ON THE TABLE

November 23, 2011

The JLo Controversy. Editor-in-Chief's Note: Yes, we've been inundated with emails from readers pointing out that various websites are running with the story that JLo didn't actually drive the Fiat 500 back in her old stomping grounds in the Bronx, but rather filmed her parts of the spot in L.A. If you've been in and around the ad biz you'd know that this development is hardly surprising or that big of a deal. All kinds of logistical allowances are made when working with celebrities. It's just the way it is. But that's not the issue as far as I'm concerned. The issue is that JLo has no connection to the Fiat 500 - forced or otherwise - and it's simply not a good fit. Using celebrities in TV commercials is fraught with peril. When it works, it can be memorable, even sensational at times. But that is very rare. Fiat is in desperate need of new creative thinking. And given the players involved, I seriously doubt that we'll see anything demonstrably better in the coming months. - PMD

The UAW. From the "Same Old Shit, Different Day" File comes word that UAW honcho Bob "I know what's best for America" King, hell-bent on organizing Asian and European U.S.-based assembly facilities, is going to start harassing the dealerships of these manufacturers in an attempt at extorting concessions. Will it work? Our bet is that it will manage to piss consumers off royally and just hasten the departure of the UAW as a viable entity in this country. But King doesn't get it. Not by a long shot. Evidence? Last January, as reported by Automotive News, he warned that the UAW will label any automaker that tries to block its efforts as a "human-rights violator." Nice.

Cody Lusk. The president of the American International Automobile Dealers Association criticized the UAW on their disruptive plans. The group represents about 10,000 U.S. import dealerships. Lusk said in a prepared statement: "The UAW's most recent threat to target dealerships in their campaign to unionize international nameplate manufacturers is unwarranted and will only hurt these small businesses, their employees, and communities. The UAW would be better served focusing their energies on constructing a convincing argument to present to plant workers who have voted against unionization numerous times." And that's our AE Quote of the Week, Part I.

The NADA. The National Automobile Dealers Association, which represents almost 16,000 new car and truck dealerships, chimed in with their displeasure with the UAW in a statement: “While details of the UAW’s ‘dealership campaign’ are not public, the National Automobile Dealers Association would have serious concerns about any efforts that interfere with the car buying process or frustrate customer satisfaction at dealerships. Attempting to disrupt new-car sales by targeting small businesses whose employees and families are dependent on those sales could create a public backlash and be counterproductive for the entire industry." Amen to that and that's our AE Quote of the Week, part II.

Thanksgiving. Yes, we did get the memo. We hope you and yours have an enjoyable Thanksgiving Day. And oh yes, GO LIONS!!!

Editor-in-Chief's Note: We're happy to feature another "Letter from L.A." by our west coast correspondent, Tom Pease. This week, Tom summarizes his thoughts on this year's L.A. Auto Show. - PMD

A Few Thoughts About the L.A. Auto Show.

By Tom Pease

Beverly Hills. The good thing about "covering" the auto show as a civilian is that I don't have to go look at cars that I frankly don't care about.  So I didn't.

I made my yearly visit to the Miata, mostly to see if I could still gracefully fold myself into it and get out without using lube and a crane.  Happily, the answer is still yes.  The car itself is still a model of simplicity: there was no nav system I could see and there wasn't evidence of blind-spot warning systems, rear-view cameras or frankly anything else that would take away from the experience of just driving.  To some it would seem like Jurassic-era tech, but to me it's a welcome relief.  I'm as iConnected as anyone but I spent 15 minutes in an E-series trying to tune in KCRW before finally giving up.

I mean, all this seamless connectivity is great and if I get a call I guess it's nice that the radio will cut out and I can using my phone wirelessly, but if I'm cruising PCH with the top down and enjoying the smell of the ocean and the engine noise I don't want to chat.  Or text.  I don't want to multi-task, I want to drive.

Small cars seem to be the Next Big Thing.  Scion had the iQ, which I'd be interested to spend a weekend in.  It's small, with some odd packaging that feels weirdly claustrophobic while being oddly spacious.  Spacious in that there is a lot of room for the driver, cramped in that the a-pillars are really thick and the roof seems fairly low, like looking through a gun-slit.

Chevy was showing the Spark in three colors.  If the iQ is the smarter smart, then the Spark is even smarter.  We couldn't sit in it, but it has four doors and still manages to balance cute with being decently practical.  If the interior managed to be as nice as the Spark and the driving experience as fun as the Cruze we'll be seeing a lot of them on the road.

