Grant's Auto Rants

Audiomotive Technology

The Wall Street Journal published an article recently about the virtues of the Ford – Microsoft collaboration designed to seamlessly integrate the automotive and electronics worlds.

Dubbed “Sync,” this system basically provides a platform for many Bluetooth and USB-enabled devices to connect (with and without wires) to a vehicle mainframe of sorts where the different data maybe be distributed to the right receptacle within the vehicle’s infotainment system (typically the radio).

The main impetus behind the project is to serve two distinct purposes. The first is to provide a user-friendly system that will allow drivers to access and use a plethora of information from a dizzying number of sources (no small task anywhere at any time, never mind while driving down the NJ Turnpike at 75, yeah right, 85 mph). The other is to at least temporarily merge the information highway and all its related companies and products with the actual highway, which has been a goal for ages, though never seems to last more than the very short lifespan of the current “in” gadgets.

The problem is these are two industries, which are defined by technological advancement, though are two that travel at very different speeds. Rather than let this degrade into a “when was the last time you actually listened to a cd or cassette?”  I would rather talk about whether or not we stand to gain from more electronic capability than we already possess or do the laws of diminishing return kick in quickly.

Maybe we spend so much time wondering whether or not if we could, that we fail to consider whether or not we should.

One thing we have proved is that the automotive companies will never be able to keep up with the general electronics industry even as vehicles become more complicated, nor should they. There is incentive (and profit) however, in their trying, though it can leave consumers with a poor experience and/or outdated equipment, i.e. navigation, OnStar, etc.) The concept behind Sync isn’t new. It is an attempt to offer some hardware that will last just a bit longer in terms of relevancy and packages it with the previously heard concept of voice-activation.

Now, would it be cool to find a foreign radio station via your blackberry and stream it right to your radio while you drive along on a weekend road trip? Sure, it would be cool, probably once. When you consider the distraction question, which voice-activation hopes to address, however, you will quickly find studies that show any conversation (yep even hands-free) seriously impairs one’s ability to drive. Try as they might, people already have a big enough job keeping their eyes on the road.

So, for those of you who enjoy some music or news during the morning commute, do you really need to hear your emails dictated to you? And for those of us on a road trip, is it terribly difficult to let a passenger “drive” the communications. Safely getting over the next hump to a point where we really do drive mobile offices will take revolutionary advances in technology (auto drive highways, for example) and investment that in my opinion far outweigh the overall utility. Wanting to keep the commute to myself however, may just put me in the minority. The fact that the spell-checker didn’t red-flag the word “infotainment” is a pretty good indicator that we may be well on our way to emails and asphalt.    

This week in Auto...(events)

The Automotive News over the past week or so includes some vaguely interesting stories. First there is the rumor that VW will finally leave its headquarters outside Detroit and head to greener pastures in NC or DC. Now, these rumors have been going for nearly two years now, but now with a new CEO (Stefan Jacoby) about to take the reins, it seems like this time it may have a bit more credibility. Apparently the company figures the best way to re-establish itself in the US as a major player while thinning out and rebuilding its own ranks, is it simply cut all ties with MI and see who decides to hang on for the ride.

Also, Ford Motor Company announced again that it would be reducing its sales to rental fleets, which goes very well with a topic I have been kicking around on what I consider the “rental effect.” Sure, fleet sales are a good way to prop up volumes if you are into numbers and they do provide some cash even though they are at very small margins, but at what cost does this short-term revenue come?

The trade-off goes like this. On the one hand, you do get your vehicle out there quite literally in the hands of many drivers who may not otherwise ever consider your brand. That is a good thing. On the other hand, it is no secret what type of a licking rental cars take on a regular basis and do you really want to run the risk of those people first experiencing your cars when they are definitely not at their best. Additionally, with a flood of cars finding their way at least temporarily into rental agencies comes a unique perception among consumers, which may or may not be warranted.

