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Automakers, take note: This one’s directed squarely at your design staff. Quit paying them until they get a clue…

1: Clear tail lights.
This is one of many fads that has recently gained steam and that I will never be able to understand. Clear tail lights looked terrible 15 years ago when Cadillac used them on the Seville, and they haven’t gotten any more attractive over the years. Instead, they’ve just grown overused. They look cheap and not nearly as attractive as simple RED lenses. I don’t think there’s a fad out there that bores me or annoys me as much as clear tail lights.

2: Goofy hood seams.
Another one I just can’t understand. Hood seams, like ALL panel seams, should be HIDDEN. Why is it that so many models are putting them in the most obvious places possible? Culprits: Last-gen Chevy Silverado, V36 G35, Mercedes Benz C-class, late-model Dodge Ram. All of these cars, save the G, have the hood gap on the SIDE of the hood. Why? What was wrong with having the hood’s edges on TOP of the car? It looked infinitely better. And as for the G…the seam  is on top of a bulge that’s already terrible looking on it’s own–but the way the hood is designed, that ugly bulge also serves as a giant “Panel Gap HERE!!!!” neon sign. Terrible.

3: Plastic bulges.
Pointiac made cars with excessive bulging and strakes for years. Everyone hated it. As soon as Pontiac started backing off, everyone else picked up right where they left off! BMW’s new 3 and 1 series are so bulge-ridden, they could pass for ex-monster-truck fodder. And Toyota is just as guilty of Pontiac of using glue-on plastic chunks to add “aggressive” styling cues to their cars. Has anyone looked at the rear of a Corolla S? What the HELL is going on there? Plastic triangles? What is that? Little tip for car designers: Cars shouldn’t look like they’re melting. Although, a blowtorch would really do wonders for an Avalanche, Nitro or an Element.

4: Triangular headlights.
This is one that many people were tired of before it even really took off. But now it’s everywhere. We even see companies swapping out traditional headlights for triangular ones on cars that looked great with traditional ones to begin with. EVERYTHING has triangular headlights now. Diamante, 350Z, Accord, Celica, XL-7… It’s time to do something different. And hopefully attractive. Because 9 out of 10 cars with triangular headlights look like crap.

5: Bangle Butt.
How is it possible for the most hated fad in automotive styling history to become so widely used? Cars from every category are getting the Bangle Butt treatment, from econoboxes to ultralux sedans and everything in between. But no one likes it. Not one single person. So why the hell are people designing cars with the look? STOP. MAKING. CARS. WITH. BANGLE. BUTTS. The most universally hated automotive styling icon in the history of the universe is also the most widely copied? To try to make sense of the prevalence of the Bangle Butt phenomenon is to test the limits of human understanding.

6: Ridiculously high beltlines.
I remember the days when you could drive your car with the window down and actually stick your elbow out the window while using the sill as an arm rest. Not in 2007. Unless you’re 9 feet tall. Because these days, cars are like bathtubs. Side  windows are about 3 inches tall. The rest of the height of the car is occupied by upholstery. Why? I couldn’t tell you. But I can tell you that it’s stupid. Please: think of the DRIVER of your cars. Drop the beltline just a few inches. It won’t hurt a thing.

7: Bulky door handles.
It’s like a 1970s revival! What happened to the sleek, blended door handles of the ’90s? Now we’ve got bulky Bell Telephone handles sticking out of everything. What’s the deal? Maybe they should be made out of Bakelite. Better yet, let’s just put DOOR KNOBS on them instead! Hell, every car on the market already has remote keyless entry – Would it kill automakers to have the doors actually POP OPEN?

8: Fender vents.
I HATE fender vents. They’re on everything now. They have NEVER looked good on any car ever. And they’re only becoming more common. Buick’s bringing them back. They’re on the M3. They’re on the Range Rover. They’re even available with 3M double-sided tape on ebay so you can PRETEND you have fender vents. Stop the madness, because pointless design features SUCK.

