All the Walls Come Tumbling Down

I just left Volvo's after-show party at the Sunset Strip House of Blues. I tell you that not because I think it makes me cool (it's my harmonica playing that makes me think I'm cool), but I wanted to set the scene--the wine and beer were having a party, USC had just been scalumpered by Texas at the Rose Bowl, and everybody was surrounded by gods and goddesses of folk, blues and R&B. It gets folks talking...

I kept my big mouth shut, for once. And listened.

I heard chat about the day's show. What folks saw and what they thought about what they saw. There was talk about Porsche SUVs and 3-wheeled Volkwagens. Cadillac trucks and Honda trucks. Tiny American cars and big Toyota trucks. Volvo sports cars and crossovers from around the world.

Nobody's playing inside their customary yard anymore. Anybody can do anything. The L.A. show wasn't a series of "oh, my"s and "wow, I don't believe it"s, but it was a strong-willed testament that the rules no longer apply in the automobile industry. It started with Honda building luxury cars 20 years ago, and it has finally become doctrine.

So don't be surprised when Rolls-Royce builds minivans, or when Microsoft produces a sports coupe.

Rich

Categories: Detroit Auto Show,LA Auto Show,Sports Cars