Posts filed under 'Let's Talk'
May 2nd, 2008
The current credit crunch and ultimately gas prices are decimating a large segment of vehicles that are currently being offered by American companies to the public who right now are skittish at best when it comes to parting with their hard earned cash. The cash cows of yesteryear known as SUVs are on an even more rapid decline, with the more savvy public opting for a Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, Nissan Versa or other fuel sipping form of transport to combat the ever increasing cost of gas, in an economy that is teetering on recession.
For us in the Research and Development field all we can do is continue to model the visions that are offered hoping to hit a chord with the higher management who do have a pulse on today’s trends or do they?
My thoughts on this are, can the larger manufacturers especially ones that have relied heavily on SUVs for so long (GM, Ford, Chrysler) design and bring to market a desirable alternative that will satisfy a now pro-green consumer.
People right now demand that their vehicles offer good mileage and can automatically relate to hybrids because of this fact, even if they have to pay a premium for that privilege. If a desirable vehicle meets this level of expectation and is frugal on the gas consumption, without being a hybrid, such as the Scion Brand, Civic, Versa and such like, this would be an automatic second choice for people on less of a budget who could not afford the premium for a hydrid. These offerings by the Asian companies fit the bill and have reliability built in because they are not first generation vehicles and have been refined over time. If the American counterparts balance their portfolio with better offerings surely the brakes can be put on the rapid decline of these once proud companies.
What is needed is a succession of innovative vehicles to whet the palate of todays jaded buyers who need reminding that American design is still alive and it doesn’t have to be the biggest to be the best. Safety, build quality and style will sell these vehicles albeit in a smaller package but once again this decision is in the hands of upper management. Produce a vehicle that can go head to head with the best, forget the parts bin and be innovative, set the trends rather than follow then there will be a future.
We as sculptors ARE the conduit between fantasy and reality and all we need is that green light, the go ahead, couple this with a strong design and there’s no telling where it will go but at least it is a shot. We as sculptors are an integral part of the design process and not just design support so now is as good a time as any to work as a team and produce that winning product. NOW before it is too late.
March 14th, 2008
February is a good month normally for the cupid types but for the auto industry this year, little love has been dished out. Of all the auto companies, only American Honda Motor Co, Daimler AG and Nissan North America have penciled in a gain in sales for this month, yet for the year only Honda and Daimler remain solvent so far.
This February has seen a dramatic drop in sales of SUVs as the bite of high gasoline prices rip into the family budget but Porsche beg to differ with their truck sales exploding to a 109.7% over the same period last year. This anomaly is at the expense of their car division which dropped 40.3% over last year leaving the sportscar company down 12.8% for the month of February.
With every auto manufacturer feeling the economic pinch, total sales in North America for the year are down by a 120,000 units or 5.3% so far, so what does this all mean for us the clay modeler.
As the auto industry continues its downward spiral with less sales and ultimately less profit we could find the purse strings being tightened even further. That means design facilities could well see overtime reduced to save on premium payments but not necessary less work to be done. Programs could be reduced, shelved or even cancelled as the product planning groups rethink their strategy on the best product to pursue whilst indicision on current programs reduces productivity to a crawl. All this negativity on the economy will put a strain on the creative juices especially when a winning design is needed right now to gain maximium traction.
Currently the new product lead time is from 36 to 48 months before it hits the road and for some that may be too late. Take for instance the Chevy Camaro that debut at the NAIAS in January 2006 and is on the fast track to hit showrooms as a 2009 model year. Will this vehicle still have the massive following that it had early on when fuel was only $2.00 a gallon, by the time it does become available that $2.00 could well be doubled.
The new vehicle programs that have just finished, are they the right product? Typically in times of uncertainty studios have ramped up their development programs because the right product is not always clear cut leading to many iterations of a theme, demand is usually greater for sculptors, designers and engineers. Product development cannot afford to go on the back burner in fear of losing even more market share to the competitors, it is a vicious circle, so for the clay modeler I can see boom times ahead once more.
February may have been another bad sales month because of all the underlying problems but development must go on so let’s lighten up and check out some of the fun videos on YouTube.com. A bit of fun and plenty of laughter goes a long way in cheering you up and with the beginnings of a new week just around the corner, who knows, there may even be some good news!
