Honda Fit to Lexus GS450h, The Weekly Driver's Cars of the Year, 2009

Honda Fit to Lexus GS450h, The Weekly Driver’s Cars of the Year, 2009

Friends sometimes ask why The Weekly Driver (that’s me) doesn’t just review Ferrari or Lamborghini or Maserati. The answer: They’re all fine automobiles, but not too many people buy them. The Weekly Driver is all about “The Every Driver.”

Lots of car buyers purchase $15,000 cars or prefer SUVs and midsize sedans. Hybrids and sports cars are fun drives, but they still comprise niche market choices compared more popular choices — Honda Accord to Ford F-150 pick-ups to Toyota Camry. It’s these cars I’ve most often reviewed since 2003. In 2007, I began a Best-of-the-Year list.

Like during the list’s previous two editions,  I waited until the end of the year — the opposite approach of the major car publications.

The industry’s renowned magazines and web sites often select their lists to outdo each other. Sometimes, some of the cars chosen have just debuted or in some instances they’re not yet available to the public. How does that work?

Also, like the previous two editions of my Best-of-the-Year list, I only select from cars I’ve driven. I reviewed about 40 cars in 2007 and 32 new cars in 2008 — Audi to Volkswagen, BMW to Suzuki. In 2009, I reviewed 36 cars, all for one week each.

Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati are all wondrous works of art and all cost well into six figures. But I didn’t drive any of the high-end machines in 2009, so they can’t compare with cars on the 2009 Best of the Year list. They ranged in price from $12,090.00 to $60,705.00.

There’s no set formula or calculations for selecting the Best of the Year list. But value, innovation, reliability and workmanship are all factors. And sometimes, cars just feel right or just feel wrong.

Therefore, here in alphabetical order are The Weekly Driver’s top-10 cars of the year for 2009 with the price as driven and a brief comment from my original review.  I’ve also listed the 2008 and 2007 choices. Only the Honda Fit is on all three Best of the Year lists.

The Weekly Driver’s 2009 Cars of the Year

Acura TSX ($30,060) . . . “Six years after it was introduced, the Acura TSX remains an unheralded sedan that teeters the fine line between premium compact car and premium sports/performance vehicle.”

Audi A3 ($41,700.00) . . .  “It’s still a hatchback, but it’s versatile, it offers the signature Quattro (all-wheel-drive) system and it’s built with handsome, well-constructed material. How close can an entry level car also be considered a luxury automobile? The new A3 gets very close.”

BMW 335d ($43,900) . . .  “Can’t help but defer to the MotorTrend.com reviewer who wrote an epic line: ‘The 335d’s twin-turbo diesel growls like Tom Waits gargling Irish Cream.’ Perfect.”

Honda Civic Hybrid ($27,560) . . . “The Toyota Prius is the industry standard and it has its upside. But the Civic hybrid is more attractive and just as many standard features and functionality. It’s not going to win any drag races, but that’s not its purpose. It’s a well-designed hybrid that’s also classy with its leather trim and style upgrades for 2009. Is there a better eco-friendly car for the price?”

Honda Fit ($17,580) . . . “The best part of the Fit is its surprisingly nice drive. With its 117-horsepower engine, the car isn’t about to establish any speed records. And there’s a noticeable decrease in acceleration when the air conditioning is engaged. Yet, since it’s lightweight and efficiently constructed, the 2009 Fit moves around pretty swiftly, with 0-60 mph in about nine seconds.”

Infiniti G37 ($47,245) . . . “First Impression: How classy! Great exterior color (Amethyst Graphite) interior color (Graphite), beautiful body design, great dark wood interior trim. It looked proud and elegant in the driveway and everywhere else for that matter.”

Lexus GS450h ($60,705) . . . “It’s a heavy heavyweight in the premium sedan market. It features extraordinary technology, including some features other hybrids don’t offer. The GS 450h operates in gas-only or electric-only mode or a combination, for example, with little difference in performance but plenty of eco-friendly ambition.”

Lexus IS350 ($42,311) . . . “It’s a four-door sedan with a six-speed automatic transmission that advances with sports car speed. There’s a 306 horsepower V6 and the standard 0-60 mph test is performed in 5.6 seconds. How many sedans can match that?”

Nissan Versa ($12,090) . . . “No radio, no power windows, no power doors. Get over it. Air-conditioning and six airbags are standard, and that’s more important for a base vehicle. This is one hard car to beat for basic transportation. It’s surprisingly fun to drive and arguably the best vehicle available in the United States for the price.”

