Dating.  Cars.  The only time the two subjects go together even remotely well is when we pick up our dates in our 1991 BLAZING red Chevrolet Lumina Z34.

Our friends over at Pick Mi Date have put together a considerably better method of linking the two.  The team recently attended the 2011 NAIAS and have selected the selected several vehicles that center on specific topics, like running over your ex-boyfriend or picking up laundry after a Jersey Shore gym session.  The team focuses on specific details that make each vehicle unique.  It’s not exactly what the Designers were thinking when creating the cars, but Pick Mi Date help us see the wonderful ulterior uses that our designs can inspire.

The full article follows below, and can also be found on their site.

Car-ma: Pick Mi Date Man-Handles the 2011 Detroit Auto Show

Arguably, one of the best things about Detroit (with PickMiDate being a reaaally close second), is the Auto Show at Cobo Hall every winter.  Dubbed the NAIAS (North American International Auto Show), it highlights the best vehicles from around this blue ball bearing which we call Earth.

AND speaking of Mother Earth, each manufacturer had a (battery) pack of electric/hybrid/green/juiced/cell vehicles in their lot, as well as the tried and true dinosaur fossil eating combustion engines.  The last statement isn’t a slam, as I love my V8 and would cage fight a T-Rex to keep it forever.  Call me old school.

In regards to sexy designs and functionality, the new school was in full form this year with some just-plain-gorgeous cars that make us want to install a drool cup holder in every car we keyed in on.

With the NAIAS, comes the press and critics, with their reviews and very yawn inspiring and traditional “best of” categories.  Well at PickMiDate (PMD) we are not-so conventional, so Erin, Kyle and I (Sean) created our own list and personal reviews with a PMD twist.

Obviously, the cases below are meant to be taken lightheartedly (as if you don’t already):

1. Best Car/Truck To Run Over Your Evil “EX” In:

Erin: Dodge Ram 1500 Outdoorsman Edition.

The image speaks for itself as it has a side gun rack above the wheel well.

Kyle: GMC Sierra All Terrain (concept). Will it get the job done? Yes, and it will do it in style.  The All Terrain 2011 GMC Sierra gives you the luxury to squash your evil ex in any terrain, be it snow, mud, sand, or the urban sprawl of Detroit.  Therefore, there is no possible way that your pesky ex will be able to get away. Lastly, because you are such a nice person and don’t like to end things on a bad note, the Sierra will provide your ex with a beautiful site as he/she is being run over with its nicely crafted grill and undercarriage.

Sean: Mercedes SLS E-Cell.  Ok, probably not the vehicle you’d expect here, but every time I see the gullwing doors up, I think of the Karate Kid, and his patented “crane kick.”  That move is so famous, it would make any ex of mine create more yellow lines down the road, without actually damaging the car.

2. Best Car/Truck for GTL (Gym/Tanning/Laundry… Courtesy of Jersey Shore):

Erin: Ford Escape Hybrid.  When running errands, you want a great stop and go vehicle that is good on gas mileage.  It also has plenty of room to transport your gym and laundry bags (second row seats fold down), a moon roof that allows for good ventilation and extended tanning time, along with running boards to help Snooki sized guidettes an easy and safe entry and exit into this SUV. With color options like “Lime Squeeze Metallic”, you can easily coordinate with your closet full of Ed Hardy, Affliction, and MMA attire.

Kyle: Lincoln Navigator.  This is a perfect automobile for carting around both your Guido bros and your Guidette hoes.  This vehicle provides: a state-of-art sound system that is essential to “beat up da beat”, multiple compartments ideal for storing hair gel and tanning spray, and plenty of head room for the girls with the Snooki poof! The best news is that the back seats can fold down, great to cart your drunk friend home from the bars or eliminating room to avoid grenades!  Also, without the seats, the Navigator can convert into the “Smush Room on Wheels”.

Sean: Chevy Camaro Convertible. Gym: this thing has plenty of muscle, to go with your “muscle.”  Tan: Who needs to go a tanning bed, when this thing has one built-in. Laundry: this may not have the storage room for your baskets, but has all the flash to hide your “dirty laundry”…for the time being.

3. Best Car/Truck to Sell Medical Marijuana:

Erin: Cadillac Escalade Hybrid.  This has enough cargo volume & payload to make Mexico pale in comparison for selling potential.

