Los Angeles Auto Show...So what, who cares.

[thomj513]

It's that time of year again and the auto industry in holding it's annual show of the latest and greatest (?) that they have to offer. For me it will be the third year in a row that I will not attend, my personal protest, and am thinking of ways to communicate to others to not attend and explore for themselves the problems associated with the "auto-centric" lifestyle. Short of walking a picket line at the convention center, what ideas do you folks have to get the message across? I'm not car-free yet, but rather, car-lite.

[Platy]

I looked at their web page just out of curiosity. What caught my attention was the winner of the annual Los Angeles Design Challenge. It shows a view of life and a vision of the future that's very different from my own. Excerpting from their press release:

"The General Motors West Coast Advanced Design Studio hoists the trophy for the 2006 Design Los Angeles Design Challenge with the creation of the innovative GMC PAD. The design team created what the judges proclaimed a "LAV," Living Activity Vehicle.

"The concept of the GMC PAD is that of an urban loft with mobility. Featuring a diesel-electric hybrid system for propulsion, the engine also serves as a generator for the onboard power grid. The media rich environment is unlike any other, and comes with an endless variety of entertainment, information and security options."

The www.laautoshow.com webpage links to an article about the GMC PAD. I'll except a couple of items:

"General Motors calls the GMC PAD "an urban loft with mobility." It was the company's entry in the Design Challenge Award at the Los Angeles Auto Show, a competition encouraging automakers to build a vehicle that adapts best to the frenetic world of southern California. The PAD is a futuristic motorhome, sporting a cockpit section separated from the rear two-thirds by a translucent rib. Full-length windows at either side allow plenty of visibility, and a raised roof section over the rear looks something like a futuristic Volkswagen Vanagon camper extension.

"There is room inside to stand, and the walls feature full-length LCD screens. Satellite-based television and Wi-Fi provide continuous entertainment, while electronically controlled "variable-glaze settings" darken the wall panels to ensure privacy. Onboard computers coordinate these systems as well as the appliances in the rearward spa. Lounge areas have ample lighting to create a livable environment when the vehicle is parked in LifeMode.

"In DriveMode, a diesel-electric hybrid drivetrain propels the PAD along on its electromagnetic suspension. Travel might prove difficult, however, as the PAD looks to take up quite a bit more than one lane of traffic. The hybrid system generates power on the road that it later uses to run many LifeMode systems. In case all else fails, a photovoltaic solar panel on the roof can chip in its share of juice."

[Artkansas]

From Carbon-based life form to Car based life form.

[jeff williams]

From Carbon-based life form to Car based life form.
:)

Carbon based to Carbon belching.

[ReptilesBlade]

I just love to see GM pissing away so much money on feel-good objects rather than try to focus on fixing what is wrong with their company and business model. At least Ford is trying even if their offers do still suck.

http://www.cars.com/go/features/autoshows/vehicle.jsp?vehicletype=concept&autoshowyear=2006&vehicle=concept_gmc_pad&aff=latimes

Looks like: A bloated motorhome that doubles as a mobile fortress
Defining characteristics: Crooked body arch behind the cockpit, raised roof section with wraparound window, six wheels
Ridiculous features: Operates in DriveMode and LifeMode; variable-glaze settings for wall panels
Chance of being mass produced: Absolutely none

And to top it off they have the nerve to insult us by making their model hold that folding bike in front of that monstrosity in the first picture.

[2wheeledsoul]

I give up. WTF is "life mode"? Especially when locked in a metal box isn't living...

[Platy]

...And to top it off they have the nerve to insult us by making their model hold that folding bike in front of that monstrosity in the first picture.

A picture is worth a thousand words. That GMC PADmobile would be pretty useless for transportation. That's why you'd need a bike to actually get around.

This thing is a window into car psychology. The car companies realized a long time ago that effective transportation is not why people buy cars. Among other things, people buy the idea that the car is a protected personal exoskeleton that insulates you from the rough and tumble of the outside world. The PADmobile simply takes that idea to an extreme.