Toyota Corolla ($17,909) . . . “The 2009 Toyota Corolla isn’t a hybrid, nor does it boast any other high-tech refinement or embellished marketing campaigns. The Corolla remains what it’s always been — among the finest basic transportation cars ever made.”

The Weekly Driver’s 2009 Cars of the Year

Acura, TSX, Audi A3, BMW 335d, Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda Fit, Infiniti G37, Lexus GS450h, Lexus, IS350, Nissan Versa, Toyota Corolla.

The Weekly Driver’s 2008 Cars of the Year

Audi A4, Audi A8 W12, BMW 128i, Cadillac CTS, Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Hybrid, Honda Fit, Kia Amanti, Mini-Cooper Clubman, Nissan Altima.

The Weekly Driver’s 2007 Cars of the Year

Cadillac CTS, Honda CR-V, Honda Fit, Honda Ridgeline, Hyundai Elantra, Lincoln MKZ, Mini-Cooper, Saab 9-3, Saturn Aura, Volkswagen EOS.

Related Car News and Reviews

Posted by James Raia on January 4, 2010.

Tags: Acura, BMW, Honda, Lexus, Nissan, Toyota

Categories: The Weekly Driver (News Service)

Naza, GM to unveil details on partnership with GM this week

Naza is the distributor for (clockwise from top) Brabus, Ferrari, Kia, Peugeot and Masserati.

�Announcements as to the details of partnership will be made known to the public in due course, upon formalisation of the agreement,� Naza said.

Carlisle, when contacted at his office in Thailand, declined to comment.

The source said a distributorship agreement between GM and Naza was in the works following the signing of the MoU.

He said Naza was �very well positioned� to promote the Chevrolet brand in Malaysia.

�It is one of the best automotive players in the market and would make a strong partner to grow the business in Malaysia,� he said, adding that Naza had a �good business plan� for GM.

He also said GM intended to launch six to eight new Chevrolet models in Malaysia within three years, with plans to extend its dealership network to 25-30 from seven currently within the same period.

�Naza also has a good manufacturing facility (in Gurun, Kedah) which can help GM produce cars in Malaysia,� he said.

All Chevrolet models are currently fully imported.

In a joint statement last week, DRB-HICOM Bhd and General Motors Asia Pacific Holdings Co LLC said they had mutually agreed to discontinue their existing joint-venture agreement to import and distribute Chevrolet vehicles in Malaysia effective Jan 1. No reasons were disclosed.

DRB-HICOM group director for automotive Datuk Nik Hamdan Nik Hassan told a press conference a day later that the partnership had ended mainly because the parties had very differing business models.

DRB-HICOM originally handled the Chevrolet franchise via wholly-owned Hicomobil Sdn Bhd in 2003. The set-up was superseded in 2007 by HICOM-Chevrolet Sdn Bhd, a 51:49 joint venture in favour of GM via General Motors Asia Pacific.

Since 2003, about 15,000 Chevrolet cars had been sold locally, comprising three main models, namely Aveo, Optra and Captiva.

OSK Research motor analyst Ahmad Maghfur Usman said the tie-up could see GM riding on Naza�s large distributorship base.

�GM has been having a tough time expanding its market share in Malaysia, given the stiff competition in the segments it is competing in. Hopefully with Naza�s large distributorship base, sales numbers will start improving.

�We could see the GM vehicle re-badged as a Naza one to make pricing more attractive. That�s the only reasonable sense I can think of why Naza would be an interesting proposition to GM,� he said.

Ahmad Maghfur also said Asean was a difficult market for American automotive marques to penetrate.

�American cars generally find it tough in Asean as most of us are already accustomed to Japanese makes. Furthermore, as GM vehicles are CBU (completely-built-up), sourcing parts would be quite pricey.

�With Naza possibly roping in a contract assembly from GM, we could probably see demand improving given its attractive pricing and its services and maintenance,� he said. Unlisted Naza is the country�s main distributor for automotive marques Ferrari, Peugeot, Kia, Brabus and Maserati.

Hit speedsters

Check out the vehicles MiD DAY predicts will create a buzz at the 10th Auto Expo

Maruti Suzuki: Maruti will bring five important cars to the show -- the Suzuki Kizashi sedan, the RIII multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) concept car, Eeco MPV, the YR9 and the Y3 small car concept. Kizashi is Suzuki's first attempt at a D-segment saloon and it looks like a winner with its stylish looks and quality.

