NOVEMBER 10, 2021

(Porsche images)
When you're a luxury automaker and sales are flat or meandering downward, the go-to fix to move more metal is "special editions." These "special editions" usually add equipment and package "exclusives" that aren't available with the regular production examples. It's a time-honored tradition in the auto biz and Porsche has been going to this well for quite sometime now. And for the 2022 model year, Porsche is doing it again. Porsche will offer three exclusive Panamera Platinum Edition models: Panamera, Panamera 4 and Panamera 4 E-Hybrid Platinum Editions. All three models "offer an even higher level of standard features focused on elevating the comfort and convenience of the Panamera even further at an attractive price, along with unique styling cues," according to Porsche PR minions. There is a lot of special stuff on these Platinum Edition models, suffice to say, if you're interested, you can find out for yourself. That said, how much does it cost to be the Biggest Tool in the shed? Bring loads of cash-ola, because it's expensive to feel this "special." The 325HP Panamera Platinum Edition starts at $101,900, the all-wheel-drive Panamera 4 Platinum Edition starts at $106,000, and the Platinum 4 E-Hybrid Platinum Edition starts at $115,200. (All prices exclude the $1,350 delivery, processing and handling fee.) Panamera Platinum Edition models arrive at U.S. dealers in spring 2022.

(Maserati images)
Maserati is celebrating the 55th anniversary of the Ghibli. On November 3, 1966, the Ghibli made its debut on the world stage at the Ghia stand at the Turin Motor Show. A new interpretation of the gran turismo concept, the two-seater coupé was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, who was at Ghia at the time. The name recalled a powerful, warm wind in North Africa that carries with it a great deal of sand. The decision to take its name was no coincidence, given the car’s speed and the 'warmth’ of its technical and stylistic specifications. The engine for the Ghibli was newly designed, but based on the well-known 8-cylinder used in the Mexico. It could deliver an output of 330HP in the 4,700-cc version, and was followed by an even more powerful 4,900-cc version. After it was unveiled at the Turin Motor Show, the Ghibli was launched in 1967. The following year, its interior was restyled and could also be fitted on demand with automatic transmission, as well as a 5-speed manual gearbox. From 1969, the Spyder version also became available, which could be equipped with a hard top; one year later, both models were also offered with a 4,900-cc engine, taking the name Ghibli SS. In all, 128 Ghibli Spyder and more than 1,200 Ghibli coupé models were produced between 1967 and 1972. One was purchased by Henry Ford II, who would place it in the lobby of the Ford Product Development Center in Detroit, as an example to follow and a source of inspiration.

Letter from L.A.

By Tom Pease

Beverly Hills. When I first read about the deal between Elon Musk and Hertz, the first thing that popped into my head was it's "Elon's Halston III.” For those of you who aren't of a certain age, have led cleaner lives, or don't give a damn about the works of Ryan Murphy, the name Halston might have no meaning.

Halston was a fashion designer who first came to prominence as the designer of Jackie Kennedy's famous “pillbox” hat. In the 70's he became famous for creating easy, flowing dresses that made him the darling of the Jet Set, He also became famous for being part of the 70's NY party scene, hanging out in hot clubs of-the-moment with Liza, Andy, Liz, and a bunch of other people who didn't need last names to tabloid readers. He had a minimalist townhouse on the East side and an atelier in the Olympic Towers, and his creations were sold at tony stores like Bergdorf Goodman. If there was a fashion pundit needed for “Good Morning America” Halston would be there (doubtless having dropped Liza off after leaving Studio 54).

In the early 80's Halston inked a deal with J. C. Penney to crate and sell a line called “Halston III.” It was visionary, it was groundbreaking, it was... disastrous. The ladies of Park Avenue didn't want to be wearing the same label as the ladies of Paramus. Bergdorf's dropped him like a hot rock. Penny's shoppers liked the idea, but the prices were too high for the store. Halston the company went through various owners, but Halston himself was out. Now of course you could say, “But this is completely different! These are cars, not clothes! You don't know what you're talking about!”

Maybe. But diluting the brand is diluting the brand, whether you're doing it by making fast-food versions of your pricey duds and selling them at Penney's, or sending your spacemobile “cooler-than-thou” car into the fleets of Chevy Sparks and Kia Fortes to be piloted at 58MPH in the number 3 lane of the 5 on the way to Anaheim.

The AE Song of the Week:

I went home with a waitress the way I always do
How was I to know she was with the russians, too?

I was gambling in havana, I took a little risk
Send lawyers, guns, and money
Dad, get me out of this, hiyah!

An innocent bystander
Somehow I got stuck between a rock and a hard place
And I'm down on my luck
Yes, I'm down on my luck
Well, I'm down on my luck

I'm hiding in honduras, I'm a desperate man
Send lawyers, guns, and money
The shit has hit the fan

Send lawyers, guns, and money
Send lawyers, guns, and money

Send lawyers, guns, and money, hiyah!
Send lawyers, guns, and money, ow!

"Lawyers, Guns and Money" by Warren Zevon from the album "Excitable Boy" (1978).* Written by Warren William Zevon; Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group; Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Watch a video here. 

*Warren Zevon wrote a lot of story songs that would make great movies. "Lawyers, Guns and Money" would fall into the action/adventure genre, telling the tale of a troubled youth visiting Cuba who writes home to his father for help. The reference to "I'm hiding in Honduras" may refer to the short exile of famous American short story writer O. Henry (Will Porter). In 1894, while working as a bank teller in Austin, Texas, Porter embezzled $5,000. He fled to New Orleans and then Honduras to avoid prosecution. At that time, U.S. companies began their major export of Bananas from Honduras to the US, so the New Orleans-Honduras route was a well traveled one. Porter stayed in Honduras 11 months but returned to Austin to be near his terminally ill wife. He was arrested an served time in jail. Zevon once said that this song was based on a true story. He and his manager were partying in Mexico. when the "party" decided to take to the road and it looked like it was "about to hit the fan." Zevon's manager feigned a phone call: "Send lawyers." And Zevon jumped in with "And guns... and money." (Knowledge courtesy of Songfacts.com)