JANUARY 17, 2024
Sunday, January 14, 2024 at 08:30AM 
The original - and still our favorite - Autoextremist logo.
The AE Quote of the Century: Everybody loves The High-Octane Truth. Until they don't. -WG
Editor-in-Chief's Note: The Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA) is moving the Detroit Auto Show back to its traditional date in January, after trying out a date in September for a couple of years. That two-year experiment was an unmitigated disaster for any number of reasons, not the least of which was the fact that nobody went to it, with some attendance estimates reduced as much as 95 percent. In yet another "reimagining" of the show, it will be re-focused on getting consumers interested in buying cars in one of the "quiet" times of the year for car shopping, which was the original idea way back when. This is code, of course, for the fact that the Detroit show is no longer an internationally important auto exposition, and that it had been fading into obscurity well before the experimentation with the fall dates. The human capacity for rationalizing was on full display with this announcement, with reasons given such as people needing something to do at that time of the year, while the fall date clashed with High School, College and NFL football, which is huge around these parts. The cold-weather factor - which was one of the reasons for the move to the fall in the first place - was conveniently dismissed as a non-issue for this latest reimagination of the show. The High-Octane Truth about all of this is the fact that the Detroit Auto Show has been officially a regional retail show for at least five years now. Major international automakers have been routinely skipping the Detroit show, while drastically cutting their expenditures on auto shows in general, so their disinterest will continue. Besides, when it comes to regional retail auto shows, the Chicago Auto Show in February is the real deal and easily ten times as important. This move may make the local dealers happy, but the Detroit Auto Show is purely a nostalgia play at this point. -PMD
Okay, so it's a slow week in January, but Automobili Lamborghini and Tod's are unveiling an exclusive collaboration between the two companies. "The highest expression of Italian design and manufacturing tradition, attention to detail and continuous research are the founding values of Tod's and Automobili Lamborghini, which with this collaboration export the excellence of Italian know-how to the world," according to Lamborghini PR minions. The project starts with the launch of a men's and women's footwear collection featuring two models, the iconic Tod's Gommino and sneaker produced in colors inspired by the two brands. Pitti Uomo in Florence was chosen for the collection's launch, an event that is considered a ‘must’ for men's style. The collection was displayed in all its variants, with two Lamborghini Revuelto machines emphasizing the synergy of the two worlds. Part of Tod's artisanal production will also be shifted to Stazione Leopolda, where the craftsmanship of sewing and assembling the Gommino will be on display for all to see. The collection is the first step in a project that will also include leather goods and clothing collections. Tod's for Automobili Lamborghini was available for purchase starting last week at: www.automobililamborghini.tods.com
Honda has announced the Honda 0 Series at CES 2024. This new global EV series will be (allegedly) launching in 2026, represented by the world premiere of two concept models, Saloon (in dark blue) and Space-Hub (in white). Honda plans on introducing a model of the Honda 0 Series based on the Saloon concept in North America, followed by model introductions in Japan, Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East and South America. More information is available at the Honda 0 Series Website:https://0.honda/en/. Honda also debuted a new H mark logo that will be used exclusively for the next-generation EV models. “The mobility we dream of is not an extension of the trend of ‘thick, heavy, but smart’ EVs,” said Toshihiro Mibe, Global CEO of Honda. “We will create a completely new value from zero based on thin, light and wise as the foundation for our new Honda 0 EV series to further advance the joy and freedom of mobility to the next level.” Honda said that both models were developed using a new Honda electrification design and engineering approach that will debut with the introduction of the Honda 0 Series. “We have gone back to basics and formulated the Honda 0 Series with a design for the new era,” said Shinji Aoyama, Global EVP of Honda. “A bold and pure proportion that from the first glance is overwhelmingly different from other EVs to evoke a new perspective for people.” Editor-in-Chief's Note: We have seen the future of Honda Design, and it is bleak and woefully uninspired. We're used to auto manufacturers swinging and missing now and again - some do it with relentless frequency - but this latest missive from Honda is one of the biggest whiffs we've seen in a long, long time. And the fact that it's Honda is just flat-out depressing. This smacks of otherwise intelligent and capable people sitting around blissfully entranced with the dulcet tones of their own thought balloons. This goes far beyond knowing when to put the pen down; this smacks of a company in desperate search of a clue. -PMD
The AE Song of the Week
It don't mean I'm blind
Perhaps there's a thing or two
I think of lying in bed
I shouldn't have said
But there it is
You see, it's all clear
You were meant to be here
From the beginning
Maybe I might have changed
And not been so cruel
Not been such a fool
Whatever was done is done
I just can't recall
It doesn't matter at all
You see, it's all clear
You were meant to be here
From the beginning
"From The Beginning" by Emerson, Lake & Palmer from the album "Trilogy" (1972).* Written by Gregory Lake. Publisher: BMG Rights Management, MUSIC SALES CORPORATION Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. *Listen to this wonderful track here.
*ELP's formula for successful albums seemed to be a concept covering several songs - a beautiful acoustic number by Greg Lake, and one comedy song per album. For Trilogy, "From the Beginning" was Greg Lake's beautiful acoustic number that showed his acoustic guitar skills were right up there with his bass talents. A heartfelt song of devotion, Lake claims that the inspiration for the song has left his memory. Says Lake: "Very often lyrics simply come about simply because of the way one feels at a moment in time. There is no earth moving moment of divine inspiration or grand plan and I'm sure that was the case with this song. Although very young at the time I sometimes had moments of reflection and maybe also perhaps a feeling that I could be a better person, I think this was just one of those."(Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com)
Editor's Note: You can access previous issues of AE by clicking on "Next 1 Entries" below. - WG