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PRETTY BECOMES UGLY

Automakers take risks, some major; some minor. With paint technology accelerating at a furious pace, and with “all new” frequently denoting five new colour choices, the risk involved with offering nasty colour combos, or even boring combinations, isn’t overwhelming.

  

We understand the simple concept of wide, horizontal stripes equating with the exaggeration of girth. We know that the delivery of those same stripes in bright colours hurts the cause more substantially.
So why do stylists sometimes fail to follow the light as it falls on the fenders of their automobiles?  I know not, but Porsche’s Cayman in Dark Olive Metallic; Mazda’s RX-8 in Crystal White Pearl; Ford Mustang convertibles in Vapor; and the Saturn Sky in Forest Green are four very good-looking cars made very bad.  
Daily Tracker
Oil Crisis Monitor
Updated: Oct 11, 2026 — 4:12 AM MT
Strait of Hormuz
224
Days
Day 224 — Saudi GACA: strike on Riyadh's King Khalid airport on Oct 10 kills at least 12. The strait remains closed.
Day 224: A strike on Riyadh's main airport kills at least 12 and wounds 309, Saudi Arabia's aviation authority says.
Brent Crude
+43.2% since closure
$104.72
/bbl
Today: +$0.44 (+0.4%)
U.S. Gas Avg
+45.3% since closure
$4.36
/gal
Today: −$0.01
WTI Crude
+33.1% since closure
$91.85
/bbl
Today: +$0.36 (+0.4%)
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2 days
Oct 13
USMCA Tariffs
25% IEEPA + 232 duties
IN EFFECT
193
Day
2026 SAAR Forecast
16.1–16.8M
▼ 16.8M
prev. forecast
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