Daily Podcast Pt. 2: Lieberman Wants a Faster Aston
Well, who doesn’t? But Jonny’s willingness to accept a Mercedes-engined Aston Martin highlights an important trend in upmarket automotive marketing: the end of mechanical snobbery. Yes, there are still brand purists who believe that the greasy bits’ provenance is more important than a well-turned fender, a respected badge or comparative performance. That the connection between track and road is a holy one, whose realization establishes the brand’s all-important bloodlines. But these engineering-savvy enthusiasts– who were always a minority of any luxury or high-performance marque’s buyers– are a dying breed. Today’s 30 or 40-something sports car buyer is likely to desire Nissan’s GT-R because of its status as a Playstation plaything, rather than any racing glory. (Ferrari is the exception that proves the rule.) They’re willing to judge expensive automobiles on their own merits, regardless of what lies beneath, who made it or how it got there. This open-mindedness (a.k.a. ignorance) is no bad thing. It gives a deluxe car company greater freedom to be itself, if you know what I mean.