NOVEMBER 16, 2016

Editor-In-Chief's Note: Congratulations yet again to some in the automotive media for canonizing the new Alfa Romeo SUV - the Stelvio - even though no one has driven it, there is no timetable for its release, and the likelihood of FCA being able to build it with a demonstrable level of consistency when it comes to quality is highly suspect, at best. Nicely done. -PMD

Faraday Future.  From the "Charlatans & Hucksters" File, the electric vehicle startup has stopped construction on its much-ballyhooed $1 billion plant in North Las Vegas, Nevada. The company apparently has left millions of dollars in unpaid construction bills. The company also said it would restart the construction sometime in 2017. Our prediction? It's never going to happen.

Editor-In-Chief's Note: From the "A Press Release That We Couldn't Delete Fast Enough" File, Volkswagen just sent out a press release with the headline: "The Design Story Behind The All-New Volkswagen Atlas." -PMD

(Cadillac)
Cadillac says its CT6 Plug-In Hybrid will go on sale in North America in the spring of 2017. The CT6 Plug-In "offers over 400 miles of combined driving range, a full EV range of an estimated 30 miles and a zero to 60 mph time of 5.2 seconds," according to the manufacturer. Editor-In-Chief's Note: Our experience with some of these overpriced hybrid luxury cars hasn't been all that great. You really need to pay attention to that full EV range mileage number because in real world driving they never deliver the advertised range. And the recharging - unless it is done with an enhanced charging system - is beyond tedious, as it takes too frickin' long to recharge normally. It all looks good on paper, but beware. -PMD

(Porsche)
Porsche Cars North America has officially opened its second Porsche Experience Center in the United States. The new facility is located off the 405 Freeway in Carson, California, and will serve as the company's premier West Coast destination for Porsche customers and automotive enthusiasts. The facility features a driver development track with eight educational modules totaling 4.1 miles, a changing race car exhibit, and a fine-dining establishment called Restaurant 917. California accounts for 23 percent of Porsche vehicles sold in the United States. Of the 51,756 Porsche vehicles delivered to customers in the U.S. last year, 12,016 were sold in California. The 53-acre complex is also the new home of Porsche Motorsport North America, the only authorized sales, parts, and service provider in the United States and Canada for all purpose-built Porsche race cars such as the 911 GT3 Cup, 911 GT3 R, and the Cayman GT4 Clubsport. A glass wall inside the atrium of the new Porsche Experience Center provides visitors with a clear view into the Porsche Motorsport North America workshop, where historic race cars are repaired, track vehicles are maintained, and race cars from owners and collectors are exhibited.

(BMW)
This is the first BMW 7 Series M Performance sedan, the all-new 2017 BMW M760i xDrive. It is powered by an M Performance TwinPower Turbocharged V12 engine producing 601HP and 590 lb-ft of torque available as low as 1500 rpm. The 8-speed Steptronic Sport Automatic transmission equipped with Launch Control allows drivers to achieve a 0-60 mph run of 3.6 seconds. Other stuff? M Performance specific suspension geometry, M Sport brakes, a more direct front axle steering ratio and Integral Active Steering specially tuned for the car. When? Early 2017, according to BMW. How much? $153,800 plus Destination and Handling.

(Aston Martin images)
Presenting an eloquent rebuttal to the crossover craze: The new Aston Martin Vanquish S. 6.0-liter V12, 580HP, trick suspension and revised aero tweaks. The Vanquish S will be available in both Coupe and Volante and will arrive here in the U.S. next April. Prices start at $294,950.

(Lamborghini images)
Then there's the new new Spyder version of the rear-wheel-drive Lamborghini Huracán. A naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 with 580HP propels the machine from 0-100km/h in 3.6 seconds with a top speed of 319 km/h. We likey.

 

(Mercedes-Benz images)
The first cabriolet from the Mercedes-Maybach brand made its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. This limited-production S650 Cabriolet is limited to 300 examples worldwide and to just 75 units in the U.S., at a cost of $323,000.00. Three design themes will be available in the U.S. for this exclusive cabriolet: Zircon Red paint with Porcelain/Black interior; Cote d'Azur Blue paint with Porcelain/Saddle Brown interior and designo Diamond White paint with Porcelain/Yacht Blue Interior, plus hand-finished craftsmanship of the leather seats with perforations in a waterfall-style look. The Mercedes-Maybach S650 Cabriolet is powered by a 6.0L V12 biturbo engine delivering 621HP and 738 lb-ft of torque coupled to a Mercedes-developed 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission. AIRMATIC suspension with steplessly variable damping control is also included.

The Mercedes-Maybach S650 is based on the open-top S-Class. Exclusive features to this car include a new front bumper with upgraded lower section and numerous chrome highlights. The Maybach emblem is featured on the vehicle's fender. Other special elements on the exterior include 20" Maybach forged wheels in a bichromatic finish. The Mercedes-Maybach S650 Cabriolet is equipped as standard with an exclusive travel luggage set from MAYBACH - ICONS OF LUXURY. "THE AFFINITY" set comprises two large travel bags, as well as two lifestyle bags made of original vehicle leather and coordinated with the interior variant selected by the customer. The bags can be securely attached to each other with straps to enable optimum use of the space in the trunk. Polished and chrome-plated "1 of 300" lettering serves to highlight the level of exclusivity.

