2013 SRT Viper

The Dodge Viper has always been one of the most unique and imposing American cars on the market. It is the kind of car that will lash out and attack its prey with absolutely no malice. This new Viper is now under the SRT (Street and Racing Technology) name ever since SRT became its own brand last year or so. As good as this car has been, it was time for a Viper makeover. With Chrysler's woes, Fiat came along to offer a helping hand. Many changes have taken place among Chrysler LLC, but what is mostly unchanged is the company's flagship sports car- the Viper. Unveiled at the 2012 New York Auto Show, early thoughts by some people indicate that the new Viper has been sapped style-wise of its American aggression in favor of more Italian/European styling. Some love its design, others don't. It is hard to believe the Viper is in its 18th year of existence with its fifth generation model. So it's time to meet the new Dodge... actually, the SRT Viper (a blog I Follow called Axis of Oversteer posted about the new Viper in a post called "Fiat Viper!"). And in this blog post, I'll offer my thoughts on this car's looks.

BEFORE I BEGIN...

The "Car Style" label is my series of blog posts regarding how I think cars look. I haven't made many posts in this category because of spam concerns. I usually talk about a car and then offer thoughts on how I think it looks. As another change, I will eventually drop the "Car Style" part out of posts in the "Car Style" category.

To see the latest posts of "Car Style," click on the link after this sentence: Car Style.

--- Car Style: The 2013 SRT Viper ---

This video showcases the new Viper. If you can't see the video, click on the link below the video to see the video on YouTube:


^ 2013 SRT Viper -- 2012 New York Auto Show -- Inside Line


The new Viper is an 8.4-liter beast packing over 600 horsepower and 640 lb. ft. of torque. It has been lightened by 100 lbs and fully refined all around. The Viper has always been seen more like the cross of a muscle car and a supercar. Under the wing of Team Oreca, the Viper has been one of the finest road racing cars of all time, even before the dominance of Corvette Racing in the sportscar ranks.

When the new Viper was unveiled, many liked it; many others did not. Car fans still know this is going to be the new Viper- so they know what they're getting when you mention the Viper. There is even a racing version of this car that was unveiled not too long ago to be run in the American Le Mans Series. Forza Motorsport fans- I hear you're getting this new Viper for Forza Motorsport 4. So get psyched, Forza fans!

Styling Thoughts: Exterior.

The front of any automobile provides the best impression externally. In the case of this Viper, I am left with a couple of impressions. The crosshair grill has defined Dodge's image for a long while. That crosshair grill of today's Dodge products looks quite a bit of for the new Viper. However, it does look great. The little front spoiler design is a nice compliment to its style as well. The one thing I may take issue with is the headlight design. Sure, these are beautiful headlights, but they lack the aggression to compliment the rest of its front design. You look at the Vipers of the 1990s and this previous decade. The headlights were as imposing as the front grill on those cars. These, however, turn the Viper more towards a sophisticated and elegant beast... but a beast nonetheless. The hood/bonnet design is very questionable to me. It still has the same sort of hood, but it seems very off in design.

Its side profile is mostly unchanged and still recognizable as a Viper. Honestly, the sides are gorgeous to me. I'd say the new side profile gives the car a European flavor while still remaining distinctively American. The big side duct is almost sort of like the 2011 Dodge Charger models. This car has an exceptional silhouette from the sides. A lovely set of wheels also compliment this car nicely.

From the rear, its elegance is punctuated with its new tail light design. It still looks imposing while also being elegant. Maybe not as imposing as the first Viper, but certainly anything than soft. Remember that the Viper's mufflers are on the sides, not at the back. The car does have a pretty nice rear valance under the rear bumper. It also has a nice lip spoiler with the old Viper badge.

Styling Thoughts: Interior.

The Viper has always been a car more about business than play. Even the first Viper had a more business-oriented cockpit even if at the expense of being considered plain. This one makes the Viper more like an inviting car to sit in and drive as it is inviting from its exterior. To me, this car has interior charm to match its exterior charm. It looks great on the inside. Certain features include racing-type seats as well as a navigation system.

Styling Thoughts: Final Thoughts.

While I don't want to sound like a sell-out, the new Viper has lost its mean appeal and traded it for some elegance and style. It is almost as if this car was designed to reflect the Chrysler/Fiat partnership. Some people think its American charm got tainted with Italian styling touches. The 2013 Viper seems like it was designed by a well-respected European designer like Pininfarina or Zagato rather than some American designer or firm. This car still retains its mean character despite its more elegant appearance and packaging. And let's face it- the Viper was due for some sort of makeover. I actually like this newer Viper more than the previous model. This new Viper retains a lot of its character despite looking more sophisticated and elegant. I actually like this car the more I think about it. Maybe not LOVE it, but I certainly am a fan of this Viper.

I would REALLY love to see this new Viper with stripes. In my opinion, the Viper looks too plain without stripes down the center. My own personal preference is the usual blue with white stripes. I just think the car looks too plain without stripes. I would certainly be interested in seeing various tuners give this car even more performance power. That even includes Houston's own Hennessey Performance Engineering.

IN CASE YOU'RE INTERESTED:

Here are some videos showcasing the new Viper that you can see on YouTube:


• I found a seven-minute long video showcasing the new Viper from many angles. I am not sure if it can be embedded or not, but you can look at this video below for a more intimate look at the new Viper. Trust me, it will be worth your seven minutes: Dodge reveals the SRT Viper in New York - YouTube

• This video showcases the 2013 Viper GTS-R. Check it out and marvel in its lovely appeal: 2013 SRT Viper GTS-R - YouTube


Again... in case you're interested.





Where do YOU stand on the new Viper and its looks? Or maybe you have thoughts on its performance figures? Share your thoughts here. Thank you for reading!

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Car Style - The Honda CR-Z

Honda's CR-Z can be thought of as a modern revival of the CR-X of the '80s and '90s. It is a sharp sport hybrid ready to take you for a ride. Certain recent Hondas have disappointed me style-wise (namely the latest CR-V and the Accord Crosstour). This car, however, is vastly less disappointing. How do I think this car look? My style description of cars continues with my Car Style post on the Honda CR-Z.

BEFORE I BEGIN...

Two quick notes...

--- Intro to Car Style (for my new or first-time readers) ---
If you are new to my blog, welcome to John's Blog Space! My "Car Style" blog posts are about how I think cars are styled. They have nothing to do with reviews, performance reports, or anything like that. It's all about how I think certain cars look to me. You can look elsewhere if seeking performance reviews or anything like that. Car Style posts are about just that- the style of cars. Though the posts are about the looks of cars featured, I will make an effort to explain some of the finer points of cars to enhance the appeal of my posts.

--- A Little Suspicion... ---
You may have read that I have become a bit suspicious of blog posts that don't seem genuine. That's one reason why I somewhat held off of Car Style posts recently. There are some people who, when I check out who have been visiting my blog, only find my posts by searching for "...powered by DISQUS" (the commenting system I have installed for JBS). The comments are genuine, but I become suspicious that I am only getting comments from people other than certain genuine people. I want to get more comments from more people without thinking only possible spammers are commenting. It just leaves me suspicious. So as a measure, I may crack down more on checking for genuine comments from genuine people for all of my posts (let alone my Car Style series). Possible spammers may get comments deleted and possibly be blocked from posting on JBS again. I am just doing this to keep my blog and its posts genuine. That's all- just want to be sure I get traffic while also getting opinions from the general public-at-large. But any time I feel the least bit suspicious about something, I may have to take action. The less suspicious I get, the happier I feel, and the more free I feel posting material.


No more talk... let's talk about the CR-Z's looks!

--- Car Style: The Honda CR-Z ---

Say hello to the CR-Z. I figured to try something different- rather than post a video later in each Car Style post, I will show you the video first to give you an idea of the car I will be describing lookswise. So have a look at the CR-Z below:


^ (courtesy of: The Los Angeles Times)

It's okay to think "CRaZy" when trying to talk about what the CR-Z is like. I'm sure in Honda's mind, something like this delivers what the Toyota Prius doesn't in a much more exciting-looking car. Don't let the fact that this car is a sport hybrid make you think this is a gas sipper that is just uninteresting on many levels. If you prefer a more exciting-looking CR-Z, Honda offers a MUGEN package that offers a much more aggressive look to the CR-Z. After all, MUGEN and Honda are yin and yang in making Hondas even more awesome. The suggested starting price of the CR-Z is $19,345 US dollars for the CR-Z, and the starting price for the CR-Z EX is $20,905 US Dollars. It delivers some 35 miles per gallon in the city and 39 mpg on the highway with a combined 37 combined mpg. It has a three-drive system: Normal, Sport, and ECON. Normal is the default system for driving. If you prefer to let the CR-Z show its performance, try the Sport mode. If trying to make it for work or school (or wherever) and have to do a lot of stop-and-go driving, the ECON mode may be best for you.

