ON THE TABLE - SEPTEMBER 4, 2013

 Carlos Ghosn. Big surprise - not - the Renault SA CEO is expanding his role and taking control of daily operations after Renault SA Chief Operating Officer Carlos Tavares left for greener pastures (and hopefully a CEO job with another car company). Just in case anyone wondered, the idea of more control is something Carlos Ghosn is much more comfortable with anyway, so it's all good in Ghosnland.

 Cadillac. From the "WTF?" File comes word that Cadillac and its new Interpublic Agency - Team Rogue (ugh, please tell us that everyone at the agency isn't being assigned black outfits to emphasize the whole "rogue" bit) - is going to reposition the luxury brand in its upcoming fall campaign, making a U-turn from past messaging that attempted to refire "The Standard of the World." Normally we would reserve judgment until the campaign actually breaks, but we just can't help ourselves. Word from Ad Age is that "the messaging will lean on American values, such as the notion that everyone can create his or her own destiny." The main idea behind the campaign? "Work Hard. Be Lucky." Wow. This is wrong on so many levels we don't really know where to begin, unless it's yet another travel come-on for the Las Vegas Visitor's Bureau, then, not so bad. But for Cadillac? Not so much. Then, we thought, maybe it's Cadillac getting back to being okay with being Cadillac again, which we wholeheartedly endorse. But come to find out that there's a movement afoot to position Cadillac as a more-accessible car than it has been. Accessible? For what, exactly? All of this on the heels of the news that Cadillac sales are up 30 percent for the first seven months of 2013. Last time we checked, the whole idea of positioning Cadillac as being more accessible is counterintuitive. If anything Cadillac needs to be and should be all about being more desirable. The Elmiraj concept has "desirable" written all over it. On the other hand, "Work hard. Be Lucky." - ? No.

(Audi)
In celebration of the 30th birthday of the Sport quattro, Audi will present what it calls the "legitimate successor" at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show IAA. The Audi Sport quattro concept show car features a beautifully aggressive coupe design and plug-in hybrid drive with a system output of 515 kW (700 hp). According to Audi, quattro is more than just a technology – quattro is a philosophy. The term stands for "driving safety and sportiness, technical competence and a dynamic approach to life," says Audi PR minions. Since the debut of the “Ur-quattro” in 1980, Audi has sold more than five million cars with permanent all-wheel drive, far more than any other premium manufacturer worldwide.

(Audi)
The overhangs of the Audi Sport quattro concept show car are short. The wheelbase is 2,784 millimeters (109.61 in), it is 4,602 millimeters (181.18 in) long, 1,964 millimeters (77.32 in) wide and 1,386 millimeters (54.57 in) high. The front suspension utilizes five control arms per wheel; the rear suspension follows the Audi track-controlled trapezoidal link principle. Other stuff: Tuned springs and dampers, variable ratio, speed-sensitive power steering, big carbon fiber-ceramic brakes, and 285/30 R 21 tires.

(Audi)
The interior of the Audi Sport quattro concept features lightweight carbon construction and a slim dashboard "reminiscent of the wing of a sailplane," says Audi. The support structure of the interior is a carbon shell that also serves as a storage compartment in the side doors. The quattro drivetrain runs beneath the continuous center console. Racing bucket seats with folding backs, sculpted side bolsters and integrated head restraints up front and full rear seats offer space for four (sure it does). The folding mechanism provides access to the rear. A crossbeam behind the rear seats provides for additional rigidity. The occupant cell also combines ultra-high-strength steel panels and cast aluminum structural elements. The doors and fenders are made of aluminum, and the roof, the hood and the rear hatch are made of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer. The result is a curb weight including the battery pack of 1,850 kilograms (4,078.55 lb).

(Audi)
The system output of the Audi Sport quattro concept with plug-in hybrid drive is 515 kW (700 hp); system torque is 800 Nm (590.05 lb-ft). Power flows through a modified eight-speed tiptronic to the quattro powertrain, which features a sport differential on the rear axle. According to the applicable standard, the show car consumes on average 2.5 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (94.09 US mpg), a CO2 equivalent of 59 grams per kilometer (94.95 g/mile). The combustion engine is a four-liter, twin-turbo V8. It produces 412 kW (560 hp) and 700 Nm (516.29 lb-ft) of torque. The cylinder on demand (COD) system, which deactivates four cylinders under part load, and a start-stop system helps make the eight-cylinder unit very efficient. Located between the 4.0 TFSI and the transmission is a disc-shaped electric motor producing 110 kW and 400 Nm (295.02 lb-ft). It draws its traction energy from a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery in the rear with a capacity of 14.1 kWh. The concept is charged via an Audi wall box, which uses intelligent charge management to ensure the optimal feed of energy to the lithium-ion battery. The Audi Sport quattro concept can cover up to 50 kilometers (31.07 miles) on electric power alone, says Audi. An intelligent management system controls the interplay between the two drives as needed, and the driver can choose between various operating modes. The customer can choose between various characteristics for the Audi Sport quattro concept depending on the operating and driving strategy. A choice of three modes is available. EV mode is for purely electric driving; Hybrid mode is for maximum efficiency and Sport mode is for maximum performance. When the V8 and the electric motor work together, the Audi Sport quattro concept accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 3.7 seconds. Top speed is 305 km/h (189.52 mph).

(Toyota)
A new Lexus compact crossover concept, the LF-NX, makes its world premiere at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) next week. This concept explores the potential for a compact crossover within the Lexus model range and is powered by a new variant of the Lexus Hybrid Drive system tuned for SUV performance, according to the PR minions. (Really? What the hell does that mean?) With its "highly distinctive and powerfully sculpted styling," the LF-NX concept’s exterior design reflects a further evolution of Lexus’ L-finesse design language, says Lexus.

