Chet Parsons, Car Guy

The electric (yep, it's runnin' on batteries) Mercedes Benz SLS E-Cell.

When not making prolific contributions to my own blog, I regularly visit a few sites dedicated to automotive news and commentary.  Lately, I have taken a specific interest in Tesla Motors.  As with my friends at Local Motors, Tesla is not only about the end product but is also taking a different approach to the manufacture and sale of new cars that happen to be electric. But judging from the tone of some of the articles I've read, as well as the comments sections, my excitement isn't shared.  I'm wondering if the general public doesn't want an alternative.  Are we still afraid of the electric car?  Are we uncertain about buying a car the way we buy a computer, especially if they use the same batteries? But really, why all the harsh negativity?  Like anyone else who follows automotive news, I am quite aware of Tesla's well publicized financial situation, and perhaps too aware of everything CEO Elon Musk is doing these days.  I am also equally aware of...

I think Henry would be proud of the direction Ford is going lately.  The new Fiesta and Focus stand poised to return small domestic cars to respectability.  The Mustang is still the cream of the new muscle car crop.  The F-150 is still the F-150, which is good. All these good vibrations must be rubbing off on the marketing department as well.  The launch of the Fiesta has been handled very well, with tie-ins to American Idol and the creative youth of the country as well as a good web presence and a reservation campaign that has surprised even me. A few months ago, I decided to sell my 20+ year old sports car and get something more economical, but wanted to get something that was still a "cool" car.  I reserved a Fiesta, but ultimately ended up going a totally different (cheaper) direction.  Apparently that information didn't get past the dealer back to Ford, as I am still receiving the marketing goodies they send out to those with a reservation. To...

Earlier this week, Ron Dennis, CEO of McLaren Automotive, was quoted as saying "The Bugatti Veyron is a complete piece of junk. I think it is. I believe I can look at a range of women and I can see beauty in most of them, but I can look at a Bugatti and I think it is pig ugly." He continues, "The Veyron doesn’t do anything for me. I’ve been looking at it for years, and I don’t see one single thing that makes me feel good.” That's a pretty bold statement about what many consider to be the Holy Grail of Super Cars, but is he really that far off?  From a design perspective, there isn't really anything wrong with the Veyron.  It's not an unattractive car by any means, so how can it be ugly? To answer that question, let's compare it to a product from Mr. Dennis's own company, the McLaren F1.  Both began life as cost-no-object showcases of each company's technological prowess.  From there, their paths diverge.  The Bugatti is a blend of the VW Gro...

Scotch, wine, watches, and cars all have one thing in common.  The best specimens are usually only available in small batches. In November, I made a connection with Local Motors.  It stuck.  I met with Jay, Sarah, and Ariel again in Austin during SXSW, and they are doing well.  The Rally Fighter continues to impress and is nearing production readiness, and the plans for the first micro-factory in Arizona are well underway.  I mention Local Motors not only because I think they have a  big future, but also because my experience with that company has changed how I look at other small-batch manufacturers.  I have always been amazed how many start-up car companies seem to come and go, but even more amazed at the success of the handful that have stuck around. Pagani is the first that comes to mind, and with the imminent delivery of the Zonda successor, they appear to be in it for the long haul.  Koenigsegg seems to be holding its own as well, well e...

If you had asked me a year ago what I thought of the future of the auto industry, I would have given you a pretty bleak answer. Tonight I got to meet someone who could change that. Tonight I met Jay Rogers, CEO of Local Motors. Go to www.local-motors.com to find out more about this company, and pay special attention not to the automobiles, but to the business model they are proposing. The broad strokes go something like this: build limited production automobiles based on designs submitted and voted upon by an internet community in local micro factories around the country (and globe) using techniques and technology with minimal environmental impact. That's a pretty simplified version, but you get the idea. While the automotive giants dig out of their holes, producing appliances for the road, Local Motors is looking to build niche market products in limited quantities, in regional facilities, making the consumer an integral part of the design, development, and build processes. ...

Driving home from work on Wednesday, I heard a very loud bang. I knew immediately that I had blown a tire, but was surprised at how loud it was. It sounded like a gunshot. End result was a blown tire, no surprise, and a surprisingly large hole in the inside of the wheel. When I get a chance to dismount the tire, I can find out what, besides chunks of wheel, is rattling around inside the tire. Until then, I can only speculate...