Fiat Messes With Nature to Sell OEM Parts
May 8, 2008
In 1844, Samuel Morse sent a famous message - the first by telegraph, as it was - from the Capitol in Washington to Baltimore, declaring, "What hath God wrought?"
In 2008, the staff of Motive magazine looked over a new Fiat ad campaign from Giovannni + DraftFcb, São Paulo, and declared "What in God's name is wrong with Brazil?"
The ads, designed to tout genuine Fiat maintenance bits, state simply that "A Fiat is only a Fiat with genuine parts." And to get that point across, the campaign offers an owl sprouting peacock feathers, a spider sporting a ladybug shell, and a rabbit being pulled out of a... tortoise shell. The complete set of pictures can be seen here. Evidently factory parts are a big thing in Brazil. So is ayahuasca. We think the two may be related by tangent.
Photo of the Day: Precision Parking
May 8, 2008
We'd like to think we've made some pretty impressive parking performances here at Motive, but this photo from Japan puts any stories we might have to shame. This Daihatsu Hijet either fell off of a building into a very fortunate spot or its driver has one giant set of chestnuts. It is not only sandwiched between a building and a pole, its balancing on each edge of a moat. Yes, wow indeed. Click through to our forums below for the full photo, and thanks to oj1480 for posting it up.
Straight Outta Ontario: First Production Challenger Built
May 8, 2008
Chrysler's Brampton assembly plant, built by American Motors in 1986 and acquired by Chrysler in 1987, fired up a new line today. The first production version of the Dodge Challenger, built alongside the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 with which it shares its mechanicals, rolled out of the facility this morning.
The actual process leading up to the launch of the car included a run of hand-built prototypes using hand-built parts for initial vehicle and component testing, working its way through bodies and other "partial properties" built with "soft tools" for evaluation and design teams, and finally ended up with dozens of PVP, or production verification pilot, cars being built using production tooling and interiors. Today's ceremony marked the first "V-One", or volume production with serial number, car.
Volvo V70 Goes Sporty with R-Line Package
May 8, 2008
Little known is that Holden's entire production run of cars for Australia is done at a single factory. That plant - probably located in a city with a name like "New Wooloomooloo" or "Little Puking" - is tasked not only with producing every Holden car sold on the continent, but also with Vauxhalls for the U.K. and Pontiacs for the United States. It's a setup which brings with it its own sets of conundra. To wit: The addition of the Pontiac G8 was already taxing the facility's output, so when GM wanted to add new variants to the G8 lineup, they could only pick one: A sporty wagon, or a car-based pickup truck. GM went and chose the pickup, because sporty wagons have been welcomed in the United States with all the same enthusiasm as free herpes.
Nevertheless, Volvo has now added the R-Line trim package to its stalwart V70 wagon (a Volvo PR rep recently handed us the keys to a V70 and said, "we don't really advertise this any more, but... uh... enjoy driving it!"). The package comprises some stiffer and lower suspension bits, satin metal mirror caps and foglamps, air dams front and rear, a grippy steering wheel, and racier upholstery. To show off the V70 R-Line's "sporting character," Volvo went one step further and removed the roof rails. We're actually stoked for the V70 R-Line, mostly because of our being car queers and not Joe Lunchbucket, but we have a sneaking suspicion that you'll be able to round up everyone who buys a V70 R-Line over the next year and still not be able to field a rugby game. Read more about the new package from Volvo after the jump.
UAW Continues Storied Tradition of Cutting off Nose, Spiting Face
May 5, 2008
The logic is simple: General Motors' new Malibu is a helluva nice car that sells in respectable numbers and is garnering positive reviews from the press. Which, of course, means that Malibu production is one of the short hairs that the United Auto Workers can hold its corporate benefactor by.
As if it wasn't bad enough that a supplier shortage threatened Malibu production due to a lack of rear suspension components, now UAW Local 31 has walked off the line this morning, after a 9 AM CDT strike deadline. So, if you thought that buying the hot-selling North American Car of the Year was difficult before, just remember: The muscle behind the American auto industry is pushing you towards that Honda showroom to buy an Accord.
Photos: 2009 Nissan Maxima Away From The Show Stand
May 2, 2008
The first 2009 Nissan Maxima reviews won't be seen for a while still, but we recently got another look at the sleek sedan away from the artificial light of the New York Auto Show. We must say, it looks better outside in its natural habitat. Click the headline above to see four photos of the Maxima out under the sun.
MotiveMag Video: Nissan Driver Toshio Suzuki Hot-Lapping Estoril in the GT-R
May 2, 2008
This week we were invited to sample Nissan's entire portfolio of vehicles, which of course included track time with the GT-R. After a few laps we took the passenger seat next to Toshio Suzuki, Nissan's chief test driver, to record the sights and sounds of riding with the one man who can push this car harder than anyone. Watch our two hot laps with Suzuki by clicking the headline above.
Ford Focus Up 88 Percent Despite Ford Being Down 12 Percent
May 1, 2008
Although we've yet to meet a person who thinks the 2008 Ford Focus is a visual or dynamic improvement over last year's model, it continues to astonish us by selling insanely well. For the month of April, retail Focus sales were up 88 percent over last year and at their highest point since April of 2000. We don't know whether to credit rising fuel prices, the popularity of SYNC, or some serious money going into bribing the people who publish these numbers, but no matter what the news is surprising.
It's also causing me personally to worry--Ford has confirmed that the next U.S. Focus will finally be based off the global C1 platform, but if sales like this continue, the Focus product cycle might be stretched to lengths matched only by the Crown Victoria and Econoline van.
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All rights reserved. No photos, news stories, graphics, or logos may be used or reproduced without written permission.
MotiveMag.com is an independent media publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any automobile manufacturer.