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Recently, we had the chance to hang out with Rhys Millen and get up close and personal with the Hyundai Genesis PM580 racer that he’ll be driving in this year’s Pikes Peak Hill Climb. It’s a mean machine, and comparisons to a real-life Batmobile are certainly not out of the question, but the one thing that text and photos cannot describe is the roaring sound produced by the 775-horsepower, 4.1-liter turbocharged V6 powerplant. It’s like a bunch of angry hornets.

Follow the jump to watch Rhys piloting the PM580 around a test course, and turn up the volume to hear what this bad boy will sound like as it goes racing up Pikes Peak next week. Scroll through the attached gallery to see gorgeous high-res shots of the race car, as well.

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Hyundai via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Rhys Millen’s Red Bull Hyundai Genesis PM580 sounds like a really angry Cuisinart

Video: Rhys Millen’s Red Bull Hyundai Genesis PM580 sounds like a really angry Cuisinart

First Drive: 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera stupefies our senses

We wring out Lamborghini’s lightest super-coupe to see if it lives up to its Superleggera graphics.

Officially Official: 2011 Honda Odyssey prepares to rock your sippy cups [w/video]

Honda rolls out its newest Family Truckster, and the thoroughly revised Odyssey comes packing a lot of kit, including 15 cupholders.

Pikes Peak Prep: Autoblog joins Rhys Millen for Hyundai Genesis PM580 test session

There’s a lot to know about Millen’s Pikes Peak Genesis, but here’s the most important bit: 20-125 mph in under six seconds.

Also of interest:

• Hyundai Equus Apple iPad Manual: Full Details
• BMW releases 2011 M3 Frozen Gray Coupe for the U.S.
• Updated Euro-spec 2011 Range Rover includes new diesel, transmission [w/video]
• Alpina teases BMW B5 Bi-Turbo ahead of Goodwood debut
• J.D. Power 2010 Initial Quality Study released, first time ever domestics lead imports

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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 6.17.10

The El Toro Marine base in Irvine, CA has seen its fair share of automobiles. The open runways are a playground for sports cars, and on any given day, you can find high performance driving schools or testing sessions utilizing the vast expanse of pavement. This week, however, El Toro was on the receiving end of something very, very different. Rhys Millen and the rest of his crew have been hard at work over the last six months creating a monster of an automobile built for just one thing – win the Pikes Peak Hill Climb. They have brought out the car, dubbed the Hyundai Genesis PM580, for a test and tune session ahead of race day on June 27.

El Toro seems an unlikely place to test a car that will be making an ascent up a 14,000 foot mountain, but Rhys told us it’s actually quite ideal. The runways offer nearly identical amounts of traction as the paved portions of the mountain course, and provide more realistic feedback than the smooth surface of a racetrack.

While this might sound like an opportunity for serious hoonage, the Millen camp is all business. Their mission is simple: climb Pikes Peak in less than ten minutes. The team knows that everything has to be perfect if they are going to achieve their goal, so their preparation is methodical and meticulous. Many have tried to break the ten minute mark in the past twenty or so years, and while many of come close – very close – none have been able to do it. However, after spending a day with Millen and his crew, we think he’s got the potential to do it if anyone can. Make the jump to find out why.

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Pikes Peak Prep: Autoblog joins Rhys Millen for Hyundai Genesis PM580 test session

Pikes Peak Prep: Autoblog joins Rhys Millen for Hyundai Genesis PM580 test session

Upon unveiling its most ambitious offering at April’s New York Auto Show, Hyundai also made a splash by announcing that its 2011 Equus luxury sedan would come with a multimedia tablet PC in lieu of an owner’s manual. Better still, not only would the device replace the weighty glovebox staple and save a few trees, but it would also serve as a digital liason between the owner and his or her dealership, helping to schedule maintenance through its Service Valet program, remind of routine maintenance, schedule vehicle (and loaner) pick-up and delivery, and so on. Speculation was that the unnamed tablet would take the form of the iPad, but up until now, Hyundai hasn’t confirmed that it is, in fact, an Apple product.

Not only can Autoblog confirm that the Equus device is an iPad, we’ve learned what the specific model will be. According to company sources, Hyundai will provide owners with a 16-gig, wifi-enabled (non-3G) iPad with a custom case. As is fitting for a premium automobile, the latter will be a landscape-style high-end leather case that is custom-made for Hyundai, with an embossed logo, suede-like interior and a built-in kickstand.