9: Decklid spoilers.
First off, not a “spoiler” by any definition of the term. Best we can do is call it a “wing”, and even then it’s a misuse of the word. Here’s a heads-up to all auto manufacturers: If you’d design a properly aerodynamic car in the first place, you wouldn’t have to tack on a “spoiler” afterwards! Besides, most cars with these plastic monstrosities are front-wheel drive,  which means A: They don’t need downforce, and B: They’re slow anyway. Nothing says “poser” like a plastic wing glued to a trunklid.

10: Uni-tails.
Hate to pick on Detroit again, but they’re guilty. Yep. So, you’re looking at an Impala. Has 4 round taillights, right? Why does the red plastic panel cover 16 acres? Dodge did it too (think Stratus and Intrepid). Even Furd has gotten in on the game, with the monster tails on its trucks – But only a small fraction of it lights up! Think we could maybe eliminate all that extra plastic and just french in the taillights, a la Corvette? Minimalism is a good thing sometimes.

Chris Snider is a Moderator on NICOclub’s Nissan Forums and an occasional contributor of vitriolic rants…

According to sources from within Nissan North America, the long-awaited Nissan GT-R will NOT be powered by an engine from the ubiquitous VQ line of motors.Rumors have swirled for months about the possibility of more displacement, less displacement, forced induction, natural-aspiration, not from the VQ family at all.

Now we know the truth… Nissan GTR Engine Revealed Here!

With August 16th rapidly approaching, Infiniti dealerships are starting to receive the first shipments of the G37 coupe for the unveiling ceremonies happening across the country. Numerous members of NICO are heading out to dealerships in order to get an early “sneak peak” at the new “top dog” of the 2008 Infiniti lineup.
Keep apprised of pricing and new developments at Infiniti G37 Forums!

NICOclub is proud to introduce the two newest members of the NICOclub team, Danny Mayer and Steve Burhans!

Danny Mayer –

Danny Mayer has worked in the automobile industry for over 25 years in virtually every executive, sales and administrative position, and most recently was the General Manager of the largest, most successful Infiniti dealership in the nation.  He’s currently authoring a weekly column called “Street Talk” for NICOclub.

Street Talk is a pull-no-punches look at the automobile industry and specifically the issues surrounding the purchase of a new or used car, from someone who knows the business better than most.

So, if you have questions about the car buying process, especially concerning new Infinitis, all you have to do is “Ask Danny” at [email protected]!

Steve Burhans –

Steve Burhans comes to us as the former CEO of FreshAlloy.  Steve brings over 30 years experience in all facets of business management, from sales and marketing to Information Technology. Steve has provided management direction for several organizations as they built and deployed their internet systems.

Steve headed up the marketing effort at NIC Technologies, was Western Region Director for SAIC/Network Solutions, a $4 billion technology integration firm, where he was responsible for assisting in the development of the company’s Commercial Information Technology strategy, and has most recently launched Luxury Auto Bids, a joint effort with Danny Mayer that will revolutionize the car buying experience.

He’ll be contributing occasional editorial content as well as providing NICOclub.com members with relevant and valuable  insight on the automotive industry.

Please join us in welcoming these two professionals to the NICOclub.com team!

On August 5, NICOclub.com unveiled its first major redesign in nearly two years.  Increased functionality and an attractive interface were the goals, and it appears to have been a success.

As membership topped 70,000, we were inundated with additional content that wasn’t being showcased appropriately.  Now, this information can be displayed in the manner it deserves.

NICOclub’s web designer, Matt Moody, spent countless hours developing a useful and pleasant design for the site, and it’s already being touted as “user-friendly”, “professional”, and easy to navigate.

We hope you like the recent changes, and look forward to continuing to serve the Nissan enthusiast community for many years to come.

PHOENIX, Arizona, August 1, 2007 – Desert Fuel, a team competing in the Automotive X PRIZE (AXP) competition is announcing that a letter of intent to compete has been signed and officially accepted by the AXP.

As stated by AXP: teams will compete for multi-million-dollar cash prizes by designing and building super-efficient vehicles. 

