I had the fortunate opportunity to spend the last week enjoying Stuttgart, Bologna and Geneva and driving a stable of new Audi's and Lamborghini's courtesy of Audi.
Yea, I know. TOUGH life, right?
Well, I'll use my best Rudy Rutiger to put it in perspective.
If we didn't do our jobs YOU wouldn't have the insider knowledge you do when it comes to the world's finest vehicles.
2011 Geneva Motor Show Photo Gallery
At AutoSpies.com, it's important we give you the brutally honest truth when we drive cars, unlike many of the other "in the tank" outlets you may frequent.
But just as important as vehicle impressions, we also pride ourselves in being first to spot major and minor trends in the industry.
We're different than the others because we'll TAKE A CHANCE and make a prediction if a new ride is going to be a STUD or a DUD as we so aptly call them.
Take for example the BMW X6.
If you look across ALL the media outside of AutoSpies.com since it's introduction, you'll find a common trend in their assessment of BMW's most in your face fashion statement yet.
They all said it was useless, ugly and it wouldn't find enough customers.
And as USUAL, THEY were wrong.
And the reason they were wrong was because most of the reviewers are either way too old and crusty to spot a trend if it smacked them in the face or too young and inexperienced understanding today's customers.
Because they just don't roll with the prosumers enough to know whats happening there and what's important to them in a vehicle.
I've always said the two most valuable things we offer you outside of the best content and perspective is: 1) we're based on Southern California -- we spot the trends first 2) we're REAL luxury vehicle customers OURSELVES so we KNOW what it's like to spend our OWN money on a vehicle.
We aren't un-passionate writers living in Manhattan who will probably NEVER drop down a dime of their own dough on a nice ride and only do this job only to get free trips (TRUST ME, we see this EVERY DAY!).
In other words, we have SKIN IN THE GAME.
And as the founder of Auto Spies, I believe nothing could be more important.
Let me spell this out...WE WILL NEVER SELL OUT AND GIVE A VEHICLE A GOOD REVIEW IF WE DON'T LIKE IT. EVER. NO MATTER WHAT FREE TRIP WE GET OR PERK TO REVIEW IT. YOU HAVE MY WORD ON IT.
I know I'm blessed to have you as readers, and I respect the trust and loyalty you have given the spy in the sky. Or shroud in the cloud.
So that said, let me share my perspective for 2011 and make some predictions.
First off, it was great to see Steve Jobs at the iPad 2 launch making his prediction that 2011 would be the year of the iPad 2.
We are in agreement there.
But being car guys we'd like to add that we believe 2011 will also be the year for Audi and Hyundai as well.
We've already picked the 2011 Elantra as our car of the year and by the end of the year when the numbers are out this 40MPG gem is going to rock the compact car world. Even MORE so if gas prices go where we think they will.
So that news is all well and good but this is Auto Spies, home of the best coverage of the world's finest brands.
So let me focus now on Audi.
I've owned about 65 cars over my 30 or so years of driving, 4 being Audi's.
A 2001 Audi A6 4.2, 2005 S4 (oooh, Nagaro Blue with two-tone blue and black, it was my favorite Audi) and two Audi A8L's.
I enjoyed them but they were all too heavy and slow in comparison to the competition at that time.
And over the last few years with every improved model they sent out, although they were all still good, they didn't shed the weight so although they were packaged nicely, the result was always the same.
001 went to the Audi dealer to look and drive and then over to the BMW dealer to buy the BMW or the Porsche.
And although 001 likes gorgeous styling, fit and finish probably more than most, fast, light and nimble makes him a happier camper, hence the BMW and Porsche ending up in the driveway versus the Audi's.
And then a few years ago we broke the story of Audi's execs saying the new mantra going forward will be light and nimble and I said I'll believe it when I see it.
Well Spies, in the past few weeks in Europe, I've SEEN it. And I LIKE it!
So much so, that my next sedan in the stable will be an Audi.
Auto Spies regular (Iamevilhomer), you can get up off the floor now.
Can you guess which one I'm leaning toward?
I'll give you a clue and make a prediction.
Remember how wagons started to lose their popularity in the USA right around the time the SUV craze began it's cycle?
And how wagons got a stigma of being a mommy or old man car?
Well we believe there is a new trend brewing.
We see the SAME thing happening here in SoCal and in the trendsetting towns in the USA.
And that is: conservatively-styled SEDANS are the new wagons. In other words OLD MAN CARS.
You can take the survey yourself to see if I'm right.
TRY, just TRY to find a really hot YOUNG woman or stylish successful guy driving an S-Class, LS, etc.
It's becoming HARDER and HARDER.
Most of the time you see an S-Class in LA for example, an airport transport guy or hotel concierge shuttle guy is driving it. NOT the new taste makers.
Those people value the utility but want STYLE that projects youth and fitness.
Figured out what Audi that is yet?
Let me clue you in:
It's the all-new Audi A7.
And before I go into detail on the car let me tell you it will be another runaway success for Audi.
This car is special. REAL special.
It looks AMAZING from every angle and its light and nimble road manners combined with the legendary Audi fit and finish, makes this new budding superstar hard to beat.
And it looks like how the sedan of the future should look like.
Plus that spoiler! Sooo cool!!!
Audi...PLEASE put that on the next A4.
In fact, I'll go out on a limb here.
I think if car companies DON'T start styling their everyday sedans more like this, they will become your father's Oldsmobile.
I also think I will be a huge sales success for Audi.
Bigger than they think not only from unit sales but from an impression builder of the brand.
Like the R8 of sedans or dare we say the every man's Rapide?
And the deal sealer is the fact that most of the mainstream auto media was not sold on the design ala X6 that we had talked to.
So we believe it's guaranteed to be a success! ;)
Enough on the A7, let's talk Audi in general...
Every time I've been to Europe over the past few years I saw a lot of Audi's on the road but this time I saw more than ever.
They are COMPLETELY on fire there and that trend is bubbling here in the USA.
They were EVERYWHERE on the road throughout Europe.
Ask anyone on the street who is in the know and they will tell you that Audi has achieved the number one spot in the cool factor compared to other premium brands.
The beautiful people are now driving Audi's. If you need more proof, check out paparazzi shots and see what car is most commonly seen: a black Audi.
And they've yet to even drive the new light and more nimble versions!
Wait till they taste the NEW Audi.
Look out.
When they hit your dealers, you HAVE to go test one or three.
They are TOTALLY different cars than you are used to.
They can please even the most diehard BMW fan.
Like me.
So Steve you ARE right.
As you drive around in your Audi Coupe, 2011 WILL be the year of the iPad 2.
But it will also be the year of Audi and Hyundai.
As they say in New Orleans, We GUARANTEE it!
AND like the iPad 2, you can also get the A7 in WHITE!
Enjoy the photos and the beautiful scenery from Switzerland
AutoSpies is number one in auto show news and photos on Google2011 Geneva Motor Show Photo Gallery
2011 Geneva Motor Show Photo GalleryLamborghini Showcase Photo GalleryAudi Lightweight Tech Showcase Photo Gallery
2011 Geneva Motor Show Preview Photo Gallery2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe Photo Gallery