Kyle: Kia Soul. This is a perfect mixture between your current hood rat ways and your hippy parent’s past.  The sleek black interior, window tints, and the unique shape are sure to be formidable while transporting tall plants to various locations.  Not only will you be rolling in style, but also with minimal attention drawn to you.

Sean: I keep having flashbacks to the Chevy (ice cream) truck in the movie classic, Cheech and Chong’s Nice Dreams, so I decided to go with a Chevy HHR Panel.  With a few graphics and a clown head, this thing is destined to be up in smoke.

4. Sexiest Thing with Batteries (Less Vibration is Preferred):

Erin: Tesla 2.5. It’s sexy inside and out, goes from 0-60 in 3.7 seconds, without requiring a drop of gasoline.

Kyle: Inizio.  Look sexy while saving the environment. This beautiful car can reach speeds up to 170 mph…without gasoline! The car can range about to 200 miles before requiring a recharge and the approximate charge time is only around 8 hours! Although one may fall in love with the Inizio, please note that it does not accept fluids of any sort.

Sean: Porsche 918 RSR.  This race car is just sexy, but the battery is just so cool, it makes me want to put this right in my living room. Basically,the battery looks like the flux capacitor was resurrected in the movie Tron.

Honorable mention: OSU’s Buckeye Bullet. This electric land rocket, looks similarly to a giant, battery powered vibrator.

5. If You’re Gonna Steal a Car/Truck…This is the One Worth Going to Jail For:

Erin: Audi R8 Spyder. Holy Sexy and FAST.  Upon purchase, this  car really should come with any equally hot guy that does not speak a word of English.

Kyle: Audi R8 GT. If you think that you have mastered Grand Theft Auto and are planning on taking up as a profession, let me please suggest starting with the Audi R8 GT. This automobile contains so much sex appeal, horsepower, and awesomeness that it will make for one hell of a rush! Clocked at a top speed of 198 mph, it will surely fulfill that adrenaline addiction that any junkie may have while drawing the eye of the opposite sex. However might I suggest that you pick a prison cross country and drive yourself straight to it because it will be impossible not to break 20 traffic laws as soon as you hit the gas!

Sean: Ferrari 458 Italia. If you’ve never heard the sound of a Ferrari engine before, then you are truly missing the sexiest sound ever produced.  As they cart me to jail after stealing the 458, I keep thinking of the quote Andy Dufresne said from The Shawshank Redemption: “That’s the beauty of music. They can’t get that from you.”  The sound it makes is music to my ears, and worth the 5-10 years.

6.  Best vehicle to MAKE a family in (and keep it FOR your family):

Erin: Audi Q7. It has seven passenger seating capacity with…..wait for it…..28 seating “positions,” and a panoramic sunroof for late night navigating of the big dipper (hopefully). Also included: tinted windows for privacy (or roll them down for the adventurous types), carrying capacity (aka its really roomy) and a Bang & Olufsen sound system (to set the mood).

Kyle: Kia KV7 (Concept.) Are you adventurous in your sexual escapades? If so, the Kia KV7 concept is the perfect car for you to give in to your wild side.  The sleek and roomy interior allows one to be creative.  Try the sofa. Try the rotating chair. Try the table. Try the floor.  The options are unlimited in this sex machine on wheels. WARNING: 4 car seats is the limit. So, we at Pick Mi Date would like to remind you to act responsibly.

Sean: Cadillac CTS-V Wagon.  The CTS-V stands for Coital Tryst (in a) Sophisticated Vehicle.  This V takes the word “quickie” to a whole new level, with over 550 hp, it can take you from zero to sexy, er, 60 in 3.9 seconds. Nothing to be proud of in the sack, but quite impressive when needing a fast run for prophylactics or diapers (when the kids eventually arrive).

7. Best Car to Impress Your Shallow, Materialistic Date:

Erin: Bentley Continental GT.  The sexiest luxury car in the world.

Kyle: 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid. What better way to impress your date then show him/her how wise you have been with your money!  Not only have you chosen a car that is reasonably priced, but you have also shown your knowledge about our environment and have decided to go for a much greener approach. In the Prius you will be able to drive up to 13 miles on electricity and also cruise at upwards to 50 MPG when switched to gasoline. Make sure to pack protection in the glove box because the prius is sure to accentuate your intellectual and green side!

