Z28x
01-25-2006, 10:46 AM
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060125/FREE/60123015/1041
Ralph Nader's Jeep shot
The Detroit auto show attracted throngs of appreciative fans last week, but Ralph Nader wasn't among them. The consumer advocate, presidential candidate and perennial industry critic told Automotive News he was appalled by the stunts that car companies pulled to launch their vehicles at the show.
Nader was especially annoyed by a 2007 Jeep Wrangler that crashed through a plate-glass window at the show hall, crossed a downtown street, drove up the steps of a hotel and scaled an ersatz mountain -- with Chrysler group CEO Tom LaSorda aboard.
"It's high-level juvenile delinquency," said the author of Unsafe at Any Speed, "a grotesque caricature of what the auto industry is doing these days."
Instead of celebrating horsepower, muscle, glitz and trivia, Nader said, U.S. automakers should be showcasing safety and fuel economy.
Nader was in Detroit last week to address the annual Automotive News World Congress. He said he had no plans to take in the auto show.
I guess he wants every one to drive grey base model Volvo. The Detroit (and Chicago and NY) autoshow is about showing off new products and how exciting and fun they can be. I go to the autoshows because I have fun. I also want safty and great fuel economy too, but not at the expense of of what the American market place is all about, freedom of choice! Detroit is going to need fun and flashy products if they want to beat the beige cookie cutter monsters from Japan and Korea.
Ralph Nader's Jeep shot
The Detroit auto show attracted throngs of appreciative fans last week, but Ralph Nader wasn't among them. The consumer advocate, presidential candidate and perennial industry critic told Automotive News he was appalled by the stunts that car companies pulled to launch their vehicles at the show.
Nader was especially annoyed by a 2007 Jeep Wrangler that crashed through a plate-glass window at the show hall, crossed a downtown street, drove up the steps of a hotel and scaled an ersatz mountain -- with Chrysler group CEO Tom LaSorda aboard.
"It's high-level juvenile delinquency," said the author of Unsafe at Any Speed, "a grotesque caricature of what the auto industry is doing these days."
Instead of celebrating horsepower, muscle, glitz and trivia, Nader said, U.S. automakers should be showcasing safety and fuel economy.
Nader was in Detroit last week to address the annual Automotive News World Congress. He said he had no plans to take in the auto show.
I guess he wants every one to drive grey base model Volvo. The Detroit (and Chicago and NY) autoshow is about showing off new products and how exciting and fun they can be. I go to the autoshows because I have fun. I also want safty and great fuel economy too, but not at the expense of of what the American market place is all about, freedom of choice! Detroit is going to need fun and flashy products if they want to beat the beige cookie cutter monsters from Japan and Korea.