HAPPY HOLIDAYS! 

Enjoy our year-end issue, and we'll see you back here 

on January 8, 2020!

   VW. A year after officially announcing the end of the Beetle's production, Volkswagen has produced a final tribute to the car. "Taking the celebration of life to the world stage," as VW's PR minions describe it, the Beetle will be honored in an animated short film called “The Last Mile,” which will debut during ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2020’ on ABC. According to Saad Chehab, senior vice president, VW brand marketing, "While we chose the classic Beetle as the star of the animation, additional campaign components in Times Square honor the latter two generations of cars and their place and presence in American culture. We are proud of our past but our eye is on the future – hence our choice of New Year’s Eve to hint at our upcoming long-range EV and the 2020 Atlas Cross Sport.” Many other promotional elements are planned for the New Year's Eve festitivities, including a social media campaign focusing on fan-sourced content, which will play out on @VW social media channels. Editor's Note: Well, alrighty then! While we like the animated short (produced by ad agency Johannes Leonardo), something seems missing. It doesn't feel heroic enough as a sendoff for this iconic vehicle. Maybe it's the use of animation (or maybe it's the ridiculous ending in which the Beetle flies away and turns into a bug)... it just doesn't seem to capture the significance of the moment. -WG. Editor-in-Chief's Note: I concur, for the most part. On the one hand, kudos to VW for acknowledging the passing of the Beetle; on the other hand, the weirdness factor for weirdness sake is high. As in Not. Very. Good. And Saad Chehab's explanation for it all didn't add one scintilla of clarity to the whole thing. Nicely done! -PMD (12/31)

Editor-in-Chief’s Note. From the “We’re Not Buying It” File. Mercedes-Benz is delaying the launch of its EQC BEV crossover in this market for at least one year. Mercedes conveniently attributed the delay of the $68,000+ BEV to strong demand for the EQC in Europe. We think the real reason is closer to the fact that based on the tepid response to Audi’s E-tron BEV crossover in this market, Mercedes is hedging its bets, big-time. The transition to the all-BEV-all-the-time auto market here in the U.S. is going to be painful. -PMD (12/18)

(Ford)
Editor-in-Chief's Note: As I stated in a previous "Fumes" column, Ken Miles was Carroll Shelby's secret sauce, and the driver/development engineer was largely responsible for Shelby American's success on the race track. One of Miles' pet projects was developing the first 1965 Mustang Shelby GT350 fastback coupe. Miles made the Shelby GT350 an instant legend when he drove it to victory at Green Valley Raceway in Texas on Feb. 14, 1965. Now, 55 years later, Ford is reminding everyone of this legacy with a new limited-edition 2020 Mustang Shelby GT350 Heritage Edition Package. The special edition will be finished in classic Wimbledon White with Guardsman Blue side and over-the-top race stripes in a nod to that 1965 GT350 competition model developed by Miles for Shelby American. (Blue and white have been the assigned international racing colors for the United States since the 1950s.) Additional Heritage Edition cues include front and rear exterior badges finished in Guardsman Blue and a unique dash badge inside. GT350R models will feature all-black seats with red accent stitching. The 2020 Mustang Shelby GT350 has a starting MSRP of $60,440, plus taxes, title, delivery and license fees; the GT350R has a starting MSRP of $73,435, plus taxes, title, delivery and license fees. The Heritage Edition Package is available for $1,965 and is available to be ordered now, with deliveries in the spring. -PMD

(Porsche images)
This is the new 2020 Macan GTS (for "Gran Turismo Sport"). Powered by a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 with 375HP and 383 lb-ft of torque, it also has a newly adapted PDK dual-clutch transmission, which helps launch it from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, or to the same speed in 4.5 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono package, and on to a top track speed of 162 mph. Other stuff? Standard adaptive air suspension, which can lower the chassis by 10 millimeters; 20-inch RS Spyder Design wheels; big cast iron brakes (360 x 36 millimeters at the front, 330 x 22 millimeters at the rear); and standard Sport Exhaust. You can order the optional Porsche Surface Coated Brake (PSCB) with tungsten carbide coating (390 x 38 millimeters at the front, 356 x 28 millimeter at the rear), or the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) measuring 396 x 38 millimeters at the front and 370 x 30 millimeters at the rear. A bunch of special interior accoutrements finish off the package. How much? The new 2020 Macan GTS starts at $71,300 (gulp), excluding $1,350 for delivery, processing and handling (but good luck finding one for that much). It is expected to arrive here next summer.  (12/18) 

(Audi images)
The new Audi RS Q8 has a 4.0-liter Twin-Turbo V8 with 600 PS and 590 lb-ft torque. 0 to 62.1 mph takes 3.8 seconds and with the optional dynamic package it achieves a top speed of 189.5 mph. “For the first time in the 25-year history of Audi RS models, we are putting a large SUV coupé with the genes of a true high-performance sports car on the road,” said Oliver Hoffmann, Managing Director of Audi Sport GmbH. In other words, SUV Hell continues until further notice. How much? We don't know yet, but in Germany it starts at 127,000 euros, so rest assured you will have to bring a boatload of ca$h to get one here. (12/18)

(BMW)
BMW M GmbH has introduced what it is calling "the evolution of the BMW M2," the M2 CS. The heart of the new BMW M2 CS is an improved S55 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology. Producing 444HP at 6,250 rpm and 406 lb-ft of torque between 2,350 – 5,500 rpm, the M2 CS accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds when equipped with the 7-speed dual clutch (DCT) transmission and in 4.0 seconds when equipped with the 6-speed manual. Top speed is 174 mph (estimated). Newly available, select CFRP body panels and components help reduce weight, lower the center of gravity and improve aerodynamics. Exclusive Carbon Fiber and Alcantara interior trim help set this M2 apart from all previous versions. The new M2 CS has also been developed side by side with the new M2 CS Racing model, which will be offered by BMW Motorsport as a new entry model into customer racing. BMW M GmbH and BMW Motorsport worked closely together to take the learnings from the M2 street car and from the M4 GT4 customer program and apply them to the new M2 CS Racing model. How much? $83,600 plus $995 Destination. Get 'em while they're hot - one model year only with the U.S. Market launch in the second half of 2020. (12/18)

 

AE Song Lyrics of the Week:

It's coming on Christmas 
They're cutting down trees 
They're putting up reindeer 
And singing songs of joy and peace 
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on 

But it don't snow here 
It stays pretty green 
I'm going to make a lot of money 
Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene 
Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on 

I wish I had a river so long 
I would teach my feet to fly 
I wish I had a river I could skate away on 
I made my baby cry

He tried hard to help me 
You know, he put me at ease 
And he loved me so naughty 
Made me weak in the knees 
Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on

I'm so hard to handle 
I'm selfish and I'm sad 
Now I've gone and lost the best baby 
That I ever had 
I wish I had a river I could skate away on 

Oh, I wish I had a river so long 
I would teach my feet to fly 
I wish I had a river 
I could skate away on 
I made my baby say goodbye 

It's coming on Christmas 
They're cutting down trees 
They're putting up reindeer 
And singing songs of joy and peace 
I wish I had a river I could skate away on 

"The River" by Joni Mitchell (1970)

 

All Together Now: A Giant Bowl of Not Good: I have been writing about the downward spiral of Nissan in this market for a long time now. After years of mismanagement, piss-poor decisions and flat-out incompetence culminating in a particularly dismal sales performance this year, that downward spiral is now accelerating. Automotive News is reporting that Nissan's North America Chairman, Jose Valls, is taking drastic steps to slash costs across the company, including reducing employee travel expenses by 50 percent - effective immediately - and putting the entire U.S. organization on two days of unpaid leave on January 2 and 3. "While we've made some positive progress, Nissan's performance has fallen short of our expectations," Valls said in a memo to employees this week, which was obtained by Automotive News. Valls informed Nissan employees that the move will translate to a 9.2 percent pay cut in January for those paid monthly. Employees paid bi-weekly will not be paid for those two days. -PMD (12/4)
 

Sure. Much hand-wringing is being expended about the TV spot for the $2000.00+ (plus a monthly fee) Peloton bike. Yeah, it's stupid, for any number of reasons, but how about the insipid spot for GMC, which has the husband surprising his wife with two GMC vehicles (that add up to $100,000) in their driveway for Christmas? In front of their $5,000,000 home? (12/4)

 

(McLaren Automotive images)
Attention first on the blockers: McLaren has introduced yet another new model: the 620R. McLaren PR minions say that "the McLaren 620R is a unique proposition, delivering a pure motorsport experience in a road car with authenticity: it looks like a race car, handles like a race car, performs like a race car and feels like a race car. The result overall is a seamless transition from race to road – and vice versa. Exclusive and extreme in equal measure, the McLaren 620R retains the DNA of a fully homologated track car yet is free from the restrictions that race regulations apply." The 620R has the same M838TE 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine used in the GT4 car, but with a engine ECU and turbocharger management reconfigured to achieve 610HP, making it the most powerful Sports Series McLaren yet. The engine also develops 457lb ft of torque. This helps to deliver benchmark performance figures of 0-60mph in 2.8 seconds and 0-124mph in 8.1 seconds. Maximum speed is 200mph. It has a bunch of other stuff, too, in fact, too much to list, but the North American model can be specified with a special MSO upgrade package that features a gloss finish Visual Carbon Fiber roof with a roof scoop to maximize engine intake and exhaust sound, MSO Defined gloss finish carbon fiber roof cantrails, and the McLaren Track Telemetry system with lap time function and three cameras to record track performance – all at no extra cost. McLaren 620R production will be limited to just 350 customer orders, all hand-built at the McLaren Production Center in Woking, Surrey. Production will begin in January, with each car costing from $299,000 USD. (12/11)

