2012 NAIAS – Odds and Ends
Some random stuff from the [insert drama] 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit! [/drama], a.k.a. DUSDMAS. As I was leaving I noticed that Honda was preparing to throw some kind of a party or dinner. Huge ice sculptures, trays of sushi, a ton of shrimp, and gallons of booze. I really wanted to stay for that.
Remember when you could stand in the engine bay?
Also, replacing the heater core on the Explorer should be easy, as should any front-end accident repair.
These Dart pictures are the reason why I have not attended most of the press conferences. Ton of people, each one taking pictures and getting pissed off at each other. Video people are the worst.
I did go to the Acura press conference, and I showed up early, as I have much love for the NSX. Despite being there fifteen minutes early I still didn’t get a front-and-center seat. In front of me people were sitting on the ground and this was behind me. The bored gentleman is Carl from Speed:Sport:Life, very nice guy.
The future of motoring. Or Bumblebee’s head.
Mike from QuattroWorld was explaining some of the features of the new Audi Q3 Vail Concept. The pad shown in this picture unfolds from under the trunk mat, is heated, and designed to be sat on while changing out of your ski boots. Clever idea.
See those flashlight-like things? They are designed to be inserted into your ski boots where they heat up and dry off the boots. I pulled one out of its cradle only to have some German suit rip it out of my hand. He began mumbling in German and waving his arms around. He then proceeded to reinsert the flashlight back into its cradle, which he couldn’t do until a blond German suit come around to help him. German Suit #1 explained his frustration to German Suit #2, pointing to the tall Polish blooger at least twice. At that time I suggested that this maybe a good time to leave.
Chairs at the Scion booth feature extra strong design as the press conference was scheduled right after lunch.
This is the stuff that turns a generic Lexus an amazing F model. They need more stuff.
Volkswagen had Beatle-shaped couches. At least I thought they were couches. I don’t know how the hell someone is suppose to sit on these hipster/modern things. Perhaps these were tables? But then they seemed very low. But there were iPads attached to them. I don’t know.
Refueling station at Kia. Green diet iced tea, don’t try it.
Costs of everything were mind boggling. Why the F did Chevy need all those cameras pointing at their Camaro I do not know. Why can’t cars just speak for themselves?
Related posts:
"Volkswagen had Beatle-shaped couches."
<img src="http://www.antique2chic.co.uk/cms-assets/images/560534.lobeatles-sofa-c1860.jpg" width="400">
I wasn't sure if it was spelled "beatle" or "beetle", seen it done both ways… I went with "beatle" and failed, as per vw.com. Oh well.
Next year we will bring full live coverage with press relases n' all, and we'll use speelcheek.
If you must, but that'll make it more difficult to work that photo into the conversation.
I bet the Paul couch was the most comfortable.
That's a bullet-time camera array. Y'know, like from The Matrix.
<img src="http://social-gen.com/chevy/app/sync-img/3E85.gif"/>
IMG from the gallery
OMG, how fucking annoying!
I remember going to a few pressers when I went in '10. It is interesting how full they get so early. Usually, I found my best time to video/photo cars was during a major presser because most of the annoying people would be there and I had the floor to myself. Well, at least until Lutz and his entourage walk right into my shot.
What a dick!
I had half a mind to kick him in the knee but a) he's like 126 years old and it would have snapped like a dried out twig and b) even without the use of that leg he still would have made me a grease stain in the carpet.
Dude, he would have totally kicked your ass!
As someone who has photographed CFL games, I agree that video people are truly the worst.
How many extra horsepowers will my Lexus get with that F-spec engine shroud?
The Beetle couches are designed to encourage proper ergonomics.
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/IyjaV.jpg" width="350"/>
Dang those strike fighter stealth chairs look uncomfortable, see the Germans always think the Poles are trying to steal their things and got all frustrated about it even, and that VW coach looks like a bedroom aid of some sort.
VW probably would've gotten more traffic if they had used Tantra Chairs instead of Beetle Couches.
But if it's a Volkswagen chair, in many ways it already is a Tatra chai…
Oh.
…
We'll go ahead and call that a Freudian slip.
Maybe the Beatle couches were really an iPad give away station, but nobody realized it.
That is a lot of shrimps! And look at the shellfish, too!