Exterior.

The exterior boasts a futuristic and sharp appearance. I see nothing wrong with its design up front. Not even the razor blade-like front grill is a deterrent to its style. The front grill and hood protrudes outward to provide an aggressive touch. Complimenting its toughness are its headlights, which somewhat have some DNA from its Acura brotheren. I do not look at this car as some kind of boy racer, though there are many who'll see this CR-Z as some Honda Civic with more put into body kits than actual performance. It has aggression right out of the showroom.

From the sides, the CR-Z is actually elegant. A beautiful set of wheels are worn on the tires. There is a touch of overfender at the four wheels while not being overly aggressive. Its aerodynamic profile is vastly elegant, if not a touch futuristic. The side profile even has the elongated tail lights as part of its side profile. It is a three-door coupe that does not disappoint in style.

The CR-Z's rear boasts visual cues similar to the Honda Insight. I think the latest Insight looks slightly more stylish at the rear than the CR-Z. The rear window door is stylish to compliment the rear design of the car. The CR-Z has what appears to be this aggressive rear valance. Almost like a diffuser. Hiding on the right-hand side under the valance is the muffler. I probably would have liked to have seen maybe a twin muffler setup within either side of the rear valance's openings or even a muffler assembly within the rear valance in the center. Otherwise, this is a great style job by Honda.

Interior.

Honda's futuristic CR-Z is equally futuristic on the inside. It boasts a very postmodern interior with a great deal of digital electronics and digital readouts. Honda says its design inside is to allow for greater functionality and improving the driving experience. As someone who loves blue, I can appreciate all the blue hues in the various gauges and buttons. Almost as if you are in a spaceship than a car. It has a nice-looking steering wheel as you look at the digital instrument panel. On the far left on the driver's side are three buttons you can use to set the driving mode (mentioned earlier). Interestingly about the buttons, you can even choose between miles per hour readings and kilometers per hour by pushing a button. The tachometer lights up in a number of different hues to reflect the driving mode you are in. Blue and green colors are used for Normal and ECON modes, and red is used for the Sport mode. The center console is a bit unusual in the placement of one air conditioning vent and the navigation system. Otherwise, the rest of the car's center console design is clean. The entire dashboard is just purely futuristic and unorthodox. The seats seem pretty comfortable and sporty as you're strapped into this Honda from another lifetime. You can enjoy six-speed awesome if you opt for the six-speed manual CR-Z. If you do, you'll be pleased shifting with its aluminum shift knob with leather. Since this is a two-door car, most of the rest of the car is just extra space for you to store stuff.

Overall Thoughts on Its Looks.

The Honda CR-Z is an excitingly-styled automobile delivering a mix of sharp style and futuristic appeal. A few videos I've seen on YouTube hint that the CR-Z is nowhere near bettering the old CR-X of the past. Its style is incredibly done. Maybe not the most beautiful Honda of all time, but it is certainly more pleasing to the eye than some of Honda's recent automobiles, especially in the case of the ugly CR-V and the Accord Crosstour that I bashed in a past blog post. The CR-Z is a head-turner with its great charm and style.

If I had some sort of issue with its looks, I often wonder how much the rear view is compromised with the rear window and rear windshield design. It is compromised a touch more with the rear spoiler you can get if you get the CR-Z MUGEN.

Speaking of the MUGEN CR-Z, here is a Bonus Video for you:









When I post links, I mostly post for an American or English-speaking audience. So most of these links are for my American readers only. Learn more about the CR-Z (or build/order your own) by visiting the Honda CR-Z's official American Honda page. If you are interested in a MUGEN CR-Z from American Honda, check out the 2011 Honda MUGEN CR-Z on American Honda's website.

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Car Style - The Hyundai Elantra (5th Generation)

"The compact car other compact car makers don't want you to see."

Maybe Hyundai said this for good reason. This Elantra marks the 5th generation of the Hyundai Elantra is a Korean offering bound to make you forget about any other compact sedan. Commercials for the Elantra aired during the Super Bowl talking about how compact sedans don't have to be boring. I guess for Hyundai, they got sick of seeing the Mazda 3, Honda Civic Sedan, and Chevrolet Cruze get face time for being hot compact sedans. So on comes Hyundai and their radically-styled Elantra that's made in Montgomery, Alabama, USA for the American market. I saw this first at the Houston Auto Show both on a turntable and on the show floors. My thoughts on the Elantra's looks will be expressed in this blog post.

(sources for my information: Hyundai USA and Wikipedia)

--- Car Style: The Hyundai Elantra (5th Generation) ---

This is the 5th Generation Hyundai Elantra:


^ from (my Houston Auto Show 2011 gallery on Facebook) - Hyundai created perhaps the most beautiful Korean work of art when this car was unveiled.

And this is a video preview of the 5th Generation Hyundai Elantra:


In the eyes of Hyundai, they wanted to create a compact sedan to rival cars like the Mazda 3, Honda Civic Sedan, and the all-new Chevrolet Cruze. Their answer to these cars is the Elantra. The Elantra starts out at an MSRP of $14,830 USD for the GLS model and $19,980 USD for the Elantra Limited. The Elantra is a front-wheel drive car that pushes 148 horsepower and 131 lb-ft of torque from its 1797cc engine. The car weighs anywhere between 2,660 lbs. to 2,877 lbs. Its other 2011 opposition includes the Toyota Corolla LE, Nissan Sentra, Honda Civic sedan, Mazda 3 i SV 4-door, and the Ford Focus SE. Those whom have critiqued the Elantra praised the copious amount of room inside the Elantra. Best bang for the buck is mostly what Hyundai is known for. A nice thing about Hyundai's website (as I was preparing this blog post) is that you could put this car to the test against other similar cars. I'll provide a link to Hyundai USA's website so you can learn more about this car and do your own comparisons. Also, did you know the Elantra is also called the Avante in its native Korea Republic?

Exterior.

I thought the front was a bit unusual at first. After taking more looks at it, the front is absolutely gorgeous! Its curves are sculpted beautifully and don't look too much out of whack. Take note of its headlights, for example. While a bit unusual in design with its curvy lines, it still has gracious style. Both the front grill and front air dam have horizontal bars to compliment its image. The front grill bearing the Hyundai badge is even stylish along with the front air dam and the two fog lights. The front hood/bonnet is styled nicely and smoothly as well.

When you look at the side profile of this car, you see a car which boasts elegant curvy lines. Maybe not the curves of your favorite supermodel, but a car with aerodynamic and graceful charm. The elongated headlights and tail lights only compliment the flowy charm of the Elantra. The car features some bold fender flares, but they are not too bold to where its elegance is violated or tainted. This car just looks like it is best friends with the wind. This car also comes with a sunroof that nicely adds to its character up top.

Hyundai spared no expense in adding elegance to the rear with a nice set of tail lights. More curvy lines add some extra style to its rear. That even includes a rather curvy rear bumper. The rear is charming and smooth. Its swoopy profile is just accentuated and completed at the rear. It is a great looking car that is very luxurious.

Interior.

The exterior is a gorgeous masterpiece, but what about when ready to drive? The dashboard is not as gorgeous as its exterior, but it is very far from ugly. It has a pretty nice looking steering wheel and a nice instrument panel complete with lovely analog gauges. The center console is the nicest-looking element of the interior with a lovely high-definition navigation system (you read right!). The seats are stylish and comfortable. Only the Limited-trim Elantra has heated seats for both the front and rear passengers- the first compact to offer this for both front and rear passengers.





