ON THE TABLE - SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

Editor's Note: The more I think about Cadillac's alphanumeric naming strategy the more I begin to think it is actually an insult to the consumer - I mean, all it is is shorthand for price and size - a quick way to assess where a vehicle fits in the lineup. You see a "high number" name and think, "Oh, I can't afford that," or you see a "low number" name and that means it's in your price range, etc. But it all ends there. There is nothing in alphanumeric nomenclature to give consumers a feel for the brand or any sort of nuance or idea as to what that particular vehicle is all about. This numbers as names shit is nothing more than a retail positioning strategy that totally tosses branding to the dustbin. -WG

(Image courtesy of Cadillac)
Editor-in-Chief's Note: Cadillac is moving its command and control operations to Manhattan, creating a separate business unit. Johan de Nysschen, who joined Cadillac as its new president in August, will be responsible for the brand’s overall operational performance, and he has been given carte blanche to shake things up, apparently. Besides leader de Nyyschen, the new Cadillac "leadership council" consists of  Jim Bunnell, vice president of sales and service; Uwe Ellinghaus, chief marketing officer; David Colasinski, chief financial officer; David Leone, executive chief engineer; and Andrew Smith, executive director of design. Additional appointments will be announced later. Design, Engineering and Product Development for Cadillac are staying put in Michigan, but de Nyyschen is clearly hell-bent on creating a luxury mindset within his group, and that means setting up camp in one of the luxury brand centers of the world. Good idea? Yes and no. Anytime you can get out of this town and gain some new perspective it's a very good thing, and Cadillac is in desperate need of some new perspective. The problem? This is General Motors, remember, and all of this sounds just swell right now. But if de Nyyschen and his team end up being on planes every week for "meetings" back in Detroit, the whole thing will be a monumental waste of time and money. It's a giant "we'll see" as I like to say, but make no mistake, de Nyyschen is one very tough customer. And if he has truly been promised autonomy as all signs seem to indicate - and Dan Amman and Co. stick to it and keep their hands off of it - this little adventure could work. If not, look out. - PMD

(Images courtesy of VW)
From the "We're Almost Completely Out of Ideas" File comes word that Volkswagen is bringing out a "value-oriented" limited-edition Beetle Classic model, which starts at $20,195 for the 1.8T Coupe. With the Classic you get 17-inch “Heritage” aluminum-alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, a leather-wrapped shifter knob and handbrake lever, Sirius XM® Satellite Radio, an RNS® 315 navigation system, a multifunction steering wheel, two-tone brown “Sioux” leatherette and checked cloth seating surfaces, comfort front seats with driver’s side lumbar support, and a six-speed automatic transmission. The car is available in three colors only — Pure White, Black Uni and Reflex Silver. A convertible version will go on sale next year. How long can VW keep pretending that the Beetle's time hasn't passed? Good question, because it's rapidly becoming The Answer to the Question that Absolutely No One is Asking in this market.

(Jaguar)
Jaguar has partnered with Stella McCartney ahead of the designer's Paris Fashion Week Show for the next phase of the FEEL XE campaign as the rollout of the new Jaguar XE continues. “Jaguar is a British brand that’s full of heritage, charm and one that I’ve admired for years so it’s a pleasure to be finally working directly with them," McCartney commented. "It was interesting to adapt my playful Superhero print for the XE, adding a feeling of empowerment to its exhilarating design - I can’t wait to see it on the streets of Paris.” The FEEL XE Experience marks the next phase in the XE reveal, where Jaguar will announce full details of the entire XE range at the Paris Motor Show. The FEEL XE Experience will feature a fleet of luxury Jaguars draped in McCartney's distinctive Superhero print from her Spring 2015 collection that will be taking to the streets of Paris on Monday. September 29.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: This week our "Quick Take" has us in a 2014 Audi S5 Coupe quattro (manual). The sporting version of Audi's tastefully-rendered A5 Coupe is turned out in typically impeccable Audi fashion, with pleasing details throughout. But the big attraction for me - as I imagine it would be for anyone considering this machine - was the drivetrain, with the responsiveness of the TFSI V6 and 6-speed manual gearbox, which are matched perfectly and play a huge role in the driving pleasure that defines the sporting character of this Audi. A big reason for the right now responsiveness of the S5 is that the throttle tip-in is perfect - unlike with four-cylinder Audi models I've driven - plus Audi engineers worked overtime on the sound of the S5, because it barks with authority, which isn't always the case with some of the high-performance V6s out there today. The only negative I can say about the S5 is that it seemed to run out of breath at upper RPMs, but I guess that's why the 450HP RS 5 exists. The Audi S5 hits all of the correct buttons for a mid-upper-priced sporting coupe - yes, I just said that, because at almost $60,000, the price of the S5 counts for "upper-mid" in today's pricey market - and it's worth a drive if you're looking for an excellent combination of performance and lively engagement behind the wheel in a great-looking coupe. - PMD