Fresh look: Jaguar's new model being readied for display at the Auto Expo at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi on Monday. 
PIC/Rajeev Tyagi

The Eeco is nothing more than a Versa facelift, with a Euro-IV ready 1.2-litre K Series engine. It will be priced around Rs 4 lakh.

Another MPV concept is the R III, which will take on the likes of the Mahindra Xylo.

The YR9 is the Wagon-R replacement that is wider and more comfortable on the inside.

The YR3 is Maruti Suzuki's first indigenous product to be designed, developed and manufactured here. It is being designed as an 800 replacement.

Toyota: For the first time, Toyota will launch its for-India small car and notchback (an automobile having a roof that drops off sharply to the top of the rear compartment) concept. The car will be based on an all-new platform where cost has been the key driver.

The other big-ticket launches are the Toyota Prius hybrid that will be priced upwards of Rs 25 lakh, while the brand will also showcase the new Landcruiser Prado diesel and the i-Real concept.

Honda: The big H will bring in its iteration of a small car concept that it hopes will target the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Swift and Hyundai i10. It will also exhibit the CR-Z Concept 2009, a model for a new hybrid vehicle.

Volkswagen: Volkswagen is making waves with the announcement of launch of its globally hit model Polo. This European Car of The Year winner will take centre stage at the VW stall and promises to have a rather competitive price tag to take on the likes of the Suzuki Swift and Hyundai i20.

Tata Motors: This year, we expect Tata Motors to display Indicruz, its large MPV designed to take on the likes of the Toyota Innova.

Skoda: The company will showcase its first sport utility vehicle Skoda Yeti in India. The company will only display the car model at the Expo.

Concept attractions
DC's Nano: Car designer Dilip Chhabria has converted the Tata Nano into a car worth Rs 1 crore. The Nano's 623-cc engine will be replaced by a 1,600-cc one. The exteriors will resemble the Lamborghini and Ferrari.

Audi: Audi, which celebrates its centennial this year, will show off the limited edition A6, which it recently launched to commemorate the occasion. The company will show its new 2011 A8 model, which will be priced over Rs 1 crore.

Heritage cars: Rolls-Royce, Cadillac, Ford, GM, Jaguar and Mercedes will showcase their old beauties at the show. Check-out vintage beauties like the Buick Series 90L and Jaguar XK120.

It was a very good (and bad) year

he 2009 racing season saw several interesting episodes, new and repeat champions, scandals, classy moves and great performances.

But some things stood out a bit more than others. Here's a short list of the best and worst of 2009 to start the conversation about who and what made it a memorable year.

Phoenix Award: Brawn Grand Prix

After Honda decided to exit Formula One at the end of 2008, the Brackley-based team remained in limbo until a management buyout saved it only weeks before the first race in Australia.

After rising from Honda's ashes, Jenson Button ran away and hid with the points lead in the first half of the season. The team lost momentum near the end of the year, but repelled a late challenge by the Red Bull team's Sebastian Vettel to win both the driver's championship with Button and the constructor's crown.

Miss Congeniality: Mark Martin

You didn't have to be a racing fan to cheer for Mark Martin in 2009.

After 19 years of racing in NASCAR's top echelon, the 50-year-old driver got another shot at finally grabbing the Sprint Cup. Instead, Martin ended 2009 as the bridesmaid for the fifth time in his career, losing the prize in the 10-race Chase for the Cup to four-time champion and teammate Jimmie Johnson. In what can only been called classy, Martin reacted to his latest disappointment by saying he still holds his head high because he was beaten to the Cup by great drivers.

Scandal of the Year: Crash-gate

Formula One has seen its share of scandals over the past few years with the embarrassing spying episode involving McLaren and Ferrari and the sexual escapades of former Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile president Max Mosley. But nothing could prepare the sport for the revelations in August.

It was revealed this summer that Renault team bosses conspired with driver Nelson Piquet to stage a crash to ensure his teammate Fernando Alonso's strategy would deliver a win in the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix.

Renault survived, but its F1 leader Flavio Briatore got slapped with a lifetime ban from the sport.

Seize-the-Day Award: Montreal Nationwide race

With a couple of corners left to go in the NAPA 200, Marcos Ambrose looked to be headed for a certain victory on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The likeable veteran of Aussie supercar racing dominated the Nationwide event, leading a career-high 60 laps before disaster struck.