Most interestingly, the owner’s manual program will include all of the usual text and images, but also take advantage of the iPad’s display capabilities by showing videos to explain the vehicle’s functions.

The Equus-specific programs will arrive pre-installed alongside all other normal iPad software, and future updates will be available through iTunes, just like any other iPad program.

Hyundai Equus Apple iPad Manual: Full Details

J.D. Power and Associates has released its 2010 Initial Quality Study (IQS) and Porsche has earned back the top spot that was occupied by Lexus in last year’s study. The annual J.D. Power study measures IQS based on problems reported per 100 vehicles (PP100) – a lower score means a lower rate of problem incidences and higher quality.

Domestic brands, as a whole, demonstrated higher initial quality than import brands for the first time in an IQS (impressive, as the company has been conducting the study for 24 years). “Domestic automakers have made impressive strides in steadily improving vehicle quality, particularly since 2007,” said David Sargent, vice president of global vehicle research at J.D. Power and Associates. “This year may mark a key turning point for U.S. brands as they continue to fight the battle against lingering negative perceptions of their quality.” According to J.D. Power, the industry average for initial quality is 109 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) in 2010 (that is a slight increase from 108 PP100 in 2009). However, initial quality for domestic brands as a whole has improved to an average of 108 PP100, slightly better than the initial quality of import brands, which average 109 PP100 in 2010.

Acura made an impressive improvement in the 2010 study. The automaker climbed from 111 PP100 in 2009 to just 86 PP100 in 2010, earning second spot just under Porsche (83 PP100). Mercedes-Benz (87 PP100) earned third position with Lexus (88 PP100) immediately following. Ford (93 PP100) and Lincoln (106 PP100) also earned Top 10 positions. Interestingly enough, Toyota (117 PP100) fell from its seventh position in 2009 to 21st in the 2010 study. The complete J.D. Power press release and charts can be found after the jump and in the gallery below.

[Source: J.D. Power and Associates]

Continue reading J.D. Power 2010 Initial Quality Study released, first time ever domestics lead imports

J.D. Power 2010 Initial Quality Study released, first time ever domestics lead imports

We all know the typical sales winners of the automotive universe. Come hell or high water, Honda Civics and Toyota Camrys will still float off of the lot. Granted, that’s good news for most automakers, but at the same time, there’s a wealth of under-appreciated models languishing under the beady eyes of inflatable gorillas across the country. The good people of Edmunds have taken it upon themselves to wrangle up a top 10 list of those long forgotten winners and filed them under the collective banner of “Dark-Horse” candidates. Sexy.

We’re absolutely down with cars like the 2010 Buick Lacrosse, 2010 Suzuki Kizashi and the 2010 Hyundai Genesis, but the 2010 Nissan Versa has us scratching our heads. While the car is a perfectly decent little compact, the market is awash with other excellent options. Need proof? Look no further than another Edmunds Dark-Horse selection, the 2011 Ford Fiesta. We suppose that with all the hype surrounding the new Blue Oval hatchback that it can’t as easily be considered a forgotten option, at least at this point. Hop the jump for the full press blast and check the gallery below for the top picks.

[Source: Edmunds]

Continue reading Edmunds compiles top ten ‘Dark-Horse’ list of worthy overlooked vehicles

Edmunds compiles top ten ‘Dark-Horse’ list of worthy overlooked vehicles

Men, take note: According to a new survey from research firm TrueCar, the Volkswagen New Beetle is (still) the ultimate car for women. Apparently, its combination of cute-as-a-button looks and affordable pricing make the reborn Bug a total hit with the fairer sex.

This data was determined not by some silly woman-on-the-street clipboard survey, but rather by looking at the registrations of more than 13 million vehicles over the past two years. We could have saved them quite a bit of work if they wanted to know that the New Beetle was a chick car, but whatever. There was some other interesting info gleaned from the research, including the revelation that 64% of all cars are registered by men despite the fact that there are more women (at 51% of the population, just a tad) than men in America.

Rounding out the top five vehicles that scored well with the mono-chromosomed gender were the Nissan Rogue, Hyundai Tucson, (saw this one coming) Volkswagen Eos and Volvo S40.