The 5th Generation Hyundai Elantra is one of the most gorgeous cars ever from a Korean automaker. It is a car designed to be both stylish, practical, and safe. I was so amazed seeing this car in print and in person that I couldn't help but fall in love. I'll say it right now- it is one of my new favorite Hyundais in terms of looks. It surpasses the Genesis sedan. Only Hyundai lovelier than the Elantra all-time (to me) is the 2007-2008 Hyundai Tiburon. The 5th Generation Elantra is absolutely one of the most beautiful non-sporty Hyundais of all time. I have never been so much in love with a Hyundai's looks since the 2007 Tiburon. I think this car looks best either in white (rare ANY car looks great in white), silver, or blue. Also, it takes some courage to call your car as a car other's don't want you to see or know about, and be able to back up their claim with a good comparison of itself against rival cars. Hyundai has created perhaps the most beautiful Korean car of all time when the 5th Generation Elantra was unveiled. The likes of Chevrolet and Honda (among others) will have you shy away from Hyundai and their Elantra/Avante, but Hyundai built themselves a potent challenger to woo away anyone who wants to get a compact sedan from any other company other than Hyundai.

Learn more about the 2011 Elantra (or build/order your own) by visiting Hyundai Elantra on Hyundai USA's website. I recommend you visit that site especially if you want to compare the Elantra to other cars in its category.


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Car Style - The Nissan JUKE

If you want an urban crossover SUV from Nissan, meet the JUKE. This machine is a muscular machine with urban style and some rally influence. It has some boldness and some charm to make it hot for city streets. People whom have hinted on the JUKE's looks range from people saying it is ugly to some saying it is styled unusually. One YouTube user commented that this is one of the ugliest cars Nissan has ever made since the Cube. What do I think of it? You'll see. My opinions on the JUKE's looks will be featured in another "Car Style" blog post of mine. My "Car Style" blog post welcomes another automobile to the list of machines I have profiled for their looks. This time, I'll be ready to juke and jive on my thoughts of the JUKE's styling. So let's get cracking!

--- Car Style: The Nissan JUKE ---

This here is a video preview of the JUKE, courtesy of Motor Trend's YouTube channel:


^ from: YouTube - Motor Trend video on the Nissan JUKE.

The JUKE starts at $18,990 USD (MSRP) for the S model, then goes up to $22,750 USD (MSRP) for the SL model. Front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive are offered for this machine. The engine is the MR16DDT- a direct injection gasoline DOHC turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 16 valves. It is good for 188 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual/standard transmission is only offered optionally for the FWD versions of the JUKE SV and JUKE SL. Perhaps unusual for an SUV is that this JUKE is pretty light. Curb weights for the JUKE range from 2912 lbs. for the front-wheel drive JUKE SV with manual transmission, and the heaviest is the all-wheel drive JUKE with Xtronic CVT at 3,210 lbs. This is the lowest-priced offering among Nissan crossover SUVs and minivans.

Exterior.

Intros aside... the JUKE is unspeakably ugly. It has a great deal of aggression up front and on the sides (in the next paragraph). But in terms of style, its style severely lacks. Its looks make it too uninviting (to me) to really be of any interest. I am not sure what are the real headlights on the JUKE- the rather stylish eyes around the front hood/bonnet, or the rally car-style circular headlights. The grill breaks up the top headlights and the circular lights. Not sure what kind of message it is supposed to send, but it could have been done much better. The front air dam looks like it can shoot three missiles out of those ports. Either that, or three machine gun cannons or three lasers. It is one of the worst-looking cars or trucks up front from Nissan in my view.

There is no denying the edgy appeal on the sides. The sides make you forget about this machine's ugliness up front. Bold fender flares give the JUKE plenty of muscle. It has the right amount of charm to make you forget all about its ugly face up front. Everything is styled in an sexy urban way. Perhaps in recent times, I've noted the sloping roofline of Nissan models, like with the GT-R. I wonder if this sloping roofline can have a negative effect on head room for the second row.

A machine's rear leaves a lasting impression for when it passes you by. In keeping with this theme, its rear has a little of Nissan and a little of Volvo. The Volvo element of the JUKE is the tall and vertically-elongated tail light design. It has a boomerang style set of tail lights. The rear spoiler has a small tail light as well. The rear doesn't look anything too stylish to really warrant your money, but it isn't bland at the back. Just not lovely.

Interior.

A car's interior can tell a story different from the exterior. It is the living and commuting space of an automobile. The JUKE has a very nice interior. Maybe not a glamourous one, but it also helps you forget all about the JUKE's exterior experience. It has a nice steering wheel and instrument panel. The center console looks very nice and sporty. The JUKE is a sporty machine, so there is no identity crisis here with the JUKE. It also has some lovely-looking and sporty seats.





Unfortunately, this car is almost totally ugly. Its front-end design is a hot mess of fail with no flow, grace, or charm. This crossover SUV is too ugly and uninviting for me to even get close to it. I'd rather lay eyes upon the Murano (though I've never been into the Murano style-wise) than the JUKE. Its performance figures and driving performance are probably the only reason to even be remotely interested in the JUKE. You can be an urban crossover SUV with a unique sense of style. However, Nissan did a pathetic job styling this machine. This effort is almost as putrid as Honda styling the latest CR-V or the Accord Crosstour. I would have liked to have seen cleaner style up front along with a bold or elegant rear view. It could have had a front-end style that had at least some form of clean style like the Murano or the Rogue (as far as crossover SUVs and such are concerned). The sides of the JUKE are the only saving grace of this crossover SUV. I'd leave its muscular side profile alone. Having such a poor-looking front sends a horrible message. The front of any automobile is the public face of any automobile. And when you have an ugly and poorly-designed front end, you send a haunting image to others who have to look at such a front end. The front end is more ugly than "different" or "aggressive." Different BAD, mind you. Some praise the JUKE's style as an unusual style. Don't sugarcoat it- it's not unusual; it's UGLY! It's one of the poorest-designed automobiles this century, if not one of the worst of the previous decade (2001-2010; machine has been in production since 2010).

Wikipedia notes the JUKE as the winner of "CUV of Texas" for 2011 by the Texas Auto Writers' Association among some other accolades. Remember again- my "Car Style" posts are about the STYLE AND LOOKS of cars; not performance figures or anything like that. Not that I think this, but I get the feeling some people will only see me post "Car Style" posts only on cars I like or remotely like. So I wonder how people respond when I trash certain cars for their looks. I think we learn more about people based on what they DON'T like as opposed to what they do like. Agree or disagree with my comments at will. I am almost totally unapologetic for posting certain things sometimes.

For More Information on the Nissan JUKE...

If you think differently about the JUKE (remember- "Car Style" is about the LOOKS of cars), you can learn more about the JUKE (or create/order your own Nissan JUKE) from Nissan JUKE on Nissan USA's website.


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Car Style - The 2011 Audi A8

Recent Audis have beautiful style. I absolutely love the Audi A4's style. The Audi A6 got itself a revised look. Then... there's the A8. The new A8 delivers a new sense of style along with their daytime running lights. The A8 is the ultimate luxury offering to Audi lovers. However, what is this car like in style? I will explain in this "Car Style" blog post.

For those of you new to my blog, "Car Style" posts are about how I think about how automobiles look to me. I have no knowledge or experience with cars (except changing an oil filter on my mom's van). So these blog posts relate to looks, because I am very much a person into art. All of my comments are my own regarding their style.

So let's talk about the new Audi A8's style!

--- Car Style: The 2011 Audi A8 ---

If you are a person of great status and prefer an Audi, the A8 is your ultimate showcase of your high status. It boasts a 4.2-liter FSI DOHC V8 engine, pumping put 372 horsepower at 6800 rpm and 328 lb.-ft. of torque at 3500 rpm. This is a car that costs about $78,000 USD. The A8 boasts an 8-speed automatic gearbox. And no one word will light the fire of any Audi fan than "quattro," and this big Audi has quattro all-wheel drive. I read the new A8 has better braking technology engineered to help dissipate heat with low weight. The car goes from 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds to a top speed of 130 mph.

Exterior.

^ from: www.audi-carz.com (best I could find, because my picture of the A8 is poor) - The 2011 Audi A8.

