Auto Manufacturing & Design

The origins of 20 great American cars.

The Inertia Report: Where I give my opinion of topics in the automotive world. This time, I'll talk about what is wrong with Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles and why the PSA merger may not lead to better pastures.

The V&A Museum presents “Cars: Accelerating the Modern World." The invention of the car had profound effects on culture, the landscape, and even fashion. Here's my experience at the exhibit! Was it worth it?

This is a "special" tackling a very big issue. How to Rebrand Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles. Explaining why the change of corporate image is necessary, we will jump into the past & build up every brand under the FCA correctly. In this article, we rebuild and change the brand direction of Maserati.

How long does it take to assemble a car, including multiple coats of paint, the interior, wiring, and electronics—12 hours? 24 hours? 48 hours? Who does it faster? Henry Ford in the 1920s? Or a factory full of computer-controlled high-speed robots? Let's take a look.

This is a "special" tackling a very big issue. How to Rebrand Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles. Explaining why the change of corporate image is necessary, we will build up every brand under the FCA correctly. In this article, we COMPLETELY rebuild Chrysler, taking the brand in a new direction.

We live in a global economy with complex trade & supply systems. It used to be that if you wanted an American car - you bought one from and American car maker. Those days are gone. We have trade agreements & manufacturer's alliances that make it far less clear. So, just what is an American car?

This is a "special" tackling a very big issue. How to Rebrand Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles. Explaining why the change of corporate image is necessary, we will jump into the past & build up every brand under the FCA correctly. In this article, we relaunch SRT.

Why I feel Kia may have become the "dark horse" competitor coming up behind the Germans. The Germans might be taken by surprise.

Notice a lot of gears in your automatic car? Wondering what all of the gears mean? There's a consistent trend in the automotive industry towards automatic transmissions with more gears. Why is that?

This is a "special" tackling a very big issue. How to Rebrand Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles. Explaining why the change of corporate image is necessary, we will jump into the past & build up every brand under the FCA correctly. In this article, we rebuild Dodge's lineup.

This is a "special" tackling a very big issue. How to Rebrand Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles. Explaining why the change of corporate image is necessary, we will jump into the past & build up every brand under the FCA correctly. In this article, Jeep & Ram get rebuilt & we access Fiat.

When Supercar makers like Lamborghini make SUVs, they end up making Super SUVs. But SUVs made by traditional SUV makers like Jeep are not far behind in terms of speed.

Do you drive a GM C-1? Are you thinking about buying one? Don't. Many people drive a GM C-1 but have no clue what a C-1 is. Today, I explain why your money is better spent elsewhere.

Kickdown is a column where I talk about random topics, usually car-related, that don't deserve long articles. This time, because of how confusing the term "performance car" is, I will attempt to essentially classify categories of which vehicles compete with other vehicles.

India, one of the fastest growing and the most competitive car markets, is seeing a rapid rise in pollution, and so India is looking for cleaner cars. With BS4 emission norms being mandated, emission norms have become more stringent. With the new S350d, Mercedes-Benz meets BS6 using BS4 fuel!

Learn about the brand of premium electric autos that is changing the driving landscape. From its early days to its nameplates to where the brand might go in the future, this article has Tesla covered.

If you have ever wondered how a car evolves from a prototype to production, here's an interesting story about one car. Why did the Ford Ghia Barchetta become the Mercury Capri?

Fantasy Branding is a series where I take a scenario in the automotive world (past, present, or future) and explain how I would have done it. This time: Relaunching and bringing more prestige to the Chevy SS!

Was the Chevy SS a solid replacement for the Pontiac G8? Here's why the underpowered Chevy SS underachieved.

Fantasy Branding is a series where I take a scenario in the automotive world (past, present, or future) and explain how I would have done it. This time: Refreshing Volkswagens 2016 lineup to reflect a more performance-oriented objective.

Thinking about buying the QX50? There are some things you should know. The QX50 is the odd child at school. Here's why.

Can the muscle car compete in the modern world? Lower displacement and more boost is the name of the game today. Dodge is fighting back with classic inspired V8 power.

The Lockup: Where I review & critique a car or company to prove a point. Here's my in-depth view of why Infiniti isn't taken seriously as a luxury brand.

Tired of your non-electric car? When will your car get the hybrid/electric technology that exotic cars have begun using recently? That's the question we will try to analyze today.

The BMW M3 and its M4 sibling have dominated the segment they inhabit for about 50 years. But can the most powerful letter in Motorsport save the 3&4? Or is it falling off?

Miss the Q50 Eau Rouge? Why was the Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge killed off? Let's find out.

Kickdown is a column where I talk about random topics, usually car-related, that don't deserve long articles. With Ferrari launching the FXX-K EVO, I figured it was time to take a stroll down memory lane & look at some of Ferrari's past special ballistic missiles.

The Inertia Report: Where I give my opinion on topics in the automotive world. The Huracan's successor will be a plug-in hybrid, and Lamborghini has unveiled an all-electric concept. It's clear to see hybrid-electric technology is in Lamborghini's future. I assess the pros & cons of such a future.

Fantasy Branding is a series where I take a scenario in the automotive world (past, present, or future) and explain how I would have done it. This time: How I would relaunch the 2nd Gen SRT8 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Why the Hellcat engine is the wrong long-term solution for the SRT Jeep.

We present an inventory of the most commonly used suspension architectures. There are several types of suspension systems. They differ depending on whether they are on the front or rear drive trains.

How Mercedes-AMG created their first ever super car, the SLS AMG, from drawing board to dealer showrooms in just 37 months.

The recharging capacity of a solar-powered car can be increased if its solar cells are placed outside the car.

The Porsche 911 is the worst-designed car from an ergonomic perspective. It has issues with the interior, engine, tires, and more.

A brief look at what makes Tesla such an interesting company to invest in and why it matters in today’s vehicle industry, as well as why it is surpassing analyst expectations.

Almost since the first gasoline-powered cars hit the road, people have been inventing ways of making them go farther on a gallon of fuel. Is the Pogue Carburetor or Tom Ogle's filter as good as some theorists claim?

The 10 best cars built for normal use in the last seven decades, based on six reasonable criteria.

Everyone's favorite: The early Mustang GT-350 built by Carrol Shelby. Everything about this car was just right: the Cobra-based 289 cubic inch Ford V8 engine with 4-speed manual transmission.

Drivers of diesel vehicles in the UK could face massive increases in road tax and see the value of their vehicle depreciate rapidly as pollution from diesel emissions rises.

Which cars have dominated world speed records since 1980? Let's find out.

Here is a list of the top 10 funny car model names. Motor manufacturers have the unenviable task of thinking up new names for each model of car, and sometimes the names they choose do not translate well to other languages.

Luciano Bove, car designer and former instructor, explains the importance for transportation design students of learning clay modeling.

Love fast cars? Sleeper cars like the Buick Grand National might look tame, but they'll smoke you in a race. Here are the top 10 sleeper cars that you should look out for.

How do car designers work in a real design studio to make concept drawings? Let's take a look. There's a lot to know about how cars are designed!

Luciano Bove's tutorial for a side view car sketch. A step-by-step tutorial from line drawing proportions to quick shading.

Trying to make a car design portfolio? It's easy to expertly display your car design abilities. Here's how to do it.

Several decades ago, car hood ornaments were more than just emblems identifying car manufacturers—they were adornments that made bold statements. Let's take a look at some of the best ones.

Did you know that 23% of all vehicles sold in Europe are French?

There is a mystery or oddity about the Corvair Corsa and Monza built between 1965–1966. Why did Chevrolet produce two cars that are nearly identical? Here's what you need to know about both of these classic rides.