With Carl Edwards nipping at his heels for the final two laps, Ambrose jumped the curb in the final corner and went up on two wheels. The loss of momentum opened the door to his rival and Edwards seized the opportunity to outdrag Ambrose to the finish line by 4/10thsof a second.

Best Audition: Carl Edwards in Talladega

With only one corner left in April's Aaron's 499 at the Talladega Superspeedway, Carl Edwards looked to be on his way to the win when rookie Brad Keselowski got a run on him. When Edwards moved to block, the contact with Keselowski saw his car get airborne and slam into another car before spinning along the top of the catch fence.

When his shattered car finally came to rest in the infield, Edwards brought the crowd to its feet when he stole a scene from Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and sprinted the final 100 metres to the finish line.

Drive of the Year: Sebastian Vettel in China

Heavy rain made for treacherous conditions in April's Chinese Grand Prix, but someone forgot to tell Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel.

Wet weather is the great equalizer in racing and Vettel showed beyond a shadow of a doubt that he's the sport's new rain man.

With the rest of the field struggling to keep their cars pointed in the right direction, Vettel put on a driving clinic, making no mistakes on his way to a dominant win.

Most Talented Magician: Kimi Raikkonen

While it might be argued that Kimi Raikkonen had one of his worst seasons in Formula One, those inside the Ferrari garage spent most of 2009 secretly wondering exactly how he could make a dog of a car go so fast.

There's no doubt that Raikkonen possesses sublime talent, but his ability to wring every drop of performance out of his car was never more evident. He scored 38 of his 48 points and scored Ferrari's only win of the season in Belgium after the team Ferrari stopped development on the 2009 car in July to concentrate on next year's challenger.

Performer of the Year: Jimmie Johnson

The more important the race, the better Johnson drives. And after showing he's got the goods for the fourth consecutive year, Johnson joined an elite group of NASCAR drivers to have won four or more titles. Soon after the 10-race championship playoff called the Chase for the Cup began, Johnson took control and never really looked back.

When adversity did strike in the form of an early crash in Texas that threatened to derail his title chances, Johnson simply came back even stronger, dominating the next race in Phoenix. From there, he never looked back.

globedrive@globeandmail.com

Clinic owner held on fraud charges

The Miami-Dade man hasn't held a steady job in more than a decade. Yet Ihosvany Marquez spent millions of dollars on a fleet of Lamborghinis, Bentleys and other luxury cars, along with thoroughbred horses and diamond jewelry, authorities say.

All with your tax dollars, they say.

Marquez, 38, was detained without bond Monday by a federal magistrate judge on charges of submitting $55 million in false claims to Medicare for bogus HIV and cancer services at his seven clinics in Miami-Dade and Orlando. The taxpayer-funded healthcare program paid Marquez and other partners in the alleged conspiracy about $22 million from 2005 to 2007, according to an indictment.

``This is an absolutely massive Medicare fraud scheme, even by Miami standards,'' Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Stumphauzer said, pushing for no bond, noting that a suspect in a related case fled the country last year to avoid trial.

Marquez's lawyer, Michael Walsh, who entered a not guilty plea for his client, challenged the government's claim that his client would skip town. ``You don't think he's going to use one of these horses to flee?'' Walsh questioned an FBI agent on the witness stand.

``I don't think that's going to happen,'' FBI agent Avatar LeFevre said.

Magistrate Judge Barry Garber was not amused by Walsh's quip, saying that Marquez's expensive possessions, unemployment history and criminal charges ``would represent a substantial flight risk.''

Among Marquez's alleged purchases for himself, his wife and other family members: A Lamborghini Gallardo, a Lamborghini Murcielago, a Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, two Bentley Continental GTs, two Mercedes Benz CL63s and at least six Mercedes Benz S550s -- all worth $2.7 million.

``He even bought a car for his personal trainer who helped him lose weight,'' said Stumphauzer, who is handling the case with prosecutor Daniel Bernstein.

Marquez also purchased more than a half-million dollars' worth of diamond jewelry, Rolex watches and other baubles from a Miami store, Stumphauzer said. In addition, Marquez bought more than $1 million in thoroughbred horses, he said.

Marquez is accused of operating six fraudulent Miami-Dade clinics -- including one called Tender Loving Care -- with partner Michel De Jesus Huarte.