The front of this Audi exudes style and charm that only Audi can provide. The one knock I have on it (and it's a big one), however, is its grotesque LED daytime running lights. The entire headlight arrangement is completely uncharming. The LED lights give me bad memories of college because they look like the square root symbols. The design is just completely off on many levels. What was Audi thinking giving its top-level luxury car an ugly appearance like this? I think Audi calls their LED DRL design for this car as a "wing." There is a better-looking set of headlights that can be ordered for the A8, but it still isn't as lovely as what you'd see on the A4 or even the R8 road car. Compared to the latest A4 (and even the updated A6), the A8's lights are hugely disappointing and ugly to me. The rest of the front, however, is all very lovely. I probably would have liked a two-piece design up front with a blacked-out piece to separate the top grill portion from the bottom half of the front. Nothing aggressive about the front bonnet- just clean and simple luxury.

Once you get over the unfulfilling front, you take note of the Audi A8's side style. The sides are actually pretty charming for this German luxury car. Some fender flares and nice side skirt details offer some aggression and style to the A8. Its C-pillar appears to be a real blind spot and not really flowing with the rest of the car. The car comes with a very nice set of 19-inch, Y-spoke aluminum wheels to compliment the four tires. Its design up top is equally clean.

The rear of the 2011 Audi A8 is pretty nice (if a bit bland). The brake lights are pretty nice along with the modest spoiler-like design on the trunk/boot. Single-tip exhaust pipes compliment the rear bumper of this executive-level luxury car. It just doesn't really scream beautiful to me like the A4.

Interior.

How can a car with a disappointing exterior (especially up front) have such a fantastic interior? The interior is the styling saving grace of the Audi A8. The front seats can be turned around to face the back seats so you can have a little meeting in your car. The dashboard is very lovely with its wood trim. It is an interior that really exudes class and charm. Too bad the steering wheel is kind of on the ugly side, though. The instrument panel boasts some pretty nice-looking gauges. In the center lies a nice navigation systeml Between the two driver seats is a nice center tunnel that is designed to be ergonomic for adjusting things like air conditioning and more. The seats look wonderful and are seemingly very comfortable. Many reviews I've read online say that the seats are VERY comfortable. Then again, who wants a top-level car that ISN'T comfortable?





I'm really disappointed that the Audi A8 could have looked a lot better. People may say something along the lines of character or something in its design. This car is just not as beautiful as it could be. I would think for a top-tier luxury car, I want my car to look and feel luxurious both outside and within. I would graciously change up a few cues to make it look much better. I'm actually pretty disappointed with its design. "Bland" is not the word (because it isn't)- my key word is more "unattractive." With a little better styling, I would love it as much as I do the A4. Though the A4 is a lower-level Audi, at least this Audi boasts much better styling cues as a whole than the A8. If the A8 was based more on the A4's styling cues, I'd like it better. But still- this is "Car Style." My blog posts on cars ONLY concern how I think cars look; NOT anything on performance characteristics or anything. The A8 still will not disappoint if you want a top-level luxury car from a marque like Audi. Its style, however, disappoints me greatly.

Here is a video preview of the Audi A8 from cars.com:



You can learn more about the Audi A8 (or even build your own Audi A8) by visiting Audi's [North American] site on the Audi A8.

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Car Style - The Bugatti Veyron

No car since the McLaren F1 has captivated quite like the Bugatti Veyron. Many people think this French supercar is the most incredible car ever. It is certainly the most fascinating car of the previous decade. However, I am not sold on saying the Veyron is better even with its stifling high speed. I saw a show on [a channel I rarely watch called] National Geographic with a show talking about the creation of the Veyron. I am not saying the Veyron is an overrated supercar. This car is immensely fascinating. When you read about this car and all that has gone into building just one of these million-dollar cars, you just become fascinated.

This blog post is another "Car Style" post regarding how I feel about the car's looks. Let's get crackin'!

--- Car Style: The Bugatti Veyron ---

Since 2005, the Veyron has done nothing but really captivate. The Veyron is offered in a two-tone color style, but there are a few single-color Veyrons out there too. It has permanent all-wheel drive. Therefore, you won't have to worry about pushing its performance too far to where you spin out. But also, it doesn't make a good rally car (like that dope down here in Southeast Texas that drowned his Bugatti who had a pelican fly low while he was on his cellular phone). The car is powered by an 8-liter W16 quad-turbocharged engine good for about 1,000 horsepower. Its top speed (for those who dare try) is an astonishing 253 mph (or 407 kph), especially from the Super Sport model. Gran Turismo 5 players dislike that this car isn't a Premium car. However, I am hearing that certain cars will be upgraded to Premium models. So hope is on the horizon for you! Whether you like this car or not, you can't help but be fascinated at just how powerful and fascinating it is. It's just tough to not be impressed with this car in ANY sort of way.

Exterior.

^ from: car-cars.org - The Bugatti Veyron captivates on the outside and (especially) within.

Bugatti's Veyron is both a super-fast car as well as a good looker. It begins up front. The front tends to balance luxury and super sports car in its design. One would think that up front, this is a luxury car that is also somehow a supercar. The center grill piece should easily appease to old school car fans. That center grill piece is indicative of cars from the 1920s and 1930s. The headlights are quite stylish, offering a luxurious touch. The openings below the headlights also add to its charming style.

It's safe to say that the sides of the Veyron make it look like a true supercar. Even though it came a year after the Veyron, the Veyron's side profile reminds me of the Audi R8 road car, but with a little Porsche Carrera GT mixed in. The Veyron sports a lovely set of eleven-spoke wheels that really adds to the elegant charm of the car. Elegant fender flares help add some muscle to the sides while not being boastful. Up top, the roof is nothing special, until you see those two big scoops that feed air into that W-16 engine!

It is a luxurious car, but the rear gives you the impression it is a race car. It is certainly racy with the aggressive rear valance and the deployable rear wing at the back. The pair of brake lights on both sides are very sporty and racy. Adding to the aggressiveness are the two openings below the headlights and above the rear valance. The rear diffuser in the rear valance adds some more aggressive style to this already beastly car. People complain about the three-port exhaust on the Lexus LFA. Well, I wonder who argues with the single-port trapezoidal exhaust tip for a car this powerful and beastly. Apart from the racy bits, the "EB" logo (with the reverse "E") is elegantly displayed between the tail lights.

Interior.

[~~~ picture was provided, but was blocked ~~~]

A car that is luxurious on the inside couldn't disappoint on the inside. The Veyron is no disappointment. This car was not made for hauling around kids or groceries (though it can haul MUCH more than groceries), but you can bring someone else along to enjoy the ride. This car offers a luxurious interior. Perhaps not Bentley or Mercedes-Benz quality, but it is luxurious for a supercar. Its luxurious interior is not even to the classic level of the Spyker C8 Laviolette (which I did a "Car Style" blog post about long time ago). The Veyron is a left-hand drive car. Personally, I think the Veyron looks pretty boring from the inside. Don't get me wrong- all of the various appointments and designs are all very stylish. However, the dashboard could be made more exciting and more luxurious.

Regardless, the car boasts a lovely steering wheel and a stylish instrument panel. The center console is very unique and charming. But as a whole, the Veyron's interior just isn't as luxurious as the exterior. I would think that cars that are stylish on the outside should be equally stylish within. The interior is stylish, but not stylish enough to equally compliment the elegance of the car from the outside.

--- Bugatti Veyron = Overrated? (Bonus Section) ---

Many people feel the Bugatti Veyron is an overrated supercar. Those who feel it is overrated feel this way because it isn't a real driver's car. It seems more like a four-wheel drive drag race car rather than a true driver's car. Then again, it isn't like the Veyron could be piloted successfully by a 12-year old kid who loves playing arcade-type racing games. The Veyron is a car that costs almost $2M USD. For many people, paying that much for a car should mean you should have a car that completely embarrasses all others on the road. The Veyron is fast, unique, powerful, and phenomenal. However, it's not as much a character car like the McLaren F1. Even when the Enzo Ferrari was out, I still fancy the McLaren F1. I don't care if the F1 is more than 15 years old- the F1 is still immensely unique and powerful with its own charm. I even don't care if it gives up 300+ horsepower to the Veyron- the F1 is still the greatest car ever made. The Veyron is like a luxurious supercar more than a serious supercar that captures the imagination like any other.

I even said in a YouTube video from one of BrianZuk's videos (I greatly respect BrianZuk on YouTube) that I don't care if the McLaren F1 is immensely old- I'd still rather have a McLaren F1 than a Veyron. I'd even take a McLaren over the Enzo Ferrari because I never really been connected to the Enzo Ferrari. The McLaren F1 injects more character and more personality than the Veyron. It is more of a real super sports car than the Veyron will ever be. Even 4WD Lamborghinis have more soul and personality than the Bugatti Veyron.

