Auto Trends

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has found that of all accidents on our roads today, 25% of them are caused by distractions. We are talking about cell phones, stereos, MP3 players, Navigational systems, and yes… food. For a decade now, busy America has become obsessed with eating in their car.

For some it is because they don’t have enough time to sit down and eat, for others it is because they like to be on the go so much, they never feel like they have time. Studies have shown through the NHTSA the the worst time of this offense is during the morning trek to work.

People get up late and get ready just in time to jump in their car and stop by a drive-through and grab a sit to eat. This sounds like a great idea, but have you ever thought about the dangerous distraction this causes for you and the other drivers around the world.

All it takes is for a split second of your attention to be turned elsewhere and there is an emergency stopped vehicle, or a sharp curve. The majority of these food related accidents occur after someone has spilled on themselves.

Reports show that instead of pulling safely off the road before attending to a mess made in the car, most people would rather attempt to clean-up while still in the car. This is a very bad idea, but what can we do about this habit now that it has become such a part of our lives.

Number one, you can remember these statistics and if you ever do spill, take the time to find a safe sxit and pull over before attempting to do any cleaning. Second, you can be careful of some of the things that you choose to eat while you are in your car.

Basically, anything that has the tendency to spill is the biggest danger while driving, but we will break down the worst culprits for accidents from smallest to largest:

Chocolate-

Chocolate is one of the least offenders, because it does not exactly spill, but it does ooze and crumble and we all know that it can also stain. It also has a tendency to stick on our fingers and make messes on the shift knob, stereo, steering wheel, etc. While we are busy trying to clean this stuff up, we are very vulnerable to the slightest occurrence on the road.

Breakfast Pastries and donuts-

Another common spill item is the breakfast pastry. Jelly, icing, chocolate, and cream have the tendency to find their way outside while we are paying attention to the road, rather than for any porous holes in our snacks.

Hamburgers, hot dogs, and tacos-

Similar to the pastry hazard, hamburgers have a way of losing their topping and when you are driving, but instead of falling on your plate, they end up all over your lap. Items like pickles, shredded lettuce, cheese, catsup’s, mustard, etc., commonly fall out of such food. Worrying about this happening takes enough attention away from the road, but when it does happen it is even worse.

Hot Soups and Chili-

While these have the tendency to spill, they also can burn which spells a double whammy while on the road. A scolding hot item splashing down the front of your shirt or pants commands attention while your attention should be fully on the road!

Barbecue Food-

Most of us can’t even eat this stuff without making a huge mess even when we ARE paying attention, so you can only just imagine how bad we do when we are not. Add in the stain potential similar to chocolate and it is easy to see while this hazard centers our list.

Fried Chicken-

Fried chicken is finger licking good, but it is also very greasy. Most people will try to shy away from leaving grease spots all over their car where they touch, which means when they are driving while eating greasy chicken, they are only driving with a few finger, or the back of their hand. Also not a good idea.

Soft Drinks-

While some may not eat in their car, most all of us have at least drank something. One of the worst offenders of this nature is the soft drink. The nature of this item that gives it its most dangerous factor is its carbonation. A bumpy car ride can shake up a can of soda for a nice explosion and if it goes all over we are going to have the tendency to want to clean it up.

Coffee and Hot Chocolate-

This is the number one cause of most food related accidents right now. Even with the new “spill proof” cups, the liquid nature of this beverage can find its way on the outside of the cup time and again. All it takes is a bump in the road to send the cup flying right onto your lap. Not only can such a spill make a big mess in a hurry, it can also seriously burn you.

These are only a few of the most dangerous foods while on the road, so use your common sense when making the choice to eat in your car… your life depends on it!

Pontiac Firebird-

The word is out in Automotive News, that GM has decided not to market the Pontiac for an additional $200 million beyond that of the Camaro. They don’t see any advantage to offering two relatively similar yet different hot rods in their overall line-up. There are going to be a lot of disappointed Pontiac fans who must have been waiting on pins and needles for the final decision.

Which Firebird exactly would we wish that they’d bring back? Why the Firebird Super Duty 455, as featured in the movie, “Smokey and the Bandi”t. The 1973 version is probably the most infamous of versions. It came at a time when the oil shortage was creating havoc on the performance car market. But somehow the Super Duty was able to squeeze past government restrictions with its big block 455 with 290 horsepower, 395 lbs of torque, and 4-speed Muncie “rock crusher” four speed manual transmission.

While the scoop had a permanent block off plate to adhere to the stricter noise laws, it was widely publicized just how easy it was to drill this out and make it functional again. These engines were held down slightly with emissions standards, but with its mildly aggressive camshaft profile. The engine was one of the greatest designs for its era.

Here is a proposed design of what this Firebird could have looked like.

With todays technology, a 2009 SD-455 would be an absolute beast, capable of no less that 500 plus horsepower right off the showroom floor. Add in the technology to shut down certain cylinders during economic driving, and the Super Duty would have no problem in keeping up with strict emissions, and even less problem keeping up with the Camaro V-8.

