I had a great time in Dearborn and Detroit after experiencing the awesome 2012 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). Just like NY, if you love cars…there are few places that can compare. I spent the entire day here pretty much just taking it all in and taking a done of snapshots. I attended the Ford Fusion press conference, which was really impressive. Visually interesting. The message was good. The Fusion is awesome. Truly beautiful and packed with safety and techie features. Look out to all the other mid-size sedans on the market.
During the day Ford was good enough to allow the “online influencers” access to top-level executives at the company for a small presentation and Q&A session. Ford luminaries included Derrick Kuzak (Global Head of Product), CMO Jim Farley, CEO Alan Mulally, and a sustainability and safety session with heads John Viera and Steve Kenner, respectively. It was a great experience and very intimate and informative. Ford showed us all great appreciation and respect, which was great. Later in the evening, Ford reported that with the help of the bloggers in attendance, the Ford Fusion media share went from 9.5% in it’s segment to almost 60%, that over 5 million unique Twitter followers received info about Ford, Ford’s share of overall coverage was 40%, and that there were over 2,200 media mentions…just today alone. A very impressive showing, indeed…don’t you think? Shows the power of social media and the blogosphere…and Ford gets it.
The show itself was great. We say debuts of the new editions of the Nissan Pathfinder, Dodge Dart, ord Fusion, and so many others. There were elaborate concept cars like the Chevy Miray (Batmobile?), Volvo Concept You, Chevy Camaro Hot Wheels, and the Lexus LFA. So many great cars. So many technological advancements. So much focus on sustainability and alternative fuel sources. So many great brand improvements and extensions.
So, without further adieu, here’s only some of images from the show. More to come.
This is hot off the presses, so you’re one of the first people to get a look. It’s look really great, as you can see. This is pretty much the headliner for Ford at this year’s Detroit auto show. They’ve redesigned the whole car with the hopes of redesigning the mid-size sedan category. New design, better fuel efficiency, loads of impressive technology
To see more and read about all the new goodies, check out http://fordfusionstory.com/.
If you want to check out the official press conference as it happens visit livestream.com/ford at 8AM Eastern time on January 9, 2012.
I am here, live and in person, in Dearborn, Michigan, about 15 minutes outside of downtown Detroit. Thank you to Ford Motor Company and their social media division for inviting me. If you want to keep track of Ford at the auto show, check out @Ford and #FordNAIAS on twitter.com
I took an easy afternoon flight from JFK to Detroit. It took a mere 1:45, 15 minutes faster than it should taken. Ford picked us up at the airport by baggage claim. Now, if you have ever been to Detroit, you understand what I am about to say…I don’t think there is any airport where you have to pack a snack and some water if you decide you need to visit the baggage claim. I mean it took me about 20 minutes to get there! On the other hand, the airport was nice and clean with a lot of amenities including a Heineken Lounge and Jose Cuervo Tequileria. Well done. Once I hitched a ride on a donkey, I found my ride.
About 15 minutes in the car and I arrive at The Henry hotel, an Autograph Collection property from Marriott. It’s very close to Ford headquarters and the Ford Museum also. Dearborn might as well be called “Fordville.” Mr. Ford and his great company has created quite a legacy here from the HQ to the hotel to the Henry Ford Community College to…you get my drift.
The hotel is large and impressive. It has a fairly modern exterior, but on the inside, it’s all classic beauty. It’s classic but not stuffy and the walls are adorned with art, particularly modern art (a nice juxtaposition to the traditional finishes). I think it befits the Ford legacy and name.
There are a few pics of my well designed room as well as some of the beautifully decorated and artfully dressed hallways and common areas below.
Soon after I arrived at my room, it was just about time to hop a bus to The Ford Museum. Now, you might think that the Ford Museum is nothing but Ford automobiles and that’s it. Well, my children, you would be mistaken! It’s a great place. It was build by Ford in the 1920s for the purpose of being a museum. It’s not connected officially withFord, so the museum can display whatever items it feels is appropriate. And so they do. The museum owns and maintains over 26 MILLION items and only can display about 6% of that. There are cars from all decades and all manufacturers (not just Ford), old gas stations, trains, motorcycles, billboards, and a lot more. There’s even an entire train in the museum!
