ON THE TABLE

July 25, 2012

 Harley-Davidson. The Michigan State Police fleet of motorcycles just got upgraded, according to the Detroit Free Press. For the first time in its history, the State Police switched loyalties in April, purchasing nine German-made BMW R1200s. Why? According to State Police testing the BMW is faster, handles dramatically better, has more advanced safety features, and even costs $500 less. No surprise to serious bike enthusiasts and other police agencies who use them, but how much faster, exactly? The BMW went from 0-100 m.p.h. in less than 11 seconds, while the Harley achieved the same speed in a lethargic 31 seconds. Top speed of the BMW? 131 mph. The Harley? 104 mph. The biggest cut of all? A State Police analysis labeled the Harley as a "capable vehicle for parade and ceremonial use." Ouch, baby.

 The U.S. Auto Industry. The European financial crisis is starting to hit here in a big way. The first evidence of that is Ford reporting that net profits declined 57 percent to $1.04 billion, from $2.40 billion a year earlier, as revenues dropped $2.2 billion to $33.3 billion. North America isn't the problem for Ford, as its North American pre-tax profits were $2 billion. But Ford's European operations plunged to a loss of $404 million from a profit of $176 million the year before. Ford said it now expects its full-year loss in Europe to exceed $1 billion, a huge number. This could be the tip of the iceberg that no one wants to see in this business. Just when the auto industry is registering genuine momentum, the European financial crisis could derail it in no time. Fiat-owned Chrysler is already feeling the ill effects, and GM is mired in fundamental problems of its own in Europe, before you even begin to add in the current financial crisis. To sum it all up? It's a giant bowl of Not Good.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Cameron Crowe's list of "10 Records That Affected or Changed Your Life in Some Way" is a good read and it will conjure up your own list as well. I agree with some of his selections and of course I have a few of my own but that's the fun of it. - PMD

(BMW)
BMW has updated its 7 Series for 2013. The updates include significant powertrain upgrades for 740i/Li; 750i/Li, xDrive and BMW ALPINA B7 models – including BMW’s 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission (8-speed Switch-Tronic high performance transmission for the B7). xDrive – BMW’s intelligent all-wheel drive system – is now available for the 740Li, and a completely new powertrain has been designed for the ActiveHybrid 7. The new 7 Series has a revised exterior including the availability of new LED headlights. The interior of the new 7 has a newly redesigned iDrive system and the availability of an optional Bang & Olufsen High-End Surround Sound system. The new 2013 7 Series arrives in U.S. BMW center showrooms in late summer 2012, except for the ActiveHybrid 7, which arrives in early fall.

(BMW)
The ICA, in partnership with BMW, the Mayor of London and the London 2012 Festival, will take over a landmark car park in Shoreditch for two weeks from July 21 to August 4 for a unique exhibition of the BMW Art Car Collection, which will be on display for the first time in the UK. The collection, initiated over 35 years ago, features BMW cars transformed by some of the world’s leading artists including: Alexander Calder, Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Ernst Fuchs, Robert Rauschenberg, M.J. Nelson, Ken Done, Matazo Kayama, César Manrique, Jeff Koons, A.R. Penck, Esther Mahlangu, Sandro Chia, Jenny Holzer and David Hockney. Admission is free.

(Ford)
Ford has produced a one-of-a-kind 2013 Ford “Red Tails” Mustang GT that celebrates and commemorates the contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen, comprised of the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group, during World War II. This courageous squadron of P-51 Mustang pilots was the United States’ first African American military airmen. Known for the red tails of their planes, the Tuskegee Airmen saw combat in more than 1,500 missions in World War II. The one-of-a-kind Mustang is secured under VIN 00051 in honor of the P-51 Mustang planes flown by the Tuskegee Airmen. The exterior design of the modified 2013 Mustang GT 5.0-liter glass-roof coupe showcases a unique polished aluminum non-production finish paint accented with Race Red and School Bus Yellow, consistent with the P-51 fighter plane’s red tail cues and the logos and markings of the United States Army Air Corps, 332nd Fighter Group and Squadrons. Other unique details include a modified navigation screen, instrument cluster and rear seat-delete. The car’s Recaro seats will include the embroidered “Red Tails” logo and the floor mats are embroidered with the 332nd Fighter Group logo. Additional features include a “Red Tails” script in the illuminated sill plates and puddle lamps that project “Red Tails” imagery when the doors open. The “Red Tails” Mustang GT  has  a Ford Racing 2.3-liter twin-screw Whipple supercharger, handling pack, unique side exhaust, performance quad exhaust from SVT, Forgiato 20-inch aftermarket wheels, GT500 Brembo brakes and a rear diffuser. The special Mustang will be sold at a charity auction on July 26 at the Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture 2012 in Oshkosh, Wis. The sale will benefit the EAA Young Eagles organization, which has provided free introductory flights to more than 1.6 million young people since 1992, helping inspire and motivate the next generation of leaders, aviators and innovators. Ford is the exclusive automotive partner of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and Ford auction vehicles have collectively raised more than $1.5 million in recent years to support Young Eagles.

(Audi AG)
Audi is juicing up its R8 high-performance sports car for 2013 with detail tweaks throughout, and the R8 V10 plus becomes a new top model in the lineup, with a completely new 7-speed S tronic gearbox. The R8 V10 plus develops 404 kW (550 hp), its maximum torque is 540 Nm (398.28 lb-ft) at 6,500 rpm. With S tronic, the R8 V10 plus, available only as a coupé, goes from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 3.5 seconds and achieves a top speed of 317 km/h (196.97 mph). The average fuel consumption rate is 12.9 liters per 100 km (18.23 US mpg). The key data with manual transmission are 3.8 seconds, 319 km/h (198.22 mph) and 14.9 liters (15.79 US mpg).  LED headlights and new rear indicator lights with "dynamicized" display (according to Audi) - its light always proceeds towards the outside, in the direction the driver wishes to turn - are standard equipment on all variants. The single-frame grille with the beveled upper corners is painted high-gloss black, with horizontal chrome inserts adorning the struts on the V10 variants. The bumper is also new, with the air inlets bearing three crossbars each. As an option, Audi installs a front splitter made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). The splitter is standard on the new R8 V10 plus. The R8 is available in two solid colors Ibis White and Brilliant Red, in four metallic shades and with five pearl effect/crystal effect coatings. For the R8 V10 plus a matte effect color is available as an exclusive option. The side blades on the Coupé come in eight colors, while the soft top of the R8 Spyder comes in black, red or brown. The overhauled Audi R8 will roll off the line to European customers at the end of the year.

(Porsche USA)
This just in: Auto consumers dig Porsche. For the eighth year in a row Porsche is the car brand with the maximum appeal in the United States. These were the findings of the latest “Automotive, Performance, Execution and Layout Study (APEAL)” conducted by J.D. Power and Associates. In addition to the Porsche brand finishing in first place, customers also voted the Porsche 911 as best vehicle in the Premium Sporty segment and the Cayenne won first place in the Midsize Premium Crossover SUV segment. J.D. Power interviewed around 75,000 car owners with new vehicles that were registered for the first time in the period from November 2011 to February 2012. Grades from ten different categories are integrated into the overall score, including design, comfort, dynamic performance and suitability for everyday driving.