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Subaru seeks to dump 'quirky,' broaden appeal

When Subaru arrived in the United States in the 1960s, ads used the unflattering slogan "cheap and ugly." The brand has come a long way. But to critics, the concept of "Subaru styling" is still an oxymoron. Even loyalists describe it as "quirky"; the less charitable choose "bland" and "boxy." Subaru is one of the few brands that have been unscathed, even growing stronger, during the U.S.

Skoda at the Paris motor show 2008

By Ben Whitworth Motor Shows 02 October 2008 17:33 Skoda launched its revised Octavia at the Paris motor show – and it's clear to see they've injected some mini-Superb DNA. And that was about it for the Czech marque this year; 2008 is a bit of a slow period for Skoda, before the product onslaught begins in earnest next year. With its new nose and tail bringing it into line with the new Superb, the Skoda Octavia now has much needed visual presence.

Visionary tech

Ignore the marketers: There's nothing new under the technological sun. Cost and reliability concerns may have hindered the early adoption of these auto-tech breakthroughs, though you'd never know it based on their present-day ubiquity. 1941: Crossovers The combination of a fully enclosed, carlike body and all-wheel-drive underpinnings got its start with the Volkswagen Type 87 Kommandeurwagen.