ON THE TABLE

September 22, 2010

 Steven Rattner, The Media. Editor-in-Chief's Note: No, I'm not finished. We didn't know whether to give these three "down" arrows to Rattner for his wildly predictable "insider's" tome about a company that was clearly culturally bankrupt 20 years ago, or the media, who, in their frothing frenzy at not being able to get the inside story, have been canonizing the guy who did. So we included both. When we started this website eleven years ago, I documented in detail GM's insular bureaucracy, the rampant go-along-to get along mentality, the virulent bean counters who dumbed-down the company's product efforts at almost every opportunity, the "intransigent middle," the vast middle management layer that paralyzed the company from within by roadblocking any meaningful progress at every turn, the legions of woefully ill-equipped marketing experts led by ex-P&G guru John Smale and his chief acolyte Ron Zarrella - who favored process over product and who almost single-handedly brought the company to its knees ten years before the bankruptcy - the pitifully lethargic board of directors, who basically did jack shit for their entire tenures - and make no mistake, anyone who thinks the current board is somehow miraculously better is kidding themselves - and on, and on, and on. Memo to the misguided hordes slathering praise on Rattner: The guy is a Wall Street Slickster in the classic sense who happened to be given unbridled access to the implosion of a once-iconic American company and who later got his ass caught in some embarrassing and unsavory circumstances back in his Wall Street milieu. Showing up and stating the obvious is not praiseworthy in my estimation, so I suggest everyone take a step back and look at Rattner for who he is: A blatant opportunist who got to do his book research on the U.S. taxpayer's dime. Not Good doesn't even begin to cover it.

The GM Board of Directors. Through years of its various permutations the GM Board of Directors has been the longest-running embarrassment masquerading as a functioning corporate governing body that corporate America has ever witnessed. Non-decisions compounded by bad decisions was its ongoing mantra for over 30 years and the newly configured board is shaping up to be no better. That Steven Rattner thinks the current board is finally acceptable should give anyone about to jump "all in" to the IPO pause. Just remember one thing: It won't be the ex-Wall Street glad-handers or the politically connected minions on the board who will save GM, it will be the True Believer product troops in the trenches who will get it done.

(Photos courtesy of Porsche Cars North America)

Porsche will introduce a new 2011 911 Speedster at the Paris Motor Show in early October. Paying homage to the first Porsche model to bear the Speedster name – the 356 Speedster – and significantly different from other members of the 911 family, the two-seat roadster features a 2.36” (60 millimeter) lower, more raked windscreen and the characteristic speedster double-bubble hardcover for the manual soft top. It also utilizes the 1.73” (44 millimeter) wider body from the AWD 911 models making the rear-wheel-drive only Speedster stand out even more. The new 911 Speedster's 3.8-liter flat six engine delivers 408HP, 23 HP more in comparison with the 911 Carrera S Cabriolet, yet it's EPA rated the same at 19 mpg city / 27 mpg highway. The 2011 Speedster reaches 0-60 MPH in 4.2 seconds with Sport Chrono Plus and has a top-track speed of 190 mph (305 km/h) – all courtesy of Porsche Intelligent Performance. The seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) transmission transmits power to the rear axle with a limited-slip differential lock, also included as standard equipment. A six-speed manual transmission is not available. Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) are standard, too. Porsche engineers also added improved rollover protection to a system which is already standard in all open-top Porsche cars. The production run of this special car will be limited to 356 units worldwide, with approximately 100 heading to the U.S. The price in the U.S.? The 911 Carrera Speedster will be available beginning in early 2011 with a MSRP of - cough - $204,000.

With a new 911 coming out late next year as a 2012 model, Porsche is pulling out all the stops to make sure the current car sells strongly right up until the next-generation car hits the dealerships. One execution designed to keep the fever going is the aforementioned 2011 Speedster (above). The other? The 2011 911 Carrera GTS. Slotted between the 911 Carrera S and the higher-performance 435HP 911 GT3, the new 911 GTS also has the 408HP 3.8-liter flat six engine. Available as Coupe and Cabriolet, the 911 Carrera GTS combines the 44 millimeter wider Carrera 4 body of the AWD models, including a wider rear track and wheels, with rear-wheel drive. Other details which distinguish the appearance and technology of a GTS from other Carrera models are the smokin' hot 19-inch center-mount RS Spyder wheels, painted black, with high-gloss rim flanges and 305/30 R 19 tires on the rear, a SportDesign front apron with black spoiler edge, special sideskirts, also in black, and the Carrera GTS logotype on doors and rear lid, in black or silver depending on the body color. The area between the dual tailpipes of the standard sport exhaust system in the rear is also black. In combination with the standard "black Alcantara" interior, the center sections of the driver and passenger sport seats are covered with black Alcantara and the material is also used wherever driver and passenger come in direct contact with the interior, like on the rim of the new three-spoke SportDesign steering wheel and on the gear and handbrake levers. The Carrera GTS comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission. The seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) is optional. Top track speed for the manual transmission GTS Coupe is 190 MPH (306 km/h). Acceleration from zero to 60 MPH is 4.0 seconds for the GTS Coupe with PDK and Sport Chrono Package Plus. And the new Carrera GTS will offer fuel economy of up to 19 mpg city / 27 mpg highway. The 911 Carrera GTS Coupe and Cabriolet will be available beginning in early 2011 with an MSRP of $103,100 and $112,900 respectively.