In the interior, the fully leather-trimmed Mercedes-Maybach S650 Cabriolet features waterfall-like seat upholstery achieved with the aid of progressive perforations. Outer diamond quilting is on the seat side bolsters. Mercedes-Maybach logos are located on the front side of the seats (embroidered), on the back of the head restraints (embossed) and also inlaid in the stowage cover of the center console. Other details include deep-pile floor mats, chrome-plated "1 of 300" lettering on the cup holder, and the steering wheel, which features Maybach lettering on the lower bezel.

Each buyer of a Mercedes-Maybach S650 Cabriolet gets a car cover made of high-quality fabric that matches the soft top color, with diamond quilting and an embroidered Maybach emblem. In addition, the car is delivered with a special welcome pack that comprises a key ring made of the same nappa leather used in the vehicle's interior, with a Maybach emblem and "1 of 300" lettering, as well as a certificate signed by Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. Editor-In-Chief's Note: Wow, really? All that for $323,000? And tchotchkes too? We can hardly stand it. This just in, even when we squint real hard there isn't enough difference between this car and the "standard" S-Class Cabriolet - which starts at $131,400 - to even remotely justify that price. Or how about considering the S63 Cabriolet for $176,000 and go faster? This is smoke and mirrors marketing at its finest, folks. And if you want to be the biggest tool in the shed, be our guest. -PMD

(Volkswagen)
Despite all of its Diesel emissions travails, the VW Group has been pouring huge amounts of R&D money into electrification. The current e-Golf is more than an acceptable entry to that arena. The new 2017 e-Golf is a notable leap forward. With increased battery capacity offering 50 percent more driving range up to 124 miles, and the power and torque increased to 134 horsepower and 214 pound-feet, the new e-Golf will be a solid competitor in the segment. It also has a host of new infotainment, connectivity and driver assist options. The e-Golf will also be the first of the next generation's Golf designs to arrive in this market. Notable exterior changes include new bumpers, front fenders, LED headlights and taillights and new interior décor and seat trim.
(Volkswagen)
(Jaguar images)
Jaguar has unveiled the first genuine XKSS to be built in almost 60 years at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles. The stunning XKSS - finished in Sherwood Green paint - has been created by the Jaguar Classic engineering team ahead of the production run of nine cars, which will be delivered to customers across the globe in 2017. Often referred to as the world’s first supercar, the XKSS was originally made by Jaguar as a road-going conversion of the Le Mans-winning D-type, which was built from 1954-1956. In 1957, nine cars earmarked for export to North America were lost in a fire at Jaguar’s Browns Lane factory in the British Midlands, meaning just 16 examples of the XKSS were built. Jaguar decided that its Classic division would build the nine "lost" XKSS sports cars for a select group of established collectors and customers. The new one-off XKSS presented in Los Angeles is the summation of 18 months of research and will be used as a blueprint from which the nine continuation cars are built. The nine cars will be completely new, with period chassis numbers from the XKSS chassis log. All cars are now sold at a price in excess of £1million each. The XKSS unveiled in Los Angeles is a period correct continuation, built using a combination of original drawings from Jaguar’s archive and modern technology. Customer vehicles will be hand-built beginning this year, and it is estimated that 10,000 man hours will go into building each of the new XKSS cars.
The Jaguar Classic engineering team scanned several versions of the 1957 XKSS to help build a complete digital image of the car, from the body to chassis, and including all parts required. The body of the XKSS is made from magnesium alloy, as it was in 1957, and because the original styling bucks do not exist, Jaguar Classic produced a new, bespoke styling buck based on the original bodies from the 1950s. The bodies of the nine new cars will be formed on this buck, using a traditional process called hand-wheeling.  Jaguar Classic’s expert engineers worked with the original frames and from there produced CAD to support build of the chassis. In partnership with the Classic team, frame maker Reynolds – famous for their 531 tubing – was briefed to craft bespoke new parts using imperial measurements, rather than metric. The frames are bronze, welded in the same way as the period XKSS chassis tubing.
Inside, the "new original" XKSS features perfect recreations of the original Smiths gauges. Everything from the wood of the steering wheel, to the grain of the leather seats, through to the brass knobs on the XKSS dashboard is precisely as it would have been in 1957. Minor specification changes have been made only to improve driver and passenger safety. The fuel cell, for example, uses robust, modern materials to support throughput of modern fuels.
The continuation cars feature period specification four-wheel Dunlop disc brakes with a Plessey pump, and Dunlop tires with riveted two-piece magnesium alloy wheels. Under the bonnet, the XKSS is supplied with a 262HP 3.4-litre straight six-cylinder Jaguar D-type engine. The engine features completely new cast iron blocks, new cast cylinder heads and three Weber DC03 carburetors. Kev Riches, Jaguar Classic Engineering Manager, said: “The XKSS is one of the most important cars in Jaguar’s history, and we are committed to making the ‘new original’ version absolutely faithful to the period car in every way. From the number, type and position of all the rivets used – there are more than 2,000 in total – to the Smiths gauges on the dashboard, everything is the same as the original cars, because that is the way it should be.”

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