ON THE TABLE - MARCH 6, 2013

 Bill Maher. Our Autoline.tv colleagues agree, Maher's "New Rules" riff on Toyotas in terrorist countries was priceless last Friday night. Watch it here.

 Ferrari. Editor-in-Chief's Note: After dubbing its latest super car "LaFerrari" where does Ferrari go from here? And, if close to or over 1,000HP is the new norm for super cars (Ferrari, McLaren, Bugatti, Porsche) where do we all go from here? I will have more on this subject next week. - PMD

 Alfa Romeo. Editor-in-Chief's Note: If Alfa enthusiasts were waiting for an answer to their prayers, the new 4C probably isn't it. Alfa handlers are touting the 4C's "super car" status (it has a 1.75-liter, turbocharged, direct-injection gasoline engine delivering 240 hp and is said to reach 60 mph in around 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph), but I'm sorry, with everything going on right now in the super car world, it doesn't qualify as such. Not even close, in fact. Now, If the Fiat-Chrysler minions want to tout its profitability potential then maybe they'd be on to something, because for about $80,000 they're going to be raking in huge amounts of ca$h from people who should know better. But make no mistake, the first-on-the-block types will pick over the approximately 1,200 that are going to be sent here like wildfire, and Alfa operatives will insist that the 4C will be enough to relaunch the brand here. A giant "We'll See" if I've ever seen one. - PMD

 Ferrari. Editor-in-Chief's Note: Our colleague Gary Vasilash (www.autofieldguide.com/) passed the following along. Ferrari operatives are claiming that Ferrari is "the World’s most powerful brand, not just in the automobile sector, but across all categories and territories worldwide.” Sounds about right if you're drinking from the Ferrari water trough, but the world's most powerful brand? In a world of Apple, Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Google, McDonald's, GE, Nike, et al? Ferrari? No frickin' way. But it does speak to the legendary arrogance that runs rampant at Fiat - a relentlessly mediocre car company that has failure seemingly written into its charter - the same arrogance that The Great Sergio brings with him to work every day. It's why he expects everyone to do his bidding, especially the keyboard-stained wretches in the media. And it's why he usually gets away with it. But Ferrari the world's most powerful brand? Patently absurd. - PMD

 Mercedes-Benz. From the "Hell Freezes Over" File comes the surest sign yet that the end times are nigh. One suburban Detroit Mercedes-Benz dealer is promoting its lease deal on the C-class via a super-sized price decal on the driver's side door. On display outside the showroom, the car features "$369/mo" in can't-miss lettering. Wow. To say that this is a new low for Mercedes doesn't even begin to cut it. Now, possibly (and hopefully) this is an isolated incident - just a bad idea on the part of whoever is responsible for the outdoor vehicle display at that dealership - and not a directive from M-B corporate. But whatever the case, it puts a bit of a tear in whatever shred of prestige the once-untouchable brand has left. Mercedes seems hell-bent on promoting its affordability message to the detriment of all that it once stood for as the pinnacle of automotive luxury. How the mighty have fallen. "The Best or Nothing"? Seems they really mean "The Best for Next-To Nothing."

(GM images)

The 2014 Corvette Stingray convertible has made its global debut at the Geneva Motor Show. The convertible features an all-new, fully electronic top that can be lowered remotely using the car’s key fob. The top can also be opened or closed on the go, at speeds of up to 30 mph (50 km/h). “The convertible has been a part of the heart and soul of Corvette since the very beginning in 1953,” said Ed Welburn, GM vice president of global design. “With the all-new Corvette Stingray, we designed and developed the coupe and convertible simultaneously. As a result, the Corvette Stingray offers an open-top driving experience with no compromise in performance, technology or design.” Editor-in-Chief's Note: We like the convertible better than the coupe, at least from the pictures. Expect it in showrooms (at least with a modicum of availability) one year from now. - PMD

(Images courtesy of Porsche Cars North America)
The new Porsche 911 GT3 makes its debut at the Geneva International Motor Show this week.  The completely-redeveloped fifth generation of the 911 GT3 "occupies the top position among Porsche sports cars with naturally-aspirated engines," according to Porsche. Already having recorded an impressive lap time on the Nürburgring Nordschleife of under 7:30 minutes, the 2014 911 GT3 has a new 3.8-liter 475HP engine, a specially developed Porsche dual-clutch transmission (PDK), which drives the rear wheels, and trick body and chassis tweaks. As a technical highlight, the 911 GT3 features the first active rear-wheel steering in a production Porsche, as well as optional full LED headlights. The car sprints from zero to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds, hits 124 mph in less than 12 seconds and has a top track speed of 195 mph. The 2014 911 GT3 will go on sale in the United States in late 2013 and will be priced from $130,400, not including a $950 destination charge.