Huarte was indicted separately in June on charges of submitting more than $50 million in bogus claims to Medicare for purported infusion therapy to treat patients with cancer, AIDS and varicose veins.

The partners are accused of laundering the Medicare payments through shell companies such as Babalu Telemarketing and Madreagua Construction -- named after Santeria saints.

Huarte, 38, has pleaded guilty and will be sentenced later this month.

The partners' infusion treatments, purportedly administered intravenously, were neither prescribed by doctors nor provided to patients, Stumphauzer said.

The partners recruited Cuban immigrants to pose as the owners of their clinics, ``with the understanding that the `straw' owners would flee to Cuba to avoid law enforcement detection or capture,'' according to the indictment filed against Huarte.

Among those said to have posed as a straw owner: Madelin Barbara Machado, 36, who ran Zigma Medical in Miami-Dade. In a separate 2008 indictment, she was charged with fraudulently billing Medicare more than $9 million for unnecessary HIV therapy and collecting $4.5 million. But Machado fled and is believed to be in Cuba, according to the FBI.

Among other straw-owner recruits: Juan Carralero, 56, and Orlin Tamayo Quinonez, 35. Carralero is suspected of having fled to Cuba and Tamayo to Ecuador.

Drivers, what's in your stars?

t's a New Year full of hope and potential. At this time, it's important to remember that the road is a field of chance. Fortune favours the brave and those with winter tires. In an effort to keep Globe Drive readers apprised of what the annum may hold, Road Sage presents your motoring zodiac forecast for 2010.

With which cars are you most astrologically compatible? What is your optimum cruising speed when you factor in Mars's transit through Leo? Should you have your oil changed during a full moon?

Keep your head to the sky. All will be revealed…

Capricorn (December 22-January 19): The sea goat. Like most sea goats you are over-achieving and stubborn and enjoy wearing pinstripes. In 2010, avoid turning signals. Avoid turning. Drive as straight as possible. Danger lies around the bend. During the late winter months you will be blinded by sunsets when driving west. Capricorn, use only Burger King drive-thrus, even at breakfast. Consider buying a Lexus, but then buy a Hummer.

Aquarius (January 20-February 18): The water boy. In 2010, think hybrid. Buy a Prius and drive around to show everyone how ecologically friendly you are. Feel the sanctimony. That light that keeps going off on your dashboard? Look into it. Go ahead, read a book while driving. Do it. You are least likely to be cut off by a Libra.

Pisces (February 19-March 20): The fish. The zodiac sign most loaded with Omega 3. For the last decade you have been under the sway of the Andromeda constellation. Take heart! The year 2010 is the year you finally buy a van, line it with shag carpet; and install an eight track stereo full of April Wine tapes. Now drive to Cape Breton.

Aries (March 21-April 19): The most “Ram Tough” of all the signs of the zodiac. Your hooves make steering very difficult. Because of your horns no cop will ever give you a breathalyzer. Buy a Buick Lacrosse. Begin legal action against Dodge for appropriating your name.

Taurus (April 20-May 20): The bull. Beefy and dangerous. At least once a redheaded guy in a Hyundai Genesis will cut you off while merging onto the highway. Each time you will not believe this guy did that. You are most compatible with people who own cars that are worse than yours. The year 2010 will be stressful. Purchase an old Impala and take a sledgehammer to it.

Gemini (May 21-June 20): The twins. Duplicity is your middle name. You favour yellow lights. You own two cars. Sell one and then buy a Mazda MX-5 and move to California. Try acting. Land a small role on the new season of Scrubs. Meet actor Zach Braff. Be unimpressed.

Cancer (June 21-July 22): The crab. Your hard shell hides a soft narcissistic inside. Now that the Moon is in Eta Piscium it's time to admit that you don't know how to drive stick. Get ready Cancer: 2010 is the year you finally leave your house! Celebrate by leasing a Smart Car. Congratulations, you're still a loser.

Leo (July 23-August 22): The Lion. Astrology's second banana. The Andrew Ridgely of the Zodiac. Your best friend George Michael owns a Ferrari 599. All you have is an Audi Q5. Your insurance will go up for no reason. You will pay it anyway. You will take a lover who owns an Acura TSX. You will fall madly in love and be surprised by the fuel economy. Be sure to end this relationship on August 23.

Virgo (August 23-September 22): The virgin. You will be offered a lift in an Aston Martin DB9. If you take it you will need a new astrological sign.

