Small cars are trying to make a come back by creating a perception that they are not cheap little econo boxes.  When you hear the word Sonic you immediately think of two things…look above.  Cheap fast food and a game character targeted to six year olds does not paint a good image for someone coming out of college and ready to build their life up.  Maybe high schoolers will like it since they work there, but Sonic does not pay enough for them to actually buy the car.

I guess if the price is right and the fuel economy is there people will still buy it regardless.  But I don’t see many buyers aspiring to say Hey, Check out my Sonic…..

Polishing a Turd is a common expression in design school.  This happens when you try and do a hot rendering over a horrible drawing.  You can’t cover up a bad structure with a pretty covering.  I think everyone will agree the Jeep Compass is a turd of a design.  Well Jeep has been doing some polishing.  This new refresh is a much needed improvment, but there is still a ways to go…

The new front end is worlds better and I am confident that when or if there is a new Compass in the future, this will be an attractive direction.  Even with the polishing and new cladding there is one area that would make this vehicle immensely better.  The stance of the Compass has always been horrible.  The sucked in wheels make the car look unstable and cheap.  There are new more detailed wheels that look like they are even a tad bigger then before, but it is not enough.  Take a look below.  By pushing the wheels out to the body greatly enhances the presence of the vehicle.  So who knows, go buy some wider aftermarket wheels and this Compass just may turn a few  heads.

[Images courtesy of Autoblog]

Having owned a Jeep Cherokee back in the day I formed a bond with it that has yet to be relived.  There was something so simple and pure about that SUV that is lost in todays vehicles.  Or maybe it was because I was in high school and created a lot of fond memories in it….  Back to the cladding, newly introduced for 2011.  What hit me was how the black plastic changed the proportions of the body side so much when contrasted with a lighter body color.  Vehicle body sides have gotten so thick in the past few years with narrower daylight openings and more safety regulations.  This mask really makes it look like the old Cherokee.

After comparing the two, the body lines of the Patriot do echo the Cherokee but with some modern interpretation.  If they would just get rid of the round headlights and take some influence from the Cherokee and new Grand Cherokee it would be a real winner.  I have some hope that the next version coming out in a couple years will hit the mark, provided that a new Fiat platform doesn’t screw with the proportions.  Maybe this refresh will help rekindle the passion of those die hard Cherokee fans out there.

On another note I passed a Compass in camo and saw that it also receives the cladding.  I couldn’t tell if they went the extra mile needed to make the vehicle noticeable in a good way.

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…

I recently attended a car show and came a cross a 50′s Ford Pickup and while looking at the front end it hit me – It’s the new Ford Edge.  Many people are on the fence with this extravagant front end.  But you can see here that there is a history for it and it does look great on the road.  The new Edge just began arriving on Michigan lots last week.  Now you can tell people why the grill looks the way it does.

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.

The Volt is getting ever so close to the real thing.  Here it is parked at a GM engineers house waiting to be plugged in.  I must say the car is starting to grow on me.  The styling is nothing ground breaking but it does have a fresh proportion on the road.  It is also quite refreshing to see it in a different color.  Only a few more months to go until the GM “Savior” is released…..

Kelley Blue Book (KBB) is usually known for ruining your day after you see what your car is worth, but shown in the video below is a lighter side of KBB.  They had the awesome chance to push the new Baja ready truck to its limits.  There are few, well probably no vehicles promoted to go balls to the wall and become airborn like the new Ford F-150 Raptor.  This truck is a great example of letting an OEM go and build what they want.  It is quickly becoming clear that customers want it too.  The Raptor is flying off dealer lots and Ford is even adding a new body style to the line with an extra set of doors.

With the lifestyle truck image fading away this is exactly the kind of product needed to remind people what a blast and how capable a truck can be.  My only hope is that the Raptor’s success will spur a few other new entries to the market, such as….

Dodge Ram Power Wagon (redo please)

Chevrolet Z71 (for real)

Hummer H3T

Jeep Gladiator Concept

Thank you Ford for creating new and exciting products.  So what’s next?

[video via Autoblog, Kelley Blue Book]

There has been a long debate about what constitutes an American made car.  Is it the fact that the headquarters is based in the U.S., or that the vehicle is built in the U.S.?  Most people say it is where the profits go in the end.  Others say it is the plant that matters. The plant workers put the money back into the economy sustaining employment.  This can be argued for hours with a loyal “American” buyer.  Honestly I am not sure what to believe.  For Ford and GM this debate will remain forever, but Chrysler is now owned by an Italian company Fiat.  So have the headquarters moved to there as well?

Could this have a negative impact on Chrysler or will the general public not even realize that Chrysler is technically not a domestic brand anymore?  I am just curious because I have not really seen any statements on the matter.  The truth is that the auto world is global and nothing is made 100% anywhere.  Most of our “domestics” are made in Canada and Mexico.  You don’t see those countries having the same unemployment issues as us.  Maybe we Americans should build our American cars.

So what do you think, does it matter that Chrysler is now Italian?

With all of the industry events during the preview of NAIAS you get to hear a lot of rumors from a variety of people.  Some true and some not but all interesting.  Here is our run down of some interesting tid bits picked up off the floor when the drinks ran out.

Buick Regal GS – High potential of making it to production.  Really no reason not to since it is made as an Opel.

Chevrolet Aveo RS – Looked great at the show, but production form changes the front clip, lighting details, and the size wheels.  I saw this version at GM’s Technology Event in the fall and it needs help.  No RS version is going to create a lot of bad press for the new Aveo.

GMC Granite – This was an actual real concept car created in just 7 months.  Many GM designers were not a fan of a small GMC and are not supporting it to well.  GM employees seem to be split 50/50 on whether this concept will make it into production.  Personally I thought this was Best of Show and would bring many new buyers (myself included) to the brand.  This vehicle was a gerat interpretation of a small GMC.

Chrysler / Dodge / Jeep – Busy , busy , busy is all that can be said for team Pentastar.  No vehicles at Detroit but 16 new vehicles coming through next year.  11 refreshed and 5 all new.  There are 9 new interiors coming out by next year and some have not even been designed yet.  Most exciting to me is a new Jeep Wrangler interior coming after next years subtle refresh.  I was told I will love it.  We will wait and see.

Supposedly Mr. Sergio Marchionne does not like showing vehicles far ahead of actual production.  Hence why there were no vehicles in Detroit, nothing is ready to come out.  We will not even see the upcoming Jeep Grand Cherokee until spring when it goes on sale.  Could he be bringing the suspense of the old days when you would actually go to the dealership just to watch the cover come off the new car?  That would be great and really stick it to us bloggers (not us) who break embargoes early.

Ford – The new Fusion / Mondeo is said to be amazing and will blow away everything out there.  Hopefully they grew out of the global growing pains had by the new Focus.

Audi E-Tron – This version of the E-Tron will be the next R4.  It has the same proportion of last years VW roadster.

VW New Compact Coupe (NCC)- This will most likely be the new Jetta Coupe, assuming they stick with the Jetta name.

What did you here? If you have any other rumors you heard be sure to add them into the comments section.