ON THE TABLE - JUNE 19, 2013

 Robots and car testing. Editor-in-Chief's Note: With the news that the Ford Motor Company is using robots to drive its vehicles over some of its most grueling test roads to accelerate durability development – a smart move by the way – it immediately dawned on me, why stop there? When I consider the questionable decisions made every day at these car companies by bureaucrats trying to cover their asses, a robotic alternative may prove to be strategically brilliant. I mean, really, would some of these car companies suffer all that much if they turned over some of their key decision-making to robotic mercenaries who didn’t really get rattled by company political infighting and deeply held grudges that are rife throughout the bureaucracies? Just think of the possibilities! Human Resources issues? Just turn things over to the HRPS Robot (Human Resources Professional Simulater) who will be particulalry suited to utter the phrase, "Please bring your security pass and your company car keys to the Human Resources office immediately." Or the Financial Robot - affectionately nicknamed "Dr. No" - who is programmed to reject every request with, what else, a thundering "No!" Imagine a whole room full of CYA Robots, particularly adept at never taking a stand, sending relentlessly circular emails and giving new meaning to the term "the paralysis in the vast gray middle." Or how about "Parrot" Robots, who impress everyone with their ability to repeat everything the Big Boss says while nodding in cheery agreement. Then there are the Marketing Robots, who handily refer back to their default setting of "How much is that gonna be a month?" And of course what would a modern auto company be without whole squadrons of beaten-down "Minion" Robots, the "Yes sir, no sir, thank you sir, may I have another sir" hordes that keep the whole enterprise afloat. Combine all of this with the autonomous vehicle developement programs, and you just might be on to something. - PMD

Buttons & Knobs, oh my! Ford is going to add more buttons and knobs to its MyFord Touch control and infotainment system in future vehicles. Relentlessly hammered by Consumer Reports and on customer surveys about the difficulties of performing simple tasks with the system, Ford is taking a step back to reality by adding simpler controls.

Apple. We really like the new Apple campaign - "Designed by Apple In California" - a lot. Crisply written with pitch-perfect tone, it's worth more than a look. Check it out here. Imagine a car company that adhered to these words: "This is it. This is what matters. The experience of a product. How it makes someone feel. When you start by imagining What that might be like. You step back. You think."

Editor's Note: One of the largest American car shows in the world... is in Sweden. Watch a clip here. (And thanks to one of our longtime Canadian readers, Roger Clarke, for passing this item along to us!) - WG

(BMW Group)
The all-new BMW 4 Series Coupe, which will be launched as the latest generation of BMW’s sporty mid-size Coupe, "embodies the very essence of dynamics and aesthetic appeal in the premium segment," according to BMW PR minions. The new BMW 4 Series Coupe will be offered as both a 428i, featuring BMW’s TwinPower Turbo 2.0-liter 4-cylinder and as a 435i with the Twin Power Turbo 3.0-liter inline six. Both will be available with a standard 8-speed sport automatic or six-speed manual transmission (thank goodness for the manual). Both will also be offered with a choice of rear-wheel drive or with optional xDrive, BMW’s intelligent all-wheel drive system. The 2014 BMW 428i Coupe will have a base MSRP of $41,425, and the 2014 BMW 435i Coupe will have a starting price of $46,925. The 2014 428i xDrive Coupe and 435i xDrive will start from $43,425 and 48,925 respectively (all prices include destination and handling). All four variants of the BMW 4 Series Coupe will arrive here late this summer.

(Audi USA)
Pricing for the all-new 2014 Audi SQ5 high-performance luxury crossover – the first-ever S variant of any Audi Q model – will begin at $51,900. The Audi SQ5, which "blends sportiness and sophistication with space and functionality," according to Audi PR, is expected to arrive in U.S. showrooms later this summer. The Audi SQ5 has a supercharged 3.0-liter TFSI® direct-injection V6 engine delivering 354 hp and 347 lb-ft of torque, matched to an eight-speed Tiptronic® automatic transmission and quattro® all-wheel drive. The SQ5 accelerates from 0-60 mph in 5.1 seconds, reaching a top track speed of 155 mph.

(Fiat-Chrysler)
The Fiat 500 was a nice little appetizer, but this is what all of those Fiat dealers have been desperate for: another car to sell. The all-new 2014 Fiat 500L arrives at dealers this June with a starting price of $19,100. The Fiat 500L adds two more doors plus best-in-class interior volume (120.1 cu. ft.) providing comfortable accommodations for five passengers (uh, that's doubtful but it is a press release after all). Designed on the new “small-wide” vehicle architecture, the 500L is 27 inches longer, six inches higher and wider and offers 42 percent more space than the 500. In other words it has nothing to do with the 500 whatsoever. The dealers don't care, just having something bigger on their showroom floors is what matters.

Models pointing off in the distance for no apparent reason. A Sergio sighting perhaps?

(Photos courtesy of Aston Martin The Americas)
Aston Martin has unveiled the Vanquish Volante, "a stunning new luxury sports car that brings the thrill of open top motoring to the super GT class" according to Aston's PR boffins. The Vanquish Volante "crucially retains the coupe's full breadth of dynamic character and sporting capability," says Aston. It features the same new AM11 6.0-litre V12 engine as the coupe and the same performance figures, meaning a top speed of 183 mph. The Vanquish Volante is the first fully carbon fiber-skinned Volante in the brand's 100- year history, while also being the stiffest Volante body structure yet created by the engineering team at Aston Martin's global HQ in Gaydon, Warwickshire, England. The new car's triple-skin lightweight fabric roof can be operated at speeds of up to 30 mph and takes just 14 seconds to fold. "This car is what luxury super GT driving is all about. Great performance, fantastic style and exhilarating Volante motoring in one superb package," Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez said. The price? Beginning at $297,995 RRP in the United States, with first deliveries expected to begin across the Americas from early next year.

(Chevrolet)
Chevrolet has released official performance estimates for the 2014 Corvette Stingray. Equipped with the available Z51 Performance Package, the new Corvette is capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, braking from 60 to 0 in 107 feet, and sustaining 1.03 g in cornering. Cumulatively, the acceleration, cornering and braking capability of the Corvette enabled it to lap the Virginia International Raceway’s (VIR) 4.2-mile “Grand Course” in 2:51.78. The lap around VIR was conducted in Stingray equipped with the available Z51 Performance Package and Magnetic Ride Control. The vehicle that conducted the lap was modified only with safety features like a racing seat and harness, and fire extinguisher system.