 

 

AE Song Lyrics of the Week:

When I'm out walkin' I strut my stuff, man, I'm so strung out
I'm high as a kite, I just might stop to check you out
Let me go on like I blister in the sun
Let me go on, big hands, I know you're the one

Body and beats, I stain my sheets, I don't even know why
My girlfriend, she's at the end, she is starting to cry
Let me go on like I blister in the sun
Let me go on, big hands, I know you're the one

When I'm out walkin' I strut my stuff, man, I'm so strung out
I'm high as a kite, I just might stop to check you out
When I'm out walkin' I strut my stuff, man, I'm so strung out
I'm high as a kite, I just might stop to check you out

Body and beats, I stain my sheets, I don't even know why
My girlfriend, she's at the end, she is starting to cry
When I'm out walkin' I strut my stuff, man, I'm so strung out
I'm high as a kite, I just might stop to check you out
Let me go on like I blister in the sun
Let me go on, big hands, I know you're the one

"Blister in the Sun" by Violent Femmes from "Violent Femmes" (1983)* Watch a video here. 
*The quintessential folk-punk group of the 80s was discovered by James Honeyman-Scott of The Pretenders on August 23, 1981, when the band was playing on a street corner in front of the Oriental Theatre, the Milwaukee venue that The Pretenders would be playing later that evening. Chrissie Hynde invited them to play a brief acoustic set after the opening act. Peter's cousin, Victor DeLorenzo, is one of the founding members of the Violent Femmes and the original drummer. (12/4)

 

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. (11/27)

 

(Lamborghini)

Automobili Lamborghini 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. (11/27)

 

(Volkswagen)

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. (11/27)

 

(Ford)

Ford introduced its Mustang Mach-E BEV crossover to much fanfare. The Dearborn-based automaker says it will arrive in late 2020, although given Ford’s – ahem – problematic launches of late, we don’t expect to see it until the spring of 2021 at the earliest. The Ford Mustang Mach-E will be available with standard and extended-range battery options with either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive powered by permanent magnet motors. Equipped with an extended-range battery and rear-wheel drive, Mach-E has a targeted EPA-estimated range of at least 300 miles, according to Ford PR minions. In extended-range all-wheel-drive configurations, Mach-E is targeting 332 horsepower and 417 lb.-ft. of torque – with the standard all-wheel-drive variation targeting quicker times to 60 mph than the base Porsche Macan series, again according to Ford. There will eventually be two special performance versions: The GT is targeting 0-60 mph in under 4 seconds, and the GT Performance Edition is targeting a comparable 0-60 mph in the mid-3-second range. Both GT configurations are targeting an estimated 342 kW (459 horsepower) and 830 Nm (612 lb.-ft.) of torque. (11/20)

 

(Audi)

On the heels of the Mach-E reveal, Audi presented the E-tron Sportback, the second model in its E-tron product line. It has more compelling design than the Mach-E right out of the gate as well. The SUV coupé offers up to 300 kW of power and a range of up to 277.1 miles (in the WLTP cycle) from a single battery charge. Its digital matrix LED headlights are a new feature now available for the first time in a mass-production vehicle. Their light is broken down into tiny pixels and can be controlled with exceptional precision. The Audi e-tron Sportback can be ordered as of the end of November. Market introduction in Europe is scheduled for the spring of 2020. The U.S.? Later. Much later. (11/20)

 

(Aston Martin images)

Aston Martin is calling its DBX "an SUV with the soul of a sports car." We stopped reading after that. It was revealed in China. (11/20)

 

(Ferrari images)
This is the new Ferrari Roma. The latest coupé from Maranello features "timeless and sublimely refined design and has all the power and agility required to guarantee a unique driving experience. Its signature Italian styling is a contemporary reinterpretation of the carefree lifestyle of 1950s and ‘60s Rome, from which it takes its evocative name, Roma," according to Ferrari PR minions. Stylistically, the Ferrari Roma's design approach is very much in line with the Ferrari mid-front-engined grand touring tradition of which the 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso and 250 GT 2+2 are the most iconic examples, and from which the car takes its inspiration. Editor-in-Chief's Note: I could bore you with the rest of the details - yup, it's fast - but you're better off just soaking it in. It's what the Camaro should look like. And remember, while some of the assembled automotive media go ape-shit over the Mustang Mach-E (it's yet another crossover box with Mustang styling "overtones" and electric propulsion, and yes, we can wait), remind yourselves what compelling automotive design really looks like. -PMD (11/13)

 

 

(McLaren Automotive images)
McLaren Automotive revealed its new Ultimate Series roadster, the McLaren Elva. According to McLaren PR minions, as the brand’s first open-cockpit road car, "the Elva adds a new dimension to the range-topping Ultimate Series lineage. Like its McLaren P1TM, McLaren Senna and Speedtail predecessors, volume of the new McLaren Elva will be strictly limited: just 399 are being offered for customer order." McLaren Automotive acquired the rights to the Elva name for its new Ultimate Series roadster to celebrate the renowned Bruce McLaren-designed M1A and McLaren-Elva M1A [Mk I], M1B [Mk II] and M1C [Mk III] of the 1960s. Produced as ‘customer’ versions of the innovative and exciting Group 7 McLaren race cars, the McLaren-Elva sportscars embodied many of the pioneering design and engineering principles that are integral to the McLaren road cars produced today.
The new McLaren Elva is "a ferociously fast, open-cockpit, extreme two-seater with a bespoke carbon fiber chassis and body but no roof, no windscreen and no side windows. With every sensory input heightened, this is a car that exists to provide unparalleled driving pleasure on road or track," according to McLaren. Large, carbon fiber rear fenders flow from the front of the door to the rear deck, while the height of the twin rear buttresses is minimized by using a deployable roll-over protection system. Helmets can be worn if preferred, but the form and sculpture of the upper cabin wraps around the driver and passenger to provide a secure environment. The McLaren Active Air Management System (AAMS) is a world-first, according to the manufacturer; it shelters occupants by manipulating air flow while retaining their connection to the elements. A fixed windscreen derivative of the car is also available for most markets as a factory option.
  

The McLaren Elva is powered by a 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged, 804HP McLaren V8 from the same family of engines that powers the McLaren Senna and Senna GTR. This, combined with the lightest vehicle weight of any road car produced by McLaren Automotive - it has a bespoke carbon fiber chassis and body, unique carbon fiber seats and sintered carbon ceramic brakes - gives the superlight Ultimate Series roadster incredible performance numbers: 0-62mph in under three seconds; 0-124mph in just 6.7 seconds, which is quicker than the McLaren Senna. Like the recent hottest versions of its cars, the McLaren Elva employs active aerodynamics; state-of-the-art, linked-hydraulic active suspension; and an electro-hydraulic steering for the purest feedback.

The Innovative Inconel and titanium quad-exit exhaust enhances engine power by reducing back pressure, delivering - ahem - a unique soundtrack.
Just 399 examples of new McLaren Elva will be available for customer order. It will be priced from $1,690,000 (USD); with the final price determined by the level of personalization by McLaren Special Operations (MSO). Editor-in-Chief's Note: It's freakin' awesome. Over and out. -PMD (11/13)

 

 

(Honda images)

Honda announced that a highly-modified 1972 Honda N600 has won the first-ever Honda Super Tuner Legends Series, which joined the Hot Wheels^TM Legends Tour in 2019 as the exclusive tuner component of the program. Customized over a five-year period, the Honda N600 is powered by a Honda VFR 800cc V4 motorcycle engine (!) in a rear wheel drive configuration (!!), sporting a 12,000 RPM redline (!!!) and a surprisingly deep and growly engine sound. (Sounds awesome to us!!!!) "When I arrived at the Hot Wheels™ Legends Tour, I was truly impressed by the amount of work from the other Honda tuners. I’m thrilled, and humbled, that my N600 not only stood out, but was selected as the winner of the first-ever Honda Super Tuner Legends Series," said Stephen Mines, owner of the winning N600. "As a longtime Honda fan, and owner of more than a few Hondas, it will be an incredible honor to see my car at Honda’s booth at SEMA." The custom N600 that won the inaugural Honda Super Tuner Legends Series also boasts a modified Mazda Miata suspension system, seats from a Polaris RZR®, and modified front and rear bumpers from a 1967-68 Chevrolet® Camaro. (10/30)

 

(Emory Motorsports images)
Rod Emory refined his Emory Motorsports’ ‘Outlaw 356’ recipe - again - with this unique 1959½ “Transitional” 356 Speedster built in the grandest Outlaw tradition. “Each 356 that we put back on the road is a piece of Porsche history, and we work very hard to preserve that creative spark,” comments Rod Emory of Emory Motorsports. “The best part of my work is bringing new life to cars that might otherwise be destined for the junkyard." The donor car for this particular project is a case in point: a 356 coupe whose roof was seriously compromised in an accident. Because the roof was not repairable, it provided Emory Motorsports an ideal canvas for developing a truly one-of-a-kind 356 Outlaw that echoes everything enthusiasts have come to adore about the classic Speedsters of the era. This Outlaw Speedster’s chassis (and every Emory 356 Outlaw) was specially prepared to make maximum use of more than triple the standard power. Rear suspension was updated with modified 901-style IRS. Adjustable Koni dampers control the unsprung weight, and a pair of sway bars limit body roll during spirited cornering. The brakes were also upgraded to custom rotors and calipers that have 911-level stopping power. Power gets to the ground via 195/65R15 Dunlop SP 5000 tires on 15x5 Tecnomagnesio wheels, which are finished in satin-black powdercoat with brushed wheel hubs. 
The Speedster aesthetic calls for a pristinely spartan interior, which is clean and functional. Charcoal square-weave carpet gives the Hydes red leather upholstery additional pop. Speedster-style seats and dashboard seamlessly combine the old with the new. A 904-style triple gauge with speedo and tach provide a few extra data points to keep the driver informed while on the road. The interior is rounded out with black knobs and escutcheons, a Derrington steering wheel, and padded headrest.  

