GM. There's a lot of Internet chatter out there slamming the new Chevrolet SS. Why? Oh, something about it not being as good as the G8, or some other rambling diatribe du jour. We think the SS is worth shouting about. Anytime a U.S. manufacturer steps up to the plate and stuffs a 400+ HP V8 in a rear-wheel-drive chassis with sporting intentions, it's a good thing in the AE songbook. A very good thing.
Fiat-Chrysler. Editor-in-Chief's Note: This just in from the "Oh, Never Mind" File, after promising that its Maserati Levante SUV would be built at Fiat-Chrysler's Jefferson North Assembly Plant in Detroit at the end of this year - a decision that was yet another step toward Sergio Marchionne's canonization by the local media and political operatives - the Italians quietly decided that they needed the capacity for the Grand Cherokee here and that they would throw the old country a bone and build the Levante at Fiat's nearly idled Mirafiori factory close to its headquarters in Turin. At the reveal of the Maserati SUV at Cobo Hall in January 2012 (as Bryce G, Hoffman of The Detroit News reminded us), Marchionne crowed: "This is one classic way of debunking the myth that Detroit - and Michigan - is limited in terms of its capabilities to produce great vehicles. It sets a new benchmark for what this state and the United States car industry can and should produce." That the notification of this change was handled quietly as opposed to the major media event back when the original announcement was made is no great surprise. After all, the carpetbagging opportunists out in Auburn Hills are loathe to give the impression that they might have gotten it wrong, because it would tarnish Sergio's halo and damage the impeccably crafted (and utterly false) image that has been bandied about since his arrival as being "a man of the people." Just more of the same #bushleaguebullshit from Sergio & Co.
Fiat-Chrysler. The Jeep Twitter account gets hacked, the company's CSI numbers are in the toilet and it's becoming more apparent each and every day that if the wheels ever came off the Grand Cherokee/Dodge Ram pickup sales freight train the whole damn thing would drop off the cliff because Fiat's business in Europe is growing more precarious by the hour. But it's all good, right? Right.
Elon Musk. We're so tired of this tedious grandstander that we have a solution: Musk should just give Teslas away from now on. That's right, give them away to anyone who wants one. Then, all of the people who want to embrace the electric lifestyle can do it to their touchy-feely hearts' content. And the rest of us can go on with our lives. Please.
(Rolls-Royce Motor Cars)
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has published more "official" images of its new model Wraith (did they brainstorm with Corvette marketers in order to drag this out, or what?), which will be launched at the Geneva Motor Show on March 5, 2013. The focus this time is on the inclusion of softest ‘Phantom-grade’ leathers and expanses of open pore wood named Canadel Panelling. This contemporary finish "presents an interior space that hints at the interior of an ultra-luxury yacht," according to the luxury auto manufacturer. The horseshoe sweep of Wraith’s cabin also "echoes the cove at Le Canadel in the South of France where Sir Henry Royce and his design team spent their winters," if you must know. Another tidbit? The clock is presented with Blood Orange needle tips "that point to the car’s dynamic potential, while paying homage to the marque’s aviation heritage."
(GM)
The Chevrolet SS will be the first V-8, rear-wheel-drive performance sedan from the Chevrolet brand since 1996. “The Chevrolet brand was largely built on the strength of rear-drive performance sedans, yet it's been 17 years since we've offered one,” said Mark Reuss, president of General Motors North America. “The all-new Chevrolet SS fills that void and fills it better than any other vehicle in the brand’s rich history. The comfort, convenience, spaciousness and V-8 power make the SS a total performance package unlike any other on the road today.” The Chevrolet SS is based on the global rear-wheel drive architecture that is the foundation for the Camaro, Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle and Holden’s VF Commodore. The Chevrolet SS is powered by the LS3 Chevrolet V-8, expected to deliver 415 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque. The LS3 is married to a six-speed automatic transmission, which can be shifted manually using TAPshift paddles mounted on the steering wheel. With an aggressive 3.27 final-drive ratio, the Chevrolet SS accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in about five seconds – making it one of the quickest sedans on the market. Other features include MacPherson strut front and multilink independent rear suspension geometry, electronic power steering system, optimized for sport driving, standard Brembo brakes with ventilated, 355-mm rotors and two-piece, four-piston front calipers, forged aluminum wheels, wrapped in ultra-high-performance Bridgestone tires (19 x 8.5 inch wheels with 245/40ZR19 tires in front; 19 x 9.0 inch wheels with 275/35ZR19 tires rear). And there's a bunch of other stuff too. The 2014 Chevrolet SS will be available in the fourth quarter of 2013, with prices set closer to the on-sale date.
(Images courtesy of Bentley)
Bentley is introducing its new Flying Spur at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show on March 5. "With its unrivaled blend of effortless driveability, exquisite luxury and craftsmanship, sculpted design and state-of-the-art technology, the new Flying Spur takes the worldwide success of its iconic predecessor further," says Bentley. Hmmm. Worldwide success? The Flying Spur hasn't exactly set the world on fire in terms of sales, as a matter of fact it has fared dismally, but hey, it's a press release. At any rate they've revamped the previously boring styling on the company's "most powerful four-door model ever" and that's a very good start. It looks more dynamic and a design point of view is at least present and accounted for. Powering the new Flying Spur is Bentley’s 6.0-litre, twin turbo W12 engine, coupled to a ZF eight-speed transmission. It develops 625 PS (616 bhp) and 800 Nm of torque, a 14 per cent improvement in the power-to-weight ratio over the outgoing model. The Flying Spur goes 0-60 mph time of 4.3 seconds and has a top-speed of 200 mph (322 km/h). All of that power is delivered to the road via all-wheel drive with a 40:60 rear-biased torque split.
