By Cor Steenstra, Photography: Chris Jones, Models Aleece Martt and Mark Rodriguez, Hair and make up Mike Gallego

We had the pleasure of taking the new Hyundai Genesis Coupe for a spin recently. After our extremely positive experiences with the Hyundai Genesis Sedan, our expectation were naturally set quite high and although we did come away with a positive verdict in general, there are still areas in which we think the Genesis Coupe should definitely improve if Hyundai wants to play in the same league of the big boys in this segment.

Perceived quality is of the utmost importance, and in that respect the Coupe faltered. The doors are the main culprit. Opening the door it immediately becomes obvious from the thin and feeble body section that this is not a very solid and sturdy construction. To boot, in shutting the door, a hollow metallic sound is heard, more associated with an early 1970’s Citroen 2CV than with a coupe of this caliber.

Hyundai has come a long way from where it once was, clearly, but it is exactly these areas where the competitors have years and years of expertise and that they have standardized in every product. The Hyundai culture is clearly not quite yet at that level, but as soon as it is, and that will be soon, it will never make these kind of mistakes again.

The Genesis Coupe has a more polarizing exterior design than its sedan brethren, especially where the “funky” body surfaces and the dripping 3/4 window are concerned, but in all it makes a sporty impression, so much so that California police automatically assume you must have been speeding in this car when you pass by them. Get out your wallets for the tickets that come with it, and don’t buy a red version, since that is equivalent to an open invitation to the CHP.

[View with PicLens]

12345►

By Cor Steenstra

The Chevrolet Traverse represents the current Chevrolet design language, with using established underpinnings with a refreshed front end, tail and main body design. The grille and pronounced head lights are clearly in line with the car section, and the dynamic lines used throughout also reflect the same. The dynamic kick-up of the catwalk toward the rear gives the overall design more direction compared to the conventional SUVs.

This is a very big car, and as such it takes some getting used to in manoeuvrings around town, but with the aid of the built in warning systems and camera, it is an easy process. Inevitably, finding good parking spots is a bit more of a hassle, especially if you also want to enter and exit the car without damaging other vehicles.

The interior in itself is of contemporary design, with better fit and finish than we had becomes used to from Chevrolet in the past. It is nothing exciting, but it works well and ergonomically placed. The choice of color and materials, especially on the pillars and roof have to be questioned though, since the drab light tan starts resembling old coffee stains very soon. Something a bit more refreshing would be very welcome.

[View with PicLens]

123►

By Cor Steenstra

The design language of Cadillac has become much better defined off late, and this Cadillac SRX is an excellent example of it. The razor sharp edges remain and are cleverly combined with references to the historic Cadillac winged-fenders of the late 50’s. If you look at the surfacing in close-up detail, it is amazing to see the subtleties used throughout.  Combine that with an excellent stance of the body over the wheels, the well sculpted shape of the wheel arches and the excellent fit and finish, and you have plenty of reason to go out and buy this car.

For an SUV this is a more acceptable size than the Escallade, by far not taking up as much space, not as plump, and much more maneuverable and dynamic. Of course there are quite a few people who claim they need the extra space of the Escallade, but at least with this SRX there is a real decision to be made between good looks and large space.

The interior too gives off an image of quality in design and fit and finish. It carries through the Cadillac design language from the exterior and is full of nice little details that make it both ergonomic and entertaining. Space is more than ample, and seating is sumptuous without being too soft.

The only negative we had about the SRX is the fuel consumption. It is of course a 4WD vehicle, and it certainly is not light, but it would have been nice if this SRX could have been a sign of the NEW GM that we see advertised everywhere, with a fuel consumption that comes along with it. Sadly, and average of just under 15 mpg could not warm out hearts.

[View with PicLens]

1234►

By Cor Steenstra, photography by Chris Jones, Model Candice Barthlomew, make-up by Les Laborde.

We were really looking forward to finally driving the new Chevrolet Camaro. With its whirlwind marketing campaign, its bold stance against both the Ford Mustang and the Dodge Challenger, and the reputation GM has built up over the decades with the Camaro, we were anxious to find how it would fulfill its promisse.

The exterior design of the Camaro is clearly in the same semi retro style as the Mustang and Challenger, though there seems to be a modern interpretation given to the Camaro design. The belt line is relatively high and the roof line is kept low, making for a aw inspiring side view which is only enhanced by the low slung windows. In reality the rear overhang of the Camaro is shorter than it appears to be, due to the taper off of the center line, which gives it a more compact stance in rear three-quarter view.

Outfitted in the bold yellow body color, we did get comments about “Bumblebee” everywhere we went, from grown ups as well as from children. It definitely is a head turner. That same attracting attention is also to its detriment. The yellow, the body design and the exhaust noise both led to other, similar cars, as well as to any police officer anywhere, to see what we would do, and to see if we could be provoked into some illegal activity. It forced us to be extra cautious, and not fall for the trap of over revving the engines like others did at traffic lights. We did not get tickets..!

The interior is also reminiscent of times gone by, and very nicely given a modern interpretation of this, though sometimes compromising legibility in the process. You really have to know the car to “get” it, to use all it has, since some interior items are placed in unusual places for the looks sake.

Ergonomics have also been slightly compromised by the retro-looking design, in the sense that the high window sill does no longer allow a Camaro driver to drive with his elbow casually slung out of the window. To do that you would have to contort your body in such an unusual and painful way, that it definitely does not look cool.