Emory Motorsports hand-formed a racing-inspired aluminum tonneau cover and headrest fairing, perfectly mated to the integral headrest hoop and cage. Other exterior touches include body-hugging bumpers and an unusual reverse-louvered deck lid. Typical bonnet modifications include deleting the handle and adding fuel-filler access for the custom 18-gallon tank. The period-correct Aquamarine Metallic paint was applied by Little Shop of Kustoms in Desert Hot Springs, California. This Outlaw enjoys a race-bred finishing touch, the iconic hand-painted Mobil Pegasus on the front fenders.  

Reflecting on the Transitional Speedster, Rod Emory said, “Porsche enthusiasts will notice that this build does not wear a 'Speedster' emblem. This is a nod to the car’s coupé beginnings and to the idea that we are celebrating the best of what this car still had when we found it. The '1959½' designation also signifies how this car straddles model years and body styles. This Outlaw 356 illustrates just some of what is possible with our talented crew here at Emory Motorsports and the result is bringing new life to a car that would have been lost to history.” The Emory 1959½ “Transitional” Speedster is also significantly more powerful than its original 1600cc forbears. The proprietary Emory-Rothsport Outlaw-4 engine, co-developed with former Porsche GT racing crew chief Jeff Gamroth of Rothsport Racing, is standard equipment. This 4-cylinder, 2.4-liter displacement engine, fed by Weber 48 IDA carbs, delivers 205 horsepower. Spark is issued via an MSD ignition box through a bespoke twin-plug distributor, while the dry-sump engine is cooled in part by 14 quarts of oil in a 911-style full-flow arrangement. An aluminum-case 901 4-speed transmission was selected for the build.  For more information on Emory Motorsports, you can call 971.241.7017 or visit EmoryMotorsports.com or @rodemory on Instagram.  (10/23)

  

Does Ford Have a Better Idea – for the EV Market?

By Allen Bukoff

Detroit. Ford’s big new play in the EV space is the Mach-E, their “Mustang-inspired SUV” (or is it a crossover?), which will reportedly make its debut next month at the LA Auto Show. With the Mach-E, it looks like Ford is trying to hit at least three bullseyes: 1. an all-electric EV that is 2. in the popular SUV form factor, and that is 3. sporty race-car fun (electric motor torque + Mustang spirit). This would be a vehicle somewhere between the current SUV EVs (Tesla Model X, Jaguar I-PACE and Audi e-tron) and the upcoming Tesla Roadster. A fourth bullseye here could be price ... IF the Mach-Ecomes out at a significantly lower price than these other SUV EVs. According to fordauthoritiy.com, “The price is expected to start at around $40,000.” That sounds great – but it’s not clear yet what kind of range you get with the base price. If it’s the full 300-miles on a charge – the range being touted for the Mach-E – then the pricing will be another bullseye.

Except for Teslas, however, EVs are not really selling well. Our recent research survey (conducted with the help of Autoextremist readers) demonstrated that there are plenty of negative erroneous beliefs and wariness keeping most automotive consumers (ICE vehicle owners) from making the leap to EVs. Right now – given the success of Tesla and what other OEMs are starting to offer – it would seem that in order to attract North American automotive consumers to EVs you have to pair that EV-ness with one or more additional special attributes. Additional attributes or “bonuses” appear to be needed either to reel in current EV considerers or to pull people with EV leeriness over that hump. Tesla is the best example of the EV-plus product/marketing strategy and biggest EV success so far. The Tesla brand overall stands for EV + elite + luxury (the brand actually leading with elite). Tesla Model X, Jaguar I-PACE and Audi e-tron combine EV + luxury + SUV. The Tesla Roadster seeks to combine EV + race car (which is how Tesla started out). No one – not Chevrolet Bolt, not Nissan LEAF, not Hyundai Kona – has been able to make an EV-only positioning sell very well, even with affordable prices.

Right now the OEMs seem to be moving their bets to the EV + luxury + SUV formula. Despite Tesla’s success, it’s not clear that this is the best EV beachhead or that – even if successful – it will help stimulate EV appeal outside the luxury sector. With the Mach-E, Ford appears to be trying a slightly different formula, with different emphases: sporty fun + SUV + EV. The much-anticipated Tesla Model Y (EV + elite + crossover) will be the closest rival of the Mach-E and also reportedly starting around $40,000. If Ford can offer the Mach-E at a similar price and range, the racy, Mustang-inspired Mach-E may turn out to be the mainstream EV hit that has eluded the North American market so far. (10/23)

 

(Chevrolet)

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Remember the Chevrolet Bolt EV? You may not know this, but GM is still making it. In fact, the 2020 Bolt EV has been improved fairly significantly. The Bolt EV will offer an EPA-estimated 259 miles of range on a full charge, a 21-mile increase over previous model years. To achieve this notable range increase, Chevrolet’s battery engineering team improved the energy of the cell electrodes by making small but impactful changes to the cell chemistry. This innovative thinking allowed the team to implement the range increase without needing to change the physical battery pack and the way it is integrated into the vehicle structure. “The Chevrolet Bolt EV has been changing consumer perceptions of electric vehicles since its launch in 2016,” said Steve Majoros, director of Chevrolet Passenger Car and Crossover Marketing. “Great range — now even more — is the foundation of the Bolt EV’s success, and when paired with features like one-pedal driving, Regen on Demand and the instant torque of the EV motor, the vehicle delivers an exceptional driving experience. Chevrolet also is helping to encourage EV adoption by providing customers the necessary tools and services to make EV ownership more convenient.” That all sounds nice, but Majoros and Co. have failed the Bolt from Day One. Instead of using it as the tip of GM's technological spear, the Bolt was marketed regionally and with little proper fanfare. This is a highly-competitive EV that has been MIA since its introduction, which is simply inexcusable. By the way, the 2020 Bolt EV will arrive in dealerships later this year with a starting MSRP of $37,495 (including destination and freight charges, excludes tax, title, license, dealer fees). And Chevrolet has announced a partnership with Qmerit that will enable EV owners a seamless way to find and obtain quotes from certified electricians to install at-home charging equipment. Chevrolet is the first non-luxury car brand to offer this service, and its partnership with Qmerit will provide customers with a more accessible at-home charging solution. So there's that, but WordGirl has something to add as well. -PMD. Editor's Note: "The game-changing Chevrolet Bolt EV will now take customers even farther." And so begins the GM press release announcing the 2020 Bolt EV. The Bolt was game-changing - back in 2016 when it beat the Tesla Model 3 to market. The marketing geniuses at Chevrolet, however, failed to make the world take notice. Adding 21 more EV miles to the 2020 Bolt EV certainly doesn't qualify as "game-changing." Now, GM is claiming they've cracked the range/price puzzle; all they have to do is educate their dealers. According to an article in this week's Automotive News, "Chevy sees the Bolt as a springboard for General Motors' evolution to an all-electric future, but the brand has learned that it needs to educate dealers and lean on its experts — the engineers — to communicate with customers and enthusiasts." Hold on, wait just a second here. GM has been in "the game" with their dealers since the Volt was introduced in 2010. Has it really taken a decade for GM to figure out that it needs to educate its dealers about EVs? From where I sit, the Volt was the first GM car to "change the game" and should have blazed the way for GM's all-electric, Tesla-rivaling future. The Bolt EV is now their second engineering triumph and second marketing failure in the EV game. -WG (10/16)

 

 AE Song Lyrics of the Week:

Thinkin' 'bout the times you drove in my car.
Thinkin' that I might have drove you too far.
And I'm thinkin' 'bout the love that you laid on my table.

I told you not to wander 'round in the dark.
I told you 'bout the swans, that they live in the park.
Then I told you 'bout our kid, now he's married to Mabel.

Yes, I told you that the light goes up and down.
Don't you notice how the wheel goes 'round?
And you better pick yourself up from the ground
Before they bring the curtain down,
Yes, before they bring the curtain down.

Talkin' 'bout a girl that looks quite like you.
She didn't have the time to wait in the queue.
She cried away her life since she fell off the cradle.

"Badge" (by Eric Clapton and George Harrison). Performed by CREAM. (RIP Ginger Baker). (10/9)

 

  Robert Cumberford. Editor-in-Chief's Note: The design critic for Automobile took a lot of heat for his criticism of the new Chevrolet Corvette. Here's some of what he had to say: "I am deeply sorry to be severely disappointed by the styling of the C8. I hoped for something really new and exciting, not a boringly generic supercar, mostly indistinguishable from the many and varied unimaginative devices that show up regularly at the Geneva auto show. Its styling is confused. Downright messy, in fact. I count a dozen horizontal lines, not to mention four convoluted taillights, four nice rectangular exhaust tips, plus varied slots, vents, grilles, indented surfaces, and wing elements... just across the rear fascia. The front is no better, and the profile with its short, stumpy nose is equally surprising. Maybe it's all meant to look purposeful, but to me it seems just a careless, cluttered, graphic composition, not worthy of Corvette history and what we expect of this technically brilliant descendant of the elegant, Jaguar-inspired original C1 from 1953. I have no doubt this will be a very good car, with truly world-class performance coupled with American-style daily usefulness and (probably) easy servicing - dry-sump engines are not typical dealer shop fare. But I'd have liked to see some traces of the Astrovette or the four-rotor mid-engine concept from the Bill Mitchell era." As I've said previously, I applaud GM's True Believers for going with a mid-engine design for the new Corvette. It's long overdue and its price point of just under $60,000 for the base car is a stone cold bargain that will resonate for years to come. But Mr. Cumberford has his points. The surface detailing of the new Corvette is terribly busy, and to me there's too much of the most recent Camaro design elements in it, which is a flat-out disaster of a car. And the back of the new Corvette, as I stated from the very beginning, is a major disappointment. I'm happy that GM's order bank for the new Corvette is overflowing, because it deserves to be. But I agree with much of what Cumberford had to say. Sometimes it's better to put the pen down when re-imagining an icon like the Corvette, and less could have been more in this instance. -PMD (10/2)

(GM Images) 
The 1968 Chevrolet Astrovette from GM Styling.

