.: Auto trends
By:Ian Velvet
Category:Home / Cars and Trucks
Fads come and go, sometimes on a whim, other times because of outside forces. Here at the halfway point of the new millennium’s first decade, car culture has sure taken some interesting turns.
Those of you who innocently took a test drive of a plain-Jane Nissan Altima when it was new in 2002, floored it, and nearly sprained your necks upon discovery of 240 horsepower, may have suspected that the standards of speed had risen a tad since the 90s. Turns out that was only the beginning. Nowadays, the Volkswagen Passat raised that same family car bar to an excessive 280 horsepower. We have little $30,000 Mitsubishis that can leave Camaros for dead. The 500-horsepower Dodge Viper suddenly seems ordinary, and the once-acclaimed Acura NSX is a joke. Whether or not you’re a speed freak, there are two trickle-down benefits: the minimum standard of horsepower has risen from 55 (Geo Metro) to 103, and very few cars in any segment are truly underpowered anymore. Not a bad development.
Cars just won’t stop growing. Every redesign has to be bigger than the last one; the new Toyota RAV4 is 14 inches longer than the last, and current Civics now dwarf Accords of years past. It’s an inevitable force of marketing; no one wants to pay the same money for less car, right? Bigger also means heavier; our cars pack more pounds than ever.
And there’s no rule that contradictory trends can’t coexist. Apparently Americans expect their cars to compete with the speed of sound while also using less gas than their walking shoes. The Toyota Prius hybrid heads into its third year with unsatisfied demand, a long line, and a price premium. All this despite an ample supply of the perfectly serviceable Corolla at the same dealers. No automaker wants to be caught with their pants down, and all are rushing to market with a hybrid, even if it means using systems developed by competitors (Nissan’s Altima will use Toyota hardware).
We seem to want our cars with more stuff and more personality. The 90s banality in our styling is gone, even on the most banal cars like the Accord and Camry. And notice how almost every car has power windows and locks standard, and how even the Kia Rio comes with six airbags and a powerful stereo. Is it any wonder that the average car now costs $28,000?
Speaking of “cars”, we may be moving toward the day when that word will again apply as a general term. SUVs are suddenly for the foolish. They always have been, but now everyone seems to know it, too. Ford’s Explorer and Expedition are going down the drain, and the Excursion has already expired. The bigger the SUV, the bigger the sales drop. Little cars are selling better than ever, even old-timers like the Sentra and Neon.
Lastly, we’re going foreign, and fast. The Big Three’s market share was 60% at the early part of this decade; that will stand at or below 50% by the end of it. This is hardly a new trend, but its recent acceleration is alarming. One thing for sure is that in terms of the players, the market has matured. Only two major automakers set up American bases in the 90s (Kia and Daewoo), and the 2000s have brought none.
Cars can’t get bigger or faster forever, yet no one can stand still. Hybrids are hot, but the long-term experiences remain to be seen. What will become of all this automotive craziness? Check back in ten years.
Article keywords: New cars, Used Cars, Car reviews, auto reviews, New cars, Used cars, car
Article Source: http://www.articles32.com
Ian Velvet publishes MotorTrend.com’s car reviews articles. His expertise in new and used cars is evident is all his articles. Newly publishing Ezine’s online to illustrate and educate auto consumers.
.: New Cars and Trucks Articles
1). How The ATV Snow Plow Can Help
Looking into a snow plow for the winter season? Maybe the ATV snow plow is just the right addition to your family.
2). 2007 Lamborghini Murcielago Review
The Murcielago is considered, even by purists, the greatest Lambo ever produced. Learn more about this Italian beast here.
3). Be A Defensive Driver Not A Drunk Driver
These are some key basic tips to becoming a better driver and remember these tips can save you life and save you money...
4). Important Car Air Conditioner Parts
The air conditioner has become a necessity to keep away the scorching heat. Even in case of traveling you need conditioned and healthy air to drive safely and comfortably. With an onset of automobile air conditioner in 1940, things have gone an automatic change.
5). Finding The Perfect Car For You
Your car may be the second largest purchase you make in your lifetime.
6). History Of Hybrid Car
There were quite a few people interested in hybrid technology, and some were long before the application for this particular patent was submitted. The history of hybrid car products on the highway was just emerging to the forefront of American minds during this time.
7). All The Amazing Secrets Of Go Karts
This article goes over everything about go karts in brief. History, equipment, racing, and more. Learn everything you want to about go karts here.
.: Top Cars and Trucks Articles
1). 2008 Chery QQ: Sneak Peak!
China’s Chery Automotive Group is getting set to import as many as five vehicles into the US starting in the summer of 2007. These 2008 models are reportedly going to be cheaper than competing models in their respective classes, undercutting some models by as much as $10,000 per car. I have been doing a little investigating and have learned more about the Chery QQ, the three door compact that will retail for just $6995.
2). The Best in Headlight Repair, Cleaning, and Restoration
Want to know how to fix and repair those expensive plastic headlights? Read on.
3). Customize Your Car With Wheels And Rims
Post 1900’s, the aftermarket for cars’ wheels and rims has become huge. Everyone wants to customize their car with the latest and trendiest set of wheels. You car can look more trendy within minutes of installing the latest set of custom wheels and rims. But selecting the right one is extremely important.
Types of custom wheels and rims
There are many different types of wheels and rims that you can find in the market.
4). How To Install Car Speakers
All cars have their own unique type of car speaker installation issues although installing speakers is a relatively simple process. Most speaker installations can be finished in about an hour or less. The intricacy of the installation will vary depending on the vehicle. And again, depending on the vehicle, speakers may be installed in the dash, doors, or rear deck.
5). Jaguar X Type: The Classic Luxury Sports Car
Built on a modified version of the Ford CD 132 platform, the Jaguar X Type is considered to be just another version of the Ford Mondeo. Take away the badge and the name from the Ford Mondeo and put in Jaguar badges, you would be getting the the Jaguar X Type. In fact the platform which it was built on was just a modified version of the Ford CDW 27 platform which is what the Ford Mondeo uses.
6). The Ultimate Nissan Skyline NISMO Z-TUNE
With the 34 GTR no longer in production Nismo decided to attempt building what they believed to be the ultimate Nissan Skyline GTR. Utilizing many years experience within different racing scenes it could be argued that Nismo should have the ability to do exactly that. This vehicle was to benefit from the many years of success Nismo had within motor racing.
7). Is It Necessary to Change My Oil at 3,000 Miles?
When Do I change my Oil?
Motor oil technology has gradually progressed since the days of the earliest automobiles. In those days, standard motor oil drain intervals were between 500 and 1000 miles, and motorists had to switch viscosity grades with the changing of the seasons. The development of oil filtration and additive technology in the 1930s allowed.