[Source: The Wall Street Journal]

Volkswagen New Beetle still number one with the ladies

Review: 2010 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Edition juggles fun and frugality

Can a diesel really be sporty? Volkswagen obviously thinks so, and after fielding “numerous inquiries” about offering a replica of its TDI Cup cars for the road, V-Dub has begun offering a kitted-out version of its diesel-powered Jetta…

Microsoft shows off Kinect-capable version of Forza Motorsport [w/video]

If you’re a Forza fan, then chances are you’ve spent more than a few seconds ogling the incredibly high-res versions of the cars shown in your virtual in-game garage. Now, with Kinect, it appears as if you’ll be able to get a little closer….

Officially Official: 2011 Volkswagen Jetta offers Teutonic titillation for around $16k [w/video]

The sixth-generation 2011 Jetta is a pretty big deal for Volkswagen. The automaker has developed a completely new platform for…

Also of interest:

• Hyundai CEO reveals reason for Equus, explains why it’s no VW Phaeton
• Video: Jay Leno’s Garage welcomes the gonzo Blastolene Rocket II Trike
• GM reconsidering 4.5-liter Duramax diesel for use in HD pickups
• 1200-hp Bugatti Veyron SuperSport to debut at Paris salon?
• NASCAR Hall of Fame opens to lower-than-expected attendance

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Autoline Daily for 6.15.10

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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 6.15.10

Hyundai America CEO John Krafcik is rarely one to hold back his opinions, and today’s topic of discussion is marque’s upcoming Equus luxury flagship. Hyundai has moved up in the automotive ranks so quickly over the past 15 years that many people have wondered if the brand is overreaching with the Equus.

Krafcik addresses the obvious comparison to the U.S. market failure of the Volkswagen Phaeton. The way Krafcik sees it, VW skipped a few pricing steps going straight from the Passat to its ill-fated Phaeton range-topper, noting that there was a much larger gap between the Passat and the Phaeton than there will be with Hyundai because they’ve taken the trouble of bringing the Genesis sedan and coupe to market – the former of which verified that consumers are willing to pay $40,000+ for a Hyundai.

Of course, that’s no guarantee that consumers will pay $55,000-60,000 for an Equus but it seems more plausible than $80,000+ for a Phaeton. Krafcik also addresses the fact that each Equus buyer will get an Apple iPad with the owner’s manual. As he explains it, the tablet PC is meant to provide a more useful resource for people to figure out how to use all the technology in this flagship, hopefully avoiding the pitfalls of some other luxury machines.

The iPad will also have an application that allows owners to schedule service appointments. When the appointed time arrives, Hyundai will send a driver to the Equus owner’s home or office with a loaner, and then return the Equus when the work is done. As Krafcik sees it, other luxury automakers have spent millions of dollars to gussy up their dealerships – building things like coffee bars, fancy seating areas and water features. Problem is, nobody really wants to visit their dealer even with those added niceties, so Hyundai plans to remove it from the equation with its pick-up and delivery service. In other words, the ultimate luxury is never having to take your car to the dealer at all. Fair enough.

The Equus goes on sale this Fall.

[Source: Inside Line]

Continue reading Hyundai CEO reveals reason for Equus, explains why it’s no VW Phaeton

Hyundai CEO reveals reason for Equus, explains why it’s no VW Phaeton

Click above to watch the videos after the jump

At its best, Top Gear represents nearly everything we’ve ever wanted in a show about cars. It’s well-written, funny, beautifully shot and simply enjoyable to watch, even if ultimately it’s more about entertainment than full-fledged reviews. The advertising types at Hyundai have picked up on the cheeky part of Top Gear in an overseas commercial for the ix35 crossover (Tuscon here in the States). The ads, which apparently air in South Africa, very overtly spoof the BBC program, but with three animals making up the “Top Deer” team. Clarkson, Hammond and May are replaced with a wildebeest, hamster and a turtle. The Stig is replaced with a deer called “The Stag.”

We usually loathe commercials that replace humans with adorable forest creatures, but this is a different animal altogether. The first spot features a one-on-one track battle between the ix35 and the Stag, and the second ad stars the Clarkson-esque wildebeest behind the wheel of the ix35. Very funny stuff. Hit the jump to view a couple of well-executed videos.

