OUT-OF-CONTROL FIRES, NASTY WEATHER, A SURGING, INSIDIOUS VIRUS AND A SUFFOCATING POLITICAL RANCOR. 2020? GOOD RIDDANCE. BUT NOT BEFORE THE AUTOEXTREMIST YEAR IN REVIEW!

By Peter M. DeLorenzo

Detroit. We have arrived at the point in The Year Like No Other with enough ennui to fill Ford Field to the rafters. To say that this year has been a relentless Shit Show is the understatement of the century. It has been a kaleidoscope of out-of-control fires, nasty weather events, a surging, insidious virus and a suffocating political rancor that hangs over everything like a giant black cloud. Needless to say, it has been a Tidal Basin of Not Good.

As I said one month ago, the fact of the matter is that no matter how bad this year has been, we all have something to be thankful for. We all have people in our circle who make a difference and who need to be recognized and appreciated, and this seems to be the perfect time to do that. For a lot of people, gathering will not be possible, but contacting the people who matter in your life at this very moment in time might be the most giving thing we can do. 

We all have to remember that life is hard for a lot of people, and this pandemic has made it even more so. The hoary saying “count your blessings” is never more relevant than it is right now. The fallout from the impact of the virus has decimated livelihoods, entire industries have been destroyed or irrevocably altered, and the collateral human damage has been heartbreaking.

And the fact is that none of it can be swept under the rug, either. This year, this miserable 2020, is finally coming to an end. But it’s not as if a switch will be flipped and everything bad about 2020 will magically disappear on January 1. No, the stench of The Year Like No Other will linger well into the new year. (On that note, we have put together a few of Peter’s more memorable quotes from this past year, as a reminder of what went on here at AE in 2020. -WG)

“Now? Manufacturers, from boutique to major, can generate huge impact and dominate the news cycle at least for a few days without even showing anything but a computer-generated image or video promising that The Future will be bright and that their ElectrifiedEight will redefine transportation for the next decade, if not more. It doesn’t matter that actual production timing is sketchy, because those little details seem to escape the mainstream media’s scrutiny every time. And it doesn’t matter that the manufacturer in question didn’t exist until a couple of years ago, because it is immediately assigned a gravitas rivaling an auto manufacturer that has been in business for 100 years, without having produced one vehicle.” (“We’ve Reached Peak ‘Just Showing Up.’” – 2/19)

“Last but not least is the uncanny knack by car company executives and operatives to assign blame to absolutely anything and everything else, rather than embrace the notion of accountability. A bad quarter? ‘We had to make some difficult decisions due to in-market disruptions.’ (We stunk it up so bad that none of the top executives are available for the analyst call.) The latest Belchfire Luxury 8 isn’t selling? ‘Our product mix was front-loaded with heavily optioned units; we’ve corrected that now.’ (It’s such a design disaster that dealers have simply stopped ordering them until the incentives are jacked up.) The latest product launch is a disaster? ‘We had some initial glitches, which required us to spend more time than we liked on after-production fixes.’ (It was such a cluster that we’re having to rebuild the sonofabitches one by one.) The ultimate culprit taking its place in the blame game, whether it be a disastrous product launch, a horrid financial performance, or a piss-poor design failure? Sunspots. You can always resort to blaming it on Sunspots.” ("The Other Illnesses Affecting The Auto Industry.” – 3/4)

“If you’ve frequented these pages, you know that this is one of the founding mantras of The High-Octane Truth: Outstanding products are simply the lifeblood of this business. It’s a fact about this business that never grows old or out of style. There have been outstanding auto companies – at least on paper – that have been crippled by piss-poor products, or seemingly promising products that those companies in question are unable to build in a timely fashion. Conversely, there are some auto companies out there that have managed to alight on breakthrough products that have effectively saved the companies from disaster, while masking a cornucopia of ills and internal chaos.” (“It’s Still About The Product, Stupid.” – 3/11)