February 27th, 2008
Orange County in California has always been a very affluent place to live, home to many movie stars, corporate bigwigs and some generally well heeled individuals. What this amounts to is a very robust economy that can usually stave off any downturn that befalls many other regions of the United States but when you hear that the new car registration for January has fallen 28.5%, the biggest decline in two decades then you know times are hitting hard.
January is renown within the auto industry for being slow for car sales, with dealers trying to shed their last remaining inventory from the previous year and with generally good discounts available for those who want to venture but even these tactics with added incentives hasn’t bolstered the sales. The sale of vehicles in Orange County has already suffered a dramatic drop in 2007 by 9.2% and coming into the new year it was forecast that this year would fair no better with an additional 3.1% decline, that was before the January report.
The dramatic change in sales reported by the Orange County Auto dealers for January 2008 compared to January 2007 goes like this; 12,822 this year, 17,936 in January 2007 and this is not restricted to large SUVs and pickups, it covers the whole spectrum of vehicles. Every segment of the industry has reported a loss, popular vehicles and brand Toyota/Scion a winner in Orange County down by a whopping 35.8% and that’s with the most fuel efficient vehicles in the industry. Luxury brands like Lexus, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche and Cadillac plunging between 28.6% to 42.9% leaving none of the most popular brands unscathed, Chevrolet bottomed out with a 38% loss while Ford fell 22.3%
Is this a true indication of a pending recession, gas prices are on the rise again, my local garage has raised the price 12 cents over the past two days with regular now poised at $3.35 a gallon and the summer months are not upon us yet, does this means we’re in for $4.00 a gallon this summer.
The housing slump is firmly entrenched and with pay rises few and far between little can be had to combat the raising cost of living but out of this mire a few bright stars still managed to eek out a profit. Buick, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Mazda and Infiniti were the only brands to see a sales increase ranging from 42.9% to 0.4% so go figure that one out.
Here is the full report.
January 31st, 2008
January has started at a brisk pace for those who consider themselves green in Orange County, that is, the possible privilege to park in 3000 city-owned parking spaces free of charge just because they have purchased a hybrid powered vehicle. This was one of the proposal on the table to be considered by the Huntington Beach City Council on the night of January 22nd 2008 but unfortunately this proposal fell on deaf ears and resulted in a narrow defeat.
This is not a unique situation proposed by the beach community, as other cities throughout the United States have already adopted this stance with the city of Los Angeles being one of them. We all know that hybrid vehicles have been snapped up in their hundreds of thousands over the past couple of years with the Toyota Prius enjoying much of the action and like many other alternative fuel vehicles they already enjoy riding the carpool lane, free parking would just have been icing on the cake for these Huntington Beach locals. We can all relate to the current drive to conserve the nations precious resources and reduce the reliance on foreign oil but a quick decision to reward the few in prime parking would have been wasteful in terms of reduced revenue to the city, fortunately it did not pass.
The first thing that I have to asked myself is, why open such a can of worms, everyone in their own right does their bit to conserve energy, turning down the thermostat at home or be it just recycling bottles and cans and even the daily newspaper. Singling out a small percentage of the population who have chosen to purchase a hybrid vehicle because it’s a high profile statement does not warrant an extra pat on the back in my opinion and I’m fully behind this decision to reject the proposal.
I’m sure many families would like to show their support by doing the same thing but money constraints and family size restricts that kind of commitment leaving them no alternative but to shuttle their families in less desirable, larger vehicles with poor gas mileage. A suitable energy source that can benefit everyone is the only answer, be it battery powered or hydrogen powered or whatever powered.
The main problem is infrastructure to sustain this new system and can this new system provide the distance between fill-ups or charge-ups that current gasoline engines provide. What system will be in place when there is a large disposal of batteries to take into consideration, what about safety procautions etc, etc. To suggest a new fuel or propulsion alternative is a huge undertaking, remember at the onset of the automobile we were starting with a clean slate, only horse mess to clean up.
I know I’ve run off at a tangent, so back to the point, I’m glad that a short term solution was averted even though it was a valid consideration to promote a green cause but until that cause is sustainable let’s keep the money for parking and put it to a far better cause, like, repairing the roads!
December 31st, 2007
Today, much of the clay modeling development is being executed first by the alias modeler over a package with the direction coming from an aesthetic designer, eliminating the hands on approach in many instancies. In this type of environment it is easy to forget the basic structure that actually spawned this method of working, leaving huge gaps in the proving out of a clay model. It is automatically assumed that once the alias design has been approved by the lead designer the model will be milled out, with changes that are not so apparent being corrected at a later date. This method of working often leads to an end product that looks static and void of any emotion because that extra time needed to massage the surfaces in 3D has been eaten up be endless revisions in a 2D environment.
