ON THE TABLE

October 31, 2012

Hyundai, Kia. Speaking of PR nightmares, the EPA has discovered that Hyundai and Kia have overstated the fuel economy estimate numbers for many vehicles they've sold in this country since late 2010, to the tune of 900,000 vehicles. Hyundai Motor Group, which owns both companies, admitted that its estimates were out of line with the fuel-economy figures produced by the EPA in an investigation. The company said it will compensate people who purchased vehicles that were labeled with incorrect window stickers through prepaid credit cards. Off the top of our heads, this is going to prove to be a huge embarrassment for Hyundai/Kia. That old "upward trajectory" thing has a way of leveling off and heading south in the blink of an eye. Make no mistake, this is a heaping, steaming bowl of Not Good.

  Sergio Marchionne. Editor-in-Chief's Note: His Highness actually proposed a combo of PSA Peugeot Citroen and GM (Opel) earlier this month in order to surpass VW as the region's largest automaker, according to a Bloomberg report. Really? Memo to Sergio: 1. You better get over your fixation of getting back at VW or you will lose - Fiat, your precious Alfa Romeo dreams, everything. 2. Fiat, PSA Puegeot Citroen and Opel? Really? What will the venture be called? Third Tier Motors? And will your tagline be "We're incompetent but big?" Kinda pathetic, Sergio. Even for you. - PMD

GM. The company donated 50 Chevy Silverado full-size pickups and Express cargo vans to the American Red Cross to help its recovery efforts in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.

Greg Martin. The GM PR man came out swinging against a new Romney campaign ad that implies that General Motors used the aid from the Obama administration to hire more workers in China than the U.S. “We’ve clearly entered some parallel universe during these last few days,” Martin said. “No amount of campaign politics at its cynical worst will diminish our record of creating jobs in the U.S. and repatriating profits back to this country.” And that's our AE Quote of the Week.

(Ford Racing)
The Ford Racing Mustang Cobra Jet concept revealed at the SEMA show marks the first time ever Ford Racing has equipped its factory-built turn-key drag racer with a turbocharged engine, adopting the same technology found on road-going EcoBoost engines. “Despite its smaller displacement, the improved breathing of the 5.0-liter with its twin independent variable camshaft timing and Boss 302 cylinder heads provided comparable performance while showcasing the high technology available in street Mustangs today,” said Rob Deneweth, Cobra Jet powertrain development engineer. “Ford has embraced turbocharging technology and a lot of our production engineers are working with the technology on a daily basis, so we have a lot of knowledge,” added Deneweth. “So we decided to apply that knowledge to the Mustang Cobra Jet to showcase what our engineers and suppliers know how to do.” Turbocharger design and release engineer Dave Born joined the Cobra Jet team after working on the 3.5-liter EcoBoost® V6 for the F-150 to help make this concept a reality. “When done right, turbocharging is just as good as or better than supercharging,” Born confirms. “To overcome the biggest perceived drawback of turbocharging – the lag – we’ve selected the smallest possible turbos that will give us the airflow we need,” he added. “We’ve also got some other enhancements to help improve the responsiveness; we have very low inertia and very low internal friction.” Watch the video here.

(Images courtesy of Ford)
Suddenly, it's 1940 again. One of the most desirable classic cars of the pre-World War II and hot-rod era – the 1940 Ford Coupe – is now available for ordering. Well, at least its body is. It's the latest addition to the Ford Motor Company’s growing stable of officially licensed all-steel reproduction car bodies and complements the 1965-70 Mustang bodies already available. Like those Mustang bodies, the 1940 Ford Coupe body is also constructed of modern, high-strength steel and is assembled using modern welding techniques. The new body comes rustproofed from the factory and is ready to be assembled as a custom hot rod or as a faithful tribute to the original. Ford will display a custom 1940 Ford hot rod built using a reproduction body and a new bare body shell that demonstrates the high-quality construction at the upcoming Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas this week. Prices start at $11,900 plus shipping. The full body shell as well as individual steel panels are available through Dennis Carpenter Ford Restoration Parts, http://www.dennis-carpenter.com.