“I am hopeful that this difficult time will teach us all some incredibly valuable lessons going forward: That myopic self-absorption is not a trait to be proud of; that callous indifference to our fellow citizens is never a good thing; that caring for the well-being of our elders, or for people less fortunate than us is something to relish and aspire to. Because, frankly, the way this great nation has been trending in recent times has been nothing to be proud of. This medical crisis is the most terrible way to force us back on track; I just hope we can all stay there for a very long time to come.” (“Valuable Lessons.” – 3/18)

“Now, to be sure, if you don’t have an outstanding product, success in the marketplace is a non-issue, because you can’t get there without it. But the biggest disappointment for me – well, at least one of them anyway – is that even the most brilliantly-executed product will languish in the market if the marketing strategy is off, or the advertising sucks. Having a focused and fearless marketing-advertising campaign is just as essential as having a great product. In fact, without that crucial component I have seen many finely-executed cars languish in the market and eventually fall by the wayside. And, to paraphrase Chris Rock, that just ain’t right.” (“Lost In Translation.” – 5/13)

“If anything, I keep going back to the one thing that’s undeniable about our collective love for the automobile, the one thing that no computer simulation - no matter how powerful or creatively enhanced - can compete with. And that is the freedom of mobility. The ability to go and do, coupled with the freedom to explore and experience is not only a powerful concept, it is fundamental to the human experience, which is why the automobile in all of its forms remains so compelling and undeniably intoxicating.” ("For No Better Reason, Indeed.” – 5/27)

“Autoextremist.com has been quite the trip. When we started the site 21 years ago, I had no plan beyond the fact that I had something to say and I needed a forum to say it. It turns out that after having grown up immersed in the heyday of this business in a decidedly privileged automotive childhood – and combining that with my own experiences in marketing, advertising and motorsports – I had plenty to say. And I still do. After all, how many pursuits allow you to make a mark… and leave a mark?” (“Twenty-One Years of the High-Octane Truth.” – 6/3) 

“It’s only semi-funny that every time BMW does something that’s even remotely positive BMW fanboys insist that it is an indication that company operatives are finally rediscovering their roots. It never lasts, unfortunately. BMW seems to be locked in a one-step forward, three-steps back dance of mediocrity that perpetually mires the company in a suspended state of animation. BMW operatives can’t remember what BMW once stood for because they simply don’t have a clue.” (“A BMW Too Far…” – 6/11)

“Twenty-one years ago, when I became tired of what the ad biz had become, tired of the sycophants, the ass-kissers, the spineless weasels and the other two-bit players who had turned what was once a pretty interesting profession into a vapid wasteland, I knew I had to do something different. I had also grown tired of seeing the auto business – as practiced here in Detroit – sink further into the Abyss of risk-avoidance-driven mediocrity and watching legions of so-called ‘executives’ make horrendous, piss-poor decisions day after day on behalf of their respective auto companies. As I watched the carnage unfold around me, I knew that something had to be said by someone who had firsthand knowledge of what was going on. Someone who was in the trenches and on the front lines of the ongoing battle and, of course, that someone turned out to be me.” (“Write Hard, Die Free, Continued.” – 7/1)

“One thing that will never change at Porsche, apparently, is the fact that they employ the most creative – and flat-out usurious – pricing and option structure in the business, which is the reason it is one of if not the most profitable car company in the world. Now, to be clear, I have no problem with car companies making money; it’s the name of the game, in fact. But Porsche’s pricing approach has been to gouge both its True Believer enthusiasts and its new SUV aficionados with equal ruthlessness. It’s nothing short of a Master Class in Greed.” (“A Master Class In Greed.” – 7/8)

“Do I expect the Bronco to be good? It damn well better be. After all, it has been kicked around, fantasized about and the subject of much internal hand-wringing at Ford for seven years. Yes, you read that correctly too. Seven years. And the Bronco is easily three years too late, which is flat-out inexcusable. But then again, that’s Ford. They dither and they slither, the bureaucratic fiefdoms square off and battle each other and waste time, and the net-net is that the product in question always ends up being late to market.” (“Don’t Dust Your Spurs Off Just Yet, Pardners.” – 7/15)