Sean: Bentley Mulsanne.  This vehicle is green. Not environmentally friendly, green…but the color of money. This car had linen seats, which made me want to sit in there naked, from the waist down.  Which, in any other car, would hurt my chances for a potential future date…just not in the Mulsanne

A Few Other Honorable Mentions:

Best Name for a Vehicle:

Dodge Ram Big Horn & Long Horn.  This vehicle is already huge and most definitely over compensating for something, so, I guess why not add in an extra few centimeters.

Best Sound System to Play “Bed Intruder” Song & Best Navigation System to Get You to that Bed (to intrude):

2011 Mustang (Dub Edition) – For Shaquille O’Neal. 4 Amps, 12 Speakers, 4 Subs…. Nuff’ said. Speakers loud enough to remove every article of loose fitting clothing.  Just think, Shaq is about the size of 2.34 average males.  Were talking height, people.

As we Journey off in to the sunset in one of these vehicles (one day…no, really, we will), we should add that, in addition to our own personal presentations (above), the car you drive matters. Single people agree that cars make an impression on a date. We are not just talking about the kind of vehicle, but how it’s presented, too.  Like most things on your body…keep it clean.  Nobody wants to see your fast food wrappers or your stuffed teddy bear in the back seat.  Your car is an extension of your soul…your life…and if you treat your car with respect, it will come full circle in your relationship.  Consider it Car-ma.

Our friends at Autoline are back with some terrific NAIAS coverage yet again! This year, they have two full days of coverage with interviews, first looks, and late-breaking news from the show floor. Expect to see some reveals, interviews with Designers, and more as the team works its butt off to make the show a great one.

Join in on Monday and Tuesday for live video coverage and chat from 12:30PM EST until 2PM EST.

Autoline LIVE from NAIAS 2011
Pop-out Chat Window

Steven Ewing, one of our friends over at Autoblog, has posted a terrific list of some of the best and most innovative concept cars from 2010.  Its’ interesting to see some of the major trends that were evolving through the year, as eco-consciousness influenced both interior and exterior design.

Vehicles are becoming more muscular and pure, with design-languages focusing on tension and the use of lighting in exciting ways.  Have a look at the great recap, and be prepared for the kickoff of 2011 with NAIAS right around the corner.

Link via Autoblog

(Thanks, Steven!)

Interiors of concept vehicles are possibly heads and tails more challenging to design than the exteriors.  The daunting task of creating an interior that is both highly innovative and beautiful, while at the same time being comfortable as the driver’s home away form home, is one that shouldn’t  be undertaken lightly.

Gael Buzyn, Interior Design Manager for the Cadillac Urban Luxury Concept (ULC), debuting at the LA Auto Show, was recently pinged about just that topic.  How do you make a vehicle’s interior engaging, meaningful and new?  In the clip, Gael discusses the intent behind the creation, as well as how it possibly foreshadows not only Cadillac but also the luxury market as a whole.

Interviewed by Adam Barrera of highmileage.org and Nick Saporito and Alex Villani of GMInsideNews.

[Thanks, Adam!]

Well maybe it is and maybe not, but one thing is for sure. I have seen the better looking Opel Insignia Sports Tourer driving around a lot lately. Not just the same one over and over again either. All different colors in a variety of locations. This usually means one thing,  its coming.  I won’t be surprised if it shows up at this years Detroit Auto Show.  Station wagons Sports Tourers have been a tough sell in the states but I think Americans are beginning to unknowingly cave in to the idea. I will leave the rest of that theory for a later post.  Pictured above is the bulked up Regal GS version which better make it if GM plans to liven up Buick.

More pics after the jump of the tamer version…

The AMX/3 made its debut at the 1970 Chicago Auto Show.  As we say in the business, this car was not “a runner” — just a pretty fiberglass shell.  However, AMC did make plans to build the car, and sent the body molds to Italian sports car maker Bizzarrini.  The resulting steel-bodied prototypes featured AMC’s 6.4 liter V8 engine married to an Italian 4-speed transaxle.  BMW drove the AMX/3 and said it was the most neutral handling car they had ever tested!  Unfortunately, like so many other installments of Cool Cars You’ve Never Heard Of, this one has an anti-climactic ending.  AMC decided to cancel the program after only five cars were built  (“AMC AMX”).