The 1976 Chevrolet Aerovette concept from GM Design.

(Chevrolet)
The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray convertible will be the first hardtop and mid-engine convertible in Corvette history. The mid-engine 2020 Corvette Stingray convertible maintains the tunnel-dominant structure and use of high-integrity die-cast parts found in the Stingray coupe. The hardtop stows seamlessly into the body, and yes, the Stingray convertible can store two sets of golf clubs in the trunk even with the top down. The convertible also keeps the coupe’s front storage compartment, which can fit an airline-spec carry-on and a laptop bag. The two-piece top can be activated at speeds up to 30 mph and retract in as few as 16 seconds. It is powered by six electric motors and uses encoders for precise control. A body-colored roof is standard, while Carbon Flash metallic-painted nacelles and roof are optional. A divider glass window in the middle of the vehicle can be power adjusted with the top up or down. The glass has been optimized to reduce air recirculation and wind noise in the cabin for improved quietness. The roof system design, combined with the same rear spoiler used on the Stingray coupe’s Z51 Performance Package, results in identical drag between the coupe and convertible with the top up. Engineers tweaked the chassis for the convertible, with springs and dampers tuned specifically to provide nearly the same performance as the coupe. Like the Stingray coupe, the convertible is powered by the next-generation 6.2L Small Block V8 LT2 engine, the only naturally aspirated V8 in the segment. It will produce 495HP (369 kW) and 470 lb-ft (637 Nm) of torque when equipped with performance exhaust. The LT2 is paired with Chevrolet’s first eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Interested? You can build and price your own Corvette coupe or convertible on the 2020 Corvette visualizer at Chevrolet.com. The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray coupe goes into production at GM’s Bowling Green Assembly in late 2019, with the convertible following in late first-quarter 2020. A right-hand-drive version of the convertible will be available in select international markets at a later date. (10/2)

  GM and the UAW. Editor-in-Chief's Note: This every-four-year pissing contest between the U.S. automakers and the union is debilitating and soul-sapping. The posturing, the sabre-rattling and the media jostling is damn-near pointless. There are no winners here either. No matter when it settles, everyone loses, big-time. -PMD (9/25)

  The UAW. Editor-in-Chief's Note: Trying to negotiate a new contract with GM and the rest of the automakers when the entire superstructure of the UAW is tainted with fraud and corruption is a fool's errand. The rank and file of the UAW have to know that they're part of a giant scam and have been played for years. But they're also stuck, at least through these contract negotiations, and they can't do a damn thing about it. Will there be hell to pay after these negotiations are finished? I'd like to think so, but then again the go-along-to-get-along mentality is pervasive. It would take a grass roots revolution the likes of which we haven't seen since the UAW was first formed. I would love to see it, but the likelihood of it happening is slim. And none. -PMD (9/25)

  Honda. Editor-in-Chief's Note: Look who's smiling now. Honda never walked away from building cars, and now they're reaping tremendous rewards because of it. The Honda Civic, in all of its iterations, continues to post eye-opening sales. It is leading the compact car segment (over the Toyota Corolla) by nearly 20,000 units this year. The Civic(s) posted sales of 34,808 units last month, a 26 percent gain. (9/25)

  Nissan, Carlos Ghosn. Editor-in-Chief's Note: According to a report from Bloomberg, Nissan Motor Co. and former CEO Carlos Ghosn agreed to pay a combined $16 million to settle a U.S. regulator’s allegations that the automaker failed to disclose millions of dollars in compensation that the ex-chairman was due to receive. Nissan was fined $15 million, while Ghosn had to pony-up a $1 million penalty, the Securities and Exchange Commission said in a Monday statement. From 2009 until fiscal year 2018, Ghosn, with substantial assistance from his subordinates, took part in a scheme to conceal more than $90 million in compensation from investors, according to a complaint filed Monday in Manhattan federal court. Ghosn, with the assistance of director Greg Kelly, decided to structure the payments after his retirement to avoid public disclosure. Ghosn, meanwhile, remains in Japan awaiting trial on finance-related charges. He was arrested last November and has repeatedly claimed he did nothing wrong. Really? The hubris is almost incomprehensible. Time of your life, eh, Carlos? -PMD (9/25)

  BMW. Editor-in-Chief's Note: The German automaker is going to stop production of its i3 electric/extended-range electric car. We liked the car a lot, but it was never able to move out of the curiosity zone. Maybe that was because other than its avant-garde design theme - which was exceptionally well done - it didn't perform all that well as an electric vehicle or as an extended-range electric vehicle with its auxiliary on-board engine. Another case of shoulda-coulda-woulda in the car business. -PMD (9/25)

  Alfa Romeo. Editor-in-Chief's Note: A perusal of the future product forecast in Automotive News for Alfa Romeo is sketchy, at best. The operative words used were "could" and "may." As in could or may happen, depending on the alleged future Alfa product in question. Not Good. -PMD (9/25)

  Jeep. Editor-in-Chief's Note: The Jeep brand advertising campaign that featured actor and musician Jeremy Renner was a non-starter from the beginning. In fact, it pegged our "Wince Meter" right out of the gate. It may have delivered some attention to Renner, which was nice for him, but it did absolutely zero for the Jeep brand. The bottom line? This was pure, unmitigated advertising crap. -PMD (9/25)

(Lamborghini images)

The 1964 Lamborghini 350 GT, chassis #102.
The 1968 Riva Aquarama Lamborghini, the only Riva motorboat to have been fitted with Lamborghini engines and the former personal boat of Ferruccio Lamborghini (hull #278).

(Lexus)
From the "Why?" File: Lexus held the world premiere of its first luxury yacht, the Lexus LY 650, in Boca Raton. (9/18)

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Tom Pease, our L.A.-based correspondent, filed this report about attempting to experience an EV test drive in L.A. It didn't go well. -PMD

Not Charged Up: Or How I Didn't Drive the Electric Car.

By Tom Pease

Beverly Hills. This past weekend the LA Department of Public Works sponsored an event called “ChargeUp LA” at the LAPD training center near Dodger Stadium in downtown LA. Now, I do love EV's (even if I don't own one), and I also love free events where I get to drive cars and collect swag.

What I don't love are badly organized events on hot days. Why is it that these events are so poorly run? I had the same complaint about a few iterations of the AltCar Expo, but at least that was held at the Santa Monica Civic Center two blocks from the beach, so it wasn't 98 degrees in the (nonexistent) shade. First off, they were fifteen minutes late opening the gate. I know, fifteen minutes doesn't sound like a whole lot of time and it isn't, if I am, for instance, sitting in my air-conditioned office typing this missive. If I am, however, standing outside feeling the SPF 1000 lotion sweating off my face from under my SPF 50 sunhat (yes, they exist) then it's an issue. This seemed to be a recurring theme with this event: provide as little shade or water as possible in an area of LA that is guaranteed to be broiling. So much so that if they were touting solar energy I would think they were pounding home the message of the power of good old sol by treating us to free heatstroke.

In any case, after waiting to get in we waited to register to drive at the event, then waited again to register at each individual booth to drive individual cars. I started with the Mini Countryman. I never got out of the parking space. First, I was directed to start the car. This is achieved by flipping a toggle switch, one of a row of identical ones far down on the dash rather than a button that's clearly marked, and obvious. Why? Because it's Mini. Then you have the devilish gear selector that is similar to the one in my BFF's Cadillac, which is hated by her, her husband and apparently every valet paring attendant on the Westside. After four attempts shutting the thing off and on and having the selector's “D” glow without any forward movement, I decided life was too short and bailed. Note to self: when trying for a quick getaway, the Mini is not the car to choose.

Then I went to sign up at the BMW booth for the iWhatever, the little one (the i3 -WG). They asked that I provide them with my cell phone number, which I do not give out. They insisted, saying that they would use it to “contact me with offers,” etc. Rather than just make up a number or tell them that I don't give mine out so that I don't get phone calls from random d-bags giving me “offers” I passed on the test drive.

Off to Tesla. Of course, everyone wanted to test the Tesla, so there was going to be a wait. No problem; I would just claim part of the tent that was in shade and had a slight breeze. Ah, but then the organizers stepped in and informed the Tesla people that they could not load people into their cars in the parking spaces by their little tent as they had been doing, but had to have people queue in the event's mini tent, next to the Mini's mini tent. The event tent had five chairs and could comfortably hold about twelve people and was at the point where the course bottle-necked into one lane with no possibility to pass, meaning that there were about 50 people jammed into the tent and fifteen or so cars waiting to load, unload or exit. But, hey, they weren't burning gas, right?

