News from the future (ie: Japan)

Whenever I open an American newspaper I am constantly given a vision of a world that is falling apart. The economy is in ruins, the idea for a national health care system is collapsing under the weight of corporate greed and spineless political leaders, hackers are stealing passwords from an outdated email service, and it’s just general bleakness nationwide. Yet, all hope is not lost…in Japan. The Japanese have gone from strength to strength ever since getting nuclear bombed and are ushering in a brave new world with their technological wonders.

According to a BBC report they have invented a robot that mimics a fish’s anti-collision behavior and will be adapting it into future car models.

The new three-wheeled robot, which will be shown off at Japanese design fair Ceatec on 6 October, is designed to travel in a group of up to seven vehicles.

Each uses a laser range-finder to measure the distance between obstacle.

The data is constantly shared between peers via radio, allowing the group to travel as a “shoal” without bumping into each other.

The technique allows the cars to travel side-by-side or quickly switch direction as a group.

I can’t imagine living in a world where that is casually referenced in the morning newspaper. That kind of shit would revolutionize America. Finally the car companies would be producing something that any non-sociopath would want: a car that avoids death. Throw in some kind of electric motor, which they probably already have, and you have a car that has only existed in movies. No more car deaths, people. That is how the Japanese are selling cars to their people. Meanwhile, in America…

It seems like Japan’s national declaration is to make the world into an Issac Asimov novel. America can’t even be bothered about creating cars that don’t destroy the environment let alone cars that drive like fish. We Americans really need to get our act together. What have we done recently that was of any value? Elect a black president. Whoop-de-doo. He doesn’t do anything different than all of the previous white ones so we might as well throw those good vibes onto the scrap heap. Japan probably would have already elected a black president if they had black people in their country. They have a robot that plays a violin, for christs sake!

How the rebirth of the Pontiac G8 should have been

The Autoline Daily today featured an article about a renamed and badged Pontiac G8, which is going to become the new Chevy Caprice. The catch is that it will only be used for fleet use, aka, police work.

 

There are two issues I have with this decision.

 

First, people have complained that the new Caprice, formerly the G8, will not be roomy enough for police work. They also say that there is not enough power under the hood for police work, as most Chevy sedans have no larger than a six-cylinder. The main police workhorse, the Ford Crown Victoria, has a V8.

 

Here’s my take. Chevy already has Impalas in police work. If they plan on continuing that, and especially if they decided to resurrect the G8 into a Chevy by making it fleet only, than this is what they should have done. They should make an Impala ESS, the ESS for Extended Super Sport. They could make a stretched/extended Impala, large enough for police work, such as the BMW 7 series with the 750i and 750 Li, the L designating the longer wheel base. Then the SS part would be either the Camaro tuned or the Corvette tuned V8, providing plenty of power to make the thing move. If they would make that type of vehicle for fleet use only, that would be ideal for the police, and good for Chevy/GM because it’s allowing them to compete more wholesomely with the Ford Crown Victoria.

 

Second, the look of the Caprice is not very stimulating. If it is supposed to be a relative of the G8, I can see the resemblance, but it sure didn’t inherit the good looks.

 

So here’s my take. While police cars are not the most glorious looking of vehicles, this does have some appeal to it. However, if they would have used the logic I described above, then they could have had a different purpose for brining the G8 back to life.

 

They should have brought the G8 back as the Monte Carlo. Now, you might be thinking, wasn’t the Monte Carlo only a two door car, and isn’t the G8 only a 4 door? Why, yes, it is, and that’s the point. When Dodge resurrected the Charger, they brought it back as a sedan. The Hyundai Genesis is a sedan, and recently they turned it into a coupe (although it really has no relevance to the sedan, besides the name.) Even more recently, Cadillac, also part of GM, unveiled the CTS Coupe. Up until that point, Cadillac had only made the CTS as a sedan. Now, this is what I am thinking. Chevy should take a little more time to restyle the front end of the car, and keep it as a sedan. Yes a Monte Carlo sedan. It sounds stupid, but it does have appeal. Then they should make a coupe version. Make it a larger coupe, able to compete with the BMW 6 series or the Cadillac CTS Coupe, or the new Mercedes Benz E class coupe. Then at least the car would live up to the once proud Monte Carlo name, and it won’t share a history with the less fortunate Caprice line.

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Jim Farley Luncheon at Detroit Athletic Club

Had the pleasure to attend a luncheon with Jim Farley (Ford’s Group VP of Marketing). (Is it just me or is it hard for not to think of his cousin Chris when you see him?). What a down-to-earth guy who has fantastic insight into the customer. And you got to love his passion for the product.

