SOME OF YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE HIGH-OCTANE TRUTH. – Rants

By Peter M. DeLorenzo 

Detroit. It’s Vehicle Exhibit week right here in the Motor City. Indeed, you read that properly. Soon after two-and-one-fifty percent decades of postponements, false begins and navel-gazing concerns as to “what is it all about?” the Detroit Automobile Display, these types of as it is, is slated to commence with a media day on Wednesday (this week’s publication day – WG). 

Truly, this “media day” is a misnomer, simply because what applied to be two jam-packed times of media push conferences, merchandise rollouts and greatly orchestrated and, in some cases, excruciating govt pontificating, has been decreased to a 50 %-assed facsimile of what made use of to be.

Oh guaranteed, there are outside shows, and tightly controlled “ride and drives” in and around Huntington Spot (previously acknowledged as Cobo Hall), but the reality is that what was at the time a correct global auto show loaded with important new product or service reveals has now been reduced to a hometown retail demonstrate, the place the countless numbers of persons who are possibly instantly or indirectly associated in the auto business in this location can go and revel in the fruits of their labor and say a thing like, “We did the reduce front valance on the new Mustang.”

It is no massive revelation that the COVID pandemic generally destroyed the vehicle demonstrate model. It upended the auto exhibit calendar and hastened its demise by putting the total circus on a educate to Oblivion, which is 1 quit previous Out of date Station. 

Is this the Detroit Exhibit organizers’ fault? Not in the minimum. These people are battling mightily to make the Detroit Vehicle Clearly show suitable and an car-themed spot for relatives amusement. A substantial effort is currently being built – supported by the local media – to make the display attractive once more. But the fact is that the plot has been shed and the absence of the Detroit Vehicle Clearly show has not designed hearts develop fonder. As a substitute it has planted an overwhelming sense of ennui, which has permeated the collective consciousness of the individuals who utilised to give a damn.

Indeed, the situations have changed. The automobile companies have realized that the collective hundreds of thousands and thousands of dollars they utilized to spend on auto reveals was a huge squander of revenue. Automobile reveals have been replaced by specific product rollouts to what passes for the automotive media, alleged social media “influencers” and effectively-heeled clientele who can distribute the phrase a great deal far more proficiently and fundamentally, instantaneously. 

It does not assistance that the retail vehicle market has inexorably adjusted far too. Men and women do not shop at sellers any longer the limitless provide chain difficulties have put paid out to that quaint idea. Now, it is spec-out an get for a motor vehicle and wait around or hope anyone on a checklist to get a motor vehicle cancels and makes an open slot. 

Hold out a minute, wouldn’t that make the Detroit Automobile Show a lot more desirable? Really, no. Folks are employed to viewing anything and anything at all to do with new and approaching automobiles on the World wide web. Right now. There’s no secret or attract anymore, no ready with anticipation for the sellers to remove the paper covering up the showroom windows like ancient occasions. Folks now know what is coming a yr or extra in advance down to the past detail, it is just the way matters are carried out these days. And in addition to, people today all around in this article are mindful of cars from all of the brands very well ahead of absolutely everyone else. We see prototypes on the highway all the time, years in progress way too. 

Is there something going on at the “new” Detroit Vehicle Exhibit? The only expose of be aware in Detroit will be Ford’s expose of the final ICE Mustang, Wednesday night. Is this function ample to give the Detroit Automobile Clearly show reliability or desirability? No. It is akin to the Detroit Lions holding “family” day. You basically know what’s going to come about – with a couple of wrinkles thrown in for the sake of “new” – but we have all been there and completed that ahead of, have not we?

This column will be a bitter tablet for some, but reality has a way of obtaining in the way. The Superior-Octane Reality is that the Detroit Vehicle Exhibit is lifeless, no issue what kind it requires. And what’s going on in its place this week will be a a single hit speculate. There’s just not ample “buzz” to sustain factors outside of this calendar year. 

Oh, and a person far more detail. I refuse to sit by and enable producers develop artificial sounds for their EVs and connect with it “good” or acceptable. Stellantis is touting the artificially-established muscle audio emanating from its new Charger EV prototype as something that is reliable and fascinating. But that is Unmitigated Bush League Bullshit. Digital-produced and projected audio – no make a difference how enhanced – is the quintessential definition of synthetic phoniness. There is nothing at all “authentic” about it and there is no “there” there. The Substantial-Octane Fact is that it is flat-out stupid, no matter how it is presented. And it’s the most depressing progress to strike this enterprise in a extensive, extended time.

There you have it. Two wildly unpopular subjects this 7 days. 

The Higher-Octane Real truth has never been handy, necessarily come to feel-excellent common, or for the faint of heart. 

And which is the Significant-Octane Truth of the matter for this 7 days.

Even if some of you can’t tackle it.

“You Cannot Tackle The Truth of the matter” – A Several Great Males.