So I drove the Model X. It's big, it's plush, it has great AC. It also has regenerative braking that is fairly obtrusive (not the only EV I've driven that does this) and a ludicrously small rearview mirror for a car with blind spots you could hide the Grand Tetons in. They do have an on-call rearview camera in the giant center display (that disconcertingly, at least for me, takes the place of all instruments), but I think something like Cadillac's rear camera might be a better idea: years of shifting eyes right to the mirror makes sense. As a matter of fact, I'd like to institute a board of common sense in automotive design: don't make your engine start switch a random toggle, but an obvious button up there. Manufacturers got together almost 60 years ago and decided on PRNDL for gearshifts to avoid confusion. Toggle up, toggle down, hop, skip, jump and pray isn't an improvement.

But I digress. After the Tesla, as it was now flirting with triple-digit temps, I decided to bail on the event rather than standing for a half-hour broiling waiting for a Leaf or Pacifica, and hightailed it to the nearest purveyor of frozen coffee drinks. Because on a blazing summer L.A. day, there is almost nothing a nice ice-blended can't fix. (9/18)

Mercedes-Benz unveiled the Vision EQS concept at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt. Mercedes-Benz PR minions are saying that the brand "will address the challenges of the future with a focus on sustainability, in relation to it becoming a central component of the brand philosophy, and a major aspect of our corporate strategy." The show car projects the future Mercedes look for a large, electric luxury sedan, while "illustrating a vision of purpose-built electro-design." With the Vision EQS, Mercedes-Benz is making a clear statement for the continued future of high-quality vehicles and self-determined driving, according to the manufacturer. And then they close with this: "Supreme craftsmanship, emotive design, luxurious materials and individual driving pleasure will continue to be sought after. Now and in the future, luxury above all stands for personal freedom." Wow, that's a lot of philosophy packed into one concept. (9/11)

(BMW images)

Editor-In-Chief's Note: As I predicted a while back, Fiat is going to discontinue production of the current-generation Fiat 500 and 500e in North America. Current inventory of the 2019 Fiat 500 and 500e will last into 2020. Fiat will continue to offer the Fiat 500X, the Fiat 124 Spider roadster and the Fiat 500L in North America. Will that be enough to sustain the brand in the USA? No. -PMD (9/4)

The world premiere of the Porsche Taycan took place simultaneously in North America, China and Europe. These three continents are the most important sales markets for Porsche's new electric sports car. The event locations are also a synonym for three ways of sustainable energy management, according to Porsche PR minions. With Niagara Falls at the border between New York and the Canadian province of Ontario representing hydropower, a solar farm in Neuhardenberg near Berlin representing solar power and a wind farm on Pingtan Island, less than a mile from the Chinese city of Fuzhou in the province of Fujian representing wind power. How much? Bring lots of ca$h-ola, folks. The Taycan Turbo starts at $150,900; the more powerful Taycan Turbo S at $185,000. (9/4)  

(Volkswagen)

Volkswagen achieved another major milestone with its electric ID.R racer, this time on Tianmen Mountain in China. Romain Dumas completed the 10.906-kilometre “China Challenge” to “Heaven’s Gate” – a 131.5-meter natural arch which encompasses 99 tight corners on the Tianmen Mountain road - in 7:38.585 minutes, a new record. Some of the corners have a radius of just six meters, followed by short sprints, fast winding sections with speeds of up to 230 km/h, and hard braking maneuvers in extremely narrow tunnels. The ID.R is driven by two electric motors with a total system performance of 500 kW (680 PS), riding on tailor-made Bridgestone Potenza tires. The ID.R currently holds the records on Pikes Peak, the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the electric lap record on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, and now the fastest time for an ascent of Tianmen Mountain in China.  (9/4)

Editor-In-Chief's Note: A new ad campaign for EVs by Electrify America goes about it all the wrong way and fails miserably. Our resident AE EV expert, Allen Bukoff, explains why. -PMD

Me and my innovative new vehicle. We're just normal.

by Allen Bukoff

Detroit. Electrify America and their San Francisco ad agency have a new campaign for electric vehicles:  "EVs are NORMAL NOW." This is wrong. It's also a weird way to try to sneak a revolutionary transportation transition past the public.

EVs are quite different from ICE vehicles. In lots of different ways -- large and small. There are many ways in which EVs are better -- sometimes a lot better (and more fun), as in instant torque and acceleration.

The new ad campaign by Electrify America and Eleven seems to be based on the idea that people are scared of EVs and of anything that might make them look "abnormal."  If they can reassure people that EVs are really just normal and okay now, a lot more people will consider them. As the recent AutoThink EV study has shown, people aren't leery of EVs, mostly they have condescending negative attitudes about EVs, many of which are inaccurate and out of date. Proclaiming EVs as being "normal" is not going to fix that.

Eleven must not have even talked to any EV owners/drivers. EV vehicle owners as a group generally rave about their vehicles and will bore you talking about how special (i.e., un-normal and great their driving and ownership experience has been -- compared to their ICE vehicle experience. Very few EV drivers are even considering going back -- trading their EV back in for an ICE vehicle. EVs are NOT normal vehicles.

Eleven and Electrify America must also have completely failed to study the advertising for the Volt. Chevrolet and their ad agencies -- Goodby Silverstein & Partners and then Commonwealth//McCann -- spent nearly ten years trying to pass the Volt off as being mostly just a regular car (e.g., "More Car Than Electric"), and it is now a case study in advertising failure.

What a super-dumb way to try to build desire and excitement for such a major and still innovative product purchase: it's just normal, it's like everything else, it's really nothing special. 

To ad insult to injury, Eleven has created several videos that illustrate how things can become "normal" by comparing EVs to the past: early internet email and online dating. EVs ARE ABOUT THE FUTURE! Show people that. Don't tie them to the quirky past.

I'm beginning to think EV advertising is completely cursed. (9/4)

Editor-In-Chief's Note: Ferdinand Piech, the former chairman and CEO who transformed Volkswagen into one of the world’s biggest automakers, has died. He was 82. He died Sunday at a hospital in Bavaria, Germany, according to Bild newspaper. Countless things will be written about the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche - his biggest achievement while running VW was the acquisition of Porsche in 2012 - but I will always remember him for building one of my all-time favorite racing cars, the Porsche 908 Spyder. Piech was a brilliant, visionary engineer and an egomaniacal leader who operated from the "My Way or the Highway" school of management, frequently jettisoning managers who had the temerity to question him; and he was responsible for some of the biggest flops in automotive history, including the VW Phaeton. But there's no question he was a towering figure in the automotive world. “If I want to achieve something, I approach the problem and push it through without realizing what’s happening around me,” he wrote in his 2002 autobiography. “My desire for harmony is limited.” Amen to that. -PMD (8/28) 

(Canepa Group)
Legendary UK automotive designer Gordon Murray has created some of the most iconic machines over the past decades, from Formula One race cars to the legendary McLaren F1 road car. The announcement of Gordon Murray Automotive’s supercar, the T.50, has created a huge buzz throughout automotive community. The T.50 is built around a hand-laid carbon fiber monocoque and is extremely lightweight even by today’s standards, weighing in at 2,160 pounds. With a bespoke 650HP, Cosworth-designed 3.9-liter V12 that revs to 12,100rpm mated to a special 6-speed manual transmission, fan-assisted aerodynamics, excellent driving dynamics and the culmination of 50 years’ worth of Murray's design experience, it is expected to be an extraordinary machine. The T.50 marks Gordon Murray’s 50th automotive project and includes design influences from many of his previous projects. Murray says “We expect this to be the last, and the greatest ‘analog’ supercar ever built.” You can learn more about the T.50 at www.gordonmurraydesign.com. Having consulted on the project in its early phase of concept and development, the Canepa Group has been selected as the exclusive North American representative for the T.50 Supercar. “Cars are meant to be driven, and this may be one of the most exciting road cars ever designed. I am both honored and excited to be a part of this amazing project,” Bruce Canepa commented. Canepa is an industry leader in the collector car world; including sales, restoration and motorsports. Canepa Group will handle all aspects of customer support for the new supercar in North America, including sales, importation, service/maintenance, and warranty. Interested parties are invited to contact Bruce Canepa at (831) 430-9940 or bruce@canepa.com regarding available build slots for the T.50. (8/21)

(SpeedKore)
SpeedKore, the American performance company known for its carbon fiber vehicles and pre-preg carbon fiber body parts, will be displaying its one-of-one 1970 Dodge Charger at McCall’s Motorworks Revival on Wednesday afternoon in Monterey. This full carbon Dodge Charger features a supercharged 6.2-Liter V8 from the Dodge Demon, paired with a Tremec 6060 6-speed transmission, HRE Wheels, a 14-point roll cage with full interior by Gabe’s Custom Interiors. (8/14)

(Mercedes-Benz images)
The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance (August 15-18, 2019) marks a highlight in the "125 Years of Motorsport" anniversary milestone for Mercedes-Benz. A reconstructed Mercedes-Benz SSKL streamlined racing car from 1932 will be driven on the road for the first time at the Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance on August 15. Mercedes-Benz Classic has spared no expense in having the vehicle reconstructed in celebration of the "125 Years of Motorsport" anniversary. (8/14)

AE Song Lyrics of the Week:

Watched the taillights fading, there ain't a dry eye in the house
They're laughing and singing
Started dancing and drinking as I left town
Gonna find my way to heaven, `cause I did my time in hell
I wasn't looking too good but I was feeling real well
After all is said and done
I gotta move I had my fun
Let us walk before they make me run
After all is said and done
I did alright, I had my fun
I will walk before they make me run

"Before They Make Me Run" - The Rolling Stones (8/14)

