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Ask the Experts > Main Street Motors interview with Kristen Hall Geisler
Where do you see the exotic car industry ten years from now?
There will be more hybrid and alternative fuel exotics in ten years. Bentley and Koenigsegg already have FlexFuel supercars, and Lamborghini and Ferrari have announced their intentions to build hybrids by 2015. Tesla is already building electric sports cars, and Fisker will have a plug-in hybrid sports car on the market within the next year or so. That said, the monster engines and million-dollar price tags won't go away. Exotic car collectors will always find room for a gasoline-powered Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport, with its 1000+ horsepower and $2 million MSRP.
As more new car dealers go out of business, do you see a certain percentage of those dealers becoming involved in the exotic car business?
I don't think so. Exotic car sales is a low-volume business, and the transition from selling Ford Focuses to Lamborghini Murcielagos is a tough one to make. There are only so many Lamborghinis to go around.
What are some of the hottest exotic cars on the market?
The Audi R8 V10 that debuted in Detroit earlier this year is pretty hot, and so is that open-topped Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport, just for its extreme power and price. The next thing is always the hottest thing, so the upcoming Ferrari 458 Italia is interesting to a lot of people. It helps that Ferrari seems to have brought the sexy back with that car, after the controversially bland design of the 612 Scaglietti.
From the cars that are being manufactured today, what are the future exotic cars we can be looking forward to?
Again, I'd say the innovation is going to come from alternative fuels, like ethanol, gasoline-electric hybrids, clean diesel, and electric power. Those may be the "daily driver" supercars, with a gas-guzzling 12-cylinder in the garage for weekend drives. Keep in mind too that Lotus's latest car, the Evora, gets in the neighborhood of 30 mpg. Lotus has been making lightweight, track-ready cars with decent fuel economy for years, and I think that experience will help it in the future.
What exotic car right now is worth the most in todays market?
The Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport and Koenigsegg CCXR supercars are neck and neck at the $2 million mark, but the limited-edition Aston Martin One-77 and rumored Lamborghini Reventon roadster could give them a run for their money.
What's the most overrated exotic car?
If you ask 100 exotic car aficionados, you'll get 100 different answers. Everyone has a favorite, and everyone has a car they hate. But really, if it looks great and goes fast, it's all just opinion and preference after that. If I had to pick one, though, I'd say the Maybach Landaulet. It's a swanky Mercedes with half a convertible roof, and for that they want more than $1 million.
What's the most underrated exotic car?
Exotics are so exclusive and built with such care that it's hard to say there is a car that's underrated. But I think Lotuses maybe get short shrift, just because their prices don't often exceed six figures. You can get a great, fast, hand-built little Lotus that's good for town and track for less than $100,000.
What's the difference between the exotic car business and the "regular" car business?
Smaller numbers. The cars are built in limited runs (even Lotuses), with the best engineering, design, and interiors -- and that takes time and money to create. Likewise, the clientele that can afford carbon-fiber panels, Alcantara interior, and the gas for a 6-liter engine is limited. The buyer also has to have the time and money to drive the car. Discounts and rebates are few for exotic and luxury cars, but options and customization are often infinite.
As the baby boomer population increases do you believe the demand for the exotic cars will increase?
Well, the baby boomer population is aging, not increasing, so they're going to have less of an impact on exotics. The spotlight on exotic cars right now comes from hip-hop, where Lamborghinis, Maybachs, and Rolls-Royces get name-checked every three minutes.
There's also new exotic car interest in Asian markets, especially China. Many exotic and luxury car manufacturers are opening new stores in China, and Porsche even chose to debut its new Panamera model there earlier this year, rather than bringing it to the auto shows in Detroit or Geneva. Middle Eastern markets are hot, too, with lots of buyers in Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich countries.
What's your favorite exotic car?
I do like the Audi R8 and R8 V10. Supercar looks for a relatively reasonable price -- it starts in the low $100,000s. I like the LED lights and the carbon fiber panel behind the doors, I like the sound of the engine, I like that it's derived from Audi's Le Mans-winning technology. It's the exotic car I'd most like to take on a road trip, I think.
What's your least favorite exotic car?
The Aston Martin Lagonda concept that debuted at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. Wow, that thing is brutish and ugly.
In your opinion, what's the best looking exotic car?
The Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR Stirling Moss. It's a perfect balance of history and modern design. It's beautiful in pictures, it's beautiful in person. That nose! Those coves! It makes me swoon.
In your opinion, what's the worst looking exotic car?
That Lagonda concept. It makes me shudder.
If you could have exotic car in the world, what would it be and why?
I drove an Aston Martin DB9 Volante recently, and I really liked it. If I were to own one, I'd prefer it to be a coupe instead; I'm not much of a convertible girl. But it had a power, grace, and simplicity that made it easy to own for the short time I had it. There wasn't a glut of controls and buttons, but it had everything a person needs to pilot a car. It was as lovely to drive on the highway as it was on two-lane roads and around town. That's my answer for today; ask me again next week, and I'll have a new car that I covet.
Shane @ Main Street Motors:
Thanks Kristen.
If anyone has any questions or comments please email me. I will post them on site. E-Mail @ MainSales@MainStreetAutos.com
Kristen Hall Geisler
Kristen Hall Geisler
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