Jim admitted that Ford had to make some big bets to turnaround the business, but based on the upward swing in market share – for the first time in 15 years – and their increased pricing power, it looks like the wagers might be paying off.

 Here are some of his more notable insights;

• The future global players will be Toyota, VW and Ford.


• Ford’s success is hinged on vehicles that will sell globally. While this has been tried in the past, Jim believes that shift towards smaller vehicles in the US, brings the consumer needs more in line with Europe and China.


• The youth buyer today is very different than previous generations. They prefer turbo charging over displacement, they are open to diesel unlike their parents, and aspire to Mini’s and BMW 3 series instead of Mustangs. The challenge is to build to this new demand.


• Sync and Eco Boost are great examples of Ford’s goal to “democratize technology to the mainstream”.

 You really get the impression that Ford has the right guy in place to put the shine back on the Ford blue oval.

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The Ford Raptor

I am an automotive fan. I am not make or model biased, but I do have my favorites. Normally, Ford is not near the top. However, Ford has done well at keeping its image away from bankruptcy and maybe to celebrate that, they introduced the beast of the F-150 line up by breeding the Raptor.

While I have not really researched this truck, I have watched a video about it on the Autoline Detriot website in the John’s Journal section. I am very impressed with the look and proven function of that truck. However, there is only one thing, one factor that disappoints me. Some might say, psh, what does that matter, while others would say that it can make or break an automobile. That factor is the sound. The sound of the exhaust note when the engine is at full boar, which is backing up the image of the vehicle. The sound of aggressive, beastly, mercilessness is what the F-150 Raptor lacks. That aggressive looking truck, that prey’s on even the most agile of H1 Hummers, has the sound of a house cat. It just purrs. No roar, no rasp. While purring might be good for some cars, it just does not suite the Raptor. The sound of the Raptor does not match how it looks, and that is a shame, because that would really have swayed me into giving the Raptor an A. But for all the work that was put into genetically mutating a regular F-150 into the carnivorous Raptor, they should have really put more thought and depth into the Raptors voice. Therefore, I give the Ford F-150 Raptor, a B.

Then again, it’s nothing $1,500 for a new exhaust can’t fix.

To guard you in all your ways

Wow. Have you ever just experienced Gods protection in such a way that you just know He was right with you?

Psalm 91:11

For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways.

Well I did this morning…. I was driving into work… wanted to get their super early since I have a big day today with a lot of work to finish. I decided to cut through University, go through the Safeway parking lot and go to Old Lee Highway, I knew if I took 123 that I would be stuck in stand still traffic. As I was driving through the safeway parking lot to the traffic light, I saw it was already green and thought “Sweet! Thank you Lord”, drove through, and the morning light was literally blinding my eyes and before I know it CRASH bump bump….I drove over the wooden street sign in the middle of the intersection, saw it right when I hit it and saw it break and go under my car. I was shocked….I sat for a moment…turned off my car…then though I need to pull over somewhere safe and see if my car is okay and isn’t damaged and dangerous. So I pulled around the corner. Texted Scott and some co-workers “Just in major accident” hey it was major to me and I thought my car was a goner…and I destroyed a sign…I was shocked and scared. Scott called me and he asked me to look at my car, I was like “Umm Scott….their is like no damage! none!” So we agreed to meet in the safeway parking lot, he came and sure enough I only have a tiny scratch barely noticeable on my car. The head lights were fine, my tires fine, we looked under the car and everything looked great and nothing was leaking…I said wow my tiny Ford Focus is a beast! Who knew. Scott believes I was protected by angels. I believe so to. Called the cops, it was the right thing to do, plus I essentially destroyed their sign. The cops took 30 mins to come over, they apologized (the Sargent came as well) because whomever took my call placed me on a hold and they were supposed to respond with in mins (they were less than a mile from me) and it took them 30 mins. I was like not a problem I am the one in trouble here and made a mistake. The cop couldn’t believe their was no damage to my car and I told him its the Lord protecting me. He wrote up the incident and then gave me my card and said “This one is on him”. So not only did the Lord completely protect me and my car in running over a big wooden sign. Which truly could have cost me thousands in repairs, but he also protected me from a ticket, paying a fine and from my insurance rates going up.

I praise the Lord that He has blessed me again with his unmerited grace that is totally undeserving. Just last night I was dreading today. Now I give thanks for today, because today I have seen the Lords hand of blessing over my life. So many things could have gone wrong, but he has completely protected me. I also praise him for allowing me to see cops in a different light, and allowing my fiance to come out to assist me when I had no idea what to do and I was scared. Im blessed beyond measure….

Psalm 91:14-16

“Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;

         I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. 

    ”He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;

         I will be with him in trouble;

         I will rescue him and honor him. 

    ”With a long life I will satisfy him

         And let him see My salvation.”