(Photos courtesyof Rolls-Royce Motor Cars)
In an effort to promote its extensive bespoke personalization service, Rolls-Royce will present five special models at the upcoming Paris Motor Show. The highlights are a Phantom Extended Wheelbase in Gunmetal metallic with Sunrise leather interior and a Carrara White metallic Phantom Drophead Coupé with Hotspur Red leather interior. In addition to its unique exterior color and Sunrise interior leather, the Phantom boasts classic bespoke interior design elements such as seat piping, mother of pearl centers to white instrument dials, control dials and clock face, Rolls-Royce monogram embroidery in all head restraints, and personalized tread plates inscribed with Mondial de l’Automobile Paris 2010. Rolls-Royce will also present its exclusive four-person picnic set, which was designed in-house and developed on site by craftsmen and women at the Rolls-Royce plant in Goodwood, England. (Just the thing for that hard-to-please person on your holiday gift list! -ed)

Editor's Note: A must-read for all of you Auto Extremists out there - Life is a Highway: A century of Great Automotive Writing. This new release from MBI Publishing features pieces from some of the most talented and influential writers in the world - from Jack Kerouac and Hunter S. Thompson to Stephen King and yes, The Autoextremist. Life is a Highway is available on amazon.com. -WG

(BMW)
The MINI Scooter E Concept is "spontaneous, flexible, CO2-free mobility in the characteristic style of the brand" according to BMW, and it's making its world debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. Aimed at reducing CO2 emissions without any compromises in spontaneity and independence, the MINI Scooter E Concept is powered by an electric motor integrated in the rear wheel. The motor’s lithium-ion battery can be recharged at any conventional power socket using an on-board charging cable.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Our "quick take" this week covers the 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe (Premium Collection). The Evolution Green Metallic paint on our tester was so similar to the Granite Green Metallic color on an '87 Porsche 911 Turbo I once owned that I kept doing a double-take every time I looked at it. At times silvery green and other times a metallic gray, this color accentuated every line, crease, cut, dramatic bulge and fold on the sensational-looking CTS Coupe. And sensational perfectly describes the CTS Coupe. It's clearly the design statement of the year and one of the most arresting shapes to hit the streets in a long, long time. Combine the overall excellent driving dynamics and feel of the CTS with the breathtaking shape of the Coupe, and you have one irresistible package in my book. Yes, there are blind spots with this look, and no, that wouldn't dissuade me from owning the CTS Coupe. It looks just too damn good. I have said repeatedly that excellent design will be the ultimate initial product differentiator in this business going forward, especially as we dive headlong into the electrification and alternative propulsion era. It's the first thing that people comment about and it's the first thing that draws potential buyers closer to a brand. The signature "design statement" that bristles with a very distinct point of view may not be everyone's cup of tea when it comes to automobiles, but thankfully - when it works as well as it does for the Cadillac CTS Coupe - it becomes performance art of the most compelling kind.  - PMD

2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe  (Premium Collection): $50,035 ($47,010 base price, 3.6L Direct Injected V6, Rear-Wheel-Drive, 6-speed automatic, Power 4-wheel discs, Sport Suspension, Stabilitrak Electronic Stability Control, Heated Steering Wheel, Heated and Vented Seats for the driver and passenger, Navigation System with Bose 5.1 Surround System, 40GB Hard Drive, HID headlamps with Adaptive Forward Lighting and a whole bunch of other stuff all standard; 19" Summer Tire Performance Package {replaces standard and optional wheels} - 19" Polished Aluminum Wheels, 19" Summer Only Tires, Steering Wheel Mounted Shift Controls, Performance Cooling System, Performance Disc Brakes - $2,200; Under hood Appearance Package (dealer installed), $110; Destination Charge, $825)

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Publisher's Note: Check-out John McElroy's daily news show covering everything about the auto biz by clicking on the graphic below. Good stuff guaranteed. - PMD

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" with hosts John McElroy, from Autoline Detroit, and Peter De Lorenzo, The Autoextremist, and guests this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

 

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