The preliminary drawings that once use to accompany the chosen design are also rarely put into force and on many occasions the milled out model will not be followed up with a fullsize drawing simply because it is assumed that the data is correct because it has been developed with the latest software. This essentially eliminates the instant check in providing the sculptors the basic whereabouts of engineering criteria within those lines of the milled model. Thus this method of working eliminates the first line of defense for checking such areas as wheel coverage, ramp angles, headroom, rocker height and such like.
It is only when the design becomes a little more “real” that this starts to become a major factor but the freedom of design and the cartoon aspect that accompanies this freedom eats into the real work of refining a surface. So let’s step back and take a look at this picture, take a deep breathe and let the dust settle a little instead of rushing full-bore into the next panic situation. We as modern day sculptors have seen the erosion of our skills that we have perfected over the past 30 plus years as the digital era eliminates many of the more time consuming tasks but it is also replacing many of the areas that we also excel in.
You may well ask is this the same for every company and I am sure it is not, every company moves at a different pace. In a fast technology driven company you have to embrace the technology to work together with the tried and trusted methods to get the best results. For instance, would you go through the task of creating a cutter path to mill out a cylinder on a five axis machine when it is a simple task to turn it on a lathe? The real underlying factor is to reduce costs at all cost to become more competitive and still squeeze out a profit and if that means reducing labor in favor of technology then technology wins.
So with the New Year upon us, let’s reflect on those trades that have fell by the wayside such as Patternmaking and Modelmaking and the supporting services that they impacted such as Record tools and Emmert. These fine trades were in their prime fifty years ago and are now but memories, victims of the computer age.
For us clay modeling is thriving but as technology advances and the tolerances get closer it’s a case of when, not if, the manual side of clay modeling will be the next to go?
May 12th, 2007
Now that the group writing project has finished on Darren Rowse problogger.net weblog a total of 893 participants managed to submit their top 5 list for the chance of winning the prize of $1001.00. When you consider that this tripled the number of participants from his previous high, money is oviously the controlling factor. After wading through this immense amount of information and yes it’s all good information the random draw winner was Nancy Callahan with her entry “Baby names from video games.”
During the reading of all these top 5 listings I have been pondering on how would I select a top 5 from all those submitted, everyone deserves a mention and to just relist the entire 892 other entrants would be in my mind the easy way out. So for me I decided that as my main discussion points on this blog are mainly automotive topics then what better top 5 to have than submittals that are automotive related.
So without further ado, here are my top 5.
No doubt all the 892 entrants will still be visited so that I can make sure there wasn’t anything that I missed and still continue the link fest. All I can say is, let’s look forward to the next fun group writing project and maybe it will be another record!!!!
May 8th, 2007
Darren Rowse of Problogger.net fame launches his latest group writing project this week and as usual there are a multitude of fellow bloggers eagerly pecking at their keyboards in the hope of being the lucky one drawn out of the hat for this weeks mega prize, $1001.00 cash, kindly donated by Chitika eMinimalls.
With this type of incentive how many of his regular 20,000+ readers are going to storm his inbox, or should I say 20,000+1 after I get this puppy sent out. Anyway for my participation I’m going to give an insight to the brand of vehicle that Southern Californians gravitate towards.
To try and give a somewhat true perspective I have jotted down on a pad the brands that are regularly seen on my daily 48 mile commute from Huntington Beach to Burbank. I’ve decided to allow two round trips to give a fairly comprehensive result, considering I’m marking each brand of vehicle that passes me against the name on the pad. As you can imagine a certain amount of dexterity is involved therefore I’ve kept my driving to the number two and three lane so as not to “upset” too many of my fellow commuters.
Southern California being the cosmopolitan area that it is reflects many trends before they become nationwide so let’s see how the results turned out.
- Toyota Motor Corp.
With vehicles like the Camry, Prius, Tundra, Corolla and Yaris just to name a few plus the luxury division Lexus, they managed to pick up 24.5% of the total vehicles that I was able to poll. These vehicles were of all different ages ranging from new to old but a significant proportion of them were newer Camry and Prius models.
- Honda Motor Corp.