[Source: Hyundai via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Hyundai goofs on Top Gear for new ix35/Tucson ads

Video: Hyundai goofs on Top Gear for new ix35/Tucson ads

Review: 2010 Jaguar XFR is still the Papa Bear

The Jaguar XF Supercharged may be the “just right” Goldilocks model in the XF lineup, but the XFR is Papa Bear. That ‘R’ badge will cost you an extra $12,000, but its sharper set of chops are able to handle so much more than lukewarm porridge. This car is a real honey, finances be damned! Keep on reading to find out why.

The Downfall of Mercury [Infographic]

When Ford announced that it was ending the Mercury brand, we were relieved. Mercury has been nothing more than a line-up of rebadged Ford models since 2002 when the Villager minivan and Cougar coupe ended production. Check out The Downfall of Mercury infographic right here.

Panoz Abruzzi Spirit of Le Mans live from France [w/video]

With 600 horsepower and only 81 examples of the new Panoz Abruzzi Spirit of Le Mans scheduled to be built, you’re not likely to get a closer look anytime soon…. unless you watch the video after the jump.

Also of interest:

• OMG LOL: 2011 Ford Explorer to get Facebook reveal
• Video: Jay Leno’s Garage welcomes the 2011 BMW M3
• Video: Mercedes-Benz E63 Estate wound out by Susie Stoddart
• Report: German government rejects $1.3 billion Opel aid request
• IIHS awards Top Safety Picks to Audi, Ford, Hyundai and VW on strength of roofs
• Audi wants your help designing its future electric vehicles
• Pics Aplenty: Volkswagen releases full slate of 2011 Phaeton images and info

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Autoline Daily

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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 6.9.10

Perish the thought, haters! The above Lincoln MKT is getting its roof caved in not on aesthetic grounds, but rather to test its ability to survive a rollover accident. If you haven’t guessed by now, the MKT did so well in the roof-crush test that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) handed parent company Ford a much coveted Top Safety Pick award. Actually, the IIHS handed FoMoCo a hefty total of five rollover-related Top Safety Pick awards. However we should note that one of the Ford products earning top marks is in fact the soon to be extinct Mercury Millan, so really Ford only nabbed four – but who’s counting? Other good-to-rollover-in Ford products include the Flex, Fusion and Lincoln MKZ.

Speaking of thick-sculled corporate cousins, Audi and Volkswagen were handed a couple of Top Safety Picks, too. The 2010 Audi A4 and Q5 as well as the Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen all earned top marks from the IIHS. As far as the Jetta goes, that’s just one more reason to choose wagon over sedan. Finally, the new 2010 Hyundai Tucson gets the coveted TSP, and having recently driven the overly-stiff compact CUV, we’re not at all surprised that its roof holds up to crushing. To get the dirt on the IIHS’s methodology/read the press release, make the jump.

[Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety]

Continue reading IIHS awards Top Safety Picks to Audi, Ford, Hyundai and VW on strength of roofs

IIHS awards Top Safety Picks to Audi, Ford, Hyundai and VW on strength of roofs

When Hyundai launched the Genesis coupe in 2009, we were told that it would not be a direct replacement for the outgoing Tiburon. That would be the role of the Veloster concept from 2007. We’ve been seeing spy shots of Veloster prototypes for several months now and if the latest reports are to be believed, it could appear in production form at the Paris Motor Show in September.

The compact front-wheel drive coupe is expected to be powered by a 1.6-liter direct injected inline-four with at least 140 horsepower. However, if the rumors are accurate, the Veloster could be available in an optional 200-hp turbocharged version. The turbo may even get a dual clutch gearbox, a first for Hyundai. Europeans are expected to get first crack at the Veloster early in 2011 while Americans will have to wait until next summer.

[Source: Hyundai-Blog]

Report: Hyundai Veloster to debut at Paris Motor Show

General Motors is finally starting to get back on the right track, and under the marketing direction of Joel Ewanick, the automaker will reportedly be running an ad slot in the 2011 Super Bowl. As you may recall, GM stopped advertising during the Super Bowl in 2009, not long after the economic crash that eventually sent the company into bankruptcy.

