APRIL 29, 2015

Cadillac. Editor-in-Chief's Note: I have praised Cadillac's "Dare Greatly" advertising campaign because it's wonderfully conceived, well-executed and effective, elevating the brand with a fresh attitude and a sense of urgency that has been lacking for a long while. But too often "high concept" campaigns of this nature come apart violently when it is applied to a retail marketing task that it was never intended for. And thus is the case of the "Dare Greatly" TV commercial that features the SRX thrown in at the end, complete with leasing numbers boldly displayed. What part of this seemed like a good idea? It has nothing to do with the soaring reach of "Dare Greatly," instead, it brings the entire efficacy of the campaign to a screeching halt. The SRX is a tired, lame-duck product that the dealers desperately need to move, I get that. But this ad execution doesn't work. At all. I can't tell you how many campaigns I've been involved with over my career that were ruined because the client insisted on shoving a particular product down consumers' throats - or to pacify itchy dealers - even though it made no sense to do so within context of the given campaign. Cadillac took three notable steps forward with "Dare Greatly," but this SRX iteration represents five steps back, at least. Ugh. -PMD

(Chevrolet/newspressUSA)
Chevrolet has announced a special edition, "blacked-out" package for the Chevrolet Impala - based on a concept shown at last fall's SEMA Show in Las Vegas - called the Midnight Edition. The package includes a Jet Black exterior, including body color mirrors; 19-inch machine-faced aluminum wheels with black accents; Black grille and surround; the Chevrolet bowtie emblem blacked out front and rear; Jet Black interior with "sport" pedals and a Black rear spoiler. The Midnight Edition package will be available on 1LT, 2LT and LTZ trim levels. Package prices range from $995 to $1,595 above the starting retail price. This special edition will be available with a choice of two powertrains, the standard 2.5L iVLC with stop/start technology and a 3.6L V-6. The Midnight Edition will be available for the 2016 model year, although a small number of 2015 Midnight Editions will be produced in the 2LT trim level with the standard 2.5L engine (which seems silly, but that's just us).

(Cadillac)
Cadillac's U.S. dealers will begin accepting orders for the next-generation 2016 CTS-V, which will arrive in late summer. Equipped with a 6.2L supercharged, 640HP V-8 with 630 lb-ft/855 Nm of torque and an eight-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel paddles, the CTS-V has more horsepower and more torque than the Mercedes-Benz 5.5L biturbo V-8 and the BMW M-series 4.4L TwinPower V-8, which will be essential info for bragging rights at cocktail parties everywhere. With a top speed of 200 mph and 0-60 mph performance in 3.7 seconds, the CTS-V is the most powerful car in Cadillac’s 112-year history. The 2016 CTS-V is priced from $83,995. Customers can place orders now with dealers and view additional product information at Cadillac.com.

(Chevrolet)
Chevrolet has introduced the 2016 Corvette Z06 C7.R Edition, which it describes as "a road-going, track-capable homage to the Corvette Racing C7.R racecars." Offered on coupe and convertible models with 3LZ trim - and with the 650-horsepower supercharged LT4 engine - the Z06 C7.R Edition is available in Corvette Racing's signature Yellow Tintcoat (new for 2016) or Black, with coordinated exterior and interior accents. The machine's Z07 Performance Package includes Brembo carbon ceramic-matrix brake rotors; adjustable front and rear aero components and Michelin Pilot Super Sport Cup 2 tires. Other good stuff? A C7.R Edition graphics package; black wheels with yellow accent strip, Corvette Racing-logo center caps and yellow brake calipers; visible carbon fiber hood section and carbon fiber ground effects package; grilles and vents finished in Spectra Gray Metallic; Jet Black leather interior with suede microfiber accents on the instrument panel and doors, as well as a suede microfiber-trimmed Competition Sport Seat, steering wheel and shifter; yellow contrast stitching throughout the interior, a high-gloss carbon fiber interior trim package; Corvette Racing sill plates; a numbered C7.R Edition interior plaque showing the specially serialized build number, starting with VIN 700001; and a special indoor car cover with C7.R graphics. Only 500 examples of the C7.R Edition will be built and all will include the Z07 Performance Package with carbon ceramic brakes. They will be available later this year.

(Ford)
Ford will produce limited run of 2015 Shelby GT350 and GT350R models as an homage to the original 1965 GT350 to commemorate the nameplate’s 50th anniversary. These 2015 Shelby GT350 models come with a unique 2015 VIN, which will have Shelby enthusiasts salivating everywhere because of their exclusivity. Only 137 Shelby GT350 models will feature the 2015 model year designation before production switches over to 2016. Of these, 50 will be equipped with the Technology Package and 50 equipped with the Track Package, and only a very few will be built as "R" models. In 1965, Carroll Shelby developed and sold an FIA-homologated Mustang called the Shelby GT350R competition model. In addition to winning the Sports Car Club of America’s B Production national championship in 1965, 1966 and 1967, the special competition machines were entered in races throughout South America and Europe, including the 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans. Shelby enthusiasts disagree as to how many 1965 GT350R competition models were actually built during the extremely limited production run. Shelby himself insisted that two prototype cars and 35 production models were built, but most records show only 34 production models received serial numbers from the Shelby production facility. For 2015, Ford will make sure there is no confusion about the number of GT350R models constructed; just 37 cars will be built in Carroll Shelby’s memory.

(Chevrolet)
Indiana native Jeff Gordon, the five-time Brickyard 400 winner and four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion, will drive the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 pace car to lead the field to the green glag for the 99th running of the Indianapolis 500 mile race - “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" - on May 24th at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “Indy is hallowed ground for racers like me and I couldn’t be more thrilled to drive the Corvette Z06 pace car around the track that helped drive my success over the years,” Gordon said. ”The Indianapolis 500 is one of the most celebrated races of the year and an event I always dreamed of racing while growing up in California and in nearby Pittsboro. I’ve won five NASCAR races at IMS and the track will always be a special place for me, so to be able to participate in such a historic day will be something I remember for the rest of my life.” The Chevrolet name goes back a long way with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Chevrolet was founded in 1911, the year of the inaugural 500-mile race, and the Chevrolet brothers – company co-founders Louis, Arthur and Gaston – all competed in early Indy 500 races. Arthur Chevrolet competed in the 1911 race and Gaston Chevrolet won the "500" in 1920.