Marty Padgett's Inside Scoop on Auto News and 2006

Twelve Days of Christmas: Motor City Dream Garages

By Colin MathewsColin Mathews, December 17th, 2008

This Christmas, purchase the book that takes you on an intimate tour of 20 incredible garages throughout Detroit. In "Motor City Dream Garages," journalist Rex Roy gives you an intimate look at collections held by garages like Henry Ford's Fair Lane in Dearborn (referred to as "The First Dream Garage"), The Mopar Cathedral, the Big Red Barn, and The Racer's Garage. Each garage is visually and verbally unveiled, detailing stunning automotive collections inside the structures purpose built for them. Included are the garages of legends such as Bob Lutz, Larry Smith (chairman of the Meadow Brook Concours), and Kip Ewing (engineer behind the Ford... This Christmas, purchase the book that takes you on an intimate tour of 20 incredible garages throughout Detroit. In "Motor City Dream Garages," journalist Rex Roy gives you an intimate look at collections held by garages like Henry Ford's Fair Lane in Dearborn (referred to as "The First Dream Garage"), The Mopar Cathedral, the Big Red Barn, and The Racer's Garage. Each garage is visually and verbally unveiled, detailing stunning automotive collections inside the structures purpose built for them. Included are the garages of legends such as Bob Lutz, Larry Smith (chairman of the Meadow Brook Concours), and Kip Ewing (engineer behind the Ford... Read More

Tags: Enthusiasts, Gadgets/Products, Shoppers, Car Publications

Posted in: 2006, 2008, Ford, GT

Tough Times Force Even Schwarzenegger to Support Girlie Hybrids

By Colin MathewsColin Mathews, November 20th, 2008

Wow, even cigar-smoking, bodybuilding, one-time Conan the Barbarian Schwarzenegger the Governator has been forced to face the facts of fuel efficiency. The juiced-up juggernaut posed next to a girlie little Saturn VUE Hybrid at the L.A. Auto Show, perhaps a concession to his left-coast state that sells more Toyota Priuses and Civic Hybrids than probably any other state in the union. Schwarzenegger, of course, was one of the first adopters of the hulking Hummer H1, a barely disguised HUMVEE military vehicle peddled to rich former movie stars by GM back when gas was cheap and environmentalism was strictly the domain of anti-American left-wing... Wow, even cigar-smoking, bodybuilding, one-time Conan the Barbarian Schwarzenegger the Governator has been forced to face the facts of fuel efficiency. The juiced-up juggernaut posed next to a girlie little Saturn VUE Hybrid at the L.A. Auto Show, perhaps a concession to his left-coast state that sells more Toyota Priuses and Civic Hybrids than probably any other state in the union. Schwarzenegger, of course, was one of the first adopters of the hulking Hummer H1, a barely disguised HUMVEE military vehicle peddled to rich former movie stars by GM back when gas was cheap and environmentalism was strictly the domain of anti-American left-wing... Read More

Tags: Marketing, Politics, Los Angeles Auto Show, General Motors, Celebrities

Posted in: 2006, 2009, Saturn, HUMMER, Sports Cars, Hybrid, Green, H1

VW Resuscitates Phaeton with New Infotainment, Improved Drivetrains

By Colin MathewsColin Mathews, November 17th, 2008

VW breathes new life into the slow-selling Phaeton luxury vehicle with new infotainment systems and thoroughly reworked drivetrains. The infotainment systems, known as RCD 810 and RNS 810, feature an easy-to-use 8-inch touchscreen that improves usability and convenience. A new range of engines backed by a six-speed automatic transmission all meet the stringent Euro-5 emissions standard. RCD 810 and RNS 810 promise extended functionality, quicker access to information, and a nearly self-explanatory user interface logic in comparison to the system in the current VW Phaeton. The systems share a common interface with the climate control in the... VW breathes new life into the slow-selling Phaeton luxury vehicle with new infotainment systems and thoroughly reworked drivetrains. The infotainment systems, known as RCD 810 and RNS 810, feature an easy-to-use 8-inch touchscreen that improves usability and convenience. A new range of engines backed by a six-speed automatic transmission all meet the stringent Euro-5 emissions standard. RCD 810 and RNS 810 promise extended functionality, quicker access to information, and a nearly self-explanatory user interface logic in comparison to the system in the current VW Phaeton. The systems share a common interface with the climate control in the... Read More

Tags: Marketing

Posted in: 2006, 2009, Volkswagen, Sedans, Luxury, Diesel, Phaeton