2014 Audi S5 Coupe quattro: $58,845 ($52,000 Base Price; Misano Red Pearl Effect, $500; Black Interior; 3.0-liter TFSI V6 with 333HP and 325 lbs-ft of torque; quattro permanent all-wheel drive system with 40:60 torque split; Six-speed manual transmission with dual mass flywheel; 18" 5-parallel-spoke-S-design wheels with 245/40 summer tires; Electromechanical speed-sensitive power steering; ABS; Electronic Stability Control (ESC); S-specific sport suspension and brake system; Audi xenon plus headlights with LED DRLs and taillights; Tilting glass panel roof with retractable sunshade; Power glass sunroof; Heated auto-dimming exterior mirrors in alu-optic finish; Three-spoke, flat-bottom multifunction steering wheel; Heated, 8-way power front seats with 4-way lumbar and driver memory; S sport seats with leather and Alcantara; 60/40 split-folding rear seat; Brushed aluminum inlays; Three-zone automatic climate control; Auto-dimming interior mirror with compass; Garage door opener (HomeLink); Preparation for mobile phone (Bluetooth); AM/FM/SAT/1CD audio with SD card reader; Audi music interface with iPod cable; SIRIUS Satellite radio with three-month complimentary subscription; Audi drive select; Audi MMI Navigation Plus Package - 1CD/DVD-player with HD radio, Audi MMI Navigation plus with voice control, Color driver information display, Audi parking system plus with rear view camera, Audi connect with online services (six month subscription) - $3,050; Black Optic Package - 19" 5-arm-Rotor-design wheels, Titanium finish, summer tires, High-gloss black package - $1,300; quattro with sports differential, $1,100; Front filler panel; Destination charge, $895)

 Adherence to Brand Image: The Audi S5 is one of the most pleasing high-performance coupes in the market and it speaks Audi loud and clear. If I were getting an Audi Coupe, however, and I couldn't get an R8, I'd take a real long look at the S5 - and then probably get an RS 5 with the additional 117HP. - PMD

Letter from L.A.

By Tom Pease

Beverly Hills. This past week was the annual AltCar Expo in greener-than-thou Santa Monica, California. I've been to a few of these in the past and forced you, tonstant weader (buy you a drink if you got that reference) to read my take on it.

Well, here we go again. I took the bus over there, which since my car was in the shop I had to do, but I usually do anyway. It seems somehow inappropriate to pilot, singly, a car that gets more in the range of gallons-per-mile to an event all about using as little gas as possible. For once I almost immediately got a bus that was actually going to Santa Monica, not stuffed to the gills with screaming babies and lunatics and with working AC. Next thing you know I'll be winning Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy. But I digress...

I arrived at the Santa Monica Civic early on a gray, cool Saturday to find a rather desultory event. It seemed smaller than it had been in previous years and frankly like some of the exhibitors weren't trying too hard. Ford was there represented (I think) by a local dealership who had the cars but didn't seem to be offering test drives- at least they didn't to me. Nissan was there with the Leaf, but the people at the desk barely looked up when I approached, much less offered any assistance. Now granted, I hadn't shaved and my outfit of madras shorts, topsiders and St. Jude's t-shirt didn't exactly scream wealth, but this IS Santa Monica, people. Steven Spielberg will be dressed the same. Maybe it's the fact that these cars are becoming less and less "alt"?

In any case, onto the cars I did drive.