Sure, I like cars and am very interested in that. But I really think this is more about history, about progress, about invention, and about America and it’s manufacturing past and future. I think the kids would like it and I think people that don’t necessarily care about cars would like it, too.
I’ve included a bunch of photos of the new, 80,000 exhibit which is set to open on Jan 29, 2012. I think you can get a decent feel from the images. If you happen to be in the area, I think it’s worth taking a look-see. Here are some pics of the museum along with the pics from the hotel. I’ve also included the really good Michigan beers (Bell’s) they had on hand at the bar…
I’m pretty excited about the next 2 days. There’s a packed schedule that includes me waking up around 5:30AM to have breakfast before the 6:30AM shuttle to the car show. This is really something I was not prepared for. I didn’t believe the people attending that mentioned it. I tried to put it out of my mind…but it should all be worth it tomorrow.
This new diner, the Landmark, in Roslyn, Long Island, NY is supposed to be great. It’s a pre-fab, double decker with a new, jazzed up quasi-gourment menu. On top to that, they seem to have added computer terminals at each table. Is this great, or a bit too much. Sure, it’s great in theory, but is enough tech enough? I mean, people barely pay attention to each other now, with the phones, BlackBerry emails, iPods, etc. Just seems like it can be a bit too much. The point of going out to eat is not only to eat, but also to spend time with others. If you take this out of the equation, you might as well all stay home, eating Hungry Man dinners in each other’s respective internet, cable, iPod docked quarters. Bring the civility back, people. This isn’t a shot at this place, I think it’s great they’re trying to invest in the place and innovate. I just think people need to make the right choices. What do you think? Don’t we as a socity have to say, tech is great, but to a point?
NY Times via Apple.com
Yes, Apple’s latest (they hope at least) mega craze is coming. Now, it’s not really the Gigantic iPhone, it’s the iPad. It’s Apple’s intro into the tablet world. So far, it seems like many “experts” have panned it as being nothing too great, but you know how Appleheads go, I’m sure this will be another blockbuster, sent down from the hands of the one and only Super Granny Smith himself, Steve Jobs.
One very cool addition, it seems, will be the iBookstore. The iPad will feature an eReader, so Apple is hoping to really start another medium revolution like they did with teh iPod and the iTunes store.
There will be a few choices, like Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi plus 3G and 16GB/32GB/64GB. Prices will range from $499 for the Wi-Fi 16GB model to $829 for the Wi-Fi/3G 64GB model.
I guess it remains to be seen how large an impact this device will have, but I think it looks like a winner. It really does seem like something you would have on your coffee table, always at arm’s length. It’s sleek, like alll Apple products, and it rolls a number of keey functions into one, including the eReader, web browser, and the ability to load and run over 150,000 apps avaible for the iPhone and iPod Touch. I think given the look and the relatively modest intro price, this will change the way people do some things, much like the iPod and iTunes store already has.
TiVo, in it’s effort to stay relevant in the face of cable and satellite DVRs as well as internet video sites (subscribers down 21% in 2009), is releasing a new set-top box called the TiVo Premiere. As per the massive countdown on the site, seems like it will be out right around now (6AM on 3/3/10).
The box appears to be looking to bridge the media gap by bringing together all options of video viewing under one umbrella.
For example, a prominent search box on the service allows users to look for, say, “The Office,” and quickly find the regular TV listings of forthcoming episodes as well as older episodes for rent on Netflix and Blockbuster, outtakes and deleted scenes from YouTube, and merchandise related to the show for sale at Amazon.com.
A 45 (stored programming) hour HD box will be priced at $300 while a 150 hour version will be clocking in at $500. As with other TiVo devices, a minimum $12.95 monthly service fee applies. I think I still have my lifetime memebership from the very first TiVo box…damn them for not letting me move to a new box.
A nice feature is the 1 second commercial zip through…which I’m sure is loved by advertisers of all kinds. With DVR…I think I actually have to start watching some TV just for the commercials. I see so few of them that I feel like I’m not up on the latest consumer trappings and pop culture!
(NY Times)
Bill is a guy trying to be dad and husband while running an online media company at home with his wife. Piece of cake.
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