Following their Japanese rivals Honda together with their luxury division Acura pulled in 19% of the votes with vehicles such as the Accord, Civic, Element and CR-V. As you can imagine the majority of these vehicles were Accord and Civics but amongst the numbers was a large amount of MDX and TL from the Acura luxury brand.
- General Motors Corp.
General Motors having more brands and vehicles to chose from then any other manufacture came in a distant third place with 15.7% of the vote and I can only attribute this to the current price in gasoline. A significant amount of the vehicles polled were larger SUV’s such as the Tahoe, Surburban, Escalade, Silverado Pick-Up and Sierra models. The only car presence in any numbers were the Impala and Cadillac luxury brand models.
- Ford Motor Co.
Fourth place Ford had a fifty-fifty mix of cars and trucks with the F150, Escape and Expedition being the most prominent of the trucks. The cars were led by the Mustang, Focus and Crown Victoria but with a total percentage of 13.5% was just above the half way mark of the leaders Toyota and like GM probably a victim of high gasoline prices and internal strife.
- DaimlerChrysler AG
This was a tough one to figure out, would I incorporate the Mercedes side of the deal or just stick with the Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep numbers. I decided to keep the American half of the equation as it looks as though the future will bring an end to this marriage so it is important to see where the market lies at this point.
With 8.2% of the vehicles polled the most prominent vehicle was the Jeep brand, from Wrangler to Grand Cherokee, Ram trucks were next and for the cars a mixture of Neons, Chargers, Sebrings and Chrysler Minivans.
In doing this small exercise it is quite apparent that the Big 2.5 are very much reliant on the SUV as their main source of income whereas the number one and number two in this poll are essentially purely car manufacturers who have just entered the truck business. With gasoline prices at an all time high in the States more emphasis is being paid to fuel efficient, eye pleasing vehicles, as also, are vehicles that also have hybrid technology.
The top five manufactures accounted for 80.9% of the total vehicles polled leaving just 19.1% for all other manufactures, so there you have it, 6 hours of driving and a top 5 list to boot!!!
I hope you enjoy!!!
March 14th, 2007
Recently I have been reading several forums that have had many posts on becoming a clay modeler. In those readings I’m finding that there seems to be a romance with this particular field in automotive design and yet many people have very little understanding in what it takes to become one. It would appear that the image that is being portrayed is, pick up a tool and scrape away until the desired shape is reached. This I’m afraid couldn’t be farther away from the truth. In industrial art certain parameters need to be kept and to create a form that is devoid of parameters will only come back to haunt you at a later stage in the program.
Having artistic flare is always a plus but you have to be able to translate a designers sketch to fit the package or parameters given, that is where the skill lies. Creating the best or closest resemblance to the sketch.
In my particular instance, to become a clay modeler I have progress through various fields. A road that wasn’t direct but through various related trades. For me I started at the age of sixteen as a pattermaker, this came about through my love of wood carving and wooden furniture which automatically placed me into finding a job where wood would play a major part in my daily activity. To determine a career at the age of sixteen is pretty much a hit and miss affair unless you are real focused. To help me with my decision the local careers officer would be at the school for the last two weeks before finally being pushed out to fend for myself and it was at that point that we I decided upon pattermaking. The whole process was based on the fact that I liked working in wood. Little did I know that only a small percentage of the apprentice patternmakers with Ford Motor Company would end up in the wood patternmaking shop, the rest would be working in metal!
During my apprenticeship I became familiar with using blue prints, hand tools and the workings of engines and all components that would have to be cast in a foundry. The fine tolerances that would improved water flow around an engine, the small difference in a wall thickness that could amount to massive savings in materials used during a years production. In that trade I would have to determine the best way and most productive way to produce a pattern for that specific component. It also meant that I had to go to college once a week for the duration of my apprenticeship to learn the theory behind the practical experience. In doing so I was fortunate to put those learnings to good use and hone my abilities, eventually ending up in the place I wanted to work, the wood shop.
Looking back on those years of my apprenticeship they were the stepping stones to the real job. They were the methods to make me think and assess a situation and act on a particular course of action to take. In other words my mind was taught how to build a pattern, core boxes and molding methods, I already had the woodworking skills.
In any employment situation you will find opportunities will arise and it is in these situations that a decision has to be made, normally a decision that has to be weighed up quickly. For me it was the opportunity to go as a contract modeler and secondly it was an adventure. Even though I had been trained as a patternmaker I knew I could handle the transition to modelmaking. I could read engineering drawings and I had an analytical approach and what I did not know I would be able to learn from the more experienced members of the team. Sure it was a chance to take especially as I was leaving a permanent position to go contracting.