(Images courtesy of Rolls-Royce)
The new Wraith from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has made its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show.  It is "the most powerful and dynamic Rolls-Royce in history," according to the automaker. With 624 bhp/465 kW and 800 Nm of torque from 1,500 rpm, the elegant fastback is indeed the most powerful Rolls-Royce ever built.

(BMW)
The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2013 will be held May 24-26 on the grounds of the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este and Villa Erba in Cernobbio on Italy's Lake Como. This year will once again feature the Concorso di Motociclette, which was added to the events in 2011 and includes a parade of motorcycles piloted by riders in historic dress. Other special exhibitions include “90 years of BMW Motorrad” and “60 years of Corvette.”

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Check out this trailer released by Jaguar for the upcoming short feature film, 'Desire', with Ridley Scott Associates, staring actor Damian Lewis and the all-new F-TYPE. - PMD

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Our friend Casey Shain (aka "artandcolour") has sent us a bunch of new "chops" as he refers to them, and we thought we'd share them with our AE readers and the design community that always seems to get a kick out of them. As Casey says: "I've taken your idea of making the Corvette a brand of its own. I've facelifted the 'regular' C7 but I've also made two smaller V6 coupes and a larger 4 door rendering...It's sort of amazing how flexible the design is. Don't be scared of the 4 door, lol!" We're not, because it looks great. Check out Casey's digital illustrations below, with his commentary. - PMD

(Digital illustration courtesy of Casey "artandcolour" Shain)
This Red Split Window coupe is a facelift of the new C7 with a "proper" wraparound rear hatch with a dividing spine. The front vents have been toned down in a more classic 'Vette shape. Oh, and of course the rear taillights are round now, trimmed in polished aluminum like the exhausts.

(Digital illustration courtesy of Casey "artandcolour" Shain)
The blue C7 with dual chrome side strakes is a facelifted, AeroCoupe-inspired Stingray. I changed the window graphic to more closely resemble the '70s AeroVette concept. The chrome strakes are an homage to Earl and Mitchell who loved tasteful ornamentation. Round taillights, too.
(Digital illustration courtesy of Casey "artandcolour" Shain)
This Blue V6-powered Corvette C7 would be the base model. It would be the lightest and most rigid of the 'Vettes with a trunk instead of a heavy hatch. A Twin-Turbo V6 would put out 325-350HP and with a curb weight lowered by at least 300 lbs, would be a screamer. I shortened the hood and wheelbase in both the front and rear of the passenger compartment.

(Digital illustration courtesy of Casey "artandcolour" Shain)
This Red V6-powered Corvette C7 keeps the shortened hood but leaves the rear of the car the same size as the Stingray. The hatch is modified to be slightly wraparound and the quarter windows are reshaped.   

(Digital illustration courtesy of Casey "artandcolour" Shain)
The new Corvette Corsa. Yes, a 4-door Corvette. Elegant interior materials would help to make this 4-door a true competitor to the Porsche Panamera and perhaps even the Aston Martin Rapide, though of course at a price much less than either of those two European 4-door sports cars. I really think GM could pull this off. I thought about "hiding" the rear door handles in the tiny 6th window of the greenhouse, but I went with proudly presenting the car with versions of the Vette's indented touch handles.

(Digital illustration courtesy of Casey "artandcolour" Shain)
I gave the mid-size Chevy Malibu a more stand-up, "prouder" grille to replace the bi-level in a way that's not Camaro-like. The rest of the car was made sleeker with a 6-window greenhouse.
(Digital illustration courtesy of Casey "artandcolour" Shain)
I've tried to give the new Impala a '60s-inspired coupe roof-line. Though the proportions are completely different from the 1960s, I think it really could work!
(Digital illustration courtesy of Casey "artandcolour" Shain)
This is a flagship Lincoln Continental convertible built off the "other" Continental - the Bentley. This is my idea for an über Lincoln to just waft along Mulholland Drive or pull up to any posh casino in Monaco.