Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - Live from the 2006 New York Auto Show – A Car Doctor Throwback - Hour 2
About this episode
Ron Ananian and the Car Doctor broadcast live from the 2006 New York Auto Show, chatting with GM brand reps about how Detroit is reshaping its image. Buick’s Lloyd Bierman highlights the Lucerne and Enclave concept-to-production plan, plus JD Power quality wins and upscale tech to attract younger buyers. Pontiac’s Jim Hobson spotlights the Solstice and revived GTO, while addressing service and dealership experience. Saturn’s Brian Brockman discusses four major unveilings (Sky Redline, Aura, Outlook, and Preview concept) and family-friendly tech. The show director also shares attractions, planning, and VIP membership details.
This is a rare find.
We recently uncovered a live broadcast of Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor from the New York International Auto Show at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, recorded back in April of 2006. This is the second hour of the show that day.
It’s a true time capsule—a look at what the automotive industry was, what we thought was cutting-edge, and how far we’ve come since. From the vehicles on display to the conversations happening on the show floor, you’ll hear the early stages of trends that shaped today’s cars.
Keep in mind, this is a live broadcast from the show floor, so the audio reflects the energy and noise of a real working event. It’s not studio-perfect—but that’s part of the charm.
Take a listen, step back in time, and enjoy the ride.
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General Motors
"And I have to say, Buick Pontiac has changed a lot in the last couple of years, and they've really done some major facelifts and it looks like some major model changes. And I've snared two gentlemen from General Motors, [43.5s] and I'm gonna draw them into this whether they like it or not, Jim Hobson, who is the communications manager for Pontiac, and Lloyd Bierman, who is the marketing manager for Buick."
General Motors, or GM, is a big car company that owns multiple brands. Buick and Pontiac are part of GM, so GM people are involved in how those brands market new cars.
General Motors (GM) is one of the largest U.S. automakers and the parent company behind brands like Buick and Pontiac. In the segment, the hosts pull in GM communications and marketing staff to discuss brand changes.
Buick Rendezvous
"We've got in the last couple of years. We've introduced [84.1s] to Rendezvous, which is really our first crossover vehicle that reduced Buick's average age by about ten years. What you [90.6s] see in the Buick Rendezvous, what you see in the Buick were near the Terraza, are a lot younger folks now ten to fifteen years younger than the typical Buick Buyer that we used to get."
The Buick Rendezvous is a Buick crossover-type vehicle. They’re using it as an example of how Buick tried to attract younger drivers instead of only older customers.
The Buick Rendezvous is a crossover/SUV-style vehicle used in the segment as an example of Buick’s attempt to broaden its audience. The speaker claims it “reduced Buick’s average age” by attracting younger buyers.
Buick LeSabre
"...we did eight thousand units in sales and we expect it to continue to grow. It's out selling [116.7s] our previous Lessaber. We're bringing in traditional customers."
The Buick LeSabre is an older Buick sedan that the speaker says the new Lucerne is outselling. It’s basically a “new car replacing the old one” sales comparison.
The Buick LeSabre is mentioned as the prior model the Lucerne is outperforming. This is a classic auto-industry comparison: new model sales are used to show whether a replacement is gaining traction.
Mercedes
"But we're [120.2s] also starting to see some of those folks coming in out of Lexus, out of Jaguar, out of Mercedes. Dealers [125.3s] are telling us they're coming into the showrooms and they're looking to trade."
Mercedes (Mercedes-Benz) is a major German luxury brand referenced as a source of trade-in customers. The speaker’s point is that Buick is attracting shoppers who previously would have targeted Mercedes models.
Lexus
"But we're [120.2s] also starting to see some of those folks coming in out of Lexus, out of Jaguar, out of Mercedes. Dealers [125.3s] are telling us they're coming into the showrooms and they're looking to trade."
Lexus is Toyota’s luxury brand. The speaker is saying some people who used to shop Lexus are now coming to Buick dealerships to trade in.
Lexus is Toyota’s luxury brand, and it’s used here as a benchmark for cross-shopping. The speaker says Buick is now seeing shoppers who previously would have considered Lexus.
upmarket
"Buicks kind of moving upscale a little bit into the premium place. We've got features, technology features on the lucern"
“Upmarket” means aiming for a more premium, higher-end market. Here, it’s about Buick trying to feel more luxurious and modern.
“Upmarket” means moving a brand or product to a higher price tier and more premium positioning. In the transcript, Buick is described as shifting toward more luxury features and a more upscale buyer perception.
portholes
"You get three on the side. That's a V six. Those holes have a history, don't they They do. And the forties they go back to the forties. I think it's the fifties at the I believe they go. I believe their post World War two they go back to the forties."