Jose Munoz. Editor-In-Chief's Note: According to insiders with direct knowledge of the situation, Jose Munoz is desperately trying to deploy revisionist history in order to salvage his reputation at Hyundai, even though he hasn't been there all that long. And given Hyundai's propensity to jettison managers at the drop of a hat, Munoz has good reason to worry. So, Munoz is apparently going out of his way to deny to everyone that he had anything to do with the "rumors" of his bad behavior at Nissan over the previous several years. How is Munoz attacking those rumors? He is employing the time-honored "It Wasn't Me" defense. As in, what about the fact that you generated intense dealer hostility toward you and Nissan? "It wasn't me." What about the fact that dealers consistently said that you jammed inventory down their throats, causing them serious distress? "It wasn't me." What about the documented fact that you jacked-up incentives to the point that it turned Nissan into a bottom-feeder brand? "It wasn't me." And what about those big fleet numbers that Nissan consistently survived on to make its sales targets? Didn't you realize that the entire industry knew what you were up to with that tactic? "It wasn't me." Unfortunately for Mr. Munoz, the "It Wasn't Me" defense isn't going to work. Munoz has been exposed for who and what he is: a carpetbagging mercenary who leaves bitter feelings, bad business practices and woefully piss-poor decisions in his wake. And so it goes. -PMD (8/7) 

(Loren Hulber photo)
Editor-in-Chief's Note: Longtime AE reader Loren Hulber won Best in Class in the "Rise and Fall of Cadillac Fins" class at the Concours of America in Plymouth, Michigan, on Sunday. Loren's fantastic 1949 Cadillac was chosen from a class of sixteen stunning Cadillacs with fins from 1949 to 1964. -PMD (7/31)

Editor-In-Chief's Note: A few more thoughts on the new Corvette in no particular order. 1. I wouldn't have shown the new Corvette in Red at the intro event, because comparisons to Ferrari were inevitable. I would have presented the car in the now classic GM Styling/Design Metallic Silver, or even in the Ceramic Matrix Gray Metallic production color. 2. By the way, kudos to GM Design for the expanded color palette on the new Corvette. It's long overdue but well done. 3. Try as it might, GM wasn't able to keep the car under wraps, and that's really too bad. The company never should have driven it in New York or at the Corvette Museum, camouflaged or not. Ford is still the reigning champion when it comes to that; the company kept the Ford GT under cover until the very last moment, which maximized the impact of its reveal. 4. Kudos to GM's True Believers for sticking with its tried and true V8. Yes, there are other versions coming, but a hot V8 in the latest Corvette - instead of a Turbo V6 - was the only way to go. 5. Kudos again go out to GM's True Believer designers who delivered a striking, beautiful interior with a distinctive point of view. I can't wait to see it - and the machine - in the flesh. -PMD (7/31)

(GM images)
GM has confirmed that its Tonawanda, New York, engine plant will build the company’s next-generation 6.2L Small Block V8 that will power the all-new 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. Production of the new mid-engine Corvette begins at GM’s Bowling Green, Kentucky, assembly plant in late 2019. The next-gen 6.2L Small Block LT2 V8 will offer 2020 Stingray customers the most horsepower and torque of any entry-level Corvette: SAE-certified to 495HP and SAE-certified to 470 lb.-ft. of torque (when equipped with performance exhaust).  (7/31)

Editor-In-Chief's Note: The passing of auto industry icon Lee Iacocca leaves me with decidedly mixed feelings. If you want to understand the depth and breadth of Iacocca's impact on the auto industry, there have been countless stories delineating his contributions over the last week, many of them gushing with praise. Yes, Iacocca accomplished a great deal in his storied career, including saving Chrysler (in one of the company's nine lives), and his campaign to restore the Statue of Liberty was welcomed and noteworthy. But then again, having worked on the Dodge account (1986-1989) in one of my past advertising lives, I got to see - and hear - more than I cared to about Lido Iacocca. And, needless to say, I don't share the enthusiasm for Iacocca that many others do. I have plenty of Iacocca stories, but suffice to say by the time I arrived on the scene Iacocca had immersed himself into being the big bucks, big ego, larger-than-life CEO who spent money like water and demanded absolute fealty from his executives and assorted minions. And it was a giant bowl of Not Good. To give you a picture of the real Iacocca, a BBDO executive (an Unctuous Prick of the first order who shall remain nameless) was such a reprehensible, loathsome individual that he was kicked out of BBDO's New York office in order to permanently exit him from the building. This lowlife scumbag was given the new assignment of being Iacocca's bag man based out of BBDO Detroit, to the tune of about (choke) $600k a year. The BBDO Detroit office was responsible for 80 percent of BBDO profit worldwide; so catering to Iacocca's whims was priority No. 1. What did that mean, exactly? Said Unctuous Prick became Lido's "best friend" as he was wont to boast, but what that really meant is that Iacocca tolerated him for one reason and one reason only, and that was because this guy - with BBDO's credit card - paid for everything that Iacocca did. The first-class travel to Iacocca's Italian villa, the five-star dinners, the assorted other trips, the luxury shopping for Lido and his various wives, you name it and BBDO paid for it. The Unctuous Prick said that in the entire time he knew Iacocca, Lido paid for exactly one meal for the two of them out of his own pocket, and it was for hot dogs from a street cart vendor in New York. Yes, it was a different time and a a different era, and those kinds of "relationships" between clients and ad agencies are long gone, but make no mistake, Iacocca subsidized his lifestyle with his ad agency's money. Check that, Iacocca lived like a king off of his ad agency and thought nothing of it, because he was entitled to do so, from his point of view. As I said last week, by the time I joined BBDO on the Dodge account, Chrysler was in a decline, and Iacocca was slow to realize it. I distinctly remember presenting creative for a new ad campaign through the blue haze of cigar smoke puffed by Iacocca, Lutz and other executives, and on that day I sensed that Lee was tired and barely had his head in the game. And that proved to be true. Yes, Iacocca accomplished a great deal, but he was a complex guy whose public persona didn't exactly match who he really was. -PMD (7/10)

(Photo copyright and courtesy of Gooding & Company. Photo by Mathieu Heurtault.)
One of the cars that Gooding & Company, the official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, will auction off at the company’s annual Pebble Beach auctions on August 16 and 17, 2019, is this gorgeous 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Series I Cabriolet.  The iconic Series I Cabriolet was the most exclusive, elegant and expensive Ferrari road car of its era. One of only 40 Series I Cabriolets built, chassis 0789 GT is one of just four equipped with the most desirable combination of coachwork details: covered headlights, side vents, and bumperettes. Like all Series I Cabriolets, 0789 GT was handbuilt by Pinin Farina’s custom workshop, where it was finished to the highest standards for one of Ferrari’s VIP clients, the eccentric aristocrat, playboy, and actor, Prince Alessandro “Dado” Ruspoli of Rome. Ruspoli was the ideal buyer for such a Ferrari, both in terms of his social status and glamorous image. Dado was known as a notorious socialite - the inspiration behind Fellini’s film “La Dolce Vita” - and was often seen driving his exotic sports cars around with such iconic figures as Salvador Dalí, Brigitte Bardot, Truman Capote and Pablo Picasso. Prince Ruspoli eventually sold the Series I to continue paying for his lavish lifestyle, and the car remained in the care of devoted Italian enthusiasts throughout the 1970s and ’80s. This Series I Cabriolet then came to the U.S. and was owned by Ron Hein, a notable restorer and collector whose cars have won multiple awards. Hein’s restoration of 0789 GT was extremely well received, with the car taking First in Class at the 1994 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, the 1994 Santa Barbara Concours d’Elegance® and the 1994 Newport Beach Concours d’Elegance®. Additionally, it won Best of Show at the 1996 FCA Vintage Concours in Carmel Valley, and the Outstanding GT award at both the 1995 and 1997 Rodeo Drive Concours in Beverly Hills. This exceptional car is beautifully finished in black with a stunning green interior. Interested? Bring boatloads of money, because it is expected to be sold for between $7,000,000 - $8,000,000. (7/10)

(FCA)
The new 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody is powered by the supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI® Hellcat V8 with 707HP and 650 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to the standard TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission. FCA PR minions say that the new 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody delivers a top speed of 196 mph, "continuing its reign as the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world." The new aggressive and modern Widebody exterior, standard on Charger SRT Hellcat and available on Charger Scat Pack, features new front and rear fascias with integrated fender flares, which add 3.5 inches of width over wider 20-inch by 11-inch wheels, wider Pirelli 305/35ZR20 tires, Brembo six-piston front calipers with two-piece front brake rotors, and unique suspension tuning with Bilstein three-mode adaptive damping. How fast? The Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody runs 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds and delivers a quarter-mile elapsed time (ET) in 10.96 seconds. It also pulls .96 g on the skidpad, making this the quickest and best-handling production Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat ever built. The Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody runs 2.1 seconds faster than the vehicle it replaces on a 2.1-mile road course, equal to thirteen car lengths after one lap. The Charger Scat Pack model is designed to deliver the most bang for the buck with its 392-cubic-inch HEMI V-8 engine’s best-in-class naturally aspirated 485HP mated to TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission. The Charger Scat Pack Widebody runs 0-60 mph in 4.3 seconds and delivers a quarter-mile ET of 12.4 seconds. It also pulls .98 g on the skidpad, making it the quickest and best-handling production Charger Scat Pack ever offered. Dealer orders open in the fall of 2019 and vehicles will start arriving in Dodge//SRT dealerships in early 2020. (7/3)