You maybe asking what does this have to do with clay modeling but what I am sharing with you is clay modelers do not always start out as clay modelers. I had in effect traded in one profession that I knew, patternmaking for another and that was hard modelmaking. The common denominator was the ability to read engineering drawings and work with wood. In modelmaking at that time I was using beech for prototype press tools prior to the master models being made from Stabilite, a stable model tooling board made from layers of Mahogany and a resin glue. I say Stabilite, I believe that was what it was called.This particular tooling board was later banned because of the toxic nature of the material when cut or drilled.
When I returned from that contract some two years later the only way forward was to take another modelmaking job, you did on occasion interact with designers especially if you were involved on interior or exterior panels that required designer sign off. The designers were there to ensure that the blend of the fillets and radiis were flowing without any harsh intersections and panels highlighted correctly. These hard models were replicas of the former clay model so it was their job to make sure that the form wasn’t lost in the translation process, whereas today it would be scanned directly from the clay, tuned in the computer and milled out as a master clay model. This data would be released for a hard model to be made via milling, eliminating much of the hands-on process that is associated with 30 years ago.
The next twist of fate came during a period when large numbers of the workforce were finding themselves unemployed due to the massive cutbacks that were affecting the UK. I had been informed that the model shop that I was working at was closing its doors and consolidating its efforts at its parent company, offering no chance of relocation. With no alternatives on the horizon it was back to finding a contract position again but these sort of jobs do not come up everyday, fortunately I had previous experience in contracting and there would be an opening but I would have to wait for four months.
Eventually I find myself going back to a company that I left three years ago, the only difference this time is, they need additional people in the clay studio to help with detailed hard parts. This opportunity doesn’t come everyday and I find that during that one year contract only one hard part is addressed and that is a door mirror. Everything else is hands-on clay modeling. Did I sit still during that period, hell no, I made sure that I made the neccessary tools to do the job. The wire tools, scrapes, rakes, steels and more, all the tools that I still use today. Once again reading the tape drawing or line drawing is no problem, the different tools, the different medium is the real challenge but you have got to go to it. Ask the right questions without looking stupid, practice and be your own worst critique. Settle for nothing less than perfection in your own eyes, other will certainly tell you when and where you ARE wrong. When you are starting out, be humble don’t come across as the know it all, other senior modelers will open up to a person who is willing to learn, do the opposite and you may find that the door will shut.
Those lunch times were very productive and the contract sculptors that were there were only too willing to share their knowledge and explain the pros and cons of each tool that they used. To be able to use one of their tools and get a feel for the size was invaluable allowing me to make adjustments to suit my own needs.
Each sculptor I found had their own favorite tool/tools and a different approach to resolving a surface. This allowed me to make adjustments to my own tools, to suit the way that I modeled and typically I have a longer throat depth and a longer, slimmer handle than the ones that are typically bought. Being able to try different surfacing methods by watching others also shaped the way that I model today. Watching the variety of styles and trying what felt natural to me always brought the best results.
Everyone you will find has a different style and it is important to determine which way is the most natural and best for you, there is no one correct way. The most important aspect of clay modeling is the end result, it should be of a high standard and reflect the design intent. Afterall, everyone is an individual and the methods and the approach are like that person, always unique.
So after reading this post the bottom line is, try to become involved in the industry, that is, have a concept of how panels are put together, understand surface development, be hands-on, it is not a typical job. Most of the guys are some type of car nut or speed freak. It is not a 9 to 5 job either, you are at the mercy of the fickle design direction, hours are long, patience is a virtue, praise is few and far between and sometimes you get to see your family!
Now, do you want to be a clay modeler!!!!
March 4th, 2007
After the results of all the tests conducted by the Consumer Reports Magazine were tallied the overall opinion is, a Japanese vehicle is the best for the American public. Apparently this is the second time that Japan’s automakers have shut out the domestic and European alternatives. In conducting these tests they rely on their own findings, car ownership reports, reliability and government safety rankings.