• The AXP competition is all about building practical and clean cars that will achieve 100 MPG or its equivalent.
• We don’t know what technology will power winning car designs. All we care about is results – the creation of real, clean and super-efficient vehicles that people want to buy. 
• Winners will come in two different categories – Mainstream and Alternative 
• Our gauge of success will be a new benchmark, called MPGe, for Miles per Gallon Equivalent that will take into account energy equivalence no matter what the source. 
• Extremely low emissions will also be required in order to stem the effects cars are having on climate change.
• The AXP, through rigorous selection criteria, will qualify vehicles that are marketable and pass intensive evaluations. Following that, a compelling road race will further test the vehicles to determine winners.

Desert Fuel plans to compete in the mainstream category and has embarked on the development of a cutting edge prototype vehicle for the AXP competition.  The vehicle will utilize LED lighting both internally and externally, including head lights, tail lights, back lighting, and various displays.  Since the main drive motor will be electric, the vehicle will have the ability to plug into standard AC wall outlets, tapping into worldwide power grids.  The main drive train will consist of direct drive three phase AC electric motors capable of approximately 400 foot pounds of torque.  Solar energy will be used to recharge the vehicle for short commutes, reducing the strain on the power grid and increasing the fuel economy of the vehicle. A four cylinder biodiesel generator will provide the electric power for long distance driving. Since fuel economy is of the utmost importance, the vehicle will recapture lost energy through regenerative braking, exhaust fed reluctance generators, and steam power energy recapture.  Ready to use power will be provided to passengers via four built in charging units; two for small devices, and two for large (over 70 watt) devices utilizing iTip technology from Mobility Electronics, Inc. 

ABOUT DESERT FUEL

Desert Fuel is a grassroots team led by two brothers, Bryan and Jason McCoy.  Bryan brings a new perspective to the power management systems in traditional vehicles with his electrical engineering background. Jason has an extensive mechanical background in fabrication and restoration; having worked on cars since his youth.   When asked why the brothers have entered the competition, they replied: “Our goal is to provide discerning consumers the opportunity to purchase an affordable, reliable, and serviceable vehicle which is an ecological step in the right direction.”

For more information about Desert Fuel, please visit www.desertfuel.org or email [email protected].

ABOUT THE AUTOMOTIVE X PRIZE

The goal of the Automotive X PRIZE (AXP) is to inspire a new generation of viable, super-efficient vehicles that help break our addiction to oil and stem the effects of climate change. The multi-million dollar AXP purse will be awarded to the teams that win a stage race for clean, production-capable vehicles that exceed 100 miles per gallon equivalent fuel economy. For more information please visit http://auto.xprize.org or email [email protected].

ABOUT THE X PRIZE FOUNDATION

The X PRIZE Foundation is an educational nonprofit prize institute whose mission is to create radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. On October 4, 2004, the X PRIZE Foundation captured world headlines when Mojave Aerospace Ventures, led by legendary aircraft designer Burt Rutan and Microsoft Co-founder Paul Allen, built and flew the world’s first private vehicle to space twice in two weeks to win the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE. The Foundation has since expanded its mission beyond space exploration to offer new prizes for breakthroughs in the health sciences, energy and the environment, education and global entrepreneurship. In October of 2006, the X PRIZE Foundation announced the $10 million Archon X PRIZE for genomics, which will reward the first private effort to map 100 human genomes in 10 days ushering in a new era of personalized preventative medicine. For more information please visit www.xprize.org or email [email protected].

Last month, Nitto brought a new and unique tire to market – The INVO.  Read all about our test and impressions!

Nitto INVO Tire Review 

Today’s motorist has to deal with all kinds of challenged car owners.  These owners range from high on the idiot scale to high on the “It’s all about me and you don’t count” mentality level.  Being someone who spends a lot of time on the road, I could go on and on about what these people are doing wrong on the roads but that would turn this article into a novel.  Instead, I will concentrate on Lines, Signs and Things That Go Bump.