(BMW images)
This is what a BMW motorcycle might look like if it is electrically powered. The BMW Motorrad Vision DC Roadster is a naked bike concept with electric drive. Replacing what would previously have been the engine, there is now a vertically fitted, longitudinally oriented battery. For cooling purposes, two side elements protrude with cooling ribs and integrated ventilators. As in the boxer engine of the BMW R 32 – the development of which was masterminded by Max Friz in 1923 – the cooling elements are placed in the air stream. The cylinder-shaped electric motor is positioned underneath the battery and is directly connected to the universal shaft. The BMW Motorrad Vision DC Roadster "demonstrates a creative drive architecture that visually echoes the history of BMW Motorrad while at the same time taking it a step further," according to BMW PR minions. “The boxer engine is the heart of BMW Motorrad – an absolute stalwart of its character. But BMW Motorrad stands for visionary zero-emissions vehicle concepts, too. In view of this, one question that arises is: what would happen if we were to replace the boxer engine with an electric motor and the required battery? The Vision Bike shows how we’re able to retain the identity and iconic appearance of BMW Motorrad in distinctive form while at the same time presenting an exciting new type of riding pleasure,” explains Edgar Heinrich, Head of Design BMW Motorrad. “After all: anyone who’s ever tried it out in practice knows very well that riding on two wheels is just as exciting when its electrically powered! The high level of torque right at set-off makes for breath taking acceleration. This almost brutal power delivery creates a whole new experience of dynamic performance. And the BMW Motorrad Vision DC Roadster puts a face to this experience.” (6/26)

 

  VW. The German manufacturer today launched its new direction for the brand in the U.S., with a spot called "Hello Light," which will debut tonight during game three of the NBA Finals. VW has been working since 2015 to atone for the damage of the diesel scandal, and is now focused on conveying a message "built around responsibility, innovation and how a major automaker can credibly contribute to the greater good," according to VW's PR minions. Created by New York-based Johannes Leonardo, VW's new lead brand agency, "Hello Light" is a limited-run spot that will be replaced by the broader "Drive Bigger" part of the campaign, which will debut on June 11. In fact, "Drive Bigger" sounds like they're trying to recreate the magic of VW's famous "Think Small" ad campaign in 1959 for the Beetle. We like this new spot. It is an example of true brand advertising, which is a rarity (if not entirely nonexistent) in the auto ad biz these days. We can only imagine showing this to clients at GM or Ford, and getting the typical response, "I'm not paying for all that black screen time!" Add in the whole darkness/light thing (electricity=light, get it?), the use of Simon & Garfunkel's "Sound of Silence" - I thought sure they were gonna use that to highlight the silence of EVs - and "Introducing a new era of electric driving" instead of referencing EV, because it changes the framing of this whole thing in a good way - and the result is a spot that I like more each time I see it. It may just be the "1984" of EV advertising up to this point. Apple's iconic ad in 1984 forever changed the way the world looked at the personal computer and still resonates to this day as a singular example of true brand advertising. -WG. Editor-in-Chief's Note: WordGirl is so right about the black screen time - this would never fly at Ford or GM, as in no frickin' way. And it's rare to see a brand image spot these days from a major auto manufacturer, because they're either pushing a specific vehicle or some sort of retail spot. The new direction for VW is smart and "Hello Light" is dramatic, original, well conceived and flat-out excellent overall. And if this is a preview of what's coming from VW, we're sufficiently impressed and look forward to the new work. Nicely done, ladies and gentlemen. -PMD. (6/12)
 

VW Update: Editor-in-Chief's Note: As excited and pleased as we were with the "Hello Light" spot for VW, the spot that launched today - “Something Big” - to introduce the new "Drive Bigger" campaign is very disappointing. It veers into colossal touchy-feely visuals with no connection to anything other than to give the impression that "we're VW and we believe in bigger things for the wellness of all mankind" or something like that. It's annoying, predictable and a giant letdown. It's as if the creatives at Johannes Leonardo got lost in themselves and the VW client went along with it. The net result? An eminently forgettable spot and a missed opportunity. -PMD  Editor's Note: The idea behind "Something Big" is all well and good (and noble), etc., etc., but this work does not have anywhere near the magic (none, in fact) of last week's "Hello Light" spot. Moreover, it could be a statement from any brand, automotive or otherwise. And we're not quite sure about the "return Volkswagen to its counter-culture status" part of the equation (as agency co-founder Leo Premutico outlined as a campaign goal). Society is clearly well on its way to promoting the collective good over the individual (thereby negating any notion that this is a "counter-culture" idea). So, basically, we're feeling more than a bit let down after the amazing work that is "Hello Light." "Something Big" looks like like VW did a complete pivot and decided to "Think Small," and not in a good way. -WG (6/12)

(Jaguar)

The man responsible for developing some of the most iconic Jaguars ever, Norman Dewis OBE, has passed away at age 98. Over a 33-year career with Jaguar, Dewis’ fearlessness, extraordinary talent and friendly, humble demeanor helped establish him not only as Britain’s greatest ever test driver, but a veritable legend and a dedicated friend to the Jaguar brand. Dewis’ history with Jaguar is remarkable: he developed the multiple Le Mans-winning C- and D-type racing cars, the classic XK 140 and 150 sports cars, the pioneering 2.4/3.4 and Mk 2 saloons, plus the Mk VII and Mk VIIM models, the legendary E-type (including the Lightweight E-type), the XJ13 mid-engined prototype, the world-class XJ saloons, the XJ-S and the ‘XJ40’ models. Each and every model developed with Dewis’ help remains an icon of the automotive world to this day for its impeccable blend of comfort and handling. Unusually, Norman reported directly to Jaguar Chief Engineer, William Heynes. This arrangement was probably unique in the motor industry for a test engineer and it enabled the company’s chief engineer (later engineering director) instant, firsthand feedback on the proving process. Norman also sent copies of his reports to company founder Sir William Lyons. Both placed considerable weight on what Norman said. (6/12) 

(Lamborghini images)
This is a concept we could have done without. Lamborghini is calling the Huracán Sterrato its "unconventional" concept. Uh, no shit. Based on the the V10 Huracán (obviously), the Sterrato is looking to create "a new dimension of Lamborghini ‘fun to drive off-road’: a transfer of technologies creating a super sports car for challenging environments." Why? And no. (6/5)

(General Motors images)
Michelin and General Motors presented a new generation of airless wheel technology, the MICHELIN Uptis Prototype (or “Unique Puncture-proof Tire System”), at the Movin’On Summit for sustainable mobility today. GM intends to develop this airless wheel assembly with Michelin and aims to introduce it on passenger vehicles as early as 2024. GM will initiate real-world testing and validation of the Uptis Prototype on a Michigan test fleet of Chevrolet Bolt EVs later this year. Airless technology makes the Uptis Prototype eliminate flats and blowouts. This means Uptis offers significant potential for reducing the use of raw materials and waste by: Reducing the number of punctured or damaged tires that are scrapped before reaching the end of their life cycle; reducing the use of raw materials, energy for production and emissions linked to the manufacture of spare tires and replacement tires that are no longer required; lasting longer by eliminating irregular wear and tear caused by over- or under-inflation; and reducing dangers related to flats and blowouts. More information on the MICHELIN Uptis Prototype can be found here. (6/5)

The original - and still our favorite - Autoextremist logo. (5/29) 

No free hunting trips to Wales. No bought-and-paid-for content "acceptable" to the auto manufacturers. No PR puff pieces lauding a convicted hack and his mediocre automotive career. No wishy-washy reviews. Just the bare-knuckled, unvarnished, high-octane truth about anything and everything to do with the car business. From the cars themselves, to the companies and the people who design, build and market them, Autoextremist.com is everything you wanted to read about the business of cars. We say the things that the others don't have the balls to say, and we do it with a relentless ferocity and an uncanny accuracy that resonate throughout the industry.

AE Music Lyrics of the Week:

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

"Lawyers, Guns and Money" - Warren Zevon (5/22)

Editor-in-Chief's Note: We have no idea why Porsche persists in showing the current 911 anywhere near either the old 911 or, in this case, the original Speedster, because it's just not a good look and about the furthest thing from flattering. It clearly demonstrates how far afield Porsche has gotten from its sports car roots because let's face it, the current 911 is a giant car in comparison. Not. Very. Good. -PMD (5/8)
The 911 Speedster’s flat-six engine is based on the one used in the 911 GT3 and GT3 RS models and represents the next generation of this engine. It has been enhanced with individual throttle bodies that make the throttle response sharper, similar to the ones found on the new 911 GT3 R race car. Higher fuel injection pressure and a new lightweight exhaust system, which saves about 22 pounds of weight compared to the 2018 911 GT3, are also unique to the new 911 Speedster. The 2019 911 Speedster uses a chassis derived from the 911 GT3 models with a specifically-calibrated rear axle steering system and dynamic engine mounts "to deliver a maximum amount of precision, stability and driving pleasure" according to Porsche. Twenty-inch center lock wheels painted in Satin Black are equipped with Ultra High Performance (UHP) tires to offer high levels of grip. The 2019 911 Speedster is available to order and has an MSRP of - GULP - $274,500, not including a $1,250 delivery, processing and handling fee. It is expected to reach U.S. dealers in late 2019. The optional Heritage Design Package designed by Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur, which offers many styling cues and design elements inspired by classic Speedster models from the 1950’s, can be ordered for an additional $24,510. (5/8)

It's all in the drive, Part II.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: It's feast or famine when it comes to getting press fleet cars here at AE. Well, mostly famine, since when it comes right down to it we go for months on end between getting cars to drive. So, it's somewhat of a shock to have two cars in three weeks, especially when this week has us in the 2019 Cadillac CT6 Sport AWD. Full disclosure, I had a Cadillac DTS as a personal driver for a couple of years, and even though it was classic "yestertech" at the time, I enjoyed it, particularly when dealing with the urban-plus-freeway slog. So I was looking forward to the CT6 Sport, especially since it was designed and engineered back in the days when Cadillac had its sights on the luxury-performance German machines from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. 
As I've said before, the CT6 looks great coming at you on the road, especially with the Sport grille, as our tester had. And the look of the front lighting at night is borderline spectacular. In total the CT6 design is crisp and purposeful from the front, too elongated from the side, and fairly nondescript from the back. The Red Horizon Tintcoat paint is an interesting look on the CT6, especially in the sea of black and the various shades of gray seen on most luxury cars, but it wouldn't be my first choice. I get the "Sport" connotation, but it didn't seem quite appropriate for the $83,215 sticker price. 
I found the interior to be better than I expected it would be, looking sleek and seamless in all the right places. The instrumentation was superb, and Cadillac's move to more control knobs and clear-read graphics was welcome. If you notice in the specs below, this CT6 Sport AWD was super-loaded with $15,000+ of options. I should pause right here and say that I didn't try even 20 percent of the technology in this car, including the vaunted Super Cruise. Why? I am not technology averse, but to me it's all about the drive. And too much of the technology available on cars in this era has little to do with enhancing the way they drive. I didn't want to overdose on the technology, when I could spend more time concentrating on the driving (although to be fair, plenty of the technology intruded on the driving anyway).