Advertising during the NFL’s big game is nothing new to Ewanick. While heading up the marketing department at Hyundai over the last few years, he and the team successfully launched a number of Super Bowl ads, promoting the Genesis line, as well as introducing the world to the automaker’s Assurance program in 2009.

GM should be prepared to shell out a pretty penny for next year’s ad slot, however. Automotive News reports that 30-second spots are selling for around $3 million. GM will be advertising alongside Hyundai, Kia, Volkswagen and Audi in next year’s game, and we’re sure other automakers will announce their participation over the coming months. In any case, hopefully things go a bit more smoothly for The General than the controversial suicidal robot ad from 2007 (available after the jump).

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Continue reading Hike! GM reportedly returning to Super Bowl advertising [w/video]

Hike! GM reportedly returning to Super Bowl advertising [w/video]

The Automotive Lease Guide has just released its annual report of residual values. Thanks to slimmed production and lower incentives, both Ford and Chevrolet saw jumps of 11 and 7.5 percentage points, respectively, compared to five years ago, and a number of other manufacturers saw the worth of their products climb as well. Ford’s passenger cars managed to rank second in the highest improvement since 2005 with a residual value of 48.8 percent. Both Ford and Chevrolet trucks are counted separately in the survey because of their disproportionately high residual value.

Both Suzuki and Hyundai found themselves on the top five list of improved residual value with 12.6 and 9.1 respective percentage point jumps over 2005 – healthy numbers. But for as much as those brands have improved over the last half decade, others, like Porsche, Volvo and BMW have seen their numbers fall.

Porsche has taken the biggest hit, with the company’s residual value falling to 44.4 percent – an 8.2 percentage point drop since 2005.

[Source: Automotive News]

Residual Value Report: Ford cars make big jump

Dodge explodes for 72.7-percent sales increase, domestics dominate

May 2010 was a crazy month of sales for the U.S. auto industry. Would you have expected Ford Motor Company, riding high on a string of successful monthly sales performances, to announce the death of Mercury on the same day it posts nearly a 22% rise in sales? Would you have expected the four remaining “Core” brands of General Motors to outsell all eight of the company’s brands from back in May 2009? Would you have expected the Toyota brand to still be on the outs with customers, posting just a 3.6-percent rise in sales in comparison to Ford (up 27.9 percent), Chevrolet (up 31.15 percent) and even Dodge (up 72.7 percent!)? And finally, would you have expected the Mustang to outsell the Camaro, something it hasn’t done since the Bowtie brand’s pony car arrived on the scene last year?

Check out all the numbers for yourself below in our handy dandy chart. A complete listing of our past By the Numbers charts can be found here.

*Brands and companies are displayed in descending order according to their percentage change in volume sales. There were 26 selling days in May 2010 and 26 selling days in May 2009, so the change in monthly sales volume will equal the change in the average daily sales rate (DSR) for each brand/company.

By the Numbers – May 2010: Memorial for Mercury Edition

We recently published some renderings of what a station wagon variant of the new Hyundai Sonata might look like, and we now have our first actual photos of the real thing undergoing testing. While it (predictably) doesn’t feature the two-door shooting brake layout we might have hoped for, it actually does look quite close to the four-door image. Hyundai designers appear to have opted for more of a sporty slant-back look like the Audi Avant wagons than the more utilitarian box we typically get from Volvo.

When the Sonata launches in Europe, it is expected to adopt the current iXX naming convention used there to become the i40 Kombi. Europeans will apparently get the wagon first, followed by the sedan. At present, it remains unclear if the wagon will ever arrive in the States. From what we can see through the camo, the i40 will get a different grille from the North American model, as well as a different treatment around the base of the A-pillar. At least on this prototype, the Euro-version has chrome trim that wraps around the mirror, while the chrome on the American variant extends straight down to the trailing edge of the headlamp cluster.

[Source: CarPIx]

Spy Shots: Hyundai Sonata wagon captured for the first time

For years , Buick has produced the GL8 minivan for the Chinese market. It’s based on the late-1990s Pontiac Trans Sport. With that van being severely outdated for the better part of a decade now, Buick’s just about ready to replace it with an all-new design. The new GL8 (we don’t yet know if the name badge will carry over) has been spotted out testing and it looks very much like the Buick Business Concept that debuted last year in Shanghai.