Too bad they aren’t going to spring the bucks for this beauty again!

Pontiac Catalina-

Today’s market has been saturated with minivans and station wagons all trying to be the coolest on the block. As of current, the Dodge Magnum Hemi R/T station wagon is one of the top dogs in the market. But what if we introduced a little bit of Pontiac magic into an age old classic that was quite capable of not even getting the groceries, but getting them home before your ice cream even broke a sweat.

The Pontiac Catalina was a powerhouse with its menacing GTO styled front end and very capable 421 cubic inch engine, that was capable in 1966 of 376 horsepower and 461 lbs of torque, using its tri-two barrel set-up. It was a bit hefty in those days, but still managed 0 to 60 in around 7 seconds.

If we would take a retro concept GTO front end and transpose a sleek station wagon, with plenty of beef and bulge. A pointed nose, dual headlights, a 400 horsepower LS2 engine and aluminum body, would definitely give the Magnum a run for its money.

If we can’t have the Firebird, at least give us the dag-gum Catalina!

Pontiac Fiero-

Compact sport roadsters are a popular commodity today… so much in fact, that there is already a market available to the Fiero that has been fostered through the Honda S-2000, BMW Z3, Mazda Miata, etc…

It was actually a beautifully designed mid-engined masterpiece that suffered a lot of unfortunate short comings, such as engine fires and cooling system issues. Even with cost and technical issues, the Fiero remains a popular car to purchase and modify today. The Fiero in 1988 had a 2.8 liter V-6 capable of 135 horsepower and 170 lbs torque, which was respectable for its day. It also had a top speed of 120 mph.

The style of the Fiero was Lotus inspired and offered a clean look at a very affordable price. A new Concept Fiero might be a tough sell with its problematic history, but twenty years later, you are talking about a whole new generation of enthusiasts. The 2.0 liter I-4, 16-valve 260 horsepower motor used in the current Solstice GXP would be a match made in heaven for the lightweight and balanced nature of the mid engine Fiero.

But will Pontiac ever take a chance with such a retro concept? Very doubtful… very doubtful indeed!

Dodge Omni Shelby GLHS “Goes Like He__”-

The Ford Mustang Shelby GT-500 is going gangbusters right now, and a concept of the age old Dodge Omni would put some serious competition on the Mini Cooper. The retro Omni would be well rounded in appearance and refinement, and have some Carrol Shelby fine touches, such as a turbo-charged I-4 complete with a factory intercooler.

The 1986 Dodge Omni GLHS “Goes Like He__ Some-more” 2.2 turbo Shelby edition was capable of 175 horsepower and 200 lbs torque, and that was all in a very simple, lightweight, and front wheel drive car. With today’s technology, it wouldn’t be too hard to create a 300 horsepower version that would certainly give some Corvettes and Vipers a run for their money.

There is a market for these ultra small subcompacts out there, so why not bring back this underestimated classic. Go carts are so much fun… and one capable of quarter mile times of 12 seconds, would be a heck of a lot of fun!

Photo Courtesy of MSN Autos

The Rich Evans Mustang has received a lot of attention since appearing in SEMA this winter. Unfortunately it was not the good kind of attention. More like the “ugliest Mustang ever” and “I think I’m going to lose my cookies” kind of attention. Within every mistake made is a lesson to be learned. Modification is a very delicate practice that involves both bold and subtle changes to a cars exterior, that in theory should highlight its strengths and downplay its weaknesses… here are a few points to remember when modifying your own car to escape these unfortunate mistakes.

• While some may be completely against fake scoops, others tend to ride on the fence. A fake scoop can be a nice addition, if is not played up too much. Many cars are guilty of adopting a fake hood scoop for looks, such as the Z28 Camaro, Rousch Mustang, etc. The featured Mustang here has two scoops that are practically bigger than the entire hood. The eyes are drawn here first, which makes it easy to discern that they are simply tacked on with a little glue, tape, and maybe even a screw or two (hopefully). Too many of these parts have flown off of a car during high speed maneuvering, giving even more shame to its pretend ploy.

• “Tacked on” parts are best in small numbers. It costs much less to add tacked on parts to a car than have it custom fabricated, as much as tens of thousands of dollars less. Just remember that tacked on parts look best when they are purposeful. Much of the tacked on stuff here is questionable as to what it would be actually used for. The duct looking addition on the fender appears to be something that might be used to guide this vehicle in the water… but are we sure about that? No…

• There does have to be somewhat of a theme to your creation, such as road race aerodynamics, custom scalloped, angular, etc. If we look at the design closely we see scallops in the front fascia and spoiler, circles within the grill, side mirrors, and exhaust exits, ovals in the scoops and louvers, and mesh within the wheels. There is no obvious theme that has been followed here. It does not look well planned out at all.

And of course, when in doubt, don’t do it, your first impression is usually the most honest. If you are worried as to whether something is going to look good, it probably won’t if you have to ask yourself that question again and again!