McCormick: Sexy Appliances Will Save Detroit!

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

Detroit News columnist John McCormic joins the chorus of Detroit cheerleaders who echo GM Car Czar Bob Lutz' infamous rallying cry against the transplants' hugely popular products: "soulless appliances!" McCormick's rant was inspired by a Sin City tete-a-tete with ex-Toyota appliance maker and current Chrysler co-Veep Jim Press. After telegraphing the new Chrysler's new party line– damn! we're fast!– the auto scribe portrays Press as an exec on the horns of a dilemma. "Some customers really love the passion and emotion of cars," Press told Big Mac. "When you drive the Viper or the new Challenger, the hair on the back of your neck stands up." And then, a confession. "There are many customers who want to drive appliances and we've got to get better at giving them appliances." The answer? Give 'em both! And there you have it: a "new paradigm" for a resurgent Motown. "Press is not alone in recognizing this viewpoint. General Motors has been laboring hard over the last few years to create a new overall formula for dependable and engaging vehicles and the results are showing in the U.S. market. So too has Ford, although with more success on the dependable side of the equation than the appealing element." Hey, who can argue with that?

Robert Farago
Robert Farago

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  • Jthorner Jthorner on Oct 29, 2007

    "The Camry and Accord typify what’s happened to the mainstream sedan — bland and conforming." The 2008 Accord is about as good looking of a car as you can buy in the mid-price four door sedan market. http://automobiles.honda.com/accord-sedan/exterior-photos.aspx Then there is the new 2008 Malibu which will compete with it: http://cars.about.com/od/chevrolet/ig/2008-Chevrolet-Malibu-gallery/ From some angles the new Malibu looks pretty good, but from others it is just off. The rear end 3/4 view is especially clumsy. Have a look at the transitions from the rear wheel wells to the actual tail of the car to have a real head-scratching experience. The attempt to harken back to early 60s Chevrolet dashboards doesn't come off very well either. The headlight treatment is too much like the now-last-generation Accord. Compared to either of these the Fusion trio simply looks boring and dated and the Camry remains a What The **** looking beast.

  • Phil Ressler Phil Ressler on Oct 29, 2007
    The 2008 Accord is about as good looking of a car as you can buy in the mid-price four door sedan market. Which is exactly the problem, isn't it? Phil
  • KBW KBW on Oct 29, 2007

    I think the new version is quite nice. It looks like it belongs in the 21st century. I'm tired of all these recent automotive designs which play off of "nostalgia". Cars like the beetle had a certain form as a result of their function and a sense of elegance as a result of their simplicity. All these new cars with retro styling just seem forced. Their makers are simply milking your memories for money.

  • Sherman Lin Sherman Lin on Oct 29, 2007

    Here's a thought maybe the actual owners, the ones who actually chose and then paid money for their rides have a different taste for looks and aesthetics from the critics. I owned a 91 accord coupe and a 2000 coupe. I absolutely loved the the way both of them looked, especially the 2000.

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