IS MOTOR TREND’S ANTI-DETROIT BIAS SHOWING?

(Get the latest “Truth With Speedzzter” here)

Parts of the World Wide Web are abuzz with discussion of Motor Trend Magazine’s latest comparison test of four V6-powered RWD sports coupes. MT tested Ford’s brilliant 2011 Mustang against a 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8, a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro RS and a 2010 Dodge Challenger SE.

In a highly subjective analysis, MT handed the overall win to upstart Hyundai, notwithstanding that the 2011 Mustang won on several objective measures, including as-tested price, acceleration, braking, fuel economy, turning circle, curb weight, and lateral g-force.

One MT reader sagaciously commented:

I can totally see why the Genesis won, and the Mustang lost [2nd place].
It was faster in the 1/4 mile, nope that's not it.
It was better at braking, nope that's not it.
It had better lateral acceleration. nope that's not it.
It had better weight distribution, nope that's not it.
It had a better average in the slalom, nope that's not it either.
Was the most environmentally friendly, most definitely not it.
Ok,ok, was the cheapest right? Not even close..$6100 more expensive than the least expensive Mustang that beat it in just about every category. wow!

Please remind me again why the Genesis won[?]

The anti-Detroit bias of the “sports car” segment of the American motoring press is legendary. MT seemingly followed that snobbish “institutional bias” by deciding the shoot-out on silly points, such as the Hyundai’s fall-away hood and its subjective “sports car” feel. Moreover, MT apparently penalized the much cheaper Mustang for not packing the optional luxury interior. That would seem inconsistent with MT’s focus on “sports car feel” given that most of the legendary sports cars featured minimal creature comforts.

Still, in the objective measures that really matter, the 2011 V6 Mustang punished all comers, forcing Hyundai to “win” on subjective technicalities. Factor in Mustang’s huge advantage in heritage, club support, and aftermarket support (which MT failed to do) and the objective winner is clearly Mustang. Too bad MT couldn’t see that.

ROMNEY VERSUS LUTZ: CATCHING MITT IN A MATERIAL MISREPRESENTATION?

(Get the latest "Truth With Speedzzter" here)

The Magnetic Mormon, Mitt Romney is engaged in a never-ending presidential campaign. One feature of the Vain Bain Capitalist's quest to buy the presidency in 2012 has been a series of campaign events thinly veiled as a "book tour" in support of Romney's self-promoting tome No Apology: The Case for American Greatness.

Romney apparently fancies himself as an automotive business guru, mostly on the strength of Papa George Romney's controversial time at American Motors (before George shuffled off this mortal coil in vain hope of his own Mormon planet to populate and rule as a procreative "god")

One problem is that Mitt and his handlers continue to play fast and loose with the truth.

AOL Autos recently interviewed "Maximum Bob" Lutz on a variety of topics as Lutz prepares to retire from his brilliant career. When asked about one of Mitt Romney's assertions about the "car czars" running "Government Motors," Lutz fired back with both barrels:

AOL: In his recently-published book, former Massachusetts Governor and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney claimed that an anonymous auto executive told him that the Obama administration’s task force was essentially running the show at GM and making the major decisions. Shortly after that was reported, GM flatly refuted Romney’s claim; the company said that was just not true. What are your insights into that?

BOB LUTZ: Well, as a condition of the loans and bankruptcy, the president’s task force initially did have certain goals, like to reduce number of dealers, and they did insist on certain restructuring steps we had to take as we were working our way out of bankruptcy. But in terms of them having the slightest influence on things like strategy and product decisions, that’s not true. The task force has long since been abandoned, and all of those folks have gone back to their former lives, and we haven’t heard word one from them since.

TAKE THAT, MITTINS!

Clearly, Romney has ample ammo against the Constitution-trashing Obama Administration by sticking to actual facts. Yet something in Romney's makeup apparently impels him to overstatement, oversimplification, and misrepresentation.

Mitt's well-paid "Mormon Mafia" of sycophants will undoubtedly defend their infallible hero, both by taking issue with Lutz and explaining that Romney was merely repeating rumor and innuendo. But the bottom line is that Romney has once again discredited himself with another material misrepresentation. And expect "No Apology."