Fiat | - Part 4

It's a Dart!

December 10, 2011 by Randy Stern

Remember the Dodge-Alfa Romeo compact I "speculated" a month or so ago? Well…it's got a name…

Much to the glee of everyone even remotely not in the automotive industry, the Dart name is a throwback to a simpler time. The nomenclature's reappearance was received with such joy never seen of any automobile in a very long time. It received huge media coverage – one of the television outlets in the Twin Cities had a piece on the Dart's return.

Perhaps I should explain why everyone went absolutely ecstatic over Chrysler's announcement of their new compact's name.

Los Angeles 2011: The Auto Show that's 23 Miles from Victory & Reseda

January 18, 2012 by Randy Stern

It's true – I grew up 23 miles away from the site of this year's Los Angeles Auto Show.

So, how did I get 1,935 miles away from it? Why was I not there to cover it? Long story…but the show did yield some spectacular debuts. Some of these world premieres were well worth the wait.

It is a good thing that the Los Angeles Auto Show found resonance in its timeslot in November. The show itself puts the West Coast in the spotlight for our industry. November in Los Angeles is a great time to soak it all in – just before the Thanksgiving crush.

I'm talking about those of us in and around the automotive industry. But, for those of you who are planning to attend the show…what a way to spend turkey week!

The Speculator: Dodge's New Compact

April 26, 2020 by Randy Stern

With the compact market climbing into prominence in the past year, there is still a feeling that something is still missing from the party. But, what would be missing here? Or, rather, who?

Commentary: Pentastar Trending

April 7, 2020 by Randy Stern

TweetI love social media. No, seriously, I do. It's a great way to connect with people and entities following a common interest and cause. It has played a significant role in the development and rebranding of this blog. How? The connections one makes with key people: Fans, contacts in the industry. This has been a …

Quickies: Worth The Wait

March 25, 2020 by Randy Stern

Though that is not entirely true, as the X1/9 and Spider 2000 were sold under their respective design house brands, Bertone and Pininfarina, well into the 1980s. In the end, Fiat no longer mattered as they faced the rise of Asian products promising a different kind of sporty automobile. By the mid-1990s, with Volkswagen left as Europe’s only mainstream brand on this continent, the consumer base yearned for another chance at some serious choices against the Japanese and Koreans. That is, until now.

Getting Small (and Efficient) – 2011 Edition

April 7, 2020 by Randy Stern

TweetBefore the 2008 election, there were calls to get more fuel-efficient vehicles on the road. How slowly we heeded that call… However, the price of fuel has been climbing since before the end of 2010. Now, it has reached its highest price since 2008 (and still climbing). This has caused some concern across the automotive …

Chicago 2011: Shining (Penta)Star

April 1, 2020 by Randy Stern

TweetIf you have read this site over the years, one particular automaker shows up on these pages as a through-line. Why? I have always been a fan of said automaker. Then again, how many times have I stated how much I’ve been in Chrysler’s corner? Every time the Auburn Hills-based company is down, it always …

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