Speaking as a designer, I find this car very striking.  The character line obviously sets it apart from, say, a Corvette or a Ferrari.  The proportions are befitting of the Italian workmanship, looking like a cross between a De Tomaso Pantera and Mangusta.  One small point: I would love to see this car in a warm silver; I get the feeling that the yellow paint is not doing this shape complete justice…

“AMC AMX.”  Wikipedia. 21 Jul. 2010.  Web.  28 Jul. 2010.

Made in Florida by Sebring Vanguard,  the CitiCar is surprisingly capable given the era in which it was built.  Its eight 6-volt batteries can be recharged via a 110 outlet,  with a charging time between 3 and 9 hours.  Although  it can only reach 38 mph, it leaps right off the line — thanks to the fact that it only weighs 1300 lbs!  Appropriately,  the 6 hp motor was supplied by General Electric.  And not unlike another oddity from the same era (the Bricklin SV-1), the CitiCar makes use of exotic plastic processes.  Its Cycolac body, as you might guess, suffers from the same uneven fit and finish that dogs the SV-1.

Still, it was reasonably priced at less than $3,000 (you could spend several hundred more on a new Chevy Nova, for comparison).  And similar to today’s hybrid vehicles, the batteries lasted around six years.  Frankly speaking, I like the way it looks.  It reminds me of some Syd Mead paintings I’ve seen…

A few weeks ago, we featured formfreu.de as our Web of the Week.  This blog has generated quite a buzz in design circles, most notably for its amazing photos and great attention to detail.  Formfreu is the brainchild of German designers Thomas Sälzle and Markus Haub.  They recently took a quick time out to talk to Car Design Fetish about their process, their vision, and what drives them as designers…

CDF:  Tell us a bit about your backgrounds.  Where are you from, and where did you go to school?

Markus Haub: I am from Mainz, near Frankfurt. I studied Transportation Design with Thomas at the University of Applied Sciences in Pforzheim. That‘s where we met back in 1993. Thomas is from Ulm in the South of Germany.

CDF:  Were you both always this interested in cars, or is this a passion that built over the years?

Thomas Sälzle: Yes, for sure. My passion for cars started with toys. I was always collecting car brochures from various local dealers my dad took me to. I remember the 1983 Fiat Uno having a big visual impact on me. The car was so different from all the other cars on the street. So clean, so light…

M: I‘ve always liked cars. I read all the magazines I could get, especially about sports cars like Ferraris or Lamborghinis. I was about 12 or 13 years old when I started drawing them. First I copied existing cars, then I started my own creations. I still have them stored somewhere.

T: I think I was sketching doodles in the magazines on top of the photos. This means I was transforming three-box-cars, for example, into fastbacks or station wagons or doing some kind of restyling (laughs).

CDF:  What provided the impetus for you to start FORMFREU.DE ?

M. : We always travel to all kinds of events and take pictures. The amount of photos was just getting bigger and bigger, so we were looking for a way to archive and share these photos.

T: There are so many cool things to capture – architecture, life in trendy cities like Berlin and Barcelona, fashion shows, some hip happenings, and of course, cars.

M: I remember talking about the project for a long time. One night out at a bar in Wiesbaden, the idea and the name was born. FORMFREU.DE, which means something like the enjoyment of shape. But also plays with the DE ending. The blog provides the perfect format for our idea.

T: That was the Haltbar Pub at Neugasse in Wiesbaden. We should go back there one day. I haven’t been in a while.

CDF:  The depth of your blog’s content is quite amazing.  How many people do you have working on your site?

M: Basically it’s just the two of us. Sometimes we have friends and contributors who provide us with special reports, like Simon Grand from Turin or Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani from Rome.

T: Fabrizio recently sent us some amazing pictures of Mille Miglia cars in an underground parking garage in Rome. Super cool!!

CDF:  What kind of cameras are you using to capture these photos?  Do you use any special lenses?

M: No, nothing special. I only used a small Casio Exilim and a Canon PowerShot for years. Just recently I bought a Nikon D5000. That increased the quality of the images quite a bit, but in general, I think that the camera is not the important thing. It’s the eye for the object and the situation.

T: Markus convinced me to buy the Nikon, too. And I love it! I am also surprised about the quality of pictures done with the iPhone. Somehow, they have a special feeling about them.