So if you think the Veyron is an overrated supercar, you're probably not the only one. Despite this, there is no denying the awesome appeal of the Veyron and its amazing creation and performance capabilities. It goes very fast and is very stylish. But as a whole, can you honestly and truly put this car above either the F1 or the Enzo Ferrari? No- read the phrase again: AS A WHOLE? The total package just doesn't stifle as much as even the best driver's supercars. The Veyron just doesn't scream a total package supercar to me when compared to the likes of the F1 or Enzo Ferrari. It still, however, doesn't take away from the fact this car is an amazing machine worthy of the praise and fascination it gets.





Bugatti still deserves credit for making such an amazing car. I forgot to mention that this car is the successor to the Bugatti EB110 of the '90s. This car still moves you even while standing still. Revel in its presence when standing near one. You can learn more about the Bugatti Veyron (or build your own Bugatti Veyron if you have [all] the money to buy one) by visiting the website for the Bugatti Veyron (French and German offered for this site as well).

Just one recommendation to anyone who somehow owns a Bugatti Veyron- DO NOT, and I repeat- DO NOT do THIS to your Veyron (warning: bad language):





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Car Style - The Mazda RX-7 FD

Mazda's rotary rocketship from 1978 to 2002 has been the RX-7. The final generation of the RX-7 before the RX-8 came along was the FD. Its production lasted from 1992 to 2002. The FD RX-7 boasted engines ranging from 252hp to 276hp from the 13B-REW engine. I was first introduced to this car from "The Need for Speed: SE." It was the cheapest-priced car in the game with a price tag of about $35K USD. It was also where I regarded the RX-7 as an exotic. Of course, I knew a lot less about cars then than I do now. This blog post is a description of how I think this car looks style-wise.

--- Car Style: The Mazda RX-7 FD ---

Here is a look at the Mazda RX-7 FD:

^ from: carsinthefastlane.com - A later model version of the Mazda RX-7 (FD generation).

Fluidity and charm, rather than outright aggressiveness, defines the overall style of the RX-7. It prefers to impose with its power and performance rather than be a boastful character. The FD RX-7 models mark the third and final generation of the RX-7 before the RX-8 came along. To many people, the Mazda FD is one of the most beautiful cars ever made, and I agree. The FD is powered by the 13B-REW Wankel engine, a twin-turbo engine with a displacement of 654cc x 3 displacement from its three-rotor Wankel engine. There have been many individual versions of the RX-7 FD that have come along. Perhaps my favorites of the FD RX-7s are the RX-7 GTC and almost any of the RE Amemiya RX-7 FD's. The most unusual of the RX-7 FD models (especially aftermarket ones) are the ones that have Porsche-like headlights.

Exterior.

Its beauty begins up front. I've never been crazy about retractable headlights. They do, however, look nice when the lights are up. The turn signals and hazard lights up front are more stylish on more recent RX-7 FD's than some of the first FD RX-7s. The front bumper is flanked by a pair of fog lights in the front air dam and two little openings on either side up front. Later model RX-7s have the fog lights in the two openings, as opposed to in the front air dam. The front hood/bonnet is smooth and elegant. Of course, if you wanted to make it more aggressive, you could always go aftermarket and get a replacement hood for it. Some who even want permanent headlights get headlight kits for it. Regardless, this car pleases up front beautifully.

The side profile continues the elegance of this car's design. The only real aggressive hints are with the miniscule side ducts aft of the front wheels and some of the elegant bodywork. A modest and sporty set of five-spoke wheels compliment all four tires. The side profile also boasts an elegant roofline and a fluid rear spoiler as part of its design. The side view mirrors add extra elegance and aerodynamic charm.

The FD RX-7 boasts a lovely rear view. The brake lights and their overall design are nothing short of gorgeous on this '90s sports car. The most aggressive element at the back is the rear spoiler.

Interior.

Again- older cars are TOUGH to get a proper gauge on interior views on. I always try to base my interior views on original, unmodified interiors. Having said this, the view behind the steering wheel is pretty sporty. Many argue the car's interior still looks quite modern though this car was in production between 1993 and 2002. The way the air conditioning vents and the center console look, it seems like the interior is focused more on the driver's side than all-around comfort for the other passenger. Everything seems contoured more towards the driver on the dashboard than the other passenger. The RX-7 FD has a couple of nice seats.

Somehow, the RX-7 FD has back seats, but they seemed mostly there for novelty. You may likely push the seats back to access those rear seats.





I was just never fully excited about the RX-7 as I have been with the Toyota Supra. I don't, however, dislike the RX-7. The FD RX-7 is truly one of the most beautiful modern Japanese sports cars ever. I'm not going to put this car over the Toyota 2000GT as far as all-time favorite Japanese sports cars go, but it is definitely a beautiful car.

I hear the RX-7 could make a comeback in a few years phasing out the RX-8 (which I've done a "Car Style" post in the past). So it will be interesting to see the RX-7 make a proper return and revival. Perhaps will look as lovely as the FD RX-7 and be even more a great performer as the FD RX-7.

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Car Style - The Chevrolet Corvette C5

The Corvette is America's sports car whether you like it or not. This car succeeded the C4 (which I've never really liked) and was succeeded itself by the C6. I personally like the C5's looks more than the C6. In fact, the only element I dislike about the C5 is its retractable headlights. I'm sorry- I've never liked or been intrigued about retractable headlights on cars. The C5 is a work of American beauty. The car is wide and beautiful. Its lifespan was between 1996 and 2004. It is the successor of the C4 and the predecessor to the C6. This Car Style blog post concerns the Chevrolet Corvette C5 and its looks.

By the way... FIRST POST OF 2011! Happy new year, everyone! :)

--- Car Style: The Corvette C5 ---

Here is the Corvette C5:

^ from: hotwheels.myblog.it - the Chevrolet Corvette C5.

The C5 was a wide American sports car with meaty tires and some slick style. You cannot help but be moved by its sweet style. Those who wanted a little more out of their C5 opted for the C5 ZO6. Video game players saw this car featured in a number of games including "Need for Speed 3: Hot Pursuit," "Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec," and "Test Drive 4" among others. As Europeans would say, this car is "sex on wheels." The C5 has much smoother lines than the C4 it replaced. And let's face it- the C5 is more beautiful than the C4 it replaced. It was like going from a nerdy boy to a handsome hunk. The C5 was a serious challenger on the sportscar racing front with the C5R. It wasn't very good as a challenger in its first few years, but it really caught on as the Dodge Viper GTS-R was done doing its own damage in GT sportscar racing. The C5R's only true challenge was the Aston Martin DBR9 in sportscar racing. My personal favorite C5R was the very first one in Goodwrench black and silver colors. I've almost never liked the Millennium Yellow Chevy went with ever since the turn of the millennium. Callaway made its own variant of the C5 in the Callaway C12, and the Mosler MT900R is very much influenced on the design of the C5.

Exterior.

The C5 Corvette greets you with its lovely front end. Everything slopes beautifully up front. A pair of retractable headlights make up the front of the car. It has the same sort of diamond-edge front on Camaros, only the Corvette a cleaner design that isn't really bullet-like up front. The Corvette boasts a pair of signal lights at the ends on the front bumper. Between the signal lights and the "Corvette" are two long openings. My only complaint about the C5 is that I have never really been a fan of retractable headlights. So of all the elements of the C5, the retractable headlights are the only dislike of this car. I do sort of wished Chevrolet would probably pattern the permanent headlights of the C6 more like the C5R's permanent headlights. Otherwise, it is a beautiful piece of American automobile craftsmanship.

The sides offer some extra muscle. The greatest detail on the sides is the huge side duct aft of the front tires. The C5 is not really imposing on the sides. It doesn't have too much of in-your-face muscle to be anything brash or cocky. The side profile has an aggressive, almost fastback look to it. Then too, it doesn't have a seriously long front end like the Jaguar XKE or the Toyota 2000GT. Some Corvette models have a side strake that is added to the car's overall design to give it a little more edge. This side strake goes from the side duct to the very much near the rear quarter panel. The ZO6 has a smaller duct near the rear wheels, but it doesn't have the same side strake that the regular C5s have. Speaking of the wheels, I love the star-like five-spoke wheels. They look like a five-pointed star and nicely compliment the car's overall style. There's not much else to talk about from the sides and up top unless you are talking about a convertible or roadster version of the C5.