(Chevrolet)
Hot Wheels® fans of all ages will be thrilled with the new Camaro Hot Wheels® Edition. The tricked-out production Camaro made its debut at the SEMA Show this week in Las Vegas. A special run of the cars will be produced in the first quarter of 2013 – and like the collectible toys on which it is based – when they’re gone, they’re gone. It will be the first time a full-size, production Hot Wheels® car has been offered for sale by any manufacturer. The appearance of the Camaro Hot Wheels® Edition echoes the cues that Hot Wheels enthusiasts recognize, including a vibrant, graphics-accented metallic paint scheme and red-lined wheels. The Camaro Hot Wheels® Edition is available in coupe and convertible models – in 2LT (V-6) and 2SS (V-8) trims - blending exterior cues of the high-performance Camaro ZL1 with a Kinetic Blue exterior color and unique graphics. It arrives at Chevrolet dealerships early next year.

(Chevrolet)
The upcoming SEMA Show next week will offer its usual array of eye-popping automotive candy, and the auto manufacturers will be well-represented. The Chevrolet Sonic Z-Spec 1 concept is a performance-oriented vision of the Sonic sedan, blending Z-Spec body bits with a more capable driving experience, including a power-enhancing exhaust system and upgraded brakes.

(Chevrolet)
The Malibu Turbo Performance Concept has a 2.0L turbocharged engine producing 20 pounds of boost - generating 259 horsepower – which powers it from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph. We especially like the Berlin Blue Tricoat exterior paint and a Jet Black/Navy Blue interior. Chevy says, "It’s only a vision of where the Malibu Turbo production model could go..." We say, please go there.

(Chevrolet)
Sometimes production-intent vehicles show up at the SEMA Show, and this is one of them. The Chevy Sonic Dusk sedan is "designed to bring a higher degree of sophistication and refinement to the subcompact segment," according to Chevrolet. The SEMA show vehicle features a "production-intent" package with ground effects, a rear spoiler and 18-inch aluminum wheels with a Pearl Nickel finish. Painted in Ashen Grey, the Sonic Dusk's upper and lower grilles, door handle inserts and rear license plate trim are finished with a matte appearance. Stainless steel lower window moldings are also part of the package. The Sonic Dusk interior features Jet Black leather-trimmed seats with suede accents and Mojave tan inserts.

(Ford)
The Ford SEMA stable includes the Fusion Air Design by 3dCarbon, a "Euro Series" take on the new 2013 Fusion.

(Ford)
This 2013 Ford Focus ST is built by Tanner Foust Racing for the SEMA Show. Foust set out to build a competent weekend track/canyon warrior, but one comfortable enough to endure a Southern California commute. Improved performance including increased air intake, and a signature MagnaFlow exhaust for additional power, while fully adjustable front and rear suspension adds flexibility for top performance regardless of the track. Custom body kit additions are also part of the package.

(Ford)
This 2013 Ford Explorer Sport with 3.5L EcoBoost, Six-Speed SelectShift Automatic Transmission, and AWD was built by Forgiato for the SEMA Show. Forgiato starts with the Explorer Sport and adds TS Designs wide-body components, a Pearl White paint scheme, black & white Top Stitch upholstery, and radical three-piece forged 26- by 10-inch wheels, shod with Pirelli 295/30R26 tires.