Portholes are the round/oval window shapes you can see on the side of some Buicks. They’re used as a recognizable design detail tied to the brand’s past.
“Portholes” refers to Buick’s distinctive rear quarter window styling—round or oval window shapes that echo classic Buick design cues. The speaker connects them to Buick’s design heritage and notes they appear on the Lucerne and an Enclave concept vehicle.
concept car
"It's a concept car that was shown at the show. However, we are going to do a production version next spring."
A concept car is like a “preview” car shown at an auto show. It helps the company show ideas, and later they may build a real version for regular sale.
A concept car is a show vehicle used to preview new styling, technology, and design directions. It often leads to a production model, but what you see may change before it reaches dealerships.
production version
"However, we are going to do a production version next spring. It'll be in dealers come next summer."
A “production version” is the real version of the car that gets built for customers to buy. It’s the step after the concept car stage.
A “production version” is the final, sellable model that goes into regular manufacturing after the concept stage. The speaker notes a timeline for when the production Enclave would arrive in dealers.
seven passenger vehicle
"Now for the folks, this is a seven passenger vehicle for the folks who have a family."
“Seven passenger” means the SUV can seat up to seven people. That’s useful for families or carpooling because you have more seats than a typical five-seat vehicle.
A “seven passenger” configuration means the vehicle is designed to seat up to seven people, typically using three rows of seating. This is a key selling point for family-oriented SUVs and crossovers.
New York International Auto Show
"We just walking down the aisle here at the New York International Auto Show and we came upon Buick and I said, wow, look at this."
This is a big car show in New York where manufacturers bring new cars and previews. The speaker is describing what they saw while walking around.
The New York International Auto Show is a major event where automakers display current models and upcoming concepts. This segment uses the show setting to introduce Buick’s Enclave and Terraza.
J.D. Power
"...if you look at JD power, which is really kind of the measuring device for the industry... Buick ranked overall third in the industry for initial quality."
J.D. Power is a major automotive research and consumer survey company. Their rankings are widely referenced in the industry for metrics like initial quality, helping buyers compare brands based on reported issues.
Cadillac
"Lexus and Cadillac were first and second. Toyota Honda a little further down the list..."
Cadillac is GM’s luxury car brand. The speaker mentions it because it’s doing very well in early quality rankings.
Cadillac is GM’s luxury brand. In this segment, it’s mentioned in the context of J.D. Power initial quality rankings, where Cadillac is described as ranking first (along with Lexus).
thirty seconds or less
"...one of the things Detroit doesn't do well is talk about the things they do right in thirty seconds or less, yes or no."
The speaker wants car companies to explain their best points in a very short time. The goal is to make the message easy to understand right away.
“Thirty seconds or less” is presented as the ideal time window for Detroit to communicate its strengths. It’s a messaging strategy concept—short, decisive talking points for auto-show audiences and media.
parking brakes
"...stay put and take a seat right where you are. Put the parking brakes on. I'm Ron and Ady and the car Doctor."
Parking brakes are the safety brake that keeps a car from rolling when it’s stopped. The speaker is telling people to use it while they’re parked.
The host instructs listeners to “put the parking brakes on,” which is a safety step when vehicles are stationary. It’s a practical reminder for anyone sitting in or around cars at an event.
Pontiac 1965 GTO
"I can talk Pontiac firsthand. My brother had a sixty five goat and as I was telling you, I said, well, and as I selling you turned the pause for the cause."
The Pontiac GTO is a famous old muscle car. Here, Ron is talking about his brother’s 1965 GTO to explain Pontiac’s design style and how it shows up again later.
The Pontiac GTO is a legendary muscle car from Pontiac, and the 1965 model is one of the most iconic years. In this segment it’s used as a personal reference point for how Pontiac styling cues carry over to newer cars.
honeycomb grill
"What is this red, drop dead gorgeous two seat convertible with that's gotta be? Can I say? Is that correct? Term? That honeycomb grill? Is that Ferrari inspired? Actually,"
A honeycomb grille uses a repeating hexagonal mesh pattern for airflow and styling. Here it’s used as a visual clue to connect the Solstice’s front-end design to Pontiac’s older “metal mesh” grille look.
chicken wire grill
"...if you remember the sixty seven gto I had once what was commonly referred to us the chicken wire grill. Correct,"
“Chicken wire” is just a nickname for a grille that looks like metal mesh. Ron is using it to describe an old Pontiac look and how it influenced the newer car’s front design.
