The Great Auto Markets of 2007 and 2047
"Where are the future classics?"
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I am writing to you from a vehicle manufacturer press event, but I cannot share any more details than that. These events and the vehicles we get to experience are often subject to serious "embargos" that do not allow us to share details until a future date chosen by the manufacturer. The vehicle that I drove today does not go on sale until early 2008, so I cannot tell you more other than you are going to like it and it should hit its target market with a bull's eye. Be sure to check back the week of December 24th for the no-longer-secret details.
But as I drove this vehicle today, it led me to think of future classic cars. What then-vintage cars will get our hearts pumping in 2047? Obviously, the big names like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche and Mercedes will have their players, but what about Buick? Lexus? Hyundai? Are there future unheralded classics for sale in new car showrooms today?
I think identifying future classics is made even more difficult by the sheer amount of choice and variety in the vehicles you can buy today. The price of entry into the automotive business circa 2008 is absolute reliability, overall quality, and an always-improving cost of ownership. If these factors will be considered a given in the future, what will separate the wheat from the chaff? Style? Technology? Design? Performance? Maybe all of the above, but the assured winner is you. The level of sophistication found in today's vehicles on the efficiency, safety, entertainment and reliability fronts is incredible, and based on what I experienced today, it is going to get even more competitive. Details that were exclusively in the realm of luxury cars just a few years ago are becoming mainstream, so luxury cars are being forced to raise the bar even higher.
Posted on 2007-12-03 | Permalink | 
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