By Marty Padgett
February 21st, 2006
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Let’s get physical…physical…Why can’t we get Olivia Newton-John out of our heads? Maybe it’s the video for that song, and the chunky guy aerobicizing with Olivia — and his passing resemblance to NASCAR argumentarian Tony Stewart. Stewart has had his share of embarrassing track moments, so we think it’s with total control of self-ironic expression that he’s giving his sweat towel to Old Spice to auction off for charity on eBay (
unwashed!, trumpets the press release). At least, the Victory Junction Gang Camp will benefit from the
weeklong eBay auction. Now, someone remind us: is it technically “jumping the shark” if it’s Elvis you’re aping and not the Fonz?
Tags: Enthusiasts, Reviews, Shoppers
By Marty Padgett
February 20th, 2006
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Everybody’s waiting for February 28, when the wraps will come off the new models and
concept cars at the
Geneva Auto Show. One of them is the Altica, a cool-looking cross between a sports car and a station wagon from which Renault design boss Patrick Le Quement will remove the cover on the first press day of the show.
Except it isn’t a secret: for Parisians, and any lucky TCC faithful who may be in a cold but sunny Paris (well it was last weekend anyway) there’s an up-close preview of the car that will be the centrepiece of the Renault Geneva stand right there on Paris tourist central, the Champs Elysées.
Big, manufacturer-supported auto showrooms are a feature of the broad boulevard that leads from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe, and there, smack in the middle of the main display window of the Renault building, is the Altica. There are no ropes keeping the crowds at a respectful distance, as there will be in Switzerland, just a barrier set about a foot away that gives a clear view of the concept and its modern interior design. The car looks good, and its unique driving seat set up, sleek lines and unique rear quarter window treatment certainly enhance its
concept car credentials.
If you’re in Paris before the Altica leaves the showroom on Feb 22 to be prepped and polished for Geneva, drop in – the showroom is also a trendy coffee-bar, and a seat looking down on a ‘secret’ new car is something that Starbucks certainly can’t offer.
Tags: Enthusiasts, Industry, Reviews, Shoppers
By Marty Padgett
February 20th, 2006
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Thank you
Volkswagen, for making our life easy by naming concepts for letters. It's like the
Electric Company meets Wolfsburg: we've had Concept R, Concept C, and
now Concept A. The PBS types would be all over you for putting them in reverse alphabetical order, but our car-addled brains love your simplicity. Now can we talk more about
Phaeton and
Touareg?
Generous Motors is a thing of the past, our Joe Szczesny writes. Things are so bad at the Renaissance Center, GM even asked him to give one of his consonants back.
Ford says its market share will continue to slide before it stabilizes. Apparently, the Way Forward also includes some side-to-side jiggling and possibly, liquefaction. And who said the domestics don't know California?
It probably goes without saying that if you need a loan in Detroit,
Auburn Hills is the place to go. Also, if you need a pickup truck, we hear they have a lot of them on hand.
Our recent TCConfidential tiff here of late with another writer certainly spurred some interesting comments. It shook us so badly we had to make a few phonecalls and line up
free trips to more exotic places just to get over the hazing. (Editor's note: insert sarcasm here.)
So,
real women drive Bimmer wagons and VW convertibles and such? Then how come
Shannen Doherty was in a Range Rover when she went off-roading unexpectedly? (P.S. Knowing she's a Memphian and a Republican only makes us love her more. You go, Brenda Walsh!)
Tags: Industry, Enthusiasts, Reviews, Shoppers
Posted in: 2008, Volkswagen, Touareg
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