No. 1240
March 27, 2024
 

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@PeterMDeLorenzo

Author, commentator, "The Consigliere."

Editor-in-Chief of Autoextremist.com.

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On The Table


Tuesday
Feb252014

ON THE TABLE - FEBRUARY 26, 2014

The Car Thing. Editor-in-Chief's Note: According to a piece by Jeff Green and Keith Naughton in Bloomberg News, The Car Thing as we know it is just about over. According to Green and Naughton, "The world will reach 'peak car' — a point at which annual global sales growth will top out — in the next decade, several auto-industry analysts predict. Researcher IHS Automotive, for one, sees annual sales cresting at 100 million within that time... No one is predicting that car sales will suddenly fall off or that today’s car companies are now dinosaurs. What the experts do see is a reckoning for car companies, which may have to adapt to a world with less car-buying and more car-sharing, more cars that drive themselves and fewer hot rodders on the highway." The times are a changin', yes, but even with these latest dire predictions, the freedom of mobility will continue to be an undeniable force on the planet. What form that mobility takes may change, but people will still want to move around and go places and for that, urban pea-shooter cars may not be the best option. And fewer hot rodders on the highway? We'll see about that. - PMD

(Images courtesy of Bentley)

Bentley has announced new luxury option packages and specification updates to its Continental models, led by enhancements to the styling, power, torque and performance of the Continental GT Speed (above). The Continental Speed GT's 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 engine now develops 635 PS (626HP/467 kW) and 820 Nm of torque. And the new Flying Spur luxury sedan (below) is now available with Bentley’s 4.0-litre twin turbo V8, which delivers 507 PS (500HP/373 kW) and 660 Nm of torque. These new models will be unveiled as part of Bentley’s presence at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

(Images courtesy of Ford)
Ford has introduced its redesigned Ford Focus
at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the world’s largest exhibition for the mobile industry. The new Focus has exterior design tweaks to bring it inline visually with other Ford offerings, a completely revised interior and advanced new technologies including a standard rear view camera, an available lane-keeping system and Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®). In addition to the design and technological advances, the new Focus will be available with the 1.0-liter EcoBoost® engine and six-speed transmission. The 2015 Ford Focus goes on sale in the second half of 2014.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Bradley Price is the owner of Officine Autodromo and a longtime reader of AE. His line of Prototipo watches are both stylish and beautifully executed. Check out the latest from Bradley below. And check out his website here. - PMD

Prototipo Nero features a black plated stainless steel case with an interplay of matte and brushed textures, all black dial and bright yellow hands. Nero also sports the "big hole" rally strap previously available only on the Vic Elford Edition. Prototipo Silver Dial offers a super cool 1970s feel. Featuring a subtle matte metallic silver dial accented by bright orange hands and a pumpkin leather rally strap.

(BMW Group)
If your new BMW i8 seems to be lacking something, Louis Vuitton has created a tailor-made set of luggage for the new plug-in hybrid sports car. The collection of luggage comprises two travel bags, a business case and a garment bag. The luggage items have been tailor-made to fit perfectly into the interior of the BMW i8 to ensure optimal use of space.