Long ago, car makers used to introduce their entire lineup of revamped product in the fall. It became a tradition, and dealers would drape their windows in anticipation of dramatic unveilings. But that’s not the case today.
Not only did Auto makers debut improved models in the fall, but they would update existing product with a new grill, tail lamps or color, just to create excitement. The Auto Show season centered around the leaf-tuning season and whole families would attend to see what was new, as well as the outrageous show cars that portended a future full of excitement and leisure.
It also made for the fattest issues of the car mags, as Motor Trend, Car and Driver, Road & Track, Road Test, and others would dedicate pages and pages to what had changed year over year.
But these days, that’s all a thing of the past. Car makers release new product at arbitrary times of the year, and the Auto Show circuit runs all the way until May. Grills and taillamps don’t tend to change year to year, and even if they do, nobody makes a big deal about it. Most importantly, the excitement and anticipation about the brands has fallen by the wayside.
So, the question is- Do you miss all the hoopla that surrounded the fall launches in the past, and would you like the auto makers to return to the tradition of showy fall product releases?
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I miss a period in time when anyone gave a shit about their new products.
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I am too young to fully remember, but I do remember being VERY little and dad taking us to the dealerships to look around in the fall. I can imagine it was something exciting to look forward to at the same time every year. It looks like it was fun, and shpahkly and brought people together – almost like a holiday. At the same time, I agree with Charles, too many changes each year would drive the market down simply because cars aren’t something the majority can afford to change up year after year and OMG if you’re driving a 2009 when the 2010 just came out with ALL the new addons and changes!!!
With that said – it needs to be done again. It can still have the same pomp and circumstance without all the crazy flashy changes year to year. It’ll help out the dealers and mechanics too – to speak to what lilwillie says. Allow them time to learn a model before the next one comes out instead of having to play CLUE every time a car comes in.
Just my two cents. -
This sort of thing was well before my time, but it would definitely inject a lot more excitement back into the industry. No more "accidental" leaks and media embargo horsehockey; the second the wraps come off is the first time anyone outside the company sees it.
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When I was a kid growing up, my dad worked for Ford, and I always asked him to bring back the brochures for each car at the start of the new model year… it was almost like an early Christmas present for me. I can only imagine now how it would be to ask for that, I'd have to ask him to check for updates every 2 weeks.
Also, I think the internet is also partially to blame, because now the whole world can see a new car within minutes of someone snapping a picture on their cell phone. It takes a little mystery out of everything, and thus the excitement of a model launch as well. Then add in the PR geniuses who drum up excitement for a week by releasing an image (remember the painful 2010 Mustang fiasco?) and we plunge further into the abyss.
Working in the automotive industry, I also get jaded about new car releases, because I've seen, if not ridden in, most of the new cars from whatever account I'm working on.
Damn if I didn't turn this into one of those "ahhh, the good ol days" type comments.
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