Some will look at it from the lens of the global headlines. Headlines not worth repeating for the sake of keeping us in good spirits. Some will look at the overall challenge of navigating a year full of curve balls and emotional rollercoasters.
Fast forward to 2003 when BMW sorted out what they wanted to keep from its acquisition of Rover Cars. They loved how MINI changed the automotive universe back in 1959, so the Bavarians wanted to sow more lightning from the bottle. Well…they did.
TweetWelcome to my annual tradition of self-indulgence and absolute pining for the day I can buy a vehicle that I would truly enjoy and own. But, how? And, who's money? Understand that for the past few years, I took liberties on this site to do something that is part-selfish crap and part-consumer advice. I arrived …
Tweet All Photos by Randy Stern The summer may be turning its hottest corner, but that does not mean there’s no cooling down of content. In this batch "As Published Elsewhere" Quickies reviews, the selection of vehicles turn towards the headlines. Vehicles that are found elsewhere with my byline, reviewed fully on those pages. They …
Tweet#VOTY16 has been awarded. The editorial calendar has turned over a new year. It is cause for celebration! There is one more bit of business to take care of. As a tradition, I sit down and look at all of the vehicles I had the chance to work with for all of my outlets and …
Tweet All Photos by Randy Stern We North Americans should be very thankful that BMW brought back the MINI to our shores. Why? If you remember the old Mini – whether it was an Austin, a Morris or simply a British Leyland retread – then you know all about its charms. They were very small, …
Tweet "Your Turn" is back! V&R has not always been about Randy Stern, Tyler Lipa and other writers who have contributed to this site. It is about you! Yes, YOU! You got an automotive-related story to tell – tell it here! That simple! To help bring this segment back is my friend Iain Bennett. I …
Tweet All photos by Randy Stern It's baaaaack! Last year, I began a series called WWRD? – or, "What Would Randy Drive?" This gives you, dear reader, the opportunity to engage with me by asking me if I would drive a certain vehicle via V&R's social media channels on Facebook and Twitter. The submissions are …
Next year will mark ten years since I covered my first auto show. No, seriously…
It is a momentous occasion since working press at an auto show has evolved from covering what's new on the scene as a place
Yet, sometime within the last month or so, someone on Twitter called press days at an auto show as sort of a "circle jerk." I get his frustration, as covering the industry certainly has changed over time. Traditional media has been threatened by the likes of myself…and we're being threatened by outlets that can distill the news even quicker.
Still, there is room at the table for all of us – and we're networking with each other all the time. In fact, the industry and the press are interconnected in ways unimaginable when it was strictly the traditional media covering the industry.
In retort to that Tweet that called auto show press days a "circle jerk," I still believe that we need a day to meet with our industry counterparts, enjoy the excitement of vehicle launches and provide varying perspectives on the industry back to you – the readership.
Since the first major USA show is coming up at the Los Angeles Convention Center; this actually calls for a Five Faves post! This posting revolves a single question: What five vehicles made my auto show press coverage experience worth the effort?
That would mean logging back top the 2002 Chicago Auto Show – the one I covered with Midwest Ursine/Tillery Publications along with current Windy City Banner publisher Tom Wray.
I did come up with five vehicles over the past ten years. Here they are…