OCTOBER 21, 2015

(Chevrolet)
GM announced on Tuesday that it will partner with LG Corp. to bring the all-electric Chevrolet Bolt EV to reality. Following joint planning and research with GM engineers, LG Electronics Vehicle Components led a team of LG companies to help develop the Bolt. LG supplied an array of new components and systems, including the electric drive motor (built from GM design), power invertor module (converts DC power to AC for the drive unit), on-board charger, and battery cells and pack. The Bolt can travel more than 200 miles on a single electric charge and is expected to be priced around $30,000. The Bolt EV will go into production at GM’s Orion Township assembly plant in late 2016. Editor-In-Chief's Note: Perhaps calling it the Bolt LG would have more resonance in the market? Just a thought. -PMD

(Chevrolet)
Domino’s has chosen the 2015 Chevrolet Spark as the basis for the company’s new Domino’s DXP™ (Delivery Expert), a specially designed and built pizza delivery vehicle. The vehicle, adapted from a crowd-sourced concept submitted as part of the Domino’s Ultimate Delivery Vehicle Challenge, was converted and delivered through a partnership between Domino’s and Roush Enterprises. Domino’s expects to see the first DXP’s to hit the streets this month.

(Cadillac)
Cadillac has unveiled the exclusive Crystal White Frost Edition for all three of its new high-performance V-Series models – the 2016 Cadillac ATS-V Coupe and Sedan, and the 2016 Cadillac CTS-V Sedan (above).  These special launch edition models feature a special production run of low-gloss Crystal White Frost exterior paint and select V-Series wheels and Carbon Fiber and Luxury packages that are options on regular V-Series models. The 2016 Cadillac ATS-V Crystal White Frost Edition starts at $71,460 for the sedans and $73,660 for the coupes. The 2016 Cadillac CTS-V Crystal White Frost Edition sedans start at $94,990 (gulp). The prices include destination charges but exclude tax, title, license and dealer fees.  In total, 99 Crystal White Frost Edition vehicles will be allocated for retail – 29 CTS-V sedans, 39 ATS-V coupes and 31 ATS-V sedans.

(Ferrari images)
Ferrari has revealed its C7 Z06, er, we mean the F12tdf, a special edition that pays homage to the Tour de France, the endurance road race that Ferrari dominated in the 50s and 60s with its 250 GT Berlinetta (I mean, come on, it looks eerily similar to the Corvette, right? -PMD). Ferrari PR minions call the F12tdf, "the ultimate expression of the concept of an extreme road car that is equally at home on the track." It's lighter, more powerful and faster: 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and 0-200 km/h in 7.9 seconds. Just 799 will be built and it will cost a giant boatload of cash.

Peggy Noonan. Editor-In-Chief's Note: The Wall Street Journal columnist had some excellent advice for young journalists this week. "She took her seat in the hearing room handsomely coiffed, beautifully made up, wearing a sober, dark high-end pantsuit. Young journalists tell me I'm not allowed to describe how she's dressed or whether she looks tired (no, well rested) or stressed (no, cool as a cucumber). I tell them if they're going to be journalists they can't start out as word cops. Nor should they in their work put politically correct limits on their ability to describe a scene. If you mean to be a craftsman, you cannot start your career as a sensor." Amen. -PMD

Editor's Note: Watch "Episode 2" of AutoextremistTV on YouTube here. -WG