All of this of course does not weigh up to the fact that for 1 week we were driving “Bumblebee”, and the cool factor of that, the admiring stares of even the youngest of movie goers, is just impressive. Excellent marketing by GM for this car ensures it a place on the “to-have” cars of this day, gas guzzling 14.4 mpg or not…

[View with PicLens]

12345►

By Cor Steenstra, Photography and video Cor Steenstra, model Kaylin Omo, photographer on screen Chris Jones.

We thought it might be interesting for you to take a sneak peak behind the scenes of one of our photo shoots. In this particular case Chris Jones was shooting the Nissan 370Z Roadster with model Kaylin Omo at a location off the 74 Highway in Southern California. Our Cor Steenstra took his own photo and video cams to shoot the scenes. Enjoy.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kdf8hs6a0lM

[View with PicLens]

123►

During a special Electric Vehicle Dutch Business Breakfast on June 17 at the Royal Dutch Consulate in downtown San Francisco, Cor Steenstra presented Steenstra GCM, the new American company which aims to produce high-end zero emission sports cars. During the presentation Steenstra also unveiled the latest guise of the Styletto, an electrically powered super sports car squarely aimed at the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini.

Since first introduced in September 2009, the Styletto underwent extensive engineering and aerodynamic research, which clearly influenced the design to become more homogeneous, sleek and dynamic. The attendees, a distinct selection of representatives for venture capital companies, investors, lawyers and bankers, were clearly impressed by both the design of the Styletto, as well as by Steenstra’s timely concept for this company.

With the current oil disaster in the Gulf Coast, it is ever more apparent that the United States should no longer be as dependent of fossil fuels as it has been, if it wants to retain a livable environment for future generations, a point emphasized by Steenstra in his personal motivation for starting this capital undertaking.

In the video above you will hear Steenstra’s speech accompanying his Powerpoint presentation.

[View with PicLens]

12►

The Dodge Journey is a very capable workhorse, a fresh looking small SUV that will function very well in executing the daily chores of bringing the kids to school en doing the shopping. The build quality is contemporary Chrysler/Dodge, which means that it works well, but it definitely does not break new grounds. That is also true for the overall impression of this Dodge Journey; It is “nice” in every sense, but to say it stands out in any sense would be a vast exaggeration.

The exterior design is well balanced, but not contemporary let alone advanced. The interior is along the well known Dodge-Chrysler mold we have seen over the past few years, with hard edged shapes, sometimes with softer than expected materials, but accentuated by cheap looking semi-metal finishes that I would associate with a painted plastic scale model quality rather than a serious attempt at suggesting a metal material.

The most outstanding factor with this car is the fuel consumption. With the size and given the current concern for fuel economy, one would expect the car to use somewhere between 21 and 25 mpg. Sadly, only in highway use we were able to get close to 17 mpg, but as soon as in town traffic was involved, 14 mpg was most likely. That is just not of this time.

[View with PicLens]

12►

By Cor Steenstra, photography Chris Jones, model Kaylin Omo, hair & make-up Heather Ivy.

We recently had the chance to experience the Nissan 370Z Roadster, and, as usual with our recent convertible tests, California weather was playing bad for most of the time. I have no clue what it is these days with the weather here in SoCal, but it does not seem to want to play along very much.

The Nissan however did its very best to make me forget about that part. It is a very nimble little car, with a smooth gearbox sliding effortlessly through the gears, even at speed. The car never gives you the impression to be out of control. Though clearly more sportely catered than the recent Infiniti and Lexus convertibles we tested, it never become uncomfortable in it’s ride harshness.

The exterior design is not quite as smooth and harmonious as we would have expected from this car. Given that the basic design of the current 370Z is quite well balanced and a clear more modern intepretation of the previous design, the convertible is less so. Gone is the very logical smooth open version of the current car. Instead there seems to be a rather over complicated swoop up towards the headrests, combined with sweeping cutlines for the soft top storage.

With the stance of the car, the basic solid design theme, and the width to height balance, the car still is a head turner whereever we went, so in that respect Nissan design did get a lot out of it, but we feel it could have gotten much more out of it if the car was also simply stunningly gorgeous.

The interior, like the base 370Z, is rather cramped, catering towards the average jockey figure. With such a big eye on the US market and the potential for numbers of sales here, it is surprising Nissan packaged the car so compact, thus disenfranchising a lot of potential customers of average and above American built.

[View with PicLens]

123►

By Cor Steenstra, photography Chris Jones, model Michaela, Hair Michael D Gallego, make up Sian.

Hyundai has been in a real uplift over the recent period, starting with the introduction of the Genesis sedan very impressively competing with established European high end brands. With that same confidence Hyundai set out to re-design their Tucson SUV, and the result leaves very little to be desired.

You can take that statement pretty literally actually. The only thing on the exterior we would like to see are much bigger wheels, since the exterior design deserves to be better served than with the smallish wheels we found on our test vehicle. On the interior we would be really nitpicking in saying that the quality of the leather stitching starting on the back of the front seats was not up to par with the stitching displayed in front of that. For some reason it seems to be suggest “out of sight – out of mind”, which is a shame.

The Tucson drives well, is handy enough, shows excellent fit and finish, definitely at the top of its category, and has the modern flair styling of current Hyundai design language without going over the top. It does not stand out as much as the new Sonata does in that category, but it is definitely new and refreshing in a tasteful manner.

The instrument panel is very modern in design, well executed ergonomically and looks dynamic and sporty. Again with the arrival of the Genesis, Hyundai has adopted a good navigation system in combination with its XM radio option, something that was lacking with Hyundai’s for quite some time, and the built-in reverse camera on the screen only adds to the value for money impression we left this car with.

[View with PicLens]

123►