JUNE 17, 2015

(Porsche)
After 21 months of production, the final Porsche 918 Spyder has come off the assembly line in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. A total of 918 cars were built between late 2013 and this week.

(Images courtesy of BMW/newspressUSA)
Lost in other news last week, what with the run-up to the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Ford's announcement (See "Fumes" -WG), BMW managed to announce an all-new 7 Series, the sixth generation of the brand's flagship sedan. Part of the reason we didn't spend much time on it is that the press release touted the electronics and connectivity in the car, leaving us to wonder about the actual car itself. BMW of course insists that the 2016 7 Series "sets a new benchmark in lightweight design, driving dynamics, comfort, intelligent connectivity and intuitive operation," but, what else were they supposed to say? Clearly erring on the conservative side of the design equation, especially compared to the new S-Class Mercedes-Benz, the big BMW will be a car we'll have to see and study in the flesh, not to mention drive. Driving is supposed to be the focus, right? Well, maybe not. BMW says that "extensive" use of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) in the structure of the passenger cell and the strategic application of lightweight design reduced weight and increased both the overall torsion strength and bending stiffness of the passenger cell, but the weight saving is modest, to the tune of 175 pounds or thereabouts. The all-new 2016 BMW 7 Series will be introduced here as a 740i and a 750i xDrive model featuring BMWs "newest and groundbreaking technologies such as Gesture Control, Wireless Charging and the standalone option of the Display Key." An Active Kidney Grille will also be available for the first time in this market. BMW says that its all-new 7 Series "once again sets the standard for luxury performance, delivering the highest level of driving refinement in the premium class." We'll just have to label that as a giant "we'll see" for now. The BMW 740i will sticker for $81,300, while the BMW 750i xDrive can be had for $97,400 (not include Destination and Handling). The cars will arrive in BMW showrooms this fall.

(BMW/newspress)
Then there's the BMW 2 Series Grand Tourer (available only in Europe for now, thankfully). BMW says that it is "the first premium compact model to offer up to seven seats and fully meet the mobility requirements of young families." Really? That is all.

(Mercedes-Benz images)
Mercedes-Benz has introduced the replacement for its GLK SUV, now called the GLC. Longer, wider and with more room inside, we'll have more details to follow. The GLC will be available as the 2016 GLC300 and GLC300 4MATIC at US dealers in late November.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Our "Quick Take" this week has us back in an Audi, this time a 2016 Audi A7 3.0T quattro. It's no secret that we consider Audi to be one of the premier automobile companies in the world, because the level of focused consistency and excellence in execution they deliver throughout their product lineup is indeed impressive. I consider the RS 7 to be the best daily super car I have ever driven, but the goodness of the "standard" A7 is impressive in its own right, albeit for different reasons. Our heavily loaded A7 was resplendent in Ibis White, set off dramatically by its luscious Nougat Brown interior with layered walnut wood inlays. To say that the cabin in the A7 is first-rate isn't doing it justice. It is as good, if not better than anything else in the business. It is a tired cliche to say that Audi is the standard by which all other interiors are judged, but I don't ever tire of sustained excellence, and I detect no signs that Audi is resting on its laurels when it comes to interior design and execution. The A7's 333HP 3.0-liter V6 and eight-speed transmission are perfectly matched, providing seamless, responsiveness power no matter what the driving situation demands, which sounds like ho-hum stuff until you experience just how seamless it really is firsthand. This car isn't cheap by any means at $77,000+ fully loaded, but you do get what you pay for, and then some. I would, however, dispense with the Driver Assistance package because of the active lane assist feature. I found it to be so totally annoying that it really started to piss me off, because it gets in the way of driving for those people who actually like to drive as opposed to just phoning - or texting - it in. In short, I despise it. In general, I find these burgeoning driving aids - from all manufacturers - to be aimed at the lowest-common-denominator driver. And given the general declining - or just plain piss-poor - state of the average driver's skills, maybe that's a good thing. But I am personally not a fan, and I want to see these manufacturers make these driver aids individual options so that there is a modicum of choice, instead of packaging them up in various "technology" packages. Enough of about that. The Audi A7 has to be considered the state of the automotive art when it comes to desirable luxury-performance machines, or it's at least on a very short list. -PMD

2016 Audi A7 Sedan 3.0T quattro Tiptronic: $77,725 ($68,300 Base Price; Ibis White; Nougat Brown 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; Eight-speed Tiptronic transmission; 19" 5-spoke V-design wheels with 255/40 all-season tires; Electronic Stability Control (ESC); Audi drive select; Ventilated disc brakes front (14") and rear (13"); Anti-lock brake system (ABS) with brake assist; Electromechanical power steering system; Energy recuperation with start-stop system; Spare tire (space saver); Power sunroof; Full LED headlights (DRLs, low/high beams, turn signals); Auto dimming, power-folding, heated exterior mirrors; Power adjustable steering column + memory; 5-passenger configuration (three rear seats); Split-folding rear seat back with pass-through (60/40); 8-way power adjustable heated front seats with four-way lumbar adjustment; Leather seating surfaces; Fine Grain Ash natural inlays; Four-zone automatic climate control; Audi advanced key; Audi side assist; Power tailgate; Audi sound system; Audi navigation with MMI touch; Audi connect (with six-month subscription); Audi music interface (two USB ports with AMI functionality); SIRIUS Satellite radio (with three-month complimentary subscription); Three-spoke multifunction steering wheel with shift paddles; Garage door opener (HomeLink); preparation for mobile phone (Bluetooth); Audi parking system plus with rear view camera; A7 Prestige model - BOSE surround sound, Front seat ventilation and passenger lumbar, Head-up display, LED interior lighting - $2,650; Driver Assistance package - Audi adaptive cruise control with stop and go, Audi pre sense plus, Audi active lane assist, Corner view camera system, High-beam assistant - $2,450; 20" Wheel package - 5-spoke W-design wheels, bi-color, All-season tires (supersedes wheels in next package) - $1,200; S line sport package - 19" 7-Double-spoke wheels, Galvano Silver, all-season tires, Sport suspension, S line exterior - $1,000; Layered Walnut Wood decorative inlays, $700; Cold Weather package - Heated rear seats, Heated steering wheel - $500; Black headliner, Front filler panel, Summer tires, Destination charge, $895)
Adherence to Brand Image:  If and when you sample an A7, you'll quickly realize that you're driving a living, breathing example of what the essence of Audi is all about. Impeccable design. Near-flawless execution. Seamless performance. And palpable desirability.  -PMD

Letter from L.A.

By Tom Pease

Beverly Hills. So Sergio is still trying to sell the idea that Alfa Romeo will be taking the States by storm in the next couple years? Gee, it only took Audi decades to get over the (manufactured by "60 Minutes") “unintended acceleration” fiasco to become the company it is today, and it did that by building cars that are superbly engineered, flawlessly built and with interiors so well done that even Bentley is sitting in the corner nervously smoking.

What memories is Alfa bringing? Gorgeously-bodied, fun-to-drive cars that also deliver that singular thrill of wondering “will this thing make it to the Piggly Wiggly and back without throwing a piston?”

Alfa hasn't had 30 years of product here to live that rep down. Just stating they will is sort of like me saying that this year I'll win an Emmy for best supporting actress in a musical or comedy. I can say it, but it hasn't happened yet and it's likely not going to happen anytime soon.