Plus: Honda's Element doesn't drive as cool as it looks. But it's close!

AnthropomorPhantom ... Here's an exercise: Go to the Facial Beauty Experiment  page. Click on the arrows to morph the face to maximum masculinity. There. Doesn't he look like the new Rolls Royce! It's those huge, wide-spaced, architect-straight brows. ... 9:03 P.M.

New Jersey mayor indicted. Artist sleeps with model. Italian government falls: Land Rover is having quality problems. This is the most shocking information since the news that Scott Weiland of the Stone Temple Pilots is entering rehab. ... Update: Dave Leggett has more on the chronic Land Rover quality problems on his excellent auto business blog. ... 7:21 P.M.

Embattled BMW design chief Chris Bangle reacts gracefully under pressure,saying (of the imposing but gratuitously weird 7 series luxury sedan):

Only people who ... say 'I've got to not like something,' have a problem with it.

In Newsweek a few months ago, Bangle responded to Keith Naughton's criticism of the car's controversial I-Drive control with:

 "I don't mean to be arrogant about it, but what does a journalist know?"

P.S.: He also accused his enemies of spreading "disinformation" and of wanting "to use journalism as a political tool," boasting, "The fourth quarter belongs to us!" ... Oh, wait. That was embattled NYT editor Howell Raines, not Bangle. I'm getting my vendettas crossed. ..[Emphasis added. Thanks to reader L.H.] 3:17 P.M.

Thursday,  May 29, 2003

Get your Audis now, before they switch to the obnoxious new corporate "shield" grille, seen here on the Nuvolari concept vehicle. The grille "harks back to Nuvolari's Auto Union racing cars," according to Automobile magazine. ... I suppose it's less obnoxious than some of the other symbols evocative of Auto Union cars of that era (the 1930s). ... 2:14 A.M.

Friday, May 9, 2003

Jagt Mickey Kaus endlich zum Teufel! The Stop Chris Bangle petition now has 4,977 signatures  ... The Stop Mickey Kaus petiton has ... er ... one signature. ... Eine! ...  Ha, ha, ha. ... Ha, ha, ha, ha! ... [Maybe nobody knew it was there-ed Hey, I'm gloating here, all right? Don't look now but it's up to 30 signatures. At this rate you'll pass Bangle before Christmas-ed. Not after the 5 Series comes out. 31-ed]   3:20 A.M.