Speaking of the Cruze, I visited the Verano, Buick's version of the compact.  It's almost unfair to call it that since Buick ups the game considerably.  With a couple of niggling exceptions this is like the original Seville over the Nova upon which it was based.  The other Buicks are looking younger, more blingy and with much better interiors.

Ford's most exciting products were its small cars: the Fiesta and Focus are eye-catchers.  So much so that they make some of the older models look as ancient as a Model T.

Honda had the full lineup.  Tennis anyone?

Hyundai and Kia have some of the most exciting products out there, bringing style, quality and content at prices that the Japanese should be shaking in their Red Wings over.  The only downside to the Koreans is that the styling is just too "me too" in my opinion.  A Chrysler rep was speaking about them to me and praising them in that he couldn't tell whether they were European or Japanese or what.  I agree with him but think it's a bad choice in the long term.  Korea has a rich history of art and design.  I hope Hyundai and Kia will mine it.  We're ready.

BMW had the e-Tron show cars.  Were I Disney I'd sue.  I sat in the Z-4.  I could hang with it.

Lincoln needs a corporate face, now.

Chrysler was there.  They need a new lineup.

Fiat was there with the Abarth and the Gucci editions.  There's a British word for the Gucci ones: "naff".

Cadillac had the XTS, which will sell well to the people who miss the DTS.  It's handsome and so not me.  The Converj was there, which they referred to as the ELR.  The lady giving the presentation sort of said that the production version would be the same with regular side mirrors instead of cameras.  I'm  holding her to that.  The Ciel was there, and pictures do not do this car justice.  If the powers that be at Cadillac don't green light this (even with regular doors and a fixed roof) for production then they are insane.

Range Rover had the Evoque, which looks like something Hot Wheels offers.  It seems about as serious an off-roader as a pair of Louboutin pumps would make good hiking shoes.

The high-rollers were, as they always are, off in their own hall, either roped or plexi-glassed off from from the rabble.  I don't know how one gains entrance into the inner circle and frankly don't see why they bother.  Anyone in Los Angeles county can see expensive cars they can't sit in and dream about for the price of a bus ticket to Beverly Hills.  If you don't want the rag, tag, and bobtail of Los Angeles who've merely ponied up $12 admission to sully the Woolton carpets then maybe you shouldn't bother renting the space?

The best part?  A bunch of them showed up with cars to drive.  I took the CTS-V and the CTS coupe out.  LAPD pulled over a previous V, which might presage the actual owner experience.  The coupe I liked.  A lot.

The Volt continues to impress me.  There's just no trade-off at all.  To paraphrase a commercial I hate, "the core competency is competency."

I drove the Prius V.  Note to Prius drivers: your Hair Shirt now comes in Extra Large.  The plug-in Prius seems like a hot-rod in comparison.

The Hyundai Veloster is a great package hobbled by a horrendous transmission.  It has a DCT that's as willing and perky as an elderly DMV employee.  I guess they figure that the fact that they offer (optional and not free) a bluelink system that will give me Yelp! reviews of local restaurants and places to get cheap gas, it will distract me from the fact that I hated every second of driving the thing.

Chrysler held me hostage.  If I wanted to drive the Challenger, the 300 SRT8 or the Fiat I'd have to drive the lesser models.  Which isn't a bad strategy since the 200 I piloted was light-years better than the g-d-awful Sebring I'd rented before.  Not that I'd want to own one since it's way too much car for me, but at least now it's a contender.

Drove the Fiat Cabrio again.  I'm liking it more, just not enough.  Drove the Challenger.  Totally not me: too big, too thirsty, too vulgar, too silly.  I love it.  I want to eat Chili burgers at Penny's in Highland Park and peel out onto the Pasadena Freeway with it.  It's the tattooed bad boy (or girl) that you lust over but dare not take to the company picnic.  The 300 is that bad boy in Armani. Still not for me but I'm glad it's there.  If you get one and want to hit Penny's let me know.  Just once let me punch it on the on ramp.

What was me?  The new Mercedes-Benz SLK.  Now I need to figure a way to afford it...

(BMW Group)
2011 was the first year that the Concorso d’Eleganza also invited motorcycles to enter a competition – and the Concorso di Motociclette will be back in 2012 for a second run. Again this year, the parkland of Villa Erba, not far from the Villa d’Este in Cernobbio, will provide the stage for this unique beauty pageant. The entry application list for the 2012 Concorso di Motociclette will open on December 1, and applications are welcome from collectors, enthusiasts and private owners alike. The motorcycles for the event are selected according to their historical significance, as well as technical and aesthetic criteria. Further information on applying to enter the event can be found at www.concorsodeleganzavilladeste.com.