“Nissan has reached that point. It had – at times – what can be considered a good run. Its glory days were memorable, especially in this market when it was still called Datsun, but those moments were fleeting and seem like a long time ago. That’s because it was. Since then the company has been mired in mediocrity and held captive by mercenary prophets spouting false promises, and internal bickering, which sapped the life out of the company. In short, Nissan has been on a slow roll to oblivion, even though no one there seems to understand or believe it.” (“Nissan’s Slow Roll to Oblivion.” – 7/29) 

“Ed Cole loaned us his personal driver one weekend, which was a '61 409 Chevy with a manual gearbox (how's that for an executive company car?). And then there were the Corvettes. My, oh my. There were so many I'm not sure I can recall them all, but suffice to say, the weekend Ed Cole sent over his personal driver for us to drive, which was a fuel-injected '63 Sting Ray Coupe in Sebring Silver - before the car was officially introduced - was one of many, many highlights.” (“Fast Times in Hot Cars.” – 8/19)

“Growing up immersed in this business was indeed surreal, but even back then I realized that I had been dropped in an alternative universe – an automotive nirvana punctuated by V8s, open pipes, flashes of chrome and the hottest cars of the era. We reveled in it and made the most of every moment, whether it was me riding shotgun with my brother as he – ahem – was teaching himself how to drive fast, or me going for rides with Bill Mitchell in one of the latest GM Styling concepts – including the ’59 Corvette Sting Ray racer, to this day my all-time favorite car – to the times when I started getting behind the wheel myself.” (“The Flying Camaro.” – 8/26)

“I have, of course, seen this before. The ‘Smartest Guy (or Gal) In the Room’ syndrome is not only alive and well in this business, it’s thriving. From Detroit to auto centers around the globe, it’s a particular affliction that churns and burns white hot. The most acute level of this syndrome rises to ‘Unctuous Prick’ status, a stratum reserved for such luminaries as Sergio, Dan ‘Captain Queeg’ Akerson and St. Elon. But there’s a whole new cadre of future alumni of Unctuous Prick University emerging – some practicing right here in the Motor City – and unremarkably enough, they’re finding purchase in Silicon Valley.” (“Selling Air.” – 9/16)

“I mean, really, how can designers stand behind this work and call it… good? I can just hear them now… ‘Ahem, given our Belchfire EV’s advanced powertrain and the passenger and cargo packaging requirements, we feel this ‘four-door coupe’ design presents the finest expression of our brand, blah-blah-blah…’ Or something like that.” (“We Have Reached The Nadir Of Design. And It Ain’t Pretty.” – 9/30)

“I welcome what’s coming, because I believe that technical innovation will transform what has been a transformative industry since its very beginnings and propel it – and us – to new and unimaginable heights. Will I miss the Internal Combustion Engine era? Oh yes, very much so. But we will celebrate the ingenuity, the technical achievements, the speed and, of course, the breathtaking style for many decades to come.” (“Raging Against The Dying Of The Light.” – 10/7)

“Now, that I can safely predict: There is no getting back to whatever was before. And we need another word because ‘normal’ simply does not apply anymore. The swirling maelstrom of life as we’ve come to know it is now punctuated by daily turmoil and forged in uncertainty. Whatever our collective vision was for what our way of life should be will be blowin’ in the wind from here on out. I am reminded of a line Harold Ramis delivered in the movie Knocked Up: ‘Life doesn’t care about your vision. You just gotta roll with it.’ Yes, it’s easy to say, but in reality, that’s exactly what we have to be prepared to do.” (“Living On A Thin Line.” – 10/14)

“And right now, it’s time for these True Believin’ shooting stars to soar to new heights. Good enough isn’t even part of the lexicon for these people. Neither is complacency or going through the motions. These people push and strive as a matter of course. Yesterday’s breakthroughs give way to tomorrow’s starting points. Make no mistake about it, the dawn of the BEV Era will bring out the best out of the best and the brightest, which is why I am newly optimistic as to where this is all going.” (“Here’s To The Shooting Stars.” – 10/28)