Lines

What are lines when it comes to travel?  Usually, they are markers for the road in which you are traveling.  By law, or common sense, they actually mean something regardless of what other drivers seem to believe.  These lines may be on the roadway, parking lot or even on curbs.  The problems we have with challenged drivers is their interpretation of what these lines mean.  ON the roadway, these lines are to inform the driver whether they are in a passing zone or not.  Unfortunately it seems someone has been teaching motorists that these lines are simple decorations or can be discarded at a whim.  Two lines and the vehicle in front of you is doing 5mph over the speed limit?  Why, they are simply there to show you which lane you can move into to pass. It does not matter what, where or when you do it for these drivers have a right to do as they will.  Unfortunately, oncoming traffic and those who are turn-signal challenged feel they can do as they will as well.  Makes for some interesting scenarios.

What about those yellow or white lines in a parking lot?  Are they there to show parking spaces?  Only if you want to park.  To others they are meaningless in their persuit to make their way to their destinations.  40mph across a parking lot, going in between parked cars, must be quite the thrill. Why, the vehicle I witnessed today must have been going 45mph+ crossing the lot at an angle just so he can get in front of me and run a stop sign.  My was he in a hurry.  It was just unfortunate that a 18-wheeler did not pull out in time to total his crappy Honda Accord.  Of course, he would have blamed the accident on the truck and not his actions. I love seeing these people in fender benders.  I just wish the police would put them behind bars for being mentally challenged.  Electric Shock Therapy would be a good mandatory sentance for this kind of stupidity.

Signs

Signs, signs, everywhere are signs.  While they may be blocking scenery they are not there to be ignored.  Unless you too are an idiot (which you may well be if you are chuckling right now).  Stop does not mean to simply slow down.  Yield is actually a word you should learn.  No passing has nothing to do with the bean burrito you ate for lunch.  Handicapped is for those with physical disabilities instead of mental.  The list can go on and on.  Those same drivers who are too much into themselves or simply too stupid to understand what they mean should shred their license and take a bus.  Remember, you are not the only driver on the road.  “Share the road” needs to be added to your vocabulary.

Things That Go Bump

Door dings.  Most vehicles have them in some form or manner, even if the owner parks 5-bazillion rows back. There are two primary kinds of people who give door dings. Those who are not considerate and those who leave buggys in parking lots.  The inconsiderate ones range from “I simply do not care about your car in the least” to those who are size-challenged (ok, let’s call a spade a spade.  You are fat). Inconsiderate = throw open a door and don’t care.  Those who are fat prefer to press their door into yours, then use their door as leverage to get out, thus leaving a nice creased scratch.  See them do it?  It’s a waste of time to say anything as they simply stare at you with a, “Is the grease from my cheese burger still on my chin” look as they flick McDonalds french fry crumbs from their fingers. These are usually the same ones who refuse to walk 20 feet to put a buggy away properly.  They probably enjoy sitting in parking lots during windy days so they can see buggys bouncing off other cars like a life-size pinball machine while stuffing their face with a McFatty.

This is going where?

I understand some people simply see vehicles as transportation and that is absolutely fine with me.  BUT, people need to be considerate of others that share the same space where people drive and park.  As a car enthusiast, seeing people so self absorbed where they have no care at all to those around is concerning.  I wonder why these people have no care for anything but themselves.  I have my own thoughts on the subject but will stop here at this time.  Regardless, I plead with you all to pay attention to what is happening around you and to be considerate of others.  It’s not much to ask is it?  I’m considerate of you and your property, shouldn’t you be considerate of mine?  Or, am I simply dreaming of a society that will never happen?  I sure hope not.

Guest contributor Matt Moody is a Moderator on Maxima Forums.

Read all about it!

We’ve seen a 900% (yes, nine-hundred percent) increase in traffic to the Altima Coupe Forums over last month at this time.  Buyers are starting to pop in and discuss their new rides, and modifications are already being made to the earliest models off the showroom floor.

Someone’s offering an Altima Coupe Body Kit already, so if you’re an early Coupe owner, pop in and see if you might be the first one with some FREE body mods!