ON THE TABLE - NOVEMBER 13, 2013

   Sergio Marchionne. Editor-in-Chief's Note: He tells formerly excited Fiat dealers that only “the best performing Fiat dealers will be the ones that will be entitled to have a crack at Alfa Romeo distribution.” Really, Sergio? This after you lured these businesspeople in with your "Grand Vision" that required them to spend between $1-$2 million on brick and mortar for stand-alone Fiat franchises on the promise that they'd be swimming in Alfas - and Alfa profits - by 2014? Really, Sergio? This kind of Bush League Bullshit may work in Italy, but not so much here. Is it any big surprise that Sergio has fallen out of favor with a number of Fiat dealers? No. The bloom is off the rose, indeed. - PMD 

  Cadillac. Editor-in-Chief's Note: GM has hired Uwe Ellinghaus, 44, a former BMW executive to be Cadillac's new marketing chief in an attempt to help make the brand a more viable competitor to its import competition. Ellinghaus spent 14-years at the German luxury-performance automaker in various strategic marketing roles. A good idea, at least on the surface, except that he reports to Bob Ferguson, who is hopelessly clueless, and the moribund GM marketing culture - or what passes for it - is still resolutely in place. If it were as easy as hiring new actors to "fix" the marketing conundrum at GM - especially when it comes to Cadillac - it would have been fixed long ago. I will say this (again) and I'll probably say it at least a million times hence, but Cadillac needs to learn to understand and accept that "being Cadillac" is not a crime, that there are some parts of the Cadillac legacy that should be embraced and enhanced. Chasing the German manufacturers will only get the brand so far, because for most import intenders in this country Cadillac will never get where it wants to go.  But in China Cadillac has more than a shot because lo and behold, Chinese consumers don't have the residual memories of Vogue whitewalls and half vinyl roofs getting in the way. There's a very big lesson for Lincoln in all of this too. - PMD

George Clooney. Our AE Quote of the Week goes to the actor for his comments to Esquire magazine about the Tesla sports car he once had: "I had a Tesla. I was one of the first cats with a Tesla. I think I was, like, number five on the list. But I’m telling you, I’ve been on the side of the road a while in that thing. And I said to them, 'Look, guys, why am I always stuck on the side of the fucking road? Make it work, one way or another.'" It's a hard-knock life, eh, Elon?

(The Lincoln Motor Company)
The Lincoln Motor Company is unveiling the all-new 2015 Lincoln MKC small premium utility vehicle at the L