Autoextremist On The Detroit Auto Show
According to Los Jalops who were actually allowed into the GM Style event, Sweet Peet D. was in the house. A couple of us can't personally verify that fact, as we were eating with Audi. We get the feeling that they saw two guys in jeans and Dickies/Red Kap gas station attendant jackets and thought, "That's not GM Style." Whatever. Hanging out with Europeans is generally more entertaining anyway, and they seem to enjoy our proletarian show-wear.
The other Jalops pretty much agree that we won out as far as a good time goes. But Peet? He like-a the GM Style. He also gave GM props for out-greening Toyota with the Volt concept, castigated Chrysler, thought Ford had its act together and accused Toyota of having a split personality. Oh, and he weighed in on the embargo fiasco. He also called the Changfeng intro the second most important event at the show, after the Volt reveal. What he didn't mention was its absolute comedic brilliance. If anything, the Detroit show taught us this year that self-importance and cluelessness know no boundaries, and it's most apparent in the behavior of the Big 2.5 and the Chinese. The difference? Communists who decide to hop into a market-based economy don't need no stinkin' unions. Or OSHA. Advantage? China.