I will say that when it comes to the driving, the CT6 Sport acquits itself well, especially with the "sport" mode on. Not having been in a big sedan in a while, but very familiar with them, the CT6 Sport felt slightly big and ponderous at first, especially at slow urban speeds. But as with its competitive set of German sedans, the CT6 comes to life when the speeds come up. The ponderousness goes away, it gets lighter on its feet and no surprise, it feels slightly Germanic, although with a crisper, engineered-in-Detroit feel. And the Twin-Turbo V6 performed flawlessly, with an enjoyable level of response and notable thrust. Yes, the ride is slightly on the harsh side, but it is not overly rough or objectionable in the least, even on Michigan's now traditional - and monumentally shitty - roads. 

The CT6 Sport was surprisingly much better than I thought it would be, certainly better than the criticism leveled at it. But at the same time, in a SUV/crossover obsessed world, the CT6 is destined to operate on the margins. Not Cadillac enough for the traditional - and dying out - Cadillac intenders, and not elevated enough for the logo-obsessed, flavor-of-the-moment auto grazers. Would I consider a CT6 Sport AWD if I was shopping competitors from Audi, BMW or Mercedes-Benz? I would. But then again, I think this loaded tester should sticker for just under $70,000, all-in. That's what happens when a brand's image doesn't live up to its obviously well-executed, real-world presence. -PMD UPDATE: With more time spent in the CT6 Sport AWD, the more I realized the kind of effort the True Believers at GM/Cadillac put into this car. In sport mode and at higher speeds, the chassis feels planted, capable and really good. And the Twin-Turbo V6, as I said, provides plenty of thrust, especially in the 70-100 mph range needed to get around sluggish traffic on the freeway. So, as a driver-oriented machine the CT6 acquits itself quite well for a big sedan. I did try out Super Cruise, and I have to say that although it worked as advertised, i found it to be eerie and more than a little disconcerting. If this is a limited preview of our driving future, I think I will enjoy working the steering wheel for a long time to come. I do appreciate the technology displayed in the Super Cruise system, however, it's just not appealing to me. -PMD
2019 Cadillac CT6 Sport AWD: $83,215 ($66,595 Base Price; Red Horizon Tintcoat, $1225; Jet Black interior; 3.0-liter, Direct Injected, Twin Turbocharged V6 with 404HP and 400 lbs-ft of torque; 10-speed automatic transmission, Electronic Precision Shift; All-Wheel-Drive; 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS; Four-wheel independent suspension; 19" multi-spoke alloy wheels; LED headlights and tail lamps; Intellibeam headlights; Sport grille; Black finish window moldings; Leather seating surfaces, 16-way power bucket seats, front; Driver and front passenger memory seats; Heated front seats; Power rear window sunshade with manual rear side sunshades; Heated steering wheel; Auto-dim inside rear view mirror;  Automatic climate control, dual zone; Power adjustable and heated body color outside mirrors; 8" gauge cluster; Cadillac User Experience with 10" diagonal color display; Navigation, Apple Carplay and Android capability provided by Apple and Google; Bose premium ten speakers audio; Wireless charging; SiriusXM and HD radio (first three months free); Ultraview sunroof; Auto parking assist; Power deck lid, hands free; Super Cruise Package - Super Cruise driver assistance feature includes the first three years of OnStar to support Super Cruise functionality, Forward and reverse automatic braking, Advanced adaptive cruise control, Night vision, Magnetic ride control, Active rear steering, 20" multi-spoke alloy wheels - $6,000; Bose Panaray sound system including 34 speakers, $3700; Rear Seat Package - Rear seat infotainment, HDMI module, Quad-zone climate control, ionizing air cleaner - $2,700; Comfort and Technology Package - 12" color gauge cluster including driver personalization, Rear camera mirror (with washer), Head-up display, Ventilated driver and front passenger seat backs, Heated rear outboard seats - $2,000; Destination charge, $995) (4/17)

(Photos by deremerstudios.com for Amelia Island Concours)
A 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Autobahn-Kurier and 1957 Ferrari 335 S were crowned this year’s Best in Show Sunday at the 24th annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. The event once again brought together the best of the automotive world, including 2019 honoree, “Mr. Le Mans” Jacky Ickx. The legendary Ickx is a six-time Le Mans winner, 1979 Can-Am Champion, a Formula 1 victor and a Daytona, Sebring and Paris-Dakar winner. “The 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Autobahn-Kurier and 1957 Ferrari 335 S both truly embody the sophistication of our awards,” said Bill Warner, Chairman and Founder of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. “I was thrilled to watch the judges honor such esteemed automobiles and continue to recognize the best and most extraordinary vehicles in existence, right here in Northeast Florida.”  

The Best in Show Concours d'Elegance Tropy went to a 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Autobahn-Kurier owned by The Keller Collection at the Pyramids. In March of 1934, a new Mercedes debuted at the Berlin Car Show: "Autobahnen Kurierwagen 8-Zylinder Kompressor Typ 500." Only one model existed and the brochures informed the public that this car was designed for incredibly high-speeds on the autobahns going as far to claim that the high winds at those speeds gave the car its defining shape. Mercedes built the new model on the existing W29 chassis. Mercedes clientele at the time were conservative, buying only 761 W29 cars between February 1934 and November 1939. Of those, 342 were equipped with a 5-liter engine and 419 with a 5.4 liter engine as in this car. Both were equipped with a Kompressor. The remaining 70 chassis were sent to outside firms that would construct specials to client wishes.

A 1957 Ferrari 355 S owned by Cavallino Investments took home the Best in Show Concours de Sport Trophy. The 335 S was the most technologically advanced Ferrari in 1957. It featured a longitudinal 60-degree V-12 with 24 plugs, two valves per cylinder, twin overhead camshafts per cylinder bank and it produced 360 horsepower. This Scuderia Ferrari Factory team car started life as a 290 MM, was then upgraded to a 315 S and finally a 335 S. The car has a tremendous racing history spanning three seasons. The car participated in major races such as Sebring, Le Mans, the Mille Miglia and 1,000 km events at the Nürburgring and in Caracas. The car was piloted by some of the great drivers of its day including Juan Manuel Fangio, Phil Hill, Olivier Gendebien, Alfonzo De Portago, W. Graf Berghe von Trips, Peter Collins, Maurice Trintignant, Mike Hawthorn, Luigi Musso, Stirling Moss and Gaston Andrey. This was in the period 1956 and 1957 when Ferrari won the World Sportscar Championship. (3/13)

   Volvo. Somehow we knew it would come to this: Volvo is cutting the top speed of its cars from 130 mph to 112 mph in the interest of safety and to reduce speed-related deaths. This is Bush League Bullshit of the first degree. Speeding doesn't cause auto deaths; bad judgement, incompetence, carelessness and stupidity behind the wheel are responsible, however. (3/6)

Editor-in-Chief's Note: As I said, I chose not to devote this week's column to the Super Bowl commercials. There were a few good tries and some "almost" spots, but nothing was worth writing about. The Bud Light work was atrocious, the Kia Telluride spot was very good for 45 sec. (too bad it was 90 sec.), etc., etc., etc. The only spot I found to be meaningful every time I watched it was the spot for The Washington Post. You can watch it here. -PMD (2/6)

(Lamborghini)
Lamborghini Polo Storico will be at Rétromobile, the Paris show devoted to classic cars, February 6-10, with a special Rosso Corsa 1972 Miura SV. This machine underwent a complete restoration by Polo Storico and is owned by Jean Todt, President of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile. The restoration of Miura chassis number No. 3673 took thirteen months and involved the complete dismantling of the car, which made it possible to verify each and every detail from the markings of the frame, body, and interiors, to the numbering and dating present on the other components. Polo Storico also verified the conformity with the notes present in the assembly books stored in the Lamborghini archives. (2/6)

(BMW images)
We knew when we took one look at the BMW X7 SUV that BMW was on a design road going nowhere good. Now, with the introduction of the new 7 Series, our suspicions have been confirmed. BMW PR minions had this to say: "The latest edition of the 7 Series features design updates that touch almost every area of the body, including the front bumper, hood, headlights, front fenders, rear bumper trim and rear lights to accentuate the elegance of the BMW 7 Series." The massive front end is a result of  "the significantly expanded surfacing at the front of the car, which is now two inches taller at its highest point." Only two inches? The thing looks gargantuan, and it's a clear attempt by BMW designers to make its big sedan look like an SUV. It's stunning, but not in a good way. This is a rolling monument to design tedium at its finest. -PMD (1/16)

Editor-in-Chief’s Note: And as is now tradition here at AE, we’ll close out 2019 with our favorite holiday commercial (from Apple). Watch it here. -PMD