen, mathematically, at current prices.  Only if GM discounts the Cruze Diesel below the price of gasoline vehicle   would it make economic sense.

So the potential buyer is left with a decision: is up to 280 ft-lb of torque at 2000RPM worth the hassle of stopping to get urea fluid every 10k miles, and the cost penalty of $4,000?

Also consider that the VW diesel Jetta has a 0-60 time of around 8.3s , while the Cruze Eco gets to 60mph in about 9s (Car and Driver numbers).

My prediction is that the Cruze Diesel will not sell in any significant numbers.   A few diesel enthusiasts might choose it, but the average buyer will see the price and opt for the turbo gasoline car.

Superbowl Auto Ad Winner: Chrysler

A quick review of the Superbowl ads from carmakers.  

Winners: Hyundai, Chrysler, Toyota.  Hyundai for silly humor, Chrysler for touching patriotism.  Toyota was pretty funny, "infinite witches"

Losers: Lincoln (huh, what?), Mercedes (devil, meh).