SEPTEMBER 7, 2016

(Hyundai images)
Editor-In-Chief's Note: As I've stated repeatedly over the last two weeks, Genesis, the new luxury brand from Hyundai, is destined to become Cadillac's worst nightmare because of the way the new top-of-the-line Korean luxury sedan compares with the CT6. That was confirmed late last week when Hyundai released pricing for its Genesis G90 luxury sedan. Starting at $68,100, the Genesis G90 comes well-equipped with an all-new 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, an impressive suite of driver safety technologies, plus "best-in-class standard features," according to Hyundai (yeah, we know, they all say that). One of the innovative features Hyundai is touting includes the industry’s first Amazon Alexa skill that allows owners to send remote voice commands to the G90 through Genesis Connected Services. Other standard stuff? Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) with Pedestrian Detection; Driver Attention Alert (DAA); Smart Blind Spot Detection (SBSD) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA); Lane Keep Assist (LKA) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW); Dynamic Bending Light (DBL) and High Beam Assist; Pre-safety seat belt and nine airbags; Smart Cruise Control with Stop/Start; Electronic Parking Brake with Automatic Vehicle Hold; Multi-view and forward-view cornering camera; Front and rear parking sensors. The G90’s available 5.0-liter V8 GDI engine is priced at $69,700. The vehicles also include the Genesis Experience, which Hyundai calls, "a comprehensive owner program providing first rate customer assurance with enhanced maintenance programs and an industry-leading warranty." That includes 3 years/36K miles Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance; 3 years/36K miles Complimentary Service Valet; 3 years Complimentary Genesis Connected Services including Connected Care, Remote, and Guidance; 3 years Complimentary SiriusXM® Travel Link (Traffic & Data); 3 years Complimentary Map Care – Annual Map Updates; Best-in-Industry Warranty with Enhanced Roadside Assistance and Concierge Services. The G90 will be available in Genesis retailers at the end of this month, and is offered in both rear-wheel and all–wheel drive. Genesis pricing? 2017 Genesis G90 3.3T Premium, 3.3L Twin-Turbo V6, RWD: $68,100. AWD: $70,600. G90 5.0 Ultimate, 5.0L V8 GDI, RWD: $69,700. AWD: $72,200. (*MSRP excludes $950 freight charge.) I predict that the Genesis brand will take it to Cadillac and become a force to be reckoned with in the luxury market within eighteen months. -PMD

(Cadillac)
Buy any of Cadillac’s high-performance V-Series models - the 2017 Cadillac ATS-V Sedan, 2017 ATS-V Coupe or 2017 Cadillac CTS-V sedan - and Cadillac will include two days of driver training at the Cadillac V-Performance Academy driving experience at Spring Mountain Motor Resort and Country Club near Las Vegas, Nevada. The V-Performance Academy includes: Ground transportation to and from Las Vegas McCarren International Airport — customers are responsible for airfare; Two days of intensive driver training in the model of purchase for 2017 V-Series owners and the model of choice for stand-alone customers; Two nights’ lodging in the Spring Mountain luxury condominiums; Breakfast and lunch on both training days; General admission access for one designated guest — you can add a driving guest for an additional fee; and on-site courtesy vehicles will be provided. Cadillac is the only luxury automotive brand offering a two-day driver training with the purchase of a high-performance vehicle. The V-Performance Academy program may also be purchased as a stand-alone experience. “Cadillac is a brand for passionate people, by passionate people,” said Nathan Tan, associate director of Brand Partnerships and Experiences for Cadillac. “V-Series customers are in many ways nearest the core of the Cadillac brand, and we are proud to offer this valuable training with our thrilling products.” Editor-In-Chief's Note: Actually, the V-Series machines - and their customers - have absolutely nothing to do with the "core" of the Cadillac brand. They are "island" machines honed by the True Believers within GM Design, Engineering and Product Development that exist in their own universe and are as far removed from the direction Cadillac is going - i.e., the boulevardier brand for "back seat riders" in China - as can be. I suggested a few years back that Corvette should become its own division within the GM monolith. I stand by that suggestion, and the Cadillac V-Series machines would be reborn as the first expansion of the Corvette brand portfolio. They would go nicely with the new mid-engine Corvette. -PMD

(Mercedes-Benz)
Mercedes-Benz Vans has launched a future initiative called adVANce to develop the van of the future, which will be "intelligent, interconnected and electric." And remarkably uninspired and downright ugly, too, so they've got that going for them.

(Bentley images)
This is the new Bentley Flying Spur W12 S. Bentley is already calling it "the ultimate luxury performance sedan." It has a lot of horsepower (626BHP) and torque (605 lb. ft.). It's quick (0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds) and it goes real fast (top speed is above 200 mph). That is all.

(Porsche images)
Porsche will unveil the all-new Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid at the Paris Motor Show. Powered by a new 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 (330 hp and 331 lb.-ft.) and an electric motor (136 hp and 295 pound-feet of torque), the plug-in hybrid vehicle generates 462HP of total system output and 516 pound-feet of total system torque, which is transferred to all four wheels. The new Panamera 4 E-Hybrid always starts in electric mode and has a maximum all-electric range of 31 miles and a maximum speed on battery power of 86 mph. It accelerates from 0-60 in 4.4 seconds and achieves a top track speed of 172 mph.
The second-generation Panamera features the newly designed Porsche Advanced Cockpit, with two seven-inch screens on either side of the analog tachometer. In addition, a 12.3-inch touchscreen functions as the centralized Porsche Communication Management (PCM) control and display unit. The Panamera 4 E-Hybrid features hybrid-specific displays similar to those found in the Porsche 918 Spyder.
In contrast to the electro-hydraulic system of the previous model, the decoupler on the new Panamera 4 E-Hybrid is actuated electromechanically by an electric clutch actuator (ECA), for shorter response times. Similar to the other second-generation Panamera models, a new Porsche eight-speed Doppelkupplung (PDK) transmission is used to transmit the power to the wheels. This transmission replaces the eight-speed automatic torque converter transmission in the previous model.
The new 2018 Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid is expected to become available in North America by summer 2017. Pricing will be announced later but needless to say, it won't be cheap. The other Panamera models will be available here beginning next January.