ON THE TABLE
Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at 07:26PM June 6, 2012
Jaguar. Gets deliciously unexpected product placement in Mad Men. And to Jaguar management's credit they're just going with it. Good for you.
GM. The Chevrolet Volt is suddenly hot in California because it's eligible for the highly desirable car pool lanes. It's about time.
Honda. The Japanese manufacturer will have the highest EPA fuel economy rating of any electric passenger car to date of 118 mpg with its 2013 Fit EV, eclipsing the electric Ford Focus (105 mpg) and the Nissan Leaf (99 mpg). The combined city/highway rating of the Fit EV is 82 mpg on a single charge.
The UAW. Scott Walker wins the recall election. Uh-oh, prepare to duck and cover!
Dan Akerson. Romney says he'll cash out of GM as soon as he's elected. A giant "we'll see" but we know of one guy who will have his fingers crossed.
Johan de Nysschen, Infiniti. Editor-in-Chief's Note: It was completely unexpected when Audi's Johan de Nysschen submitted his resignation last week, and it was even more stunning when it was announced this week that he would be taking over the Infiniti brand and moving to Hong Kong to the brand's new headquarters there. Make no mistake, this is a serious blow to Audi. No one breathed all things Audi more than de Nysschen, and much of of the brand's success in the U.S. is due to the unwavering commitment and focus Johan brought to bear every day on behalf of the German luxury brand. He will be sorely missed. Infiniti, on the other hand, has pulled off a coup by getting one of the best minds in the business when it comes to orchestrating a luxury automotive brand to lead it into the future. I think the world of Johan de Nysschen and his considerable ability and talent, and he will make Infnini a brand to watch in the coming years. - PMD
(Mercedes-Benz)
Mercedes-Benz has announced the 2013 SLS AMG GT, which will replace the current SLS AMG models. Available as a coupe and roadster, the SLS AMG GT features the AMG 6.3-liter V8, which has been enhanced to deliver 583 hp and 479 lb/ft of torque. This results in a 0-60 time of 3.6 seconds, with a top speed of 197mph (electronically limited). Other enhancements include a recalibrated AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmission and a newly tweaked AMG Adaptive Suspension. The SLS AMG GT has darkened headlamp and tail light lenses, a unique wheel color and red-painted brake calipers. The wing-shaped cross fins and the star recess in the radiator grille are given a new high-gloss black finish, as are the exterior mirrors, the fins on the hood and front fenders. The AMG logo on the right of the trunk lid also features the additional letters "GT" in case anyone missed it. The 2013 SLS AMG GT will go on sale in the U.S. in mid-November 2012.