Editor-in-Chief's Note: Since there seems to be a dearth of media vehicles available to us of late we thought you'd enjoy our colleague Gary Vasilash's review of the Cadillac ATS 2.5L Luxury Collection in his AutoFieldBlog here. We will have more cars to drive shortly.- PMD
Editor-in-Chief's Note: Honda's 2013 President's Day Sale commercial is simply perfect. Watch it here. - PMD
(Image copyright and courtesy of Gooding & Company. Photo by Mike Maez.)
Gooding & Company, the auction house acclaimed for selling the world’s most significant and valuable collector cars, is offering a spectrum of leading 1960s and 1970s performance cars from Italy, Germany and the United States at the company's annual Amelia Island Auction on March 8 including this stunning 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Long Nose Alloy, one of approximately 25 alloy-bodied 275 GTBs built. This rare 275 GTB has been certified by Ferrari Classiche and is complete with books and tools. Regarded as one of the most desirable 1960s Ferrari models, this six-carb 275 GTB Alloy will be offered in the US for the first time in over three decades at the Amelia Island Auction. Estimate: $2,000,000 - $2,400,000.
(Image copyright and courtesy of Gooding & Company. Photo by Brian Henniker.)
This special 1962 Carrera 2 is an extraordinary, early four-cam example of the legendary model named for the famous Carrera Panamericana Mexican road race. One of 436 examples built, it is finished in an unusual, factory-custom, bright white paint over black interior. This low-mileage Carrera is a strong performance car, eligible for numerous vintage events, including regional concours, Porsche Club exhibitions and Rennsport meets. Estimate: $375,000 - $425,000.
(Image copyright and courtesy of Gooding & Company. Photo by Brian Henniker.)
This 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 being offered is one of Porsche’s quintessential models. One of only 87 RS 2.7s finished in Signal Yellow, this exceptional example has matching-numbers engine, transmission and body panels and was originally equipped with rare and desirable factory options such as a sunroof and power windows. Maintained by leading specialists and richly documented (it was formerly owned by Nicolas Cage), this second-series RS is among the finest examples to appear at auction in years. Estimate: $450,000 – $550,000.
(Image copyright and courtesy of Gooding & Company. Photo by Mike Maez.)
One of only 453 street versions of Carroll Shelby’s 289 Cobra (Chassis No. CSX2538/ Engine No. 00041), this example is a wonderfully-outfitted, late-production car that was originally delivered new to Florida. Equipped with dual quads and rack-and-pinion steering, this 289 Cobra is presented in its original color scheme of red over black. A very correct and well-documented machine, this car represents the ultimate evolution of Shelby’s original small block sports car. It is among the finest examples of the iconic Shelby Cobra currently on the market. Estimate: $850,000 –$1,000,000.
(Image copyright and courtesy of Gooding & Company. Photo by Alejandro Rodriguez.)
Chrysler 300s were among the most powerful and exclusive American vehicles of the 1950s and 1960s. This specific example enjoyed a dynamic life, beginning when Chrysler engineers hand selected it to be one of six Gran Turismo Specials. A very rare and historic Chrysler letter car with racing history, this 1960 300 F is one of only two GT Specials known to exist today. Driven by legendary Daytona Beach driver Gregg Zeigler, this Chrysler placed first in the famous 1960 Daytona Beach “Flying Mile” Race, marking an important and memorable racing achievement for the marque. With only 11,000 miles from new and in excellent condition from 50 years in careful storage, this significant American muscle car is an extraordinary and very original offering. Estimate: $225,000 - $275,000.
(Image copyright and courtesy of Gooding & Company. Photo by Alejandro Rodriguez.)
The legendary Yenko Super Camaro was developed by famed Chevrolet racer Don Yenko and gifted engineer Dick Harrell. One of only 54 examples built in the first year of production and approximately 10 cars remaining, this rare machine is possibly the finest 1967 Super Camaro 450 in existence. This car's unique features include a desirable fiberglass Corvette-style “stinger” hood, Rally Sport trim with a center console, Walnut grained steering wheel and an NHRA-approved scatter shield. Since its restoration by Yenko Camaro expert Dave Tinnell, this ultra-rare Super Camaro 450 has been invited to many exclusive Camaro and Yenko gatherings and is featured in Bob McClurg’s Yenko: The Man, The Machines, The Legend. Estimate: $375,000 - $425,000.
(Photo courtesy of owner.)
This 427 Corvette Sting Ray Roadster was optioned with a long list of rare factory accessories and is the only unrestored 427/435HP known to exist in the rare color combination of Sunfire Yellow over white. Recently honored with a Bloomington Gold SURVIVOR award, this impressively original, matching-numbers Sting Ray has less than 40,000 miles from new with thorough documentation detailing its provenance. This excellent big block Corvette will be presented with its factory hardtop tank sticker, Protect-o-Plate and warranty book. Estimate: $175,000 - $250,000.