The CUV: The Official Vehicle of Junior High School Cliques

One of the things that has troubled me about this industry in the past couple years or so is the junior-high-school level of fickleness that exists.  Do you remember how back then someone would be the person that everyone wanted to hang around with and then, just as suddenly, she or he would be completely cut?  During the time s/he was on the upside, anyone who wasn’t associated would be, as a consequence, seriously not cool.  So those people would do their very best to get into the sphere, even if only at the periphery.  But ideally, they’d get closer to the center of the circle, regardless of what it took to get there—and that was often based on blowing off one’s existing friends.  Then when the cool person began to thaw, those who had worked mightily to get within the inner circle found themselves (to stick with the metaphor) all wet.

And here is where I bring this around to the auto industry.  When pickups were hot, every company, it seemed, needed to have one in its showroom.  Some companies are probably happy that their plans never got done in time.  ...Read More

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Driven Archives

English Rodders
The folks at Hot Rod magazine have signed a licensing agreement with Rock & Roll Religion, owners of the English Laundry men’s apparel brand. Under the agreement, Rock & Roll Religion is able to incorporate Hot Rod designs and decades of images into apparel for men, women, and juniors. Hot Rod The Clothing Collection debuts in February 2009. – Read More

Capital Losses
Ellen J. Jullman, president of DuPont, has resigned from the GM Board of Directors to concentrate on her new responsibilities at DuPont. She served on GM’s Audit and Investment Funds Committees, and will become the CEO of DuPont effective January 1, 2009. – Read More

It's Just a Flesh Wound!
The theme for the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed is "True Grit – Epic Feats of Endurance." It will honor the drive and determination of motor racing heroes who overcame huge mental, physical, and mechanical barriers in their quest for racing glory. One example of this would be Jackie Stewart’s 1968 German Grand Prix victory. He drove with a broken wrist. – Read More

Who Came Up With This Name?
Italian tire maker Pirelli was honored recently as the Best Tire Manufacturer at this year’s China Auto Service Golden Finger Awards. You read that right, the Golden Finger Awards. The award is jointly presented by Auto Driving & Service magazine and the Sohu Auto Channel. – Read More

Feeling Five Hundred
Ford and the Traffic Improvement Association – a non-profit safety organization in Oakland County, MI – have joined forces to help older drivers assess their driving skill levels at a time when the U.S. elderly population is growing faster than any other demographic. The oldest members of the Baby Boom generation turn 65 in 2011. – Read More

Upcoming Industry Events:
COMPOSITESWORLD Investment Forum Feb. 26–27
Global Automotive Conference 2009
Apr. 7-9
PMTS 2009 Apr. 28-30

Stop & Smell the Premium
Recently, the price of gasoline made us all smile as gas station operators had to dig out those number 1s to put to the left of the decimal point. Meanwhile, over in the Middle East, there were people who were watching the price of a barrel of oil fall faster than the value of our 401-Ks. As we went into and out of the holiday season, our concrete-based spirits were lifted as the cost to fill up our tanks fell.  ...Read More