The C4 had very square-like tail lights and a mostly unattractive appearance. The C5 Corvette has elliptical tail lights, a more seductive rear than the C4, and a design that fully encapsulates the wide-and-sexy appeal of the Corvette.
Wide and sexy both describe the rear of the C5 Corvette. The rear windshield slopes beautifully to compliment the rear view. Two little vents at the bottom (on each side) make up the rear of this car along with a valance between them, housing a pair of dual exhaust tailpipes. The rear only completes the appeal of this sexy American sports car.

Interior.

The Corvette C5 is sexy and stylish on the outside, but what about the inside? Sporty. It has a sporty steering wheel and a nice instrument panel for a '90s sports car. Nothing fancy about the center console, either. The whole dashboard is sporty. Maybe not stylish, but sporty. A comfortable-looking pair of seats compliment the C5 Corvette as well. The "Corvette" stitching can be found on the seats as you lean back to enjoy the ride. You don't have to reach over too far to grab some hears (especially with a Manual/Standard Corvette) since it's very close by.





All in all, I just can't connect with the C6 Corvette style-wise. This is despite the fact the C6 is overall shorter in dimensions. Maybe I'm too much a '90s kid (at least it's different from being an '80s kid. This, speaking as a person born in 1983) to where I tend to become most fond of '90s material than I do 2000s material. I think the C5 is perhaps one of the loveliest automobiles of the 1990s. I think if the C6 were styled a lot more like the C5 but smaller and with cleaner lines, maybe I'd like the latest Corvette a bit more. Regardless, I still love the C5 Corvette. It's the only other personal favorite Corvette of mine other than the 1963 Sting Ray Corvettes. An absolute beauty was unveiled in 1997 with the arrival of the Corvette C5. I still see a few C5 Corvettes from time to time on the road. It's a very beautiful automobile and still is to this day.

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Car Style - The Chevrolet Camaro (4th Generation)

The 4th Generation Camaro is special to me. Why? It got me into cars back in 1997. Without it, I probably wouldn't have cared about cars. It is still a head-turner (as much as the recent Camaros) to me. I love the new Camaros, but I have a special place in my heart for the previous-generation Camaro. The 4th Generation Camaro smoothened out the lines of the 3rd Generation Camaro. The lifespan for the 4th generation Camaro was between 1993 and 2002. I enjoyed this car even when playing Gran Turismo 1 and Gran Turismo 2. It is therefore tough to ignore what this car has meant to me in getting into cars. Nothing like this car even today. This is another "Car Style" blog post regarding the car that got me into cars- the 4th-generation Chevrolet Camaro.

(some information provided from Wikipedia)

--- Car Style: The Chevrolet Camaro (4th Generation) ---

I loved it because I thought the car looked like a bullet down the road. Here is a picture of the 4th-generation Camaro:





Both pictures from: hotwheels.myblog.it - (1st Picture) a 4th-generation Camaro from 1993-1997. (2nd Picture) a 4th-generation Camaro from 1998-2002.

You could imagine my disappointment when the Camaro went on hiatus. It is still very much a head-turner. Engines for the 4th-gen Camaro ranged from 160 horsepower from a 3.4-liter V6 to 325 horsepower from a 5.7-liter V8. Back in the mid and late 1990s, the Camaro sold for somewhere between $13K USD to about maybe $18K USD. Far cry from most vehicle prices today. Some of today's inexpensive cars are in the $20K USD range. It was about 1997 or 1998 when I first got to see and admire the 4th-generation Camaro. The color I've always loved was Cayenne Red Metallic for the Camaro. I usually say that the only reason why I didn't like the Camaros 1998 and on was because they didn't come in Cayenne Red Metallic. My all-time favorite 4th-generation Camaro was the Camaro RS, which had a nice rear wing to its design.

To try something different, I will refer to certain cosmetic changes to the 4th Generation Camaro. So I will note "before 1998" and then "1998-2002" to make my descriptions a bit more interesting. This is also the best way I can diffrentiate between the design changes of the Camaro.

Exterior.

The Camaro up front has always been such a beautifully aggressive car up front. The diamond-edge design from the 3rd-generation was made more like a bullet. (before 1998) The Camaro had a pair of square headlights, two on each side. Those headlights were mostly tucked away and hidden. The front air dam had some fog lights in it, and its front bumper had a modest spoiler at the bottom up front. The hood/bonnet of this car was mostly modest and added to both its aggression and its aerodynamic style. (1998 and after) With the big changes to the car's appearance starting in 1998, the Camaro took on a more aggressive and more beautiful stance. Gone are the square headlights. In their place- a more stylish set of headlights to allow for a cleaner appearance up front. The newer headlights also allows for a bit more aggressive frontal design. Especially with the late 1990s models, the SS had an aggressive hood scoop that just made the Camaro even more beastly.

The side details are about the same for just about all 4th-generation Camaros. The 4th generation Camaro's side profile is as much of a bullet as its front. The way the side profile looks suggests that it was born to cut through the wind at speed. Then too, you can't fly through the wind too much in a car that weighs about 3400 lbs. What this generation Camaro may lack in aggressive details, it makes up for with aerodynamic and fluid body design. It seems like the top half of the side profile is a bit more outward than the lower half of the car on the sides. You really tend to notice this if you see the horizontal line across the sides of the Camaro. The lower half seems to be more caved in than the top portion, making it just a touch more aerodynamic on the sides. There is not one ugly angle from the sides of the 4th-generation Camaro.

To make a lasting impression, a car must have a lovely rear view. The Camaro boasts the "Camaro" words on the rear. There were two different styles of tail lights for the 4th Generation Camaro. The older model 4th generation Camaros have some long brake lights with some somewhat small size hazard lights. The tri-color headlights started in 1997 for the 4th-generation Camaro. Regardless of how the tail lights look, the rear looks lovely and polished. The sloping rear windshield only complete the loveliness that is the 4th generation Camaro. The spoiler is very modest while also being fairly aggressive. The rear bumper is smooth-looking and stylish.

Interior.

It is very tough to do "Car Style" on older cars because it can be tough finding honest-to-goodness interiors for older cars. So I will mostly go on a general overview of unmodified interiors. The interior very sporty for a car of its time. Its instrument panel and gauges are nothing special compared to most of today's automobiles, but it is still very nice looking. The steering wheel is also sporty for a car of its time. The center console is also very '90s, so nothing too special here. All the basic controls and such are all styled nicely for a car of its time. The front seats are styled nicely and in sporty fashion. The back seats (once you fold down the front seats) are equally very nice.

I think I could have done better here, but I hope you were pleased with my effort.





The 4th generation Chevrolet Camaro got me into cars. Its great style is still charming to this day. While I still love the new modern retro Camaro, the 4th generation Camaro still warms my heart as a car fan. I still love seeing this car on the road. This is truly one of the most charming-looking cars of the '90s. It may have seen its last days in production in 2002, and while the new Camaro is an awesome car, it was the 4th Generation Camaro that got me into cars. Without the 4th Generation Camaro, I would have never gotten into cars.

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Car Style - The Porsche Panamera

(UPDATED: March 14, 2012)

For many people, there should NEVER be a four-door Porsche. The Cayenne was a diversion from the classic Porsche coupes when it was released. Did people buy them? Sure! I've seen a number of Porsche Cayennes on the road. So, would the Panamera sell too? Sure, especially if this car can strike quite a large chord with those looking for a proper grand tourer. A lot of people hate this car because four-door Porsches don't look right or are acceptable. But, I'm not one of those "a lot of people." This blog post consists of one of the most unusual Porsches you will ever see. Most of what I will describe pertains to the base model Panamera.

--- Car Style: The Porsche Panamera ---

Meet the Porsche Panamera:


^ from: www.egmcartech.com - the Porsche Panamera is the most unusual-looking Porsche since the Cayenne.