First, one figures, well, only mediocre cars would make into a rental company because who would pay that much extra to nicer fleet cars if there wasn’t any chance of recouping the investment, and they know they are going to get trashed anyway. The other more empirical evidence comes in the form of residual values. When thousands of extra Mustangs begin showing up in post-rental condition on the auction block, you can surely bet that lease of the new Mustangs will certainly suffer.

It is this equation that the OEMs have wrestled with for years and all three have curtailed or at least become more selective in their fleet sales for concern of what it may do to reputations. This last announcement from Ford emphasizes specifically that they will continue to look to government agencies for example, who still purchase a decent volume of cars, but may not have such a direct and immediate impact on public perception. Only time will tell if they can actually have their gravy and eat it too.

So, as far as manufacturer news there really wasn’t much on the radar. Sure, Steve McQueen’s Ferrari sold, and Ralph Nadar is looking at GM some more, but until Bob Nardelli settles in and starts making some real waves, nothing terribly groundbreaking.

This past week in Auto was really about two events, the Woodward Dream Cruise and the number of individual shows, and auctions that lead up to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Now, here are two unique perennial automotive gatherings that could not be more different if they tried. Really, that they both focus around the automobile and take place at roughly the same time is about all they have in common. Think less peanut butter and jelly and more Caviar and Krispy Kreme.
One event is invite only, and takes place on one of the most prestigious and isolated swaths of real estate in the country, while the other personifies the more the merrier attitude and uses one of the most public and accessible stretches of road anywhere in the world. Also, one event focuses around the “drive” whereas the others’ vehicles arrive via trailer where they sit idle and are occasionally wiped down with a diaper.

Like economy versus first-class these two take opposite ways to arrive at similar destinations. Where one rewards owners for being the same, the other applauds being different. One is for a few, the other is for many. It is actually quite an interesting study of how the automobile is engrained in all parts of our society.

So whether you eat Guilden’s or Grey Poupon, frequent the Opera or Grand Ole Opry, or drive a Chevy or a Cadillac, you can bet that these people get a charge out of all things cars and probably have more in common than we think.

Chelsea tractors, MA tailpipes and an illegally parked weiner.

OK, not terribly surprisingly the past week wasn't able to hold a candle to the previous week or so in terms of shear significant automotive news, however, it did include a couple of nice little tidbits that certainly merit mention.

A couple of the stories were born (in some shape or form) right here in Chicago, while another one is delivered to us from across the pond. And whether or not you feel that automotive product placement is blatantly intrusive (seems like whenever we see a vehicle on screen these days a red light goes on) or is acceptable when properly executed, there is simply no harm done in going to see the last of the Bourne Trilogy as it a terrific and incidentally uses a neat trick in using last generation vehicles in the film so as to not alert viewers so quickly. That you can do right in your home town wherever that may be.

So, to get to it, the first bit of news includes the famed Oscar Meyer Weinermobile, which apparently couldn't find an appropriate place to park on Chicago's magnificent mile so the driver decided to leave right there anyway hoping the size and vehicle's unique nature would be enough to provide it with so free doggie downtime. Unfortunately, an overzealous traffic cop saw through the Weiner's obvious ploy to receive as much public exposure as possible and went ahead and ticketed them for illegal parking. Not to Oscar, Vienna Beef has a pretty solid lock on the Chicago hot dog market, so don't be surprised to find similar sentiments at other area locales.

That being said, rumor has it that driving the Weinermobile is a junior staffer first year job at the company. Now tripping around to show off the dog at cool places does not sound like a terrible way to spend some time, provided you are aren't a vegitarian or something.

The next story is from Massachusetts where is sounds (or not sound) like state regulators are about to put the out-right kabash on all modified exhaust systems. Now, Massachusetts is a bit of a difficult state to begin with. Just ask anyone who lives there who would like to drive a diesel, for example. But going after the single most popular component in the entire aftermarket industry seems a bit harsh. Lets not skip the intermediate steps of harsher fines and stringent testing. Everybody knows that is annual ritual in the Bay state anyway.

