Auto Trends

Nissan has done more for math lately than any other automaker. What I’m talking about is the new (to North America) Nissan Cube, a vehicle that won’t be confused with any other, particularly at close range.

If you like shapes, Nissan went cube crazy with the Cube, giving to us a boxy exterior, rectangular windows — including a rear window that wraps around on only one side — and a cabin ceiling with an amazing design of concentric circles. Oh, before I forget, that wrap around dashboard is da bomb!

Some people will find the Cube to be repulsive, but I won’t count myself among them. True, I wouldn’t buy one, but lots of people will, especially young drivers who are looking for a statement-making vehicle (think Scion xB, think Kia Soul). Why be ordinary when you don’t have to be? The Nissan Cube takes self expression to the highest level.

Technical Specifications

For those of you who are interested in the technical side of the Cube, I will give to you the following:

• Passenger space is plentiful with seating for up to five. Nissan wants buyers to consider the cabin area to be “social space” where you hang with your friends and enjoy the theater-style rear seat.

• Powered by a 122 horsepower 1.8L DOHC I4 engine paired to an Xtronic CVT or 6-speed manual transmission, the Cube has very good fuel economy, topping 30 mpg highway.

• Nissan designed the Cube to be a living room on wheels with Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System, Rockford Fosgate subwoofter with six speakers, XM Satellite Radio and Interface System for iPod. Lots of techno stuff to match what Nissan calls the car — Cube mobile device.

• The Cube comes in three models, all well equipped: Cube 1.8, Cube 1.8S and Cube 1.8SL. You can personalize your ride with sought after accessories through Nissan. I also believe that the Cube will be popular with aftermarket parts manufacturers who will take some of the popular ideas from Cube buyers and mass produce them.

Like I said, the Cube isn’t for everyone and that is central to its appeal. I can see the comparisons with Scion and the all new Kia Soul, but the Cube does its best to stand apart from the growing crowd of boxy people mover segment which also includes the Honda Element. BTW, the Nissan Cube isn’t available just yet, you’ll have to wait until the Spring when the car rolls out at a Nissan dealership near you.

(Source: Nissan North America, Inc.)

The Mustang FR500CJ, known simply as the Cobra Jet, was officially unveiled Nov. 4 at the 2008 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. It joins its road racing brethren: the Mustang FR500S, the Mustang FR500C and the Mustang FR500GT.

Ford introduced its pony car, the Mustang, in April 1964 to critical acclaim and has maintained its Mustang franchise ever since. General Motors and Chrysler have come and gone in this field although as of 2009 both the Chevrolet Camaro and the Dodge Challenger are competing once again.

It is this new competition that has Ford geared up to fight back. For the 2010 model year, the Mustang will be redesigned once again, giving it an edge over the Chevy and the Dodge, at least that is what Ford hopes will happen.

Before the newest iteration of the classical Mustang debuts, Ford is having some fun with its current generation model, producing special edition roadsters to captivate the imagination of enthusiasts everywhere. No less fun is the all-new Cobra Jet Mustang, a car designed by and for Ford Racing. The car was introduced at the 2008 SEMA Show in Las Vegas and will join its road racing brethren: the Mustang FR500S, the Mustang FR500C and the Mustang FR500GT.

“The Cobra Jet is the newest offspring of the Ford Racing lineup of race cars,” said Jamie Allison, manager of the Ford Racing Performance Group. “We started with the FR500C in 2005 and then followed by the FR500S in 2007.

“All along the way, we worked with Brian Wolfe, who, at the time, was really in the calibration activity. He oversaw worldwide calibrations, and he was a big supporter of Ford Racing, both professionally and personally,” Allison said. “He had always kind of asked us about our plans to do a drag race car and the time had just come early this year to, indeed, take all of the lessons we learned, all the processes, all of the relationships that we have inside with the plant and with the team and put together a sportsmen-destined drag race Mustang. Clearly, what we did in 1968 is the impetus for it, and we felt that it was time to bring back the Cobra Jet.”

The newest Mustang is the drag racing equivalent of the Mustang FR500S, allowing those interested in NHRA sportsmen drag racing the chance to get involved with an affordably priced vehicle that can compete right immediately and run in the 10-second range.

“We are talking about designing and building competition-ready race cars,” added Allison. “These are not just the simple parts that we sometimes create. This is a full-fledged, ready to race vehicle. There is a lot of engineering that goes into the preparation, development, testing, and release of these cars. There’s a full team of engineers from Ford Racing who have been involved on the engineering side of the Ford Racing Mustangs, led by Andy Slankard who leads the group. On the Cobra Jet, that group was personally directed and overseen by Brian Wolfe because of his personal background of racing in the sportsmen class. So he’s been hands-on involved in the very specifications of the 40th anniversary Cobra Jet. ”

As far as the 2010 Ford Mustang goes, that car will make its world debut at 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show and be made available in Spring 2009. Likely, many of the specialty Mustangs which have been seen down through the years will also be reworked, possibly creating yet another Cobra Jet with a bite that won’t soon be forgotten.

(Source: Ford Motor Company)