On Wheels

Adult life is full of difficult questions, like 'who am I?' and 'Why am I here?' Folks much smarter than you and I have been working on those for centuries, and they aren't much closer to finding the answers. On the other hand, TomTom is happy to provide the answer to what is often an equally difficult query: 'Where am I?'

The sluggish U.S. economy, underscored by $4 fuel prices, is putting a dampener on automotive hobbyists, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) reports.

Concept cars, performance parts, tires, wheels, consumer electronics, tools, gadgets and relationships drive the SEMA Show and the $36.7 billion aftermarket industry.

I'm often asked, 'If you could have only one car, what would that car be?' There was time I'd struggle with that question; after all, there are so many wonderful cars out there. Plus, I value presence, comfort, and luxury, just as much as I value beauty, sophistication and performance. And granted, there are a lot of cars that offer those attributes. But the other element I value is soul.

The New York International Auto Show has a tendency to favor the business insiders. Unlike other auto shows, which tend to be pretty straightforward, car-under-a-drape affairs at heart, the automotive debutantes in New York tend to be scattered about. There are secret reveals, and invitation-only receptions left and right.

The Chicago Auto Show has always been something of an upstart. Although it's only a year younger than Detroit's North American International Auto Show, there's always been some trash-talking between the two, as if Chicago is the future and Detroit the washed-up has-been. The Chicago Auto Show nd Detroit are equally important on the new-car landscape.