22 November 2023

Bonus Episode: Barry Joins Bloomberg Hot Pursuit!

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Insights & moments

The myth-busts, hot takes, explainers, and tools worth keeping.

Hot Take· 2

Hot Take07:17

Great Acting Could Not Rescue Ferrari’s Unconvincing Crashes

Hannah praises Penelope Cruz's portrayal of Laura Ferrari and credits Adam Driver's performance, but argues that the film's computer-generated crashes look artificial and gratuitous. The criticism centers on a car movie losing credibility when its driving and collision effects fail to feel physical.

Penelope Cruz is identified as the film's standout
Laura Ferrari is portrayed as an operational partner in the company
Adam Driver's performance receives qualified praise
The crash effects undermine the movie's realism
Small mechanical details also feel inauthentic

“Penelope Cruz was the only thing that kept me in the theater.”
Hannah Elliott · 07:29

“some of the crashes just looked ridiculous.”
Hannah Elliott · 08:00

#ferrari#film criticism#cgi#car movies

Hot Take11:42

Electric Cars Do Not Need to Abandon Familiar Design

The hosts reject the assumption that electric vehicles must look radically different from combustion-powered cars. They prefer Audi's continuity of form and argue that novelty should not displace established automotive proportions, usability, or ergonomic controls.

Many EV brands use conspicuously different styling
Audi EVs remain visually connected to the rest of the lineup
Choosing electric propulsion does not require rejecting familiar car design
Distinctiveness should not come at the expense of usability

“the audies unless you know exactly what you're looking at and say, I know this is an EV they don't look all that different from…”
Barry Ritholtz · 12:06

“I don't think that just because you want an electric platform doesn't mean suddenly you've given up everything you know and love about automobiles”
Barry Ritholtz · 12:20

#ev design#audi#car styling#ergonomics

Explainer· 2

Explainer01:02

Why Aston Martin Sold a Minority Stake in Its F1 Team

Lawrence Stroll's sale of a minority stake to Arctos Partners is presented as a strategic transaction rather than evidence of waning commitment or financial distress. Formula One teams have appreciated dramatically, while Aston Martin says its racing operation is profitable and transformational for the road-car brand.

F1 team valuations have risen dramatically
The minority sale lets ownership realize some gains without exiting
Arctos Partners offers connections to other sports properties
Stroll says the racing team is profitable
Formula One has attracted new customers to Aston Martin

“F one teams have gone up in value dramatically, partly due to drive to survive on Netflix.”
Barry Ritholtz · 01:07

“He used the word transformational for Aston Martin's brand”
Hannah Elliott · 02:10

#aston martin#formula one#sports investing#branding

Explainer08:24

Why Practical Car Stunts Feel Better Than CGI

Barry contrasts Ferrari's effects with the practical production methods used in the Fast & Furious films. Real drivers, physical crashes, and specialized camera rigs can preserve weight and motion in ways that extensive green-screen work often cannot.

Fast & Furious minimized CGI in major stunt sequences
Professional drivers performed many of the visible maneuvers
A specialized rig placed actors in more realistic moving-car scenes
Practical effects can make vehicle motion and impacts feel credible
Technology is not automatically the best production choice

“those are real drivers doing those actual stunts. There's very little green screen.”
Barry Ritholtz · 08:45

“Sometimes you have to forego the technology and actually get a couple of cars out on the road and see what's gonna happen.”
Barry Ritholtz · 09:15

#practical effects#stunts#filmmaking#cars

Story· 2

Story04:31

The Las Vegas Grand Prix Worked—Except for Its Late-Night Contingency

Hannah Elliott describes the inaugural Las Vegas race as exciting and generally easy to navigate, but recounts a major operational failure after a damaged manhole cover delayed proceedings. Spectators waited until deep into the night before being removed because organizers lacked enough security staff to cover the resumed session.

A manhole-cover incident interrupted track activity
Fans remained in the stands until roughly 2:30 a.m.
Racing resumed around 3 a.m. after spectators had been removed
The staffing shortfall exposed weak contingency planning
The race itself and the battle for second place were entertaining

“They resumed racing at three in the morning, but they kicked fans out at two because they didn't have enough staff to cover security.”
Hannah Elliott · 05:33

“That's poor planning.”
Barry Ritholtz · 05:44

#las vegas#formula one#event operations#fan experience

Story13:58

The Unexpected Sports-Car Dealbreaker: Two Golf Bags

Barry recounts how a relative declined to buy a Porsche Taycan because its trunk could not accommodate two golf bags. The anecdote illustrates how a mundane use case can outweigh performance, styling, and brand appeal in a purchasing decision.

Practical cargo needs can determine luxury-car purchases
The Taycan reportedly failed a two-golf-bag requirement
Even sports cars are judged against buyers' everyday hobbies
The Corvette is cited as a model designed to address this concern

“what prevented him from pulling the trigger on that is you can't put two golf bags in the trunk”
Barry Ritholtz · 13:58

“I never would have even thought to ask about.”
Hannah Elliott · 14:16

#porsche taycan#car buying#cargo space#consumer behavior

Tool· 1

Tool10:09

Audi SQ8 E-Tron: Quiet, Nimble and Surprisingly Conventional

Hannah's review finds the large electric SUV unusually quiet and agile despite its roughly 6,000-pound mass. Audi's restrained cabin and exterior design also offer an alternative to EVs that rely on unconventional styling or screen-heavy interfaces.

The Sportback roofline does not change performance
The cabin is compared favorably with an Audi A8 for quietness
The SUV feels nimble despite its weight
Audi's controls are less screen-dominated than some rivals
Its appearance remains consistent with the broader Audi range

“Ultra ultra quiet inside, like as quiet as an A eight sedan, and very surprisingly nimble for a six thousand pound suv.”
Hannah Elliott · 11:14

“out as kind of a nice in between.”
Hannah Elliott · 11:33

#audi#electric vehicles#suv review#automotive design

Takeaway· 2

Takeaway03:35

Formula One Is Reviving “Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday”

Aston Martin reportedly gained a large influx of first-time buyers as its Formula One presence raised awareness and desirability. The discussion connects modern F1 exposure to the longstanding auto-industry relationship between racing success and showroom demand.

More than half of Aston Martin's recent buyers were reportedly new to the brand
Stroll attributes much of that growth to Formula One
Racing creates an aspirational link to road cars
The effect can benefit SUVs as well as sports cars

“last year, more than half of the people who bought a new Aston Martin were new to the brand”
Hannah Elliott · 03:35

“The old expression was when on Sunday sell on Monday.”
Barry Ritholtz · 03:50

#motorsport#automotive marketing#brand growth#aston martin

Takeaway12:33

Car Touchscreens Become a Liability When They Control Everything

Large displays may create an impressive showroom moment, but burying routine controls inside them makes simple actions harder. The discussion argues for a middle ground where advanced interfaces coexist with immediate, intuitive access to frequent functions.

Oversized displays can prioritize spectacle over usability
Volume and climate adjustments should remain quick
Frequently used controls should not require menu navigation
Audi is praised for balancing technology and ergonomics

“everything goes through the screen.”
Barry Ritholtz · 12:45

“So I'm hoping people find a happy medium in terms of usability and ergonomics.”
Barry Ritholtz · 12:55

#touchscreens#car interiors#usability#ergonomics