RIP Gentle Soul, Amy Winehouse

"Love is a Losing Game"
RIP, Amy Winehouse. I have no idea why some drug addicts die, and why others, like myself, reform and live to see another decade or three. We all have demons, we all cope with them the best we can. Some of us die young, others not so much. I'm never sure which is the better outcome. I could have died 5-6 times already, if not more. I've come "this" close...

Amy, if we had met in this world, I'm sure we would have laughed together more than we would have raised our voices in opposition! 

Talent is talent, and I thank you for sharing yours with us. You're in the next stage now—and I'm jealous—but then, you knew that already, didn't you? 

Tears Dry on their Own:

On the David Letterman show, 2007, with her hit "Rehab:"

Will You Still Love Me, Tomorrow?

New Lincoln Flagship Based on MKT?

A U T O M O T I V E   N E W S — The word on the street, well actually on the electronic highway anyway, is that Lincoln is preparing a new flagship, perhaps based on the MKT. Jalopnik's story here. Autoblog is also reporting this story. SOMEONE in Detroit may actually be watching my chops, lol. I've been "working" on new Lincoln flagships for quite awhile. I've posted these fantasy Lincolns in this blog before, but to jog your memories here they are again.

With thanks to a friend for alerting me to the Jalopnik piece! All images clickable thumbnails for greater detail. Click on "Lincolns" in the Label list on the right of this blog to see all of my Lincoln creations.

My MKT-based Mark Coupe, a flagship 2 door luxury car, in the tradition of  the Mark I-VIII. This would be a long wheelbase, all-wheel drive coupe.

An MKL, a luxury sedan based on the MKT concept vehicle.

My Town Car, based on the MKT design language. The C pillar features a vertical "opera window" in the manner of the '80s and '90s Town Car. The gentle rise in the beltline is similar to the '70-'71 Lincoln Continentals.

This Town Car, uses the same white MKT EcoBoost model as above, but is a bit more traditional with a "sixth window" following the regular greenhouse shape. I lengthened the trunk quite a bit to give it that old-school sedan look, pushed the front wheels forward and sectioned the body to take some height out of it.

Completely off the wall, but one of my favorite chops, is this Mark Coupe based on the Aston Martin Lagonda concept crossover. This coupe would feature an ultra luxurious Recaro bucket seat interior for four, and all wheel drive.

This Bodes Well for Saab

A U T O M O T I V E   N E W S — Saab's new design director, Jason Castriota, answered critics concerned about his experience and ability to "get" the Saab brand. Instead of sitting in his Turinese ivory tower, or glass-and-steel enclosed office more likely, and being "above it all" as SO many automobile design directors would do, Castriota wrote a long letter to the club that voiced its concerns. If I had ever become a car designer, and perhaps been elevated to chief designer at some point, I'd like to think this is exactly the same thing I would do. In fact, I know it is. Without even seeing any of his future designs, I have no doubt that this designer "gets" the brand and gets what is at stake here, nothing less than the Saab brand itself. Saab won't be around in five years if he doesn't get it right.

For the Autoblog article I first read about this matter in, click here.

For the letter from the Saab United club to Mr. Castriota, click here.

For Mr. Castriota's reply to the Saab United, click here.

I really think this exchange is fantastic. Castriota's letter is clear, concise, very well written, and gives us an insight into his personal thoughts, his design ideas, and the company's mission statement. It's great that we live in this age of instant communication and widespread transparency. In decades past, private letters would have been sent, perhaps copies would have been sent to the club members, but more than likely none of us in the general public would know that in addition to his massive design skills, just how considerate and well-versed in his new brand Castriota is. That is the sign of a good person in addition to a great designer. I think the Saab brand is in good hands! "True, Bold Saab," indeed. It will be really interesting watching how he builds this storied brand.