Automotive Blogger

This is just a brief post to let readers know this blog is under new management. In coming days you can look for regular features, like Top-Ten Tuesday, Technology Thursday, Alt-Fuel Friday and Business Monday.

Suggestions for topics are welcome (we’re thinking of a series on the history of various auto manufacturers or something on women in the automotive industry), as is general chatter.

After a long two months doing this blog, it’s time for me to go.

I had a lot of fun writing some of the posts that were on here, and I had even more fun reading your responses. Readership of this blog went up like crazy (a little over double what it was before), so at least a few of y’all out there liked it.

For that, I am immensely happy. I couldn’t be more proud.

Now that I’m done breaking my arm patting myself on the back, I want to thank the readers of this blog, a few of the folks who sent me tips on stuff to write, and lastly the folks at 451 Press, who gave me a shot at writing professionally about my hobby and passion.

I don’t plan to do another blog anytime soon, but I am an automotive enthusiast and web nerd, so there’s a chance you might see my name again somewhere.

Until then…

–Will Thompson

As of about 7 AM EST, DaimlerChrysler has agreed to sell it’s struggling Chrysler arm (or at least 80.1% of it) to Cerberus for $7.4 billion.

This is obviously no secret, since DaimlerChrysler has been shopping Chrysler to folks for a few months now. What is interesting is that the deal went to Cerberus, and not Magna (which has a Russian financial interest) and billionaire Kirk Kerkorian.

The New York Times article bring up a few interesting points:

Of the $7.4 billion, Cerberus agreed to invest $5 billion in the new Chrysler and $1.05 billion in Chrysler’s financial arm. The remaining $1.35 billion will go to DaimlerChrysler.

DaimlerChrysler’s share of the capital represents a remarkable comedown for a company that paid $36 billion to acquire Chrysler in 1998, in a landmark deal that was initially hailed as a blueprint for the future of the global auto industry.

You read that right. DaimlerChrysler paid $36 billion and sold it for $7.4 billion. Nice investment there, Dr. Z. The New York Times article also had another quote that made me spit coffee out my nose:

The chairman of Cerberus, John W. Snow, said, “We would like to thank DaimlerChrysler for their good stewardship of this American icon over the last decade. We are aware that Chrysler faces significant challenges, but we are confident that they can and will be overcome.” Mr. Snow is the former United States treasury secretary.

That’s some good stewardship, alright.

–Will Thompson

Daimler, Chrysler, Dr Z, Cerberus, Magna, Kirk Kerkorian, sold

I got a very interesting email from a lady named Jenna Bowles at The Futures Channel, a company that makes “micro-documentaries” geared toward students. The films all provide answers to the biggest question I had as a young gearhead sitting in algebra/geometry/physics class:

“When will I ever use this?”

Their latest micro-documentary titled Creating Cars (click to watch the video) takes them to meet members of the design team at Ford’s Advanced Design Center in Irvine, California. Hmm, does that design shop sound familiar? They’ve produced some of the more exciting concepts in recent history, including the Forty Nine concept, the Cobra concept (that was on the TV show Rides), and the now-in-production GT.

Let’s take a quick break to salivate:

What’s say we read an excerpt of their press release:

Their work is confidential. The technology is cutting edge. The competition is fierce. The secret? Ford Motor Company’s concept cars.

At Ford’s Advanced Design Studio in Irvine, California, designers and engineers are developing new car designs that won’t be seen on the road for another ten years or longer. “We work as far into the future as our imaginations can take us,” said Fairuz Jane Arabo, a color and materials designer for Ford.

After spending years designing and building their concept cars, Ford, along with the other major car manufacturers, debut their latest concept cars at annual auto shows around the world for their competitors and the public to see. In “Creating Cars,” a web documentary released today, The Futures Channel gives viewers access to the Advanced Product Creation Group at Ford to find out what goes into their innovative, futuristic concept cars.

Using technology to show impressionable minds what the future could hold for them, if they stay motivated and focused. This is a company after my own heart.

Thanks for the email, Jenna.

–Will Thompson

Ford, concept, car, GT, cobra, forty, nine, creating, cars, The Futures Channel, design, Advanced Design Center