JULY 22, 2015

Editor-In-Chief's Note: Apple has hired former FCA manufacturing executive, Doug Betts. The former FCA Vice President of Quality with manufacturing stints at Toyota and Nissan on his resume, left the company under "difficult circumstances" last fall according to the Detroit Free Press (gee, what a surprise, after all we're talking Sergio here, right?). Why is this news and what does it mean? Well, Apple has such gigantic resources on hand - profits of $31 billion in the first six months of this year and a staggering $190 billion plus cash on hand - that it makes the car companies' balance sheets look like neighborhood lemonade stands, and they can do whatever the hell they want to. I used to think that Apple just wanted to design and sell a complete center stack to an auto manufacturer so that its customers could have a "seamless" experience with its products - at home, at the office, mobile and the car. Now, with this move, I'm not so sure. Could Apple design, engineer and build a car, autonomous or otherwise? Absolutely. And will they? I'm betting that's a "yes." And if they do, it will change this business forever. -PMD

(Buick)
Cute Utes are all the rage these days and GM was, remarkably enough, first to market with its Buick Encore back in 2014, which has now been joined by the Chevrolet Trax. For 2016, Buick is introducing the Encore Sport Touring, which features a Direct-injected, 1.4L turbo with an estimated 153HP (112 kW) and 177 lb-ft of torque (240 Nm), that's about 11 percent more horsepower and almost 20 percent more torque than the Encore’s standard engine, something that was desperately needed. It comes with a six-speed automatic transmission. The exterior is dolled-up with a winged rear spoiler for apparently no reason whatsoever and the always desirable "body-color door handles." The big news about the "Sport Touring" package as far as we're concerned - after the boost in power, of course - is the slick-looking 18-inch aluminum premium-finish wheels, which are surprisingly quite tasty.

(Ford images)
Well, if you just couldn't wait and went out and got yourself a Ford F-150 Platinum already, guess what? There's something better coming. The new Ford F-150 Limited "meets the growing needs of discerning truck customers interested in exclusivity, capability and craftsmanship – those looking to differentiate themselves from buyers of other high-series trucks," according to Ford PR minions. As you would imagine, the new top-of-the line F-150 Limited is absolutely loaded to the gills with a 360-degree camera system, adaptive cruise control, quad-beam LED headlamps, remote tailgate release, multicontour massaging front seats and SYNC® 3 with AppLink™. The 2016 F-150 Limited is powered by the 3.5-liter EcoBoost® V6 with 365HP and 420 lb.-ft. of torque, which allows for towing of up to 10,100 pounds (when properly equipped). This comes with an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 17 mpg city, 24 mpg highway and 20 mpg combined (rear-wheel-drive models). The engine is paired with an electronic six-speed automatic transmission with tow/haul and sport modes that features SelectShift® with progressive range select. Other exclusive exterior and interior design elements include raised LIMITED lettering on the hood, unique custom satin-chrome grille and tailgate, 22-inch wheels, genuine fiddleback eucalyptus (!), Mojave leather seating surfaces, unique instrument cluster face and laser-engraved VIN plate with production number. Available colors are Blue Jeans, Shadow Black, Magnetic, and White Platinum Metallic tri-coat. The F-150 Limited goes on sale this winter.

(PPG)
This gorgeous, Bobby Alloway-built 1937 Chevy coupe has won the 2015 Classic Instruments Street Rod of the Year award at the 18th annual PPG Goodguys Nationals held July 10-12 at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio. The gleaming machine - owned by Chuck Rowe of Millington, Tenn. - features Alloway’s signature deep black PPG finish and rakish stance. Celebrated as “the master of black,” Alloway almost always paints his custom builds black. The Chevy was built at Alloway’s Hot Rod Shop where he uses PPG products exclusively. Alloway's latest masterpiece was painted in DELTRON® DBU 9700 Basecoat and DCU 2002 CONCEPT® Clearcoat. It was Alloway’s third time winning the award; in 2001 he took the honors with a ’33 Ford and in 2012 with a ’32 Ford. But multiple wins don’t make the experience any easier. “The whole thing is nerve-wracking,” said Alloway. “It’s an honor to win, but you’re competing with the top builders in the world, so you can’t relax or get overconfident. You do the best you can, make the car look great and hope the judges recognize your work. I’m thankful they did.” Alloway has been building timeless street rods since 1978, and his shop in Louisville, Tenn., has consistently produced award-winning vehicles. He is well respected for cars that sport an aggressive presence obtained through a blend of color, proportion and pure power - in this case an all-aluminum McLaren Chevrolet Big Block V8 is stuffed in the '37. Earlier this year, the Chevy was named Best Hot Rod at the 2015 Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, Calif. In recognition of his work, Alloway was inducted into the Grand National Roadster Hall of Fame this year and the Rod & Custom Hall of Fame in 2004. The Goodguys Rod & Custom Association is one of the largest rod and custom associations, with nearly 70,000 members around the world. The Goodguys Columbus Nationals is the organization’s biggest show of the year, with some of the top cars in the country competing for major awards. PPG is the official paint supplier to the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association.