Along a similar avenue, a report out of London helps illustrate how Mass. is one of the closest states to the UK both figuratively and literally. On top of the daily charge for entering the city limits, at least one district is going to aim an additional tax directly at what they call the "Chelsea tractors." (SUV when translated into North American) Mind you, these are the same people who give us the darn Range Rovers in the first place, but at least around Chelsea, all the rich Mums driving around in gas-guzzling rigs hasn't fared much better than it has stateside. Owners in this class will have to pony up an additional $50 per day in the congestion zone to drive their SUVs per the Mayor of London's latest mandate. Cheeri Ouch.

Finally, a more interesting story no doubt from an enthusiasts' perspective is Automobile Magazine's list of the top 25 greatest cars of all time. Nevermind your best of the year, these are cream of the crop, non-legendary status need not apply. These lists have crept up before, but this one delivers an interesting explanation to justify each individual pick of the litter.

So if you had to limit it to just one (and hopefully, walk, bike or ride mass transit the rest of the time) which single automobile would you choose. Not as easy as it looks.

This week in auto news...08.05.07

I generally try to stay away from the everyday automotive news and reviews, which are regularly covered by the many mainstream auto blogs out there while preferring to focus on more colorful topics such as the role of modern oxygen sensor or how many models still come equipped with a cassette deck. (Click here if you don't know what a cassette or tape deck is) Some changes to my daily responsibilities combined with an absolutely crazy last 10 or so automotive-minded days, however, have changed my position somewhat as I am left with few alternatives other than to provide weekly recaps of all things interesting on one or more wheels.

To offer just a sample from this week in particular, consider the television news piece highlighting the crash (if you can call a 6 mph bumper "collision" a crash) results of eleven (11) luxury models to see how much damage they would endure. The results were disappointing to say the least and have no doubt sent a shiver through the collective spine insurance industry.

Of the eleven vehicles tested, the one sustaining the least amount (and that merits repeating, the least amount) of damage was the SAAB 9-3 will just over $5,000 in required repairs. At the other end of the spectrum (and in what in this case must be considered the "business" end) is the Infiniti G35, which suffered an unbelievable $14,000 in damage. To provide a framework for the test, which I am almost embarrassed to say wasn't unfairly aimed at somehow flipping the G35 over a few times, the speed was a brisk 6 mph, which is a whole 1 mph (or a speedy 18 inches per second) above the federally mandated 5 mph bumpers that have been around for decades. And yes, the object the cars ran into was immobile and generally bore the resemblance of another bumper.

So, let's get this straight, here are vehicles that would be perfectly comfortable (and safe?) driving down the Autobahn by a qualified/experienced driver at well over 100 mph all day long, yet when subjected to a tap at a speed that Joe Namath could still achieve walking backwards and they completely self-destruct faster than an Origami napkin at an all-you-can-eat BBQ rib-fest. Or, seen another way, drive your new G35 for two years or so and back into another car or light pole at the local supermarket and it is, um, totaled. Not terribly impressive. Apparently triumphs in drag co-efficiencies and aesthetic design come at a very high price indeed.

In another topic, the domestic automakers finally succumbed to foreign competitors in total deliveries at home, since, well ever. And while the writing has been on the wall for some time with all but the most inept PR agencies fully prepared, the actual tipping of the scales had an emotionally symbolic effect to all parties who now spend as much or more time protecting their pensions as they do assembling drive trains.

In what can only be an attempt to deflect attention away from the psychological loss of our home market to foreign-born competitors, Cerberus announced their new CEO as none other than controversial ex-Home Depot head, Bob Nardelli, in this week's about-(slap-in-your)-face to Tom LaSorda and Wolfgang Bernhard. Thanks Cerberus, we almost don't remember that other stuff.

So, as you can see, it has been a fun-filled week or so to say the least. At this rate, it would take something simply off the charts like the announcement of a Porsche Hybrid to top it.

Oh, wait.