Auto Body Gilroy News: 7-3-12

2013 Infiniti JX35 [w/video] – AutoBlog

Big Luxury That’s Long On Looks

Three-row crossovers are a bit like accounting departments in that every automaker has one, and there isn’t much else about them that’s exciting. But while most every automaker offers a crossover with seating for seven or eight, there surprisingly aren’t many options in the luxury space. The Audi Q7 doesn’t really count since it weighs an SUV-like 5,200 pounds. Lincoln offers the MKT, but few buyers have taken Ford’s luxury marque up on that offer. And then there is the Buick Enclave, which sells well but suffers from that “not quite a Cadillac” feeling. That’s it… every other three-row luxury vehicle falls squarely in the body-on-frame SUV category, until now.

Infiniti is looking to spice up the larger luxury space with its JX35, which is built on next-generation Nissan Pathfinder hardware, but with more expressive sheet metal and a spruced-up cabin compared to its mainstream counterpart. Since the field is wide open for Infiniti, the luxury brand appears ready to blaze its own trail with a reasonable $40,000 price of entry and an impressive suite of available features.

Continue reading 2013 Infiniti JX35 [w/video]

1956 Chevy 210 – Yesterday’s Child (HotRod)

A Case of Mistaken Identity

When it comes to photographing a car for a feature, it’s always good to know the car’s really a driver. We asked Ric Panneton about the best spots to photograph his ’56 Chevy 210 and were relieved to hear that he had no qualms about driving it to wherever we needed to go. We arrived at Ric’s house to find that the car was still tuned for drag racing as it had been when it ran at Famoso a few weeks prior. Ten minutes with the fiberglass front clip off had the distributor dialed back to a more cruising-friendly timing setting, and we were caravanning through Covina, California, the car’s loping idle drawing fellow motorists to turn their heads. One motorcyclist on a street bike nodded his approval through an open helmet visor, and pedestrians stopped in their tracks to stare. A legit, street-driven gasser is interesting enough, but the history of this car and how it managed to cross paths with its original owner are truly what makes it worthy of attention.

Photo Gallery:1956 Chevy 210 – Yesterday’s Child – Hot Rod Magazine