2014 Chevrolet Corvette is Coming!

The Corvette is America's favorite two-seat sportscar. In it's nearly sixty years of production, it's only in its sixth generation, so there's always a lot of excitement whenever a new one comes out.

Now, there's talk of Generation 7 coming in 2014. I just discovered the latest information in this AutoWeek article online.

As a journalist, my seat time in Corvettes has been pretty limited, but it's always a memorable week. The cars are very low to the ground and when you sink down into that cockpit, you know you're not motoring about in a Malibu. The sound of the V8 engine is smooth and quiet now and the interiors are modern and plastic. I still hear Beach Boys songs in my head when I'm driving one, but I haven't been in one in years.

My favorite has always been the Sting Ray series of Corvette--generation 2, from 1963-67, a relatively short run. The car that followed in 1968, Generation 3, ran for well over a decade, with many small, cumulative changes, to 1982 before the all-new 1984 model debuted. There was no 1983 model--an interesting factoid to remember for your next cocktail party.

Meanwhile, the auto press will bubble over sightings and enthusiast speculation until the new car arrives. I hope I'll get to drive it soon after.

Dean of Auto Journalists has Driven Off

David E. Davis, the great editor of Car and Driver and founder of Automobile magazine, died yesterday at age 80. He was one of the great personalities in the auto writing business.

Although I never met Mr Davis, I read a lot of his work. He had strong opinions, and apparently wasn't always easy to deal with, but he changed the world of automotive writing, and I'm grateful for that. In my own small way, every time I write a car column, I owe him something.

See the stories in the automotive press for more:

• Car and Driver


• Autoweek


• Automobile

An Even Smaller MINI -- Rocketman!

I can hear Elton John's iconic song from 1973 in my head as I consider a new, even smaller MINI.

It only makes sense, really, as the new four-door, larger MINI Countryman appears on the scene. MINI is going back to its roots with a car sized more like the original!

When MINI releases a concept, they normally build it later, so this could be the real thing. It will sell against the smart car and tiny offerings from Toyota, among others.

Read all about it, courtesy of Autoweek.