JANUARY 13, 2016

The Detroit Auto Show. Editor-In-Chief's Note: Okay, so the Detroit Auto Show needs a new idea. Long run by the local dealer organization here, the Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS) occupies its place on the calendar because back in the day it was an idea to bolster sales during the doldrums of January and February. Well, those days are long gone. Today, the Detroit Auto Show's spot on the calendar is a lingering problem. Why? Because inevitably the weather sucks here in January and it creates a truly inhospitable atmosphere for the show. But here's the thing, it doesn't have to be this way because it doesn't have to be in January. In fact, there's no real reason why it couldn't be moved to another spot on the international auto calendar. When, then? June would be a perfect time for the show here, weather and otherwise. Think about it. The auto manufacturers devote huge amounts of time, energy and money to introduce vehicles on the show floor here in January, vehicles that are anywhere from six to twelve months out (and sometimes more) from hitting the street. A Detroit Auto Show in June would go a long way to reduce that time gap. Will this idea be considered? If there are visionaries involved the idea would have a chance, but I'm sure it's far too daunting to contemplate for the powers that be who are involved. And that's really too bad, because the whole "let's have an auto show here in January" thing has well and truly run its course. -PMD

The AE Quote of the Week: Holman W. Jenkins, Jr. in his column in today's Wall Street Journal had this to say: "The industry is so cautious, for political reasons, about admitting this reality that it’s a wonder the SEC doesn’t place its leadership in handcuffs. But if $2 gasoline persists for more than a couple of years, a financial calamity lies ahead for an industry that won’t be able to sell its mandated electric and high-mileage vehicles for anything resembling the cost of building them. In welcoming visitors to this week’s Detroit auto show, the Detroit News warned that “a sudden reversal in the industry’s now-robust health” could be just around the corner. No kidding." Editor-In-Chief's Note: No kidding, indeed. The Great Slowdown is coming, make no mistake. We're already seeing luxury sales starting to suffer, with dealers scrambling to wring out profitability in a market driven by incentives. Watch for a noticeable cooling at the end of this coming summer. And unless the federal fuel economy mandates are realistically reimagined, the industry will be awash in extended range hybrids, plug-in electrics and full electric vehicles that no one wants or wants to pay for, which could be devastating to the industry. It's the Rosanne Roseannadanna Effect. It's always something.  -PMD

(Buick)
Majority opinion suggests that the Buick Avista concept is The Bomb. It received the EyesOn Design Award for Design Excellence – Concept Car - at the North American International Auto Show on Tuesday. EyesOn Design – a benefit for Henry Ford Health System’s Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology – recognizes the best production and concept vehicle designs making their worldwide debut in Detroit.

(VW images)
This is the VW BUDD-e, the first VW based on the VW Group's new Modular Electric Toolkit (MEB) designed for plug-in electric vehicles. Introduced at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago, the BUDD-e has a 101 kWh battery that enables up to 373 miles of pure electric range. VW PR minions say that the BUDD-e is "a zero-emissions, avant-garde time machine" utilizing new interfaces that signal next-generation display and ergonomic concepts including touch and gesture control. Volkswagen says that the BUDD-e is more thoroughly connected with its surroundings than any car before it. "An integral automotive component in the Internet of Things (IoT)," according to VW, BUDD-e is capable of seamlessly communicating with your Smart Home or office. "Featuring next-generation infotainment technologies and offering an advanced new method of operation and information processing, BUDD-e turns travel into a fully interactive, intuitive experience," according to the manufacturer. Editor-In-Chief's Note: As I said late last year, the only way that VW has a shot at reviving its image is to be bold and take chances by bringing out innovative products to the market. The BUDD-e is definitely a step in the right direction. Possible production? 2019. -PMD

Check out the latest episode of The High-Octane Truth on AutoextremistTV below. -WG