(Toyota)
The interior of the LF-NX is a continuation of the ‘Human Oriented’ L-finesse design concept, the cabin featuring "the ideal, upper display zone and lower operation zone dashboard format perfected over successive Lexus generations." Alrighty then. This design "allows for intuitive interaction with the vehicle’s next generation technology, which includes touch-sensitive electrostatic switches, and a new touch pad Remote Touch Interface (RTI) design." We can hardly wait.

(Toyota)
The Lexus LF-NX concept is finished in a new Brushed Metal Silver exterior color which, according to Lexus PR minions, "gives the striking impression that the body shell has been carved from a single piece of solid metal." Yes, we thought that too. Uncanny.

(Porsche Cars North America)
Porsche is expanding its Panamera lineup for 2014 with the introduction of three new models - the Panamera S E-Hybrid (abvove) and two luxurious Executive versions for the Panamera 4S and Panamera Turbo models. The Panamera S E-Hybrid is the first plug-in hybrid from Porsche. It offers a more powerful electric motor than the previous Panamera S Hybrid, producing 95hp, more than double the power of the previous model. A newly developed lithium-ion battery offers increased capacity as well. The new Panamera 4S Executive and Panamera Turbo Executive models feature an extended wheelbase and a completely new 3.0 twin-turbo V6 engine.
Panamera GTS
With this launch, the Panamera lineup now features NINE individual models, which makes it abundantly clear once again why Porsche (and Audi) are the VW Group's star profit generators. (Editor's Note: Speaking of profits, Porsche just announced August 2013 sales of 3,327 vehicles, an increase of 10 percent over the same month last year and the best August in the history of Porsche Cars North America. Year to date Porsche sales are up 28 percent over last year. - WG)  2014 Panamera pricing is as follows:
Panamera - $78,100
Panamera 4 - $82,800
Panamera S - $93,200
Panamera 4S - $98,300
Panamera S E-Hybrid - $99,000
Panamera GTS - $113,400
Panamera 4S Executive - $125,600
Panamera Turbo - $141,300
Panamera Turbo Executive - $161,100
Panamera 4S
The new Panamera models will be available in the U.S. starting late in 2013. Panamera Turbo S and Panamera Turbo S Executive variants will be available in 2014.

(BMW of North America)
BMW of North America is pleased to feature its M1 Art Car by Andy Warhol at Boston’s annual ARTcetera fundraising event to support the AIDS Action Committee.  Originally raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Warhol’s hand-painted BMW M1 is the 4th in the Art Car collection, and showcases the artist’s unique depiction of speed. In his own words, Warhol described the piece as “Portray[ing] speed pictorially. If a car is moving really quickly, all the lines and colors are blurred.” The Art Car series began in 1975 when Le Mans driver Hervé Poulain commissioned American artist Alexander Calder to transform his racecar into a canvas. Since then, the collection has gone on to feature dynamic and impressive artists from around the world, including Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, and Robert Rauschenberg. Warhol’s M1 Art Car has amassed an impressive resume from museums and galleries worldwide, and will serve as the perfect complement to the high-caliber pieces up for auction at ARTcetera. The event will be held on Saturday, October 5, 2013 at the Park Plaza Castle in Boston. Information for purchasing tickets or making donations can be found at www.aac.org.

(Jaguar)
The Jaguar C-X17, which will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show, has been created as a design study to introduce Jaguar’s new, highly-advanced, modular aluminium architecture. "The concept illustrates the diversity of vehicles that could be produced using this architecture, which underpins the innovative future of the Jaguar brand," says Jaguar PR minions. Yes, in other words, it's a crossover.

Letter from L.A.

By Tom Pease

Beverly Hills. My first reaction to Joan Lowy's piece was to ask her how she got to work. Is she on the bus in DC? I've never lived there so I can't comment on their public transportation.

 I have, however, lived for 25 years in the glamorous "industrial triangle" area of Beverly Hills and have taken public transport for all those years, and I can tell you that the reality of it is that while it's difficult to park, the traffic gets worse every minute and the gas prices continue to flip-flop, unless you've managed to perfect a "Bewitched" era Endora swoop-in, you're going to need a car.

Do the math - say you're working as a waiter at La Belle Poitrine on Cañon Drive and live in Silverlake. You work the dinner shift and get off late. Are you going to pop for a bus pass that's nearly a grand a year or a 20-year-old Civic? The latter will get you home sooner and after the initial purchase price be cost neutral. The former will take you hours and trust me, will be a pretty rugged experience. If you're working in Santa Monica and live in Boyle Heights add two more lines to that.

My former employer had a carrot and stick approach - pay for the pass but not the parking. Even with that I ended up driving 25% of the time.

My car means freedom, Joan. Freedom from 45-minute waits for a bus down Beverly Blvd. on a 90 degree day or a two mile walk. Freedom from one million hours of bus line cuts by Metro. Hey, here's a concept, why don't you write about that? It's not as sexy as declaring the death of the automobile, but it would be something novel: reporting.

Oh and FYI, I still love a run up Mulholland or Sunset on a day without traffic, windows down, KCRW on the radio. Try it sometime. It's fun, even in a Prius. I'll pop for the lattes at the Malibu Country Mart.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Jeremy Clarkson's heartfelt driving impression of the Aston Martin Vantage and his commentary on the twilight of the high-performance automobile is simply one of the most powerful pieces of its kind ever created. Brilliantly written and graced with absolutely stunning visuals, it will resonate for years and years to come. As he says,"What it makes me feel though, is sad. I just can't help thinking that, thanks to all sorts of things... the environment, the economy, problems in the Middle East, the relentless war on speed, cars like this will soon be consigned to the history books. I just have this horrible, dreadful feeling that what I'm driving here... is an ending." Amen. Watch it here. - PMD