Take a look up front, and you'll see a classic modern Porsche. But when you look on the sides, you note something... different- four doors and an elongated overall image. The Panamera is perhaps Porsche's answer to the Aston Martin Rapide or any other high-end four-door luxury sedan. The Panamera comes in five different trims (at least for the USA). The base model Panamera is good for 300 horsepower at 6200 rpm. The base model Panamera costs about $74K USD. The top-of-the-line Panamera model is the Panamera Turbo, and it goes for 500 horsepower at 6000 rpm and costs about $135K. The model range in order from base model to most powerful is in this order: Panamera, Panamera 4, Panamera S, Panamera 4S, and Panamera Turbo. This Porsche can be either in rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. It's the most unusual Porsche this side of the Cayenne, THAT'S for sure!

Exterior.

Up front, the guise of a modern Porche can be seen. The headlights are designed beautifully. Without looking at the sides or the rear, you would immediately feel like this is just another sporty Porsche. The styling is clean and elegant up front. A sculpted bonnet/hood adds some extra elegance to its already elegant profile. Lovely LED lights below the headlights help add some extra charm to the Panamera' looks.

Your perceptions of this car begin to change when you see the sides of this car. Depending on how you feel, this car is either a beautifully-designed four-door car, or a waste of time and engineering. In my view, the Panamera is a very beautiful (if not unusual) car from the sides. Aft of the front wheels is a huge side duct kind of like on a Corvette C6. The sculpted lines help add some aggression to this car. The doors up front and in the second row are cleanly styled and are unobtrusive. This is at least a sporty high-end car that has a much cleaner appearance than the Nissan GT-R. I am actually amazed at how Porsche is able to maintain making such an interesting car while not sacrificing the classic Porsche image. May not be the prettiest attempt, but it still remains stylish and inviting. You'd probably think this is a car from some other make had I not told you it was a Porsche. The car comes with some lovely wheels, and I think a sunroof is optional for the Panamera.

Topping off the unusual guise of the Panamera is its rear, which comes complete with classic Porsche styling and a little extra luxury. The classic Porsche tail lights compliment the rear along with a trapezoidal pair of exhaust tips, one on each side. The Panamera Turbo has a pair of exhaust tips, one on each side. A chrome bar can be found on the rear to offer some luxury style to the rear of this car. A nicely-sloping, if not wholly unusual, rear windshield finishes off the looks of this luxury Porsche.

Interior.

The interior of the Porsche Panamera is delightful and beautiful. It has the right balance of sporty and luxurious in a well-done package. Its inviting character on the outside is exemplified inside. This car is somewhat very cluttered on the driver side, but not too cluttered to where it is a hot mess. The gauges in the instrument panel are all styled very nicely and are every bit worthy of "luxurious." I've seen pictures of two different steering wheels for the Panamera. The one I like is a dark brown one with some metallic accents. Both are lovely as you note the paddle shifters on the back of the steering wheel. An analog Porsche clock is optional, but it looks so far back that you can't really notice it is there. You WILL notice the navigation system, though. It is complimented in the center console by a host of basic instruments to handle things like air conditioning, heating, and more. The shifter is also styled nicely and luxuriously. The whole dashboard is actually styled very nicely. As for the seats both front and rear, they are all styled in a sporty and elegant way. At least you know that wherever your destination is when driving, you'll know you can arrive there in style in this four-door Porsche.





In my view, I don't see why so many people hate on the Porsche Panamera's looks so much. It IS unusual to see a four-door luxury Porsche. Trying something different and unusual can yield surprising results. Look at the BMW X6. People complained that it was one of the ugliest things on the road. I'd rather go with an X6 style-wise than be caught in a Hummer H2, Hummer H3, a Honda Accord Crosstour, a Pontiac Aztek, or anything like that. People just think that Porsches should ONLY be two-door sports cars with amazing performance. Despite this, didn't people buy and love the Cayenne? If anything, be pleased (and pleasantly surprised) if a Porsche Panamera shows up near you. It is a most unusual Porsche for sure. If you so want a true four-door luxury sedan, maybe an Aston Martin Rapide would tickle your fancy. But if you want a four-door luxury car from an established make (not to say that Aston Martin isn't an established make), Porsche has the Panamera waiting for you to drive and enjoy. It is a surprise-worthy automobile in both looks and charm.

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Car Style - The Lexus LFA

Lexus is no stranger to lovely automobiles. The LFA has made a home for itself racing the famed Nürburgring 24 Hour race in prototype form. Now, no longer a prototype, the real deal can be bought for its six-figure price tag. There are too many unusual angles for it to be truly beautiful. However, it possesses all the qualities that make a supercar a supercar- exotic style, sweet engine roar, and styling unlike any other plain jane car on the road. This blog entry involves my thoughts about the Lexus LF-A's style.

--- Car Style: The Lexus LFA ---

THIS is the Lexus LFA:

^ from: www.car-area.com - From racing prototype at the Nürburgring to showrooms, the Lexus LF-A is poised to steal your heart.

The Lexus LFA is a carthat combines Lexus luxury with the ferocity of a sports car. The car has a 4.8-liter V10 mounted up front that makes a very sweet roar. This car goes like Hell (to say the least). To understand this car, the first note is that this car boasts the "F" designation. The "F" designation represents Lexus' performance-oriented models. This car is purely a performance machine. It weighs about 3,263 lbs. to 3,483 lbs. The car is available both as a hardtop coupe and as a roadster. Word has it that a track-ready version of this car will surface in 2012. Want your own LFA? Be ready to have LOTS of money on hand because its MSRP is an estimated $375K USD! That's not counting things like various fees and taxes that might as well push its price to $450K USD to even plus or minus $500K. Of course... there are always video games you can play to own your own LFA! ;)

Exterior.

The front of the car features on lots of angular lines. Lexus, usually creating beautifully-styled luxury-type vehicles, went for edgy and jaw-dropping for the LFA. Its headlights look like this car is mad at the world and ready to pounce. Not a bad way to make your prescence known if you're trying to be a stunning supercar! That thought is extended with a miniscule grill above the Lexus logo. If you see the headlights as the car's eyes, then its front air dam must be the mouth and teeth of this beautiful beast. The front bonnet/hood has two vents towards the windshield. Those vents adds sportiness while not being overly dramatic.

The sides of the LFA equally stun. The biggest highlights are the huge side ducts on the sides and the extra ducts aft of the B-Pillars. The ducts aft of the B-Pillar somewhat look like a tidal wave about to wash out whatever is in its path. Part of me wants to imagine the LFA to be like a longer, sexier, and more aggressive Toyota Supra MKIV, minus the tall rear spoiler of that car. While it has those looks, its side style is somewhat Aston Martin or Ferrari in nature. The tail lights elongate to the side along with parts of the rear ducts. A beautiful set of wheels nicely appoint the LFA's tires to complete the LFA's beautifully aggressive looks.

The rear of this car's most debatable aspect is its three-port muffler. People do complain about the three-port muffler, but don't complain about the Pagani Zondas that have the four-port mufflers (I love the Zondas and that four-port muffler on them, to briefly go off-topic). The huge vents below the tail lights offer up completely aggressive style. The tail lights are long and lean. In my view, I think the rear of the LFA offsets the beautiful aggression of the front and sides. The LFA has a rear valance that really expresses itself as a past racing prototype that had its runs around the famed Nürburgring 24 hour course (all 13.9 miles of it). The rear doesn't exactly disappoint, but I think it could have been styled a lot better. Its rear spoiler automatically deploys at 50+ miles per hour.

Interior.

Beautiful beast describes the outside. Racing beast describes the inside. You feel more like an astronaut in a spacecraft rather than an average human being in a six-figure supercar with its inside. The digital instrument panel is the first thing you take note of behind the wheel. Just about all the controls and features, from the tachometer to the digital clock, are all included in one stylish display. The steering wheel of this car will certainly get your spirits revved up with its race-inspired appearance. Paddle shifting on the back and two extra controls help make this steering wheel very sporty. To make a weird analogy, this wheel feels as sporty as the old GT Force steering wheel featured in Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec. The center console features a small navigation screen and a large bunch of extra controls that dominate the middle on the inside and divide the car's interior in half. The seats are a cross between luxurious and sporty. They aren't truly racing seats, but they aren't truly luxury car seats. It's a little of both with these seats.





