Da Philosopher on Design

This is a concept car for a future Mustang, designed by some Italian guy named Giugiaro (?). The Italian, Alfa Romeo influences are pretty clear: the tucked-in headlamps, the angular, oblique lines, the slitted, tiny tail lights, and the "natural" interior. Are those cowhide seats?

My favorite feature is the secondary window behind the B pillar, with the vented, flared look that brings back memories.

Well, blimey: it's been quite some time since the Tarmac Philosopher was philosopherizing, so today I will present a little entry about my favorite movies with cars.


1. Bullitt

I'll start with the classics, and possibly the greatest street car movie in film history. Who could forget the moment when that '68 Dodge Charger 440 suddenly slammed into the redline as Frank Bullitt pursued it in his '68 Mustang GT 390. For those born post-Bullitt, I've got an early Christmas present:





Why was this chase so cool? Some totally-rad facts: The cars actually reached speeds topping 110 mph, in the middle of San Francisco! In some sequences, the driver of the Mustang was really Steve McQueen, as you can see from some exterior shots. There's no helmet-wearing stunt guy. The Charger was obviously demolished in the gas station 'splosion, but the Mustang was dusted off afterwards and sold for $2500.

2. Casino Royale

It just came out, and auto nuts are already heartily enthused about Bond's new wheels. Possibly the most beautiful car ever built, the Aston Martin DB9, specially modded for 007, is Hollywood's gift to the car world this year.




Some time I'd like to do a little genealogical study of the James Bond cars. That would be fun.


3. Back to the Future

The time-traveling DeLorean? Of course. It's probably the only time a DeLorean looked admirable and heroic, and it was caught on film. Shouldn't we give a few kudos? Back when BTTF was released, the DeLorean was already infamous as a monumental piece of stainless-steel krap, so the film was witty enough to include it as the lovable time machine that blasts into the continuum once it hits 88 mphs and pumps 15 zillion jiggawatts in the Flux Capacitor.




"...out of a DeLorean?!..." -Marty McFly

4. Blues Brothers

I just couldn't resist. That massive pile-up of cop cars just sends chills of glee down my spine. And that mall chase! Yow! Where's my black fedora and horn-rimmed shades?



"Oh, Blessed Mother of Holy Acceleration, don't fail me now!"


5. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Yes, you read correctly. Who wouldn't want one? It flies, it rides on water, and it makes funny sounds. Dick Van Dyke's 1900's supercar creation is a sort of pre-historic Rinspeed.

As always, the mind of the Tarmac Philosopher is on the cutting edge of automotive evolution. Some tidbits for your finely tuned mind:

"Lean, Green Driving Machines"
The Telsa Roadster looks promising.....

"The Emoticon for Your Car"
Looks pretty impractical, however should be DMV mandatory issue in Massachusetts areas.

And finally, photographic evidence that cars are taking over the world.

Gotta love Top Gear. American TV needs to suck it up, dump Monster Garage, Overhaulin', and American Chopper, and get Top Gear.


P.S. Does Rinspeed need an intern? I'll do full-time summers....

Yes, Halloween's over, folks, and 'tis the season to become comfortably discouraged about the future of the automobile.

Read this article and see if you feel an urging for Prozac.

Why is the future of the car so bleak? Why are we being invaded by a revolutionary desire to reinvent the car? Is it environmentalists, fighting for the deification of the Prius and the evangelization of the Church of the Smart Car? Is it the worldwide oil crisis, a political debacle as well as an economical one, breathing down the necks of motorists as they swipe their plastic at the pump? Or is it simply all media hype; whining writers, journalists, and bloggers like me trying to gain an audience by attempting to sound exciting? I simply don't know. There, I said it.

But now that I've asked the questions, and answered them, I can now sit down in my fat leather chair, cigar in hand (just kidding), and chew on the issue with impunity.

If five years from now you all find yourselves putzing around in Altoid tin-sized squeakers running on hydrogen's child, I will be living far away somewhere in the Swiss mountains, driving a real car. That's my game plan. If the end times come, and the Apocalypse is on the horizon; and if the world is in turmoil, and governments and nations are in total disarray, I will retreat to the famously-neutral nation, and live in a tiny cabin with a 5-car garage stocked full of Shelby Cobras, Hemis, Maranello 12-kickers, and British beauties. I will have gas shipped to me through the black market, and limit my driving to the lone asphalt trails twisting through the Alps. When I needed to go into town, I'd drive the fuel sipper just to keep my cover. But then, as the sun set, the people of the village would be haunted by the mysterious roar of what sounded like a motor. A motor! A long-forgotten memory of years past, a thing done away with by governments around the world. But only here, in the resonating slops of Switzerland does the spirit of the real automobile still ring loud and clear.

Anybody want to join me?

Top photo: 2007 Hyundai Azera
Bottom photo: 2007 BMW 3-Series

I'm losing confidence in Beamer's rear-end design skills. After the convoluted controversy over the 7-Series, they're trying to play it safe with the new 3-Series. BOOOORRRRING! For Pete's sake, you're BMW. Find your groove. ASAP.