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Editor's Note: This week, Peter reflects on his ongoing quest to satisfy "The Hunger" - something indescribable in the automotive experience that continues to elude him. In On The Table, Peter comments on the huge hit Stellantis took to its bottom line, as the company shifts its business away from EVs. And we have the next installment of Alain de Cadenet's "Victory By Design" series, which this week features Maserati. Our AE Song of the Week is "Wah-Wah" by George Harrison. In Fumes, Peter presents the next chapter of his new series, "The Great Races." And in The Line, we reveal three new INDYCAR liveries for the 2026 season. Onward! -WG

By Peter M. De Lorenzo

Detroit. After last week’s column, I expected a lot of blowbacks, but the response was overwhelmingly positive and in agreement with my perspective on the current state of our country. As WG pointed out, most of the hardcore readers from the far-right political spectrum have all left for other destinations (but not before sending hate mail in various degrees of rudeness to emphasize that fact).

Ah well, that’s to be expected in these rancorous times.

Now that I’ve gone on record with how I really feel about what’s going on in our country right now, I figured a return to our regular programming might be in order.

After all of my unforgettable experiences from being immersed in this business from a young age, after all of my involvement in marketing, advertising, consulting and motorsports, and after all of the columns I’ve written, there’s still something missing. There’s still a hunger deep in my soul for more. But what shape or form does that take, exactly?

Yes, even though EVs will eventually take their place in mainstream America as part of a kaleidoscope of transportation options along with ICE-powered machines, hybrids and EREVs, make no mistake that the vibrancy, the visceral appeal and the mesmerizing sounds of the ICE era will not be fading or swept under the rug anytime soon. And as auto enthusiasts cling to the ICE era, they will not have to turn in their ICE cards just yet, because we have a long, long way to go before the sun sets on this colorful dimension of our transportation history.

Conversely, this doesn’t sit well with consumers who were on a headlong rush to embrace The Future. Their impatience, which was driving the key decision makers in this industry to make bold, emphatic moves that fundamentally altered the automobile business, has been put on a four-year hold at least, if not longer, as the anti-EV faction in the White House lords over the proceedings. But make no mistake, alternates to pure ICE-powered machines are already changing the automotive footprint of the American fabric, and around the world as well.

Despite the idyllic predictions of the EV era’s positive impact on the environment, feeding the EV beast has its own set of challenges and environmental issues. None of it is “snap your fingers” simple, either. Mining the raw materials, generating the electricity, recycling the batteries to minimize the negative environmental impact, developing new types of batteries, etc. – there’s a long, long list of issues still hovering over everything. No, I’m not minimizing the fact that we are in fact poised for breakthrough technologies at every turn, but still, we’re talking a long, hard road here, folks.

But back to the beginning of this column. This shift to EVs is challenging my hunger for more. I will never get over the visceral appeal of a full-throated V8 or a hot V6 or a melodious V12, nor do I want to. And the appeal of EVs for me will lie in their provocative designs, not in their effortless performance. This sounds like a disconnect, but it really isn’t. “Whisper-jet”-like performance holds very limited appeal for me. Yes, I’ve experienced the “instant-on” high performance of EVs, and it is indeed impressive, but for me it is an empty, soulless exercise that actually detracts from wanting to experience it. Maybe that’s the secret idea? That the soulless exercise eventually discourages people from going 0-60 mph in 2 seconds, because, well, why?

And I'm tired of the argument that the considerable weight stuffed low in an EV’s architecture is a dynamic advantage for road-hugging cornering performance. To me, that weight is a dynamic albatross, not an advantage. These EVs feel heavy because they are heavy - the Porsche Taycan being a prime example of this. Others in this business sing that car’s praises, but I find it to be ponderous and heavy-handed, with zero appeal.

So, as I said, I will have to find interest and the notion of desirability in the new, expressive designs that are being revealed almost monthly. Since design is my favorite part of this business by far, I will take solace in this aspect, because the actual driving is too robotic-like for me.

I still find tremendous appeal in motor racing, but even that is under threat of becoming, dare I say it, irrelevant. It’s clear that the manufacturers will be living a “Jekyll and Hyde” existence for the foreseeable future. While they continue to introduce EVs in every market segment albeit at a much reduced pace, those manufacturers still participating in motor racing will be doing it for the sheer thrill of it, or for the image-wrangling, or both (See GM and Ford in F1. – WG). But the direct ROI will be, in fact, dust in the wind. I wrote a Fumes column several years ago now where I brought forth the premise that all motor racing would become “vintage” racing. That observation is becoming more accurate by the day.

As for that hunger, that yearning deep in my soul for something more? I will still take life in fleeting moments as I always have. Devouring a country road with a great driving machine will never, ever get old. Drinking in a majestic, threatening sky or a powerful landscape. Breathing in the crisp, cool air of fall while nature’s paintbrush unfolds. The sheer joy of watching the unfiltered lives of animals as they weave their spell throughout our lives.

But my total embrace of the automobile business? Needless to say, it is evolving. I will still relish the emotional power of a brilliantly conceived and executed advertising campaign (which is becoming rarer by the hour, I must admit). I will still be in awe of a breathtaking design execution, and I will relish being drawn into its presence on the road. And I will always honor the True Believers in this business, the men and women who make a difference every damn day.

But the commoditization of this business grew tedious for me years ago. Some might say, “That is just not true, there are exceptions to that part of the business.” To that, I say, really? Have you ever seen a picture taken outside of an exotic luxury automaker, with rows upon rows of its production of super-hot vehicles lined up like so much cord wood? It tends to dampen the notion of exclusivity immediately.

So, I will pick and choose my involvement – and my interest – in this business as I always have. But I will always be on the lookout for more, or what’s next, or what’s new.

Something that resonates deep in my soul.

Something that captures my imagination.

Something that satisfies The Hunger.

As U2 so eloquently put it, “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.”

And that’s the High-Octane Truth for this week.

Editor's Note: Click on "Next 1 Entries" at the bottom of this page to see previous issues. - WG