Lexus did no wrong in making something distinctive and exciting to make their supercar come alive. There is nothing vanilla about this car. It was meant to devastate and capivate. Maybe it doesn't capture the imagination like any high-end superexotic (like the Bugatti Veyron), but it doesn't greatly disappoint either. It is a beautiful exotic halo car demonstrating the range of appeal Lexus can provide. It is a look that provides power and charm that only Lexus can provide. The LFA's style is evidence of the beauty and elegance Lexus can provide to all of their automobiles. The most important aspect of any supercar is that of something distinctive. I'd say it's three-port muffler and its overall beautiful aggression make this car both untouchable and distinctive. Be in awe if you see and/or hear one.

You can learn more about the Lexus LFA by visiting the Lexus LFA's official home page. Make sure to pick your language and region when you visit. Alternatively, if you actually want to build your own LFA online and look at all the pricing information, you can visit Lexus LFA on lexus.com for more info on the Lexus LFA as well as build your own LFA. Just remember that you'll need a LOT of money (about $500K to be on the safe side!) if you are actually serious about building and owning your own LFA.

--- A Special Message to All Readers of my Car Style Posts ---

My Car Style posts are my own ideas on how cars are styled, and my Motorsports Style posts concern racing machines. I am thankful to keep doing these posts regarding car style. Remember that all of my Car Style posts concern LOOKS; not so much performance or any kind of reviews. I hope you have enjoyed all of the Car Style posts I have done. You are always free to discuss how you feel about my posts on these cars I do posts on.

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Car Style - The Volkswagen Scirocco (3rd Generation)

In 2008, Volkswagen decided to revive the Scirocco. The last one was in 1992 until VW brought it back as the best hot hatch since the RenaultSport Clio V6. This hatchback has no problem turning heads with its sexy looks and mean stance. It's no average hatchback. It's a German hatchback with plenty of character, but also copious amounts of style from bumper to bumper. This blog entry concerns this gorgeous German hatchback and what I think about its looks.

--- Car Style: The Volkswagen Scirocco ---

This car below is the beast I hope to describe passionately about from a style perspective:

^ from: carbl.com - Hatchback hotness. This is the 21 Century Volkswagen Scirocco.

The Volkswagen Scirocco manages to infuse character elements from much more capable cars into this hatchback, providing a unique and tasteful styling exercise. It is a hatchback coupe that seats four. It is a front-wheel drive car that is ANYTHING but plain jane. I personally love this car in blue (Shadow Blue). The base models come in engines ranging from a 1.4-liter TSI engine with 120 hp to 2.0-liter TSI with 207 hp.

Exterior.

Its front style really captivates. It may seem a bit bland with not a lot in the way of huge lights or a huge grill, but its lean character adds to its aggressive looks. Most hatchbacks are merely subtle in design because most aren't meant to be some sort of hard-driven cars. This one is different, though. I like how the headlights have a mean look to them along with a very polished front grill and front air dam. The front remains beautiful nonetheless.

From the sides, you want to picture a car that is much faster than it looks. You almost get the impression that as Volkswagen was thinking of a sports coupe, they came along with a very fast hatchback instead. My favorite feature on the sides are the dramatic and bold fender flares at the rear tires. You get a hint of the tail light design from the sides as well. Up top, you get a nice moonroof to add some style to its meanness.

The rear of this car really screams premium or true sports car. Everything is cleanly and beautifully styled. The tail lights are especially beautiful. There is a lot to love about its premium-quality design. Below, the muffler with dual exhaust tips can be seen on the left side from the back. If it had a pair of mufflers at the back, this thing would REALLY look like a beast.

Interior.

Volkswagen lends civilized character on the inside apart from the mean exterior. It is almost like meeting a tough person who is really sweet and caring on the inside. Perhaps even like meeting a girl who hates you but really doesn't. Maybe not a luxurious interior, but everything is met with stylish and charming style inside. The dashboard is pretty stylish. I would probably want a more sporty instrument panel with chrome gauges and sporty details. I would also kind of like a more sporty steering wheel, not that there's anything wrong with the luxurious-style steering wheel.





That will do it! More info: . And this is a video look at the third-generation Scirocco:



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Car Style - The 2011 GMC Sierra Series

GMC didn't screw around making the GMC Sierra one tough truck. While it is a tough truck, it is beautifully bold. I've only done so many trucks in my Car Style series of blog posts. Therefore, I must try to talk about this truck on its looks. This blog post includes my ideas about the looks of the latest GMC Sierra models.

NOTE: Though this blog is about the GMC Sierra series, the majority of this blog post relates to the GMC Sierra series... not the Sierra Heavy Duty (HD) series.

--- Car Style: The 2010 GMC Sierra Series ---

Let's take a look at this tough truck:


^ from: gmcsierra.net - The 2010 GMC Sierra 1500.

I, for one, think this is a great-looking truck. It has a balance of toughness and beauty. It has (at least the Sierra HD) the same transmission as the one found in an M1 tank. It's surely tough inside and out. GMC offers three models of the Sierra- the regular Sierra 1500, the Sierra Hybrid, and the top-of-the-line Sierra Denali. Prices start around $21,000 USD for the base Sierra and go up to about $44,000 USD for the Sierra Denali. Expect nothing less in the horsepower and performance department with these trucks. How does a V8 engine over 300 horsepower with 21 miles per gallon sound? Engine models for the 2011 Sierra 1500 range from a 4.3-liter Vortec V6 engine all the way up to a 6.2-liter Vortec V8 with E85 FlexFuel capability. Horsepower numbers can go up to 403 for the base Sierra. The Sierra Hybrid is good for 332 horsepower from a hybrid 6.0-liter Vortec V8 with variable valve timing hybrid with Active Fuel Management. The Sierra Denali offers the top-of-the-line engine, the 6.2-liter Vortec V8 pumping out 403 horsepower. Payload for all three models is a minimum of 6,100 lbs. Payload for all three models is a minimum of 1,459 lbs. (Sierra Hybrid) and a maximum of 1,957 lbs. (Sierra 1500).

Exterior.

Bold beauty begins with its aggressive headlights and front grill. The grill proudly boasts the GMC logo. Only the Sierra Denali has a honeycomb grill design on both the front grill and the front air dam. The whole honeycomb design for the Denali is... okay to me. Not supremely stylish for a serious truck. A chrome front bumper adds toughness while also adding style. Fog lights are optional, but a nice touch to any of the Sierra models.

All three Sierra models offer side details that are ANYTHING but vanilla. Lots of rounded edges and bold fender flares offer plenty of muscle to compliment this truck's performance numbers. Everything is designed to be bold and muscular while still delivering loads of powerful style. Everything is well-sculpted. Equally lovely are the big 20-inch wheels that compliment the tires. Doesn't matter what trim level Sierra you get- you're getting one stylish truck with plenty of meat on its bones. Up top, a tilt-and-slide power sunroof is optional.

The rear view of the Sierra is met with a combination of stylish tail lights, a tailgate with some beveled designs, and a stylish chrome rear bumper. There is little doubt that you'll be left with a lasting impression as you see this beautiful truck pass you by. I think the rear design only leaves a stylish lasting impression.

Interior.

With a commanding view of the road, you get an interior that is very stylish for a heavy-duty truck. Maybe not an interior that would have Jaguar or Audi quaking in their boots, but certainly an interior that matches the beautiful style on the inside as it does on the outside. I must say that I am less disappointed with this interior than I am with most recent Chevrolet cars' interiors. A nice-looking steering wheel and clean instrument panel are only the start for such a lovingly-styled interior. Wood trim on the dash adds some great style to compliment the dashboard view. A touch screen navigation system comprises most of the center console. The seats in this truck are pretty stylish themselves. After all, you want to have a comfortable bunch of seats to seat your family or your co-workers (assuming you want a commercial version of this truck for on-the-job use).





It is not usual to call a heavy-duty pickup truck beautiful. If there was one that was the exception to the rule, however, the latest line of GMC Sierra trucks would fit the bill. The latest models in the Sierra series boast style that is comparable to most stylish of luxury cars. The thing I am fearful most of is I am calling a tough truck beautiful. I don't think most trucks care if they are beautiful because trucks are all about being capable and powerful; NOT in being supremely good-looking. Pickup trucks are not supposed to be eye candy because they are all about being capable and tough whether as light-duty or heavy-duty trucks. Regardless, the latest Sierra trucks are absolutely stylish while also being extremely tough.

To learn more about the latest lineup of GMC Sierra models, visit either or both of these two links:
* GMC Sierra Series
* GMC Sierra Heavy Duty Series

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