CDF:  Many of your galleries are presented in portrait format.  Is there a specific reason you tend to favor this orientation?

T: Maybe it’s just different and unexpected…Cars are usually photographed in horizontal format. Sometimes we focus more on details and composition. I like it better this way.

CDF:  When you attend a show or a gathering, what do you two look for when you’re taking photographs?  What catches your eye?

M: I try to look for the beauty in the object. The composition of the photo is very important. The backround, the sharpness, the color. The object itself becomes sometimes secondary. Beauty is everywhere..

T: Perfect explanation, Markus.  (smiles)

CDF:  How many events do you cover in a given year?

M: We don‘t count or plan. We usually attend Geneva, Frankfurt and Paris as car designers. But there are also classic car shows and other events. We don‘t go always together. Thomas lives in Germany and I live in Barcelona, so we also cover our local events. This way we get a large variety of stuff. Basically, it’s just a hobby.

CDF:  Are there any places or events that you haven’t visited that you’re dying to see?

M: I would really like to go to Goodwood Festival of Speed.  I have been to the Le Mans Classic, the Mille Miglia, the Pebble Beach Concours d elegance, but not Goodwood.  Someday…  And I would love to go to New York again. Last time I visited there was almost 10 years ago, so it’s time to go again.

T: We should definitely try to make the Mille Miglia next year.

CDF:  What has the reaction been to your work since the site was founded?

M: We‘ve gotten a lot of good feedback and we’ve also made some interesting contacts — like the guys from the German INTERSECTION magazine. Now we collaborate with them, write articles and share photos.

T: Every month our number of visitors grows – and it’s people from all over the world. The success also requires a lot of discipline our side in order to feed the website regularly with cool stuff.

CDF:  Of all the photo collections you’ve posted, do you have any personal favorites?

M: I liked our recent series of posts about the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este (see below). We had so much great material that we had to devide it into several sub-categories.

T: Markus took some amazing pictures at Hockenheim and the Nurburgring (see below).

I remember some exciting moments taking photos of the Bierpinsel building in Berlin or visiting the former Tempelhof Airport. These places are full of history.  Berlin is so inspirational to me. The best pictures are still on my harddisk and are waiting to be published! (laughs)

CDF:  Have you considered publishing a hardcover book of your photographs, as a sort of coffee table book?

M: Yes, this is still one of our favorite ideas. It‘s nice to have all the photos on the web, but we think a book would be a nice thing to have. We also thought about a magazine or even an exhibition. There are so many possibilities.

T: I think a book would be an interesting challenge; we could mix up pictures so there’s some cool and unexpected dialogue inbetween them. Markus and I also have a second project in the pipeline. We have been collecting hundreds of old pictures from flea markets that show people with their cars. Most of them are black and white. Taking photos at that time was only for very special moments. So you can really see the pride of the people in front of their own cars.  We would like to evaluate these moments and emotions and put together something really stunning.

CDF:  The bulk of your work concerns classic automotive details.  What are your feelings about the details found on automobiles sold today?

M:  Most of them are not so interesting. But maybe that‘s because you see them a lot on the street. Classic car details are rarer.

CDF:  What role or purpose do you believe details should play in the world of auto design today?

M: It’s not the main thing, but a nice car with bad detailing is a pity. On the other hand, nice details won’t help a bad car. The design should be coherent.  The love that went into the designing of the car should be apparent as well.

CDF:  Of all the auto companies out there, who do you think really understands the role that detail plays in design?

M: I think that Audi or Porsche pay a lot of attention to details and quality in general. Recently, I also found nice details on Ferraris, which are usually lacking in that respect. I remember the doorhandle of the Fiat Barchetta. Everybody talked about it. Or the Mini swichtes on the center console.

CDF: Who are your favorite automotive designers, past and present?

T: My heros are Hans Ledwinka (the man behind the streamlined Tatras of the 30s) and, of course, Giorgetto Giugiaro. From my times at Fiat I remember in particular Mike Robinson, today’s head of Stile Bertone – a great character and fantastic coach, encouraging and stimulating his designers with care and respect for their creativity.

