Five Favorites for a Pigskin Party

Posted on January 22, 2012 by

Vikings-Bills 12.5.2010 19
All photos by Randy Stern

If this was any other year, I’d be happy to celebrate my birthday on Super Bowl Sunday.

Not this year, I’m afraid. It is not because the Minnesota Vikings went into complete retrograde. Just my interest in the National Football League waned severely this year, thanks to the Collective Bargaining Agreement and the constant frustration with the state of cultural relations with most major professional sports leagues.

Frankly, I could care less who is playing in this year’s Super Bowl (that would be the New England Patriots and the New York Giants – correct?). If it is your team that will be on the field inside Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis – good luck!

Still, football was one of my favorite sports to follow and go deep with for the longest time. I recalled some memories from the game – in attendance, of course. In some cases, they involved automobiles.

On this special edition of Five Favorites, let me log back into time to see what crazy automobile-related events transpired around the pigskin and the 100-yard field.

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The Speculator: Chevrolet’s Next Small Coupe

Posted on January 15, 2012 by


Chevrolet Code 130R (above) and Tru 140S (below) Concepts. All photos (c)2012 General Motors

To be up front here, I’m not a fan of concept vehicles.

I understand why they were created. Either a company wants to play around with a design language that will eventually appear on production models, or to tease us with a production vehicle in disguise. Still, I rather have a sense of reality when I see a “concept” than some Gene Roddenberry/George Lucas-inspired look into the future.

While watching the insanity that is the North American International Auto Show, it dawned on me that there were some concepts that would need further examination. They had some form of value tied into the potential for production of these fantasies in metal, rubber, plastic and upholstery.

Amid the hoopla of the Cadillac ATS, Buick Encore and Chevrolet Sonic RS, General Motors trotted out two concepts for the bowtie badge. The idea was to create vehicles for the upcoming generation of drivers to enjoy. What made the Code 130R and Tru 140S quite interesting were the simple fact that both concepts were two-door coupes.

Coupes? For Millennials? I must be getting old…

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The Class of 1982: The Franco-American Affair

Posted on January 14, 2012 by


If it weren’t for some “divine foreign intervention,” this would not have been made – or have succeeded!
1984 Jeep Cherokee Chief. Photo courtesy of Chrysler Group LLC

If divine foreign intervention did not come in time for an American automaker, the company in question would have probably ceased to exist by 1982.

It is an audacious statement to make where history was thwarted to save a company from extinction. We’ve seen this many times over the past 30 years where Detroit-based automakers sought alliances and acquisitions with other automakers around the globe. To recall each one would be a massive effort to digest and analyze. Yet, most of the readers of this site have probably forgotten the scenario that put American Motors on the brink before Renault came in to assist them through most of the 1980s.

Ah, yes, AMC. Remember them? Let me refresh your memory…

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Your Turn: A SRT Dream Fulfilled

Posted on January 11, 2012 by

2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 1
Taking Photos of Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8. Photo by Randy Stern

We, automotive writers and journalists, love getting asked consumer questions. For example: If it were our money, what would we get for a certain vehicle class you’re considering? We don’t mind at all…though our perspective would be somewhat different than the average consumer. Then again, we could be wrong completely…

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Detroit 2012: Quandaries from Afar

Posted on January 10, 2012 by


Photo (c)2012 General Motors

It was tough picking just nine from a plethora of debuts from the North American International Auto Show. Detroit yielded plenty of excitement, tempered with some criticism. I, for one, had my share of concerns and quandaries.

It was also tough to stay balanced here. Continue reading →

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Detroit 2012: The View from Afar

Posted on January 10, 2012 by


2013 Ford Fusion. Photo courtesy of the Ford Motor Company

No, I was not there this year.

If you read my Twitter, you’d probably wondered if I were to show up at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Unfortunately, the stars did not align properly. Yet, I was asked by fellow journalists, media relations people and other industry support people whether I would make the trek to the Motor City for this very important exhibition of the automobile. Not this year. I will someday.

Because of the speed of information available online and the ability to see video and images from the show readily, I was able to ascertain the big debuts and the most curious appearances at Cobo Hall. This helped in my coverage last year from my home in the Twin Cities.

Of course, there’s nothing like being there. You get to see and touch these new products ahead of consumer sale. You get to see whether you’d feel comfortable behind the wheel of one. That’s why we go to auto shows, right?

Without further ado, here are my picks from NAIAS…

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A Teutonic Tussle…To The End

Posted on January 5, 2012 by


Photo courtesy of BMW of North America, LLC

At the top of the automotive heap, it ended with a 2,715 unit advantage. In political terms – someone would probably want to call a recount.

The luxury car market in the USA saw some extraordinary changes inside finance offices at their respective dealerships. Since 2000, Lexus was the top selling luxury automobile brand in the USA. A double whammy of the fallout from the corporate-wide recalls and natural disasters affecting Japan and key parts of Asia toppled the once mighty luxury arm of Toyota. In 2007, Lexus sold over 329,000 units – a record number of deliveries recorded by a luxury brand since 1990.

However, there were two luxury brands at the top of the heap: Continue reading →

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Which Ones Sold How Many in 2011?

Posted on January 4, 2012 by

2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD 15
The best seller in 2011 – amongst V&R review subjects! Photo by Randy Stern

The annual sales figures are in! I could recount which vehicles were the best sellers in the nation, but I’d rather concentrate on how last year’s main vehicle review subjects fared in 2011. Also, I try to analyze how each vehicle could fare in the coming year.

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Them and Us – Epilogue

Posted on January 3, 2012 by

Focus Target Hunt 12012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 2
All Photos by Randy Stern

In May on V&R (and in October in Lavender), there was an article looking at the corporate view of the interconnection between the automotive industry and the LGBT community. It spurred plenty of discussion offline on how this information either helped both sides of the question – or, whether it truly mattered at all.

As an update to these articles, the Human Rights Campaign just released their 2012 Corporate Equality Index. Continue reading →

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“Look, Ma! I’m a Legitimate Automotive Journalist Now!”

Posted on January 3, 2012 by

MotorGeek on btalkworld photo
Photo by Jason Palmer

So, I’m being silly with the title. I have every right to be. You work hard over the decade to get somewhere in life. Then, you begin the reap the rewards!

On December 30th, I received an e-mail from the Midwest Automotive Media Association, the regional organization for professionals covering and serving the automotive industry, congraulating me on being accepted for membership into their organization. It was something I was working towards in my professional life as a writer.

Being a member of M.A.M.A. has its privileges. Some of which you will see on these pages and in Lavender Magazine.

On their site, I have my own member page where I could express myself within the confines of the membership. This was my first entry – some of which you may already know by reading this site over the years.

Now, then… Continue reading →

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