One of the more interesting visual elements of the concept was its dipped beltline, similar to those on the Hyundai Genesis coupe and the more recent Honda Odyssey concept. The interior of the Buick van looks very upscale, in keeping with what we’ve seen in the new LaCrosse and Regal.

Considering that the prototype in the spy photos still doesn’t have completed light clusters, it’s likely that the GL8 replacement won’t officially debut until next year’s Shanghai show.

[Source: auto.163.com]

Spy Shots: China-only 2011 Buick GL8 minivan spotted

Daimler began developing fuel-cell vehicles way back in 1994. To date, the company has spent $1.23 billion on the propulsion technology. Toyota entered into the hydrogen realm even earlier by kicking off development back in 1992. With decades of combined experience, both companies have become front runners in fuel-cell technology. Toyota and Honda became the first automakers to put commercial hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles on the roads back in 2002.

As you are likely aware, Toyota has teamed up with Tesla for development of electric vehicles at NUMMI. Now, a new report suggests that the company may join forces with Daimler (which also holds stake in Tesla) to develop affordable hydrogen-powered vehicles.

According to the Financial Times Deutschland (as reported in Reuters), Toyota and Daimler plan “extensive cooperation in the field of fuel cells for electric cars.” The Financial Times also suggests that the collaborative work could take the form of a joint venture. The newspaper contacted both companies for official confirmation, but Toyota denied knowledge of any such deal and Daimler was not available for comment.

Last year, some of the major players in fuel cell technology agreed to work together to promote the adoption of the hydrogen-powered vehicle. Within that group, we saw names like Daimler, Toyota, General Motors, Ford, Honda, Nissan and Hyundai. With so many companies pledging to combine their might on fuel-cell vehicle development, we assumed that some sort of joint venture would emerge. Tim Urquhart, an analyst at IHS Global Insight suggests that a Toyota-Daimler joint venture could benefit both companies. As Urquhart said:

The high development costs associated with trying to bring fuel-cell powertrain technology to production means that it is a highly logical step for Daimler and Toyota to try and share the costs and their extensive knowledge in fuel-cell technology.

At this point, it may just be wishful thinking, but we’d love to see a joint venture between the two companies. It would surely help out the hydrogen vehicle programs of each respective company and a joint venture might even bring more jobs back to NUMMI.

[Source: Reuters]

Report: Toyota and Daimler planning “extensive cooperation” on fuel cell development

Honda Vice President John Mendel recently admitted to AutoWeek that the next-generation Civic will be delayed from the Fall of 2010 to sometime in 2011. Mendel said in the interview that the Civic was delayed because of tightening emissions standards and he also noted that changing market conditions were partly to blame. AW also notes that the Civic’s design was changed along the way, as Honda’s second biggest selling model was originally scheduled to be larger for 2011. Happens all the time, right? Well, not to Honda it doesn’t.

Michelle Krebs over at Edmunds Auto Observer has taken a deep-dive look at the broader implications of the Civic redesign, and came up with some very interesting points. For starters, Krebs speculates that the next Civic was delayed in part because it wasn’t competitive compared to the new, vastly improved competition from companies like Hyundai, General Motors and Ford. While some analysts feel that the Honda redesign shows that the Japanese automaker is willing to swallow some humble pie and get things right, Krebs counters that going back to the drawing board shows that Honda has lost its touch with the car-buying public. Further support for her theory centers around the lackluster greeting for the Insight by both consumers and pundits, Acura’s polarizing styling language and the love/hate Accord Crosstour and its embarassing social media launch efforts. Analyst John Wolkonowicz of Global Insight appears to agree with Krebs, saying that Honda is living off of its reputation from the 1980s and 1990s.

Where do we stand on the Honda Civic design pushback? We’re thinking that as long as the Civic continues to sell in big numbers with relatively small incentives, Honda is smart to head back to the drawing board, especially as it is still selling strongly five years into its lifecycle. However, we’ve been worried that Honda has been losing its engineering-led focus for a while now, so we’ll be looking to the next-gen Civic for some level of redemption.

Be sure to take our poll and check out our high-res gallery of Honda Civic history before heading over to the Auto Observer for some very interesting analysis.

View Poll

[Source: Auto Observer]

Delayed Civic Begs the Question: Has Honda lost the plot? [w/poll]