Editor's Note: Yes, it's me again...ardent fan of Mercedes, through the good times and the Not Very Good times. I have experienced plenty of both over the years, but I guess I am the forgiving type. That, and I just happen to really like the way Mercedes does luxury. So, this past week, as we experienced driving wind and rain and bone-chilling dampness, I let myself be coddled by the uncompromising luxury and tank-like solidity of the 2013 Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueTEC Sedan. This car is big - inside and out - but in a good way. It has unmistakable road presence, combined with an unabashedly luxurious interior. The S350 features a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V-6, delivering 240hp and a healthy 455lb-ft of torque (and wow, is the engine quiet). Mercedes 4MATIC four-wheel drive system is standard, and integrates their 4-wheel Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and 4-wheel electronic traction system (4-ETS). I love the feel of this car on the road - it is solid and supremely confident. As always, the big Mercedes sedans excel on the highway - for me, there's just nothing like a big Benz on a road trip! The interior is everything you'd expect in a car of its caliber - spacious, tasteful and luxurious without being ostentatious. Does it verge on technological overkill, as Peter has often asserted? Yes, I think so. The controls are not quite as intuitive as I think they should be - you have to work just a bit too hard to figure things out. The 'active multi-contour front seats with massage' have clearly been engineered to within an inch of their former-cow lives - I'm not sure if I was being massaged or used for some sort of target practice. Were there other things I could do without? Yes, the optional - $1250! - rear-seat entertainment system with its DVD monitors behind each front seat head restraint. Clearly there are people who want these, but it seemed kinda cheesy to me - more minivan than Mercedes. But that is a minor quibble. And there is plenty of good technology too. Like the optional heated multifunction steering wheel - although to be honest, the only function I really care about this time of year is the heat. Should it be standard and not a $490 option? Yes, of course, but the pleasure of having a warm steering wheel in your hands cannot be overstated. And finally, KEYLESS-GO lives up to its name! You can lock and unlock the doors of the S350 by simply touching the handles. (I don't understand why KEYLESS-GO is always tauted as so convenient when you have to fish the key out of your pocket or purse to lock and unlock the car - why not just use a key for everything?). Well, now you really can dispense with holding the key altogether (or, for those of you who prefer the 'key for everything' operation, you can remove the start/stop button on the instrument panel and insert the key into the ignition). These all sound like small things - and they are - but taken together they help create a particularly satisfying automotive experience. The S350 is subtle in its brand of luxury. It asserts itself quietly, without pomp or swagger. And as if to prove the point that flash is ever so gauche, you have a choice of ten exterior colors on the S350 - five of which are some shade of black, grey or silver!  -WG

2013 Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueTEC Sedan - Base Price $93,000 - full specs to come.

We've added a new dimension to our "Quick Take" auto reviews by discussing brand image, in which we will ask ourselves a simple question: Does the vehicle we're driving adhere to the stated image of the brand? Or is it just a placeholder until they figure it out? We will be very clear as to what we think here, unlike some of the manufacturers in question who aren't quite sure as to who they are and what they stand for. - PMD

Adherence to Brand Image: Our S350 BlueTEC Sedan represents everything a Mercedes-Benz should be - poised, confident and luxurious in the extreme. But that is one car, one driver, one week. And the large luxury segment is chock-full of exceptional cars. I have expressed my bias, but I think that in this instance Mercedes lives up to my high regard. It has always been the traditional choice in the segment - the safe choice, if you will - you always know what to expect, and that can be quite comforting somehow. The S350 will not knock your socks off like its AMG siblings, but it will provide you with an abundance of refinement and the sophistication and elegance you expect from a car that wears the three-pointed star.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: The M-B S350 was an impressive piece. Since WG spent most of the time in the car, I only have a few comments, which mainly revolve around the powertrain. Mercedes boasts that its BlueTEC is one of the most advanced clean diesel technologies in the world, and it's hard to argue with them. The turbodiesel V-6 in the S350 BlueTEC performs admirably, on par with many gasoline V-8s, at least in feel anyway. And it is stunningly quiet. I mean remarkably so. I've spent spent a fair amount of time in the big Audi A8, and it is my preference for a big German sedan. But the S350 reminded me that Mercedes-Benz can really deliver that big Benz feel when they want to. - PMD