“Chicken wire” is a nickname for a grille that looks like woven metal mesh. Ron uses it to describe the Pontiac GTO grille styling cue that he says carries forward into the Solstice’s mesh-like grille pattern.
sticker price
"do you happen to know the sticker price? That thing starts at twenty thousand dollars. Can I get a deal if I take it home today?"
Sticker price is the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) shown on the vehicle before discounts. Ron is asked what the Solstice’s sticker price is, which sets up the discussion of whether a buyer can negotiate a deal.
sellout / high demand
"...the Solstice has pretty much been a sellout from the moment this car first appeared on a television show called The Apprentice. Last year, we actually sold one thousand of these cars in forty one minutes nationwide."
When Ron says “sellout,” he means the cars were selling so fast that they ran out. He’s using sales speed to show the Solstice was extremely popular.
“Sellout” here means the car sold out quickly, indicating strong consumer demand. Ron backs it up with a sales pace claim (1,000 cars in 41 minutes nationwide), emphasizing how hot the Solstice was at launch.
GM
"strategies that GM has is to take a look at all of our vehicle lines, and to make certain that as a customer comes into a GM showroom, regardless of brand, that they have a full breadth of products to take a look at."
GM is General Motors, a big car company. They own several different car brands, and they’re talking about how dealers can sell multiple brands so customers can shop in one place.
GM refers to General Motors, the large automaker that owns multiple brands and dealer networks. In the segment, they’re describing how GM wants customers to have a consistent “one-stop” experience across different brand showrooms.
tagline
"Brian is the communications manager for Saturn Saturn. What was Saturn's tagline? It used to be a different kind of car company."
A tagline is a short slogan a company uses in ads. It’s meant to quickly tell you what the brand is about.
A tagline is a short marketing phrase meant to capture a brand’s identity and positioning. Here, the speaker references Saturn’s tagline to explain how the brand wanted to be perceived versus other automakers.
177 horsepower
"We unveiled the regular Sky Roadster one hundred and seventy seven horsepower roadster last year, and that is actually starting to hit our retail stores as we speak."
Horsepower is how strong the engine is. More horsepower usually means the car can accelerate more easily.
Horsepower is a measure of engine power output. The speaker uses “177 horsepower” to characterize the Sky Roadster’s performance level.
waiting lists
"I can't give you a real defined time frame, but I can say a lot of our retailers do have waiting lists, and so the best thing to do is just to contact them and see what the availability is at that particular."
If a car is popular and not enough are available, dealers may put people on a list. That helps manage demand until the next cars arrive.
A waiting list is a dealer or manufacturer queue for customers when demand exceeds supply. The speaker contrasts Saturn’s ordering approach with Pontiac’s and notes that many retailers have waiting lists.
fourth quarter
"It'll debut later this year in the fourth quarter, and that brings something different to market for us."
“Fourth quarter” just means late in the year. They’re telling you roughly when the new car will be introduced.
“Fourth quarter” is a timing reference for when the vehicle is expected to debut, meaning the last three months of the year. It’s important because it sets expectations for when the new model will reach the market.
eight passenger seating available
"It has eight. Passenger seating available. It's a larger vehicle than we've had."
They’re saying the vehicle can seat up to eight people. That’s useful if you have a big family or often drive with friends.
“Eight passenger seating available” indicates the vehicle can accommodate up to eight people, which is a major selling point for family-oriented crossovers. It’s directly tied to the Outlook’s practicality and size.
New York Auto Show
"Welcome back, Ron and Adie and the Card Doctor. We are here with Candida Romanelli, director of the Auto Show. Down here Jacob Javis, New York"
The New York Auto Show is a big car event in New York where companies show new cars and future ideas. People in the industry use it to make announcements and get attention.
The New York Auto Show is a major annual event where automakers and suppliers display upcoming vehicles, concepts, and technology. It’s a key industry moment for launches and for gauging public and media reaction.
Members Express Club
"New this year something called Member. The Members Express Club is specifically for show visitors and it's an exclusive club, a membership that they pay for."
This is a paid membership for auto show attendees. Members get benefits like early entry and discounts, and the show uses member information to help car companies market more effectively.
The “Members Express Club” is a paid membership program for show visitors that provides perks like discounts, early entry, and access to VIP lounges. The goal is to segment attendees and gather data for manufacturers’ marketing.
zero to sixty
"...I'm looking at the saline car that goes for about half a million dollars and then travels from zero to sixty and two point four seconds."
“Zero to sixty” means how fast a car can go from standing still to 60 mph. It’s a simple way to compare performance between cars.
“Zero to sixty” is shorthand for 0–60 mph acceleration time, a common performance metric used to compare how quickly cars reach highway speed. It’s often used in marketing and enthusiast discussions because it’s easy to understand.
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