[Platy]

I give up. WTF is "life mode"? ...

Don't ask me, I spend too much time on the Internet, ha.

[Brad M]

They expect to win an award with this? Hah!

[Dahon.Steve]

The last time I visited the New York Car show, it was not about transportation but showing off unaffordable luxury. There were beautiful cars all over but it would take me close to 25 years to save up and buy one. With that kind of money, I'm better off buying a home instead.

I took pictures of the cars knowing there was no way I could afford the eye candy. What gets me is all the folks who were seriously thinking of taking out loans to buy them! In the end, you can't park these cars on the street or anywhere for someone will try to break in and rob your vehicle.

[mrkott3r]

Never liked Moto shows. They only have two types of cars:
1) prototypes that will never be built
2) Cars you will never be able to afford

[gorn]

Last year in Detroit there was "The OTHER Autoshow". Which was an art gallery full of car-related art (Mainly in an anti-car manner). It was a lot of fun, glad I went to the "Other" autoshow rather than the original one.

[Dahon.Steve]

I just remember the last time I was at the New York Auto Show, they had a Formula 1 race car hanging in the air and someone broke the front wing. Needless to say, several men came around and asked me, "Did you break this wing"? I said no but how much would it cost? He said about 40K!

Yeah.. That car would last about ten minutes on the street

[2wheeledsoul]

Imagine anticar art being in Motor City. The irony doesn't escape me. :D

[Brian]

The last show I went to had some cool bike stuff. They had a section of lowrider bikes too. Don't know why though.

[Mehow]

This has been the first L.A. Auto Show that I haven't attended in several years. I was thinking of doing a small rally (anti-car culture) outside of the convetion center, but that didn't come together. With the way bike culture is growing in L.A. it seems like a anti-car rally is feasable for next years car show. Anyone wanna get something going for next year? Maybe a Critical Mass around the convention center :D


-Mehow

[XM DUDE]

I love riding, but when it is 110*, I love my airconditioned car!

[Sir Lunch-a-lot]

What would be great is an HPV show, where new designs of HPV's or HPV parts are show/sold. Stuff like velomobiles, recumberments, the latest designs in hub shifting, new fairings, fancy bicycles, bicycle seats, etc. That would truely "turn my crank".

[some_guy282]

A picture is worth a thousand words. That GMC PADmobile would be pretty useless for transportation. That's why you'd need a bike to actually get around.

This thing is a window into car psychology. The car companies realized a long time ago that effective transportation is not why people buy cars. Among other things, people buy the idea that the car is a protected personal exoskeleton that insulates you from the rough and tumble of the outside world. The PADmobile simply takes that idea to an extreme.


How right you are.

The concept behind the car correctly identifies long commutes as a problem. One would think that the best way to solve the commute problem is by removing our reliance on cars, and redesigning urban areas so people live closer to work and wont need them. But instead the PAD tries to solve the problem created by car dependency with...more cars.

A problem cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created it.

The PAD is a perfect example of that being true.

[XM DUDE]

I live in Santa Clarita, and I wish they could run a train down the I5/405 to at least west LA, cause the 406 totally sucks!

[Dahon.Steve]

I just love to see GM pissing away so much money on feel-good objects rather than try to focus on fixing what is wrong with their company and business model. At least Ford is trying even if their offers do still suck.

http://www.cars.com/go/features/autoshows/vehicle.jsp?vehicletype=concept&autoshowyear=2006&vehicle=concept_gmc_pad&aff=latimes


Agreed.

The big three are spending a fortune developing vehicles the public cannot afford yet they have the money to spend on this unnecessary waste while laying off thousnds of workers and closing plants!

[Dahon.Steve]

A picture is worth a thousand words. That GMC PADmobile would be pretty useless for transportation. That's why you'd need a bike to actually get around.


You better not even think about leaving that monster on the street anywhere or the theives will break in just to steal all the electornics inside. I don't care how much security that car has, you can't park it without being afraid someone will make an attempt to steal you're belongings.