NOVEMBER 27, 2019

Editor-in-Chief's Note: From the "A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall" File. The reality of EVs in the market so far is sobering, just ask Roger Penske. As reported by Larry P. Vallequette in this week's Automotive News: Electric vehicles "have not had the lift that [the industry] expected," Penske, CEO of Penske Automotive Group, told analysts last month on an earnings call, specifically calling out the Audi e-tron's slow retail start. Penske said there had been "significant cancellations" of e-tron preorders, and the main issue was affordability. "I think there is some sticker shock. The customers that thought these would be more affordable, like a Q5. But when you're looking at an $80,000 vehicle in a $1,500 payment, it gets — it's really aggressive from the OEM standpoint," Penske said. "There is no question today they're expensive, and everyone has range anxiety, and to me, what's going to be the residual value at the end?" Penske said. "So there's lots of questions. But when you think about it, it's the premium luxury vehicle, [and] most people have... another car in the garage. So the growth is going to be slow." Penske said that watching Tesla struggle to earn a return from its sales of EVs weighs on dealers, even as automakers begin to flood their lots with EVs. "From a margin standpoint, I know one of our stores in Northern California probably will sell six or seven [e-trons in October] and has got 30 in stock. So that certainly has pressure on margin," Penske said. -PMD

(Lamborghini images)
Automobili Lamborghini has presented its new concept car - the Lamborghini Lambo V12 Vision Gran Turismo - ahead of the World Finals of the 2019 FIA Certified Gran Turismo Championships taking place in Monte Carlo, Monaco. The Lambo V12 Vision GT will live within the digital environment of the iconic racing game Gran Turismo Sport for Sony PlayStation 4, where it will be virtually available from spring 2020. The Lambo V12 Vision GT was created by Lamborghini Centro Stile in Sant’Agata Bolognese. It is a single seater, which in its virtual form uses the powertrain from the Lamborghini Sián FKP 37. The main body is disconnected from the fenders, and the hexagon-inspired theme in the side windows is inspired by the Lamborghini Marzal from 1968. The Lambo V12 Vision GT uses the typical Lamborghini Y-signature for both front lights and rear lights. The driver enters the cabin like a jet fighter pilot, from the front of the car. The main driving controls are located within the futuristic steering wheel and all driver information is projected virtually in front of the driver. “The Lambo V12 Vision Gran Turismo is created to provide the ultimate virtual car for young fans and gamers, who are ultra-enthusiastic about Lamborghini and its futuristic aspirations,” said Mitja Borkert, Head of Lamborghini Centro Stile. ”It is an opportunity for the design talent within Lamborghini to stretch its wings and visualize a car that, like every Lamborghini, is a head-turner and the best driving experience, but also mirrors Lamborghini's push on future technologies, particularly in the arena of lightweight materials and hybridization.”

(VW images)

Designed to showcase the possibilities of the e-Golf powertrain to motivate classic VW models, Volkswagen of America recently commissioned west coast electric vehicle conversion specialist EV West to construct an electrified Volkswagen Type 2 Bus. The professionally harvested stock powertrain and 35.8 kWh battery system from the donor 2017 e-Golf gives the e-Bus an approximate range of 125 miles. The powertrain will reside in the rear compartment of the e-Bus, which was previously occupied by the stock air-cooled 60-horsepower four-cylinder engine. The independent rear suspension of the Type 2 Bay Window makes a perfect mate to the transverse driveline, which is contained in a single unit that houses the 100kW synchronous AC permanent magnet electric motor, one-speed transmission and charging system. The battery units are contained inside custom engineered, reinforced and fireproof enclosures located under the front seats and in the former location of the fuel tank. The stock long-throw shifter remains but now actuates park, reverse, neutral, drive, and the regenerative braking modes (PRNDB) that are all familiar aspects of the e-Golf. To further maintain its authentic feel, the e-Bus will be fitted with a classically styled multi-function digital EV gauge in the dashboard. This gauge allows the operator to cycle through multiple views and monitor vehicle outputs. Painted Kansas Beige and Pastel White, the e-Bus was part of a rooftop display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles on Thursday, November 21st during Volkswagen of America’s 4th Annual Drive-In Movie event. 

AE Song Lyrics of the Week:

There's an Elvis movie on the marquee sign
We've all seen at least three times
Everybody's broke, Bobby's got a buck
Put a dollar's worth of gas in his pickup truck
We're going ninety miles an hour down a deadend road
What's the hurry, son... where you gonna go?
We're gonna howl at the moon, shoot out the light
It's a small town Saturday night
It's a small town Saturday night

Lucy's got her lipstick on a little too bright
Bobby's gettin' drunk and lookin' for a fight
Liquor on his breath and trouble on his mind
And Lucy's just a kid, along for the ride
Got a six-pack of beer and a bottle of wine
Gotta be bad just to have a good time
They're gonna howl at the moon, shoot out the light
It's a small town Saturday night
It's a small town Saturday night

Bobby told Lucy, "The world ain't round...
Drops off sharp at the edge of town
Lucy, you know the world must be flat
'Cause when people leave town, they never come back"
They go ninety miles an hour to the city limits sign
Put the pedal to the metal 'fore they change their mind
They howl at the moon, shoot out the light
It's a small town Saturday night

They howl at the moon, shoot out the light
Yeah, it's a small town Saturday night
It's a small town Saturday night
It's a small town Saturday night

"Small Town Saturday Night" by Hal Ketchum from "Past The Point Of Rescue" (1991)