M: If I have to pick one, it’s probably Giorgetto Giugiaro. The amount of great concepts and designs he’s done is just amazing, especially in the 70s. The Maserati Boomerang, the Bora, the BMW M1, the Lotus Esprit.. But also the De Tomaso Mangusta, or the De Lorean DMC-12 in the 80s. Or the Alfa Romeo Brera in 2002. I also had the luck to work at Design Center Europe (Volkswagen Group) with some outstanding designers, which I admire a lot. Jean-Pierre Ploue (who did the Renault Argos or Laguna concepts back in the 90s and the Renault Twingo I. He is today head of design at Citroen/Peugeot). Another designer was Davide Arcangeli, who has unfortunately passed away. He had an outstanding sense of proportion and volume and a beautiful drawing style. He designed the BMW 5er (E60) or the Peugeot 406 Coupe from 1996. I learned a lot from both, not least of which from their character. Later, while working at Renault I met fantastic designers like Stephane Janin, Francois Leboine or David Durand …there are so many more I could mention.

CDF:  Your tastes seem to be very wide ranging and eclectic, but are there any designs that you simply cannot stand?

M:  Carwise, I really dont like the Citroen Picasso (1999) and I never understood how it could be successful in the marketplace.  Also, some american cars of the 80s and 90s. It’s not my taste.

CDF:  What’s in the near future for FORMFREU.DE ?  Do you have a list of shows to attend this summer?

M: In the summer I will be in Germany, mainly. We will take part in the famous Sachsen Classic Rallye in August. I will also try to go to the Oldtimer GT at Nurburgring and some other events. And the Paris Motor Show is in October.

T: I am really looking forward to my trip to Berlin this week. The DMY Design Festival is taking place in the hangars of the former Tempelhof Airport, and there’s also the ILA Berlin Air Show in Schönefeld. And Berlin Fashion Week is coming soon…

CDF:  Do either of you have any advice for future or aspiring car designers?

M: I teach at the Instituto Europeo di Design school in Barcelona, so that question comes up often.  I think that they really, really have to love what they do. They also need talent, a good knowlege of cars and whats going on the the design field. You have to be aware of what the top level students are doing these days and what you will have to do to compete with them for a job. Its an international business, so good english is necessary. You might get a job outside of your home country.

CDF:  Will we see either of you in Detroit anytime soon?

M: I have no plans so far. It would be a big trip for me, and the Detroit show has lost a bit of its importance recently. But I have a good friend there, so that might be a good reason.

CDF:  Thank you both very much.

*all images used with the kind permission of formfreu.de

At this years Ward’s Auto Interior Conference held in Dearborn the other day J Mays was the key note speaker and brought a little something special to our shores.  The Ford Start Concept was on hand for the first time in the states after its debut at the Beijing Auto Show a few weeks ago.  This concept would definitely give Mini and the Fiat 500 a run for their money.  Look past the fuzzy cell phone pics and hit the jump for some fetish thoughts.

The exterior of the car provides a solid presence despite its diminutive size.  The surfaces are clean and simple emphasizing a more upscale and sophisticated look.  J Mays was presented as the designer who created the original Audi TT and the new VW Beetle.  I can definitely see those influences in this design.  J Mays even referred to the Start as charming which can also be used with the Beetle.  I see this car as being J’s new interpretation of the Beetle and TT, but for Ford.  It stands for everything the Beetle and TT were.  Simple, efficient and to the point.

A new take on familiar lines.

The lighting on the Start is very simple and minimal showing what you can do with some simple LED’s.  The wheels are also very cool.  They make me think of how a steel wheel can be redesigned to actually look aesthetically pleasing.  The design language of the wheel is also transferred to the engine bay in the sea of plastic covering the 1 liter eco boost.

J Mays talked about the interior having only three areas of criteria.  Be driver oriented, no clutter and a three spoke steering wheel.  These items all portray the new “Fun to Drive” mantra at Ford.  Every vehicle from now on must be Fun to Drive.  I like the sound of that.  The three spoke steering wheel and analog gauges speak to the racer in us with functional and easy to use interface.  No crazy 3-d graphics here.  Mays’ talked about this fitting in with the Kinetic design language, but I am unsure how.  I do like the Kinetic language but it is kind of busy and this concept clearly is not.

Could this be the next generation interpretation of Kinetic Design.  It would work well to follow the customer who is buying a Fiesta now.  As the consumer matures so does the product.  This could drive a returning customer.  Overall the Start is a charming small car that will  get you from point A to point B in a “Fun” fashion.