This is no small survey by any means, after collecting data from its subscriber base, a total of some 1.3 million vehicles were polled giving these results. The top ten are;
- Honda Accord
- Honda Fit
- Honda Civic
- Toyota RAV 4
- Toyota Sienna
- Toyota Highlander
- Toyota Prius
- Infiniti M35
- Infiniti G35
- Maxda MX-5 Miata
As far as the most satisfying vehicle the Toyota Prius took top spot again with its customer base saying that it would buy the same model again but the Chevrolet Corvette did come in second. The Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan did make the most “impressive list” but what does this all mean in the big picture. Are the American public in love with the Asian made vehicles, is the quality that much better or is it the styling in general. Manufacturing standards are very close, safety is nearly the same on whatever vehicle you drive so it must be the styling. Or is it the memories of earlier American made vehicles that suffered with quality issues that are still etched in the current buyers mind.
Japanese, Korean and European vehicles are very safe in design, many would say bland but is this the safe way of guaranteeing a sale. No quirky design issues that may reduce your chance of a resale at a later date.
As we can see at present all of the main American manufacturers, that is GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler are reducing output of vehicles because of the slump in sales and the reduction of sales as fleet vehicles. This leads to a drop in overall percentage points whereas the likes of Toyota and Honda are enjoying record sales during a relatively cool period of selling vehicles.
The one bright star for the domestics is General Motors who has against all odds pull out a 3.7% gain in sales for the month of February proving that the turn-around is still on solid ground but it will need a continual effort all around to make the plan work. As new vehicles come to market it is even more important that the right advertising and pricing is set together with increased fuel efficiency to make that vehicle stand out in the crowd.
The unfortunate thing is publications such as the Consumer Reports will continue to influence people when it comes to the crunch, especially those who are indecisive in the first place.
November 26th, 2006
The launch of 2007 model year vehicles is upon us and the buzz is about the slew of 30 mpg cars and trucks that are available. The record gas prices of the summer has seen a change of heart for many people and the misconception that certain automotive companies only produce gas guzzlers is about to change. Predictably the Toyota Prius is the most fuel economical vehicle available now touting an impressive 51 mpg on the highway, 5 mpg less than the Honda Insight which ceases production for the 2007 model year.
General Motors has improved its position with numerous vehicles from its Chevrolet brand breaking the 30 mpg threshhold. Vehicles such as the Aveo 37 mpg, Cobalt 34 mpg, HHR 30 mpg, Impala 31 mpg, Malibu 34 mpg and the Monte Carlo 31 mpg all hit that 30 mpg threshhold.
That being said both Honda and Toyota have their thoroughbreds. With Honda, the Accord 34 mpg, Civic 40 mpg, CRV 40 mpg and the Fit new to the market with 38 mpg. Toyota not to be outdone provide you with the Rav4 30 mpg, Matrix 36 mpg, Corolla 41 mpg, Yaris 40 mpg and the Camry 34 mpg.
The one thing that the Asian companies have going for them is their already established hydrid technology which they have in place. This coupled with high gas prices helps them to enjoy record sales at this moment in time. Since General Motors has iced the Impact electric vehicle because of costs in producing each unit their energy has been channeled into Hydrogen fuel cell technology but this technology is still aways off for general transportation.
The saving grace for a company such as General Motors is the choice of vehicle, if Chevrolet is not your taste then there are still brands such as Pontiac, Saturn, SAAB and Buick with fuel efficient vehicles. Let’s take Pontiac for instance, the Solstice with sales outpacing the production quota boasts 31 mpg. Other Pontiacs such as the Vibe 36 mpg, G5 34mpg, G6 33 mpg and the Grand Prix 30 mpg. These vehicles aim for the youth in you bringing a little verve to an otherwise mundane day.
With quality assurance between companies now being negligible the only differentiating statement that can be had is the styling of each individual vehicle. Companies are vying for the consumers attention with innovative design and luxury appointment that would have been non existent on the lower end vehicles of 20 years ago. That being said, the best place to check out what all manufacturers have to offer is to attend an up and coming International Auto Show.
This years LA Auto Show commences for the public from December 1st through December 10th at the Los Angeles Convention Center marking its 100 year anniversary. Those who are fortunate enough to work within the auto industry will be able to attend press days, November 29th through November 30th providing preregistration had been done to obtain ones credentials. This years press days will be opened by General Motors Chairman and CEO Mr. Rick Wagoner on Wednesday November 29th, followed by numerous press conferences throughout Wednesday and Thursday by all major motor manufacturers.
Once the press days is finished, the 10 day public opening will reveal the latest in fuel economical vehicles. Maybe this is the time to check out your next vehicle before putting down your hard earned cash.
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