For the last 8 years Jason has watched Power Block TV on Spike TV… so that means I have watched them for the last 8 years too. Recently Monday nights have been spent watching Top Gear. I’ve also been dragged to more than one auto show a year… okay maybe not dragged. I’m not a gear head… I found out the hard way they you need to change your oil, and transmission fluid (go ahead and laugh but someone could have told me!) . I have always loved the art of cars… the design of them. In the last 10 years I learned the lingo… I learned about horsepower, chaises, and other car stuff. I may or may not read Jason’s Motor Trend magazines…. okay fine I do. I like the pictures. That is my story and I’m sticking to it.
When I got an e-mail asking if I would want to go the North American International Auto Show in Detroit (who plans anything in Detroit in January!?!) I figured this was the “car show gods” way of thanking me for being a good wife over the years. This was what I told Jason when he asked “why are you going”?? (I think he was a wee bit jealous..he still wont admit it) I also had no idea what to expect… I was going to cover press preview days through social media, and my friend Allie and Jane would be going too. GM and Ford are both using social media a lot! I was also very excited to FINALLY meet the infamous famous Connie Burke… but no one warned me about Christopher Barger! (hey look they are CB1 and CB2!) I tease… they are both rad!
The hospitality put Texans to shame (and that is near impossible to do) … The welcoming started on twitter before Allie and I boarded our plane. But you don’t want to know about all the great people I met do you?? You want to know about the cars….
Well I’m a photographer…so you can see the auto show from my point of view
So I’m in lust love with the 2011 Buick Regal GS. Yes you read that right… a Buick. You need to see my ID… I’m 32… Buicks have a new attitude and are hip and cool. Just ask… or rewatch the video.
Some highlights:
- The round table with Mark Reuss and social media. Did you know he’s an engineer and still is active in engineering the products? He did mention that GM is about relationships. you can find GM on facebook and twitter … don’t forget there are real people behind those screen names! We will be seeing mroe grassroots marketing from them …. so don’t be surprised to see your local dealership sponsoring the little league team, or cars at the next “tweetup” you go to.
- Round table with Susan Docherty and Social media. ( I seriously want her hair.) It is important to her to retain the “free agents” (current Sabb, Saturn, Pontiac, etc owners)..GM is reaching out to them letting know that GM is there for them. I loved finding out for half the month she drives a GM car and the other half she drives a competitors car…and when she rents a car, it’s never a GM car. What better way to learn about the competition.
- Meeting with John Schwegman. He was the Marketing Director for Chevy Trucks and Crossovers (I drive an crossover and LOOOOVE it) …now he is with ‘Vettes and Camaros. But since I’m from Texas (and Allie is too…and we were together) we talked trucks. I was not surprised to lean Dallas and Houston are the largest truck markets. (everyone put on your surprise face). He gets that Texas is a different market for trucks… the same truck that is a farm truck in the fields is also the same truck that is driven to the country club and church. Trucks in Texas have to have the looks and the power.
- Talking about the Chevy Cruze inside the Cruze with Chuck Russell. This isn’t an “Andie” car, but a great sedan for a young couple, a 1st car, or even one for Dad to drive to work. The little design features in this car, such as the chrome, headliner (no “peachfuzz”), and see through glass on the dash make this car feel more like a high end car. FYI: The trunk is HUGE. (In the Andie trunk measurement scale… it is a 3-4 body trunk)
-Touring the OnStar Command Center. Did you know I lived in South Florida for 2 of the busiest hurricane seasons on record? Yup I lived though Francis, Ivan, Katrina, and Wilma…to name a few. This impressed me; OnStar and The Red Cross teamed up for OnStar Crisis Assist.
“When severe weather, natural disaster, or other crisis events affect OnStar subscribers, OnStar Crisis Assist will allow subscribers in a designated crisis area to take advantage of all OnStar services regardless of the service plans they have at no additional charge. Subscribers who have in-vehicle, hands-free calling service can use it as an alternative means of staying connected if they are without power in their homes or cannot recharge their cell phone batteries.”
- Walking around with Ed Welburn (Vice President, Global Design) and other bloggers talking about design. Have you noticed some classic lines are coming back with a modern edge?? Look at the Cadillac tail lights… trust me. See I love classic cars… I love the art. I don’t care how much horsepower a car has….I want it to look awesome! Yeah I’m a girl…but one with a design/art background. This is the part of the car I love. You could tell the designers at GM love it too. Mr. Welburn said some of his youngest designers are the ones who love designing the new Buicks. (See told you they are rad!)
- Learning more about the Volt from Britta Gross. The Volt has intrigued me since the 1st time I saw it at the Texas Motor Speedway. (I’m a closeted “hippie tree huger”) . This electric car (that has a range-extending gas generator) plugs into your everyday outlets. Bonus it has it’s own iphone app!
Other observations:
-If I had the cash, I would drive a Bentley…with a flying B hood ornament. So please book your photography needs with me now.. lol
-Ford isn’t too creative with naming colors. They had a magenta Fiesta…the color name was …. drum roll please: Bright Magenta. Come on Ford. 1. the car is named “Party”…give the color a party name! 2.Women pay $8 for OPI nail polish because of the name alone. Allie thinks it should be called “Electric Raspberry”, I went with “Warrior Pink” to tie in with the Warriors in Pink Campaign. Allie and I are both available for our color naming services. Please contact us Ford.
- Traditional Media isn’t really sure how to take “Social Media”. I am both… I see how they can work great together. Its fun to get quick stories out in 140 characters, but I love a paper or magazine for “The rest of the story”. Twitter and Facebook is like a movie trailer for the longer story.
- VW display was white, white walls, white cars, and lots of light… The concept car was silver, and had cool wheels. I had a hard time telling the difference between the cars…
- Jeep had a pretty “Longhorn Orange” jeep…. I think they knew I was coming… I am sure it was out for me. lol
- I saw two mommymobiles mini-vans one by Dodge, and one by Toyota. More proof that SUVs and Crossovers are the new Mommymobile.
- I was not impressed with the Toyota designs… they all look a like. I heard someone say Toyota is going to be the new GM. (I don’t’ think this was a compliment)
- Gull wing doors rock my socks off. Just sayin’.
Here is my full disclosure: General Motors paid for my trip (flight, hotel, meals) to the North American International Auto Show. The laughter and new friends were not paid for…those were a free gift with purchase.
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