Libra (September 23-October 22): The Scales Thing. You enjoy looking in the rearview mirror in order to judge the quality of your hair. Mars and Venus will align to cause the iPod accessory you got for Christmas (the one that is supposed to allow you to listen to your iPod through a radio channel) to be really staticky and never quite work yet function well enough so that you can't really take it back to the store. Do not hurl it from your car. You will hit a 2003 Pontiac Sunfire.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21): The Scorpion. Smallest sign in the zodiac. Thanks to Jupiter's transit through Uranus, the year 2010 is the year you stop driving slow in the middle lane of the highway. Just move over to the right lane. You can do it. While rolling up the rim you will cut your lip. If you wait until your birthday to renew your licence you will disappear.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21): The Liar. While commuting, every time you wear a white shirt you will spill coffee on it. Consider brown or black shirts. Sagittarius, 2010 is the year you can get away with stealing a car. Be judicious in your selection.

Intervew With Jay Rogers, CEO of Local Motors

This is Part One of a three part interview with Jay Rogers, CEO of Local Motors. They recently displayed their Rally Fighter at the 2009 SEMA show and look to change the way cars are designed, and built.

Next week the Detroit Auto Show will kick off the North American International Auto Show circuit. Over 700 cars will be on display, including several concepts such as an electric Fiat 500 (which will share booth space with Maserati and Ferrari). Only a handful of these cars will make it to production as companies go back to the drawing board to come up with a “winner” they hope the public will buy.

Jay Rogers, CEO of Local Motors, is trying to change all that. Instead of designing a car he hopes people will buy, he is gathering a community of enthusiasts to design a car they want to buy. The result is the Rally Fighter, an off-road car/truck (cruck? trar?) that can get over 30 mpg with 425 ft-lbs of torque that sets a new standard for car design.

When we talk about the future of the automobile, we are usually talking about alternative fuels like electricity, hydrogen, or natural gas. Rarely do we consider just how our cars are conceived, designed, and built. It usually involves an army of engineers, accountants, and executives who will put out a concept car during the auto show circuit, gauge public reaction, and take it back to the drawing board before it hits showrooms. Sometimes the car stays original to the concept (i.e. the 2010 Camaro) becoming a huge hit. Other times it becomes an entirely different and often ugly beast (Pontiac Aztek).

Jay decided to do things differently. He calls the process “co-creation”, and has enlisted car design enthusiasts from around the world to help him design cars. “There is real art being created everyday in our community,” he says. “We want to create a connection with the customer.” Jay has always loved cars. He is an equal opportunity aficionado, as big a fan of the modern Ford GT as the classic Bugatti Type 57, and has owned an impressive collection himself. But he never imagined he’d own his own car company.

The first Rally Fighter rendering, by Sangho Kim

Jay served as an Infantry Company Commander in the Marines that included several tours in Iraq. While he was there, he came to understand the precarious position our dependency on oil has created. When his tour was up, he enrolled in Harvard Business School where he got his MBA. “I never graduated from cars though,” he said, and decided to enroll in the Art Center College for Design. While there, he came to learn that there was an entire community of people who shared a similar passion for car design. That was his “Ah ha” moment. He decided he was young enough to try something crazy, and formed a car company that would enlist all the unspent talent worldwide to design cars people wanted to drive. Thus, Local Motors was formed.

“We make cool cars,” Jay says. While he is a fan of driving fast, he isn’t so much a fan of racing, so he knew he wanted a car that could keep up with his speed needs. “But when you design a car, there are a lot of questions to ask. Does fuel efficiency matter? We think so, so we want our cars to be light and simple. It sure would be nice to have a lower impact,” he continues. So now you need a fast, light, simple, yet practical car that looks cool and gets good gas mileage. How do you get amateur car designers to fill such a tall order?

The answer is surprisingly simple. Local Motors holds design contests on their website. Would-be designers put up their ideas, where other community members vote on designs. The website is set up so you can see the car design evolve from a simple sketch to a fully fleshed out rendering. It really creates a sense of community around these cars, as well it should. The vibrant, active community is the heart and soul of Local Motors, and the competitive environment has produced literally thousands of designs. While there are several cars under consideration, thus far only one has made the transition from paper to fully functioning product; the Rally Fighter.

Check back later in the week as Jay takes us behind the design and build process of the Rally Fighter.

Tweet This Post