By Rob Einaudi

Editor-in-Chief

Do Aztek’s really deserve all the hate? How do you like this one? One more pic after the jump!

Continue reading "Awesome Aztek" »

Just when John was finally getting to like Porsche, they go and cook up something like this. Actually, it’s unlikely that Ivan Volkov’s design is as of yet an official Porsche concept car, and considering the backlash the company faced over the Cayenne, it’s unlikely that they’d push something this boxy and pufferfish-looking to production. Volkov’s website refers vaguely to the vehicle’s two-part construction, and in some renderings, the Traveler appears to have an integrated trailer module that’s able to pop out for towing, though it’s unclear where the third set of wheels is hiding. All in all, it’s one big WTF, and the AutoMotto story about the car isn’t coherent enough to answer many of our questions. Enjoy the pics, though!

Continue reading "Porsche Traveler Concept: the Aztek of our Generation?" »

I know Rob’s sick of all the Aztek hatin’, but I can’t help but hate it. It’s ugly any which way you slice it. On the other hand, this Aztek I spotted on a recent visit to GM’s Heritage Center actually looked, well, decent. I couldn’t get a straight answer as to why GM built it, but the lowered stance, the huge chrome five-spokes, the wide-ass fender flares and the boy-racer interior (complete with roll cage and manual trans shifter sticking up between the buckets) makes me think SEMA. However, the utter lack of any plastic cladding, roof rack or anything else not necessary for go is what I really like about it. Now why didn’t they build ‘em like this in the first place?

Automotive design is a very subjective thing, with people having some pretty individual ideas about does and doesn’t appeal to the human eye. Still and all, how do some companies get it so right, while others get it soooo wrong?  It got me thinking about the extremes of design: what car might be considered the ultimate masterpiece, and what’s the ultimate abomination? I’ll be interested to see if there’s any consensus on what’s obviously a subjective topic.

My personal worst is the Pontiac Aztec. I know that by now it’s kind of a cheap shot to pick on this hideous thing, but hey, there’s a reason everyone hates its guts. I find it totally unbelievable that some bunch of suits sitting around a conference table at GM were able to reach the conclusion, "Yep, we’ve got a winner here!" I mean, honestly: the rear of the Aztec looks as though someone simply sliced it off where the tailgate was supposed to go. And the mangled dog’s-breakfast that passes for a front clip?  WOOF!  Simply amazing that this thing ever got off the drawing board.

My pick for best design ever has to be the Lamborghini Miura. WOW, and in a good way! The Miura is, in my humble opinion, one of the most beautiful machines ever crafted by human hands. Even the typical design risks like air scoops, louvers, and bulges become miniature works of art on this masterpiece of a car. Every detail is sculpted in pure emotion, and the end result is all-over sexy—like holy cow, momma mia sexy!

I suppose if one is to walk away with anything from this comparison it should be this: one car was designed by committee, the other by emotion. Too bad so many companies have yet to figure out how to merge the two.

So what’re your best and worst vehicle designs?  Lemmie know.

The public’s hyperbolic revulsion for Pontiac’s awkward SUV is finally taking its toll: only 25 "new" Aztecs were sold in 2007. This is qualified by the fact that the Aztek ceased production in 2005—the vehicles sold are just the lonely remnants, sitting on dealer lots for years, that sales staff have been unable to unload. I wonder how many are left? Catch the story at edmunds.

Oh it’s a showstopper alright—if you want everyone to stop what they’re doing and go home. The confused safari/taxi/checkered-flag/jungle theme is what’ll set this custom beast apart from the other pimped-out Azteks in your hood. The purpose of the light bar on the roof is a little unclear, though maybe it ties into the law-enforcement motif suggested by the gun-wielding monkey with the sheriff’s badge. The auction text boasts "A PAINT JOB BY THREE!! ARTISTS WITH MONKEYS!!!!!" The notion that multiple artists and monkeys were working on this schizophrenic nightmare certainly does explain a few things, but we at CarDomain are honestly pretty stumped about why this custom job was ever allowed to exist in the first place. Any ideas?

Kudos to Sean’s brother Paul for sending this our way.

Honestly, I’m sick of all the Aztek hate. Seems like the Aztek is the butt of just about every automotive joke out there. It consistently makes every "worst" or "ugliest" car list–most recently scoring top honors with Time Magazine and Hagerty. Get over it, people. The Aztek isn’t that bad. Seriously. Just check out Joe’s Aztek below. Or Dave’s Aztek sporting wing doors. And then there’s GM’s official 2001 SEMA image vehicle with an 11" lift and crazy paint. Still not convinced? Then read Beck’s poem. We have 47 proud Aztek owners on our site. Cut ‘em some slack.