“My experience with some of the most legendary high-performance cars alone is enough to fill three books, so, I don’t feel it necessary to justify my automotive existence or pay much attention to those who suggest I’m ‘dead’ for going electric. In fact, going electric may be the most extreme thing I could have done at this juncture.” (“High Boltage.” – 11/11)

“This is the new normal, apparently. Yes, I have seen all of the statistics - the growth of personal wealth and disposable income, along with the desire of affluent consumers to say ‘WTF?’ and spend big money on their personal transportation choices to ‘cocoon’ during this pandemic while rediscovering the concept of hitting the road and embracing the idea of road trips they never took back in the day. Yes, I get all of that, because hitting the road is always a good thing. But 100 Grand becoming the new threshold for luxury auto manufacturers from here on out is still a little hard to swallow. Wasn’t it just a couple of years ago when prices in the $80,000 range were eye-opening? Yes, it was.” (“The 100 Grand Bar.” – 11/18)

“Yes, ridin’ along in our automobiles. Powered by incredible music, fevered dreams and indelible memories. It always feels right, and it never, ever gets old.” ("Ridin’ Along in My Automobile.” – 12/2)

“Now, back then our neighborhood was an endless series of wide, perfectly paved roads with switchbacks, hairpin turns and a few long sweepers mixed in. In other words, it was perfect for a go-kart with a race motor and kids too young enough to know better, or care.” (“The Saga of the Orange Juicer.” – 12/9)

Despite the crushing laundry list of bad tidings that came at us this past year, we have reason for renewed hope and understanding. Granted, the idea of optimism at this juncture seems to be a quaint – and utterly useless – notion, but wallowing in The Darkness doesn’t seem to accomplish anything either.

Again, we have plenty to be thankful for. The men and women on the front lines of this ongoing virus crisis cannot be thanked enough. It is just not possible to adequately convey our appreciation for what they do, the relentless dedication they display day after day as they care for our loved ones is just staggering to contemplate. And our teachers, who in the face of daunting challenges insist on doing what they love to do, are examples for all of us as to how to conduct ourselves. And there are countless others in our lives whom we encounter, the police and fire personnel; the postal workers; the delivery people; the people who power our grocery and convenience stores. It’s easy to take all of these people for granted, but after what we’ve endured this year that should never be the case again.

And last but certainly not least, the men and women in our military who dedicate themselves to a higher calling every single day on our behalf. Words of thanks are simply not adequate for what they do, but they need to know that they are appreciated and we are deeply thankful for each and every one of them.

The one thing that I think is worth taking away from what has been a remarkably miserable year is that life as we know it must go on. We must persevere and make every moment count, because to succumb to the constant thrum of bad tidings is not a value-added pursuit. We must soak in those moments – a beautiful sunrise, a reason to laugh and smile, a warm feeling in our hearts, etc. – no matter how fleeting they might be, in order to appreciate the gifts that we have. 

No, life isn’t easy. Especially what this life has been in 2020. But life can and should be savored as much as we can. Appreciate things. Appreciate people. Appreciate loved ones. Appreciate what we have and leave those things that we don’t have on the side of the road, because ultimately it doesn’t matter.

Remember this one simple thing: Life goes on, so, let’s make the most of it. I’m happy to defer to Robert Frost at this point: 

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on." 

-Robert Frost

We hope you and yours have a peaceful New Year.

And that’s the High-Octane Truth for 2020. 

We’ll see you back here on January 6th.

Editor’s Note: At one point Peter and I discussed running the entire column entitled “The Autoextremist Interview: Al Cantara – The Man, The Myth, The Anomoly.” for our year-end Rant, because it was the highlight of the year, according to many readers. So here it is - do yourself a favor and read the whole thing. It will perk you up and prepare you for a better 2021. See you next year! -WG

AND...DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT "BEST OF ON THE TABLE 2020" PLUS FUMES AND THE LINE!