Chevy was there with the Volt and the Spark. The Spark is a zippy little thing, quite fun to drive and I was told has more oomph on the low end the the gas-powered one. Nice steering, and it has a great seating position. I could see it as a second car in a home in need of something to run about town or a primary for someone who doesn't drive a lot since the 80-ish mile range could be an issue. The Volt still wows me with its combination of "Gee Whiz" and common sense - you get the wow factor of the seamless electric/gas backup and zero "range anxiety" - but Chevrolet adhered to the "Keep It Simple, Stupid" idea that, for instance to change gears you should have a normal gear shift. On other words, not something that has to be explained to you. I look forward to see the next generation of this car.

Mercedes was there with the smart electric drive (I didn't partake) and their B-Class Electric and F-Cell. I enjoyed the Electric, and the F-Cell was miles better than the one I drove a couple of years ago, which felt as if it was attempting to tow the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium and perhaps the Palisades behind it. Kudos also to the lady who showed me the cars who was very informative and helpful. Especially since this was one that the shifter had to be explained.

I again drove the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell and for the first time a Civic NGV. Like Chevy with the Volt you have to hand it to Honda, because they make the green experience almost completely seamless. My only issue was with the Clarity. Why have a shifter that needs to have you be walked through? The Leaf does this as well. What's the point? I know I'm driving a different kind of car since I have to plug it in or go to Santa Monica to refuel it instead of dropping in to Colker's on Cañon Drive. I don't need an extra reminder. Heck, why not put the turn signal in the glove box, have a knee-activted horn, or headlights activated by interpretive dance? Just stop.

Anyway, the last car was the one I really came out to see: the BMW i3. I had seen its big brother being driven down Santa Monica Boulevard a while ago and wanted to see what the more mainstream one looked like. The outside I liked, but I like small and quirky. The older gent who was at the booth with me (who clearly had his tact meter turned to zero) was loudly and insistently telling the nice lady from Santa Monica BMW that it was hideous. The interior is a gorgeous combination of materials, even if I personally dislike those stand-up screens the Germans are doing these days (to me it doesn't look "airy", it just looks cheap). The i3 is fairly zippy but has a flaw that I consider nigh unto dangerous: the regenerative braking is so aggressive that taking your foot off the gas in city driving will get you to a dead stop in short order. That would be okay if it flashed the brake lights, like the regen-on-demand system in the Cadillac ELR does, but it doesn't. Bad news if you're being followed by someone who might not be paying as much attention as they should be while driving.

Which would be practically everyone...

(Digital illustration by Casey Shain - artandcolourcars.blogspot.com)
Editor-in-Chief's Note: Our old friend Casey "art and colour" Shain has sent us another selection of his digitally enhanced - and wonderful - automotive images (my favorite? the Mercedes 280S). We know the design community gets a kick out of seeing Casey's creativity, so we're pleased to present his latest work, along with his commentary. The example above is a Camaro LT hatchback, as Casey says, "To bring back glass for visibility, plus a practical hatchback." Enjoy. - PMD

(Digital illustration by Casey Shain - artandcolourcars.blogspot.com)
Corvette eGT: Run silent, run deep, a plug-in version of America's sports car.

(Digital illustration by Casey Shain - artandcolourcars.blogspot.com)
Mustang Heritage Glassback: Recalling the initial mid-engine Mustang's lines with a "basket-handle" look and other retro cues brought up to date.

(Digital illustration by Casey Shain - artandcolourcars.blogspot.com)
Lincoln Continental: Uber sports luxury "saloon" with 3-piece retracting backlight recalling classic Lincolns and Mercurys in a new way.
 

(Digital illustration by Casey Shain - artandcolourcars.blogspot.com)
Buick Limited sedan: Stepping up from the LaCrosse in the same way the Limited was once a step up from the Roadmaster.

(Digital illustration by Casey Shain - artandcolourcars.blogspot.com)
Cadillac Fleetwood sedan: Slated above the XTS with RWD/AWD in a modified 3-box design although I'm pretty sure the real one coming will be a fastback like the XTS.

(Digital illustration by Casey Shain - artandcolourcars.blogspot.com)
Lamborghini MPV: Just in case the Italians have a sense of humor after all...

(Digital illustration by Casey Shain - artandcolourcars.blogspot.com)
Mercedes 280S: Completely reinventing MB's current over-the-top angular flying doorstop design language. Sensuous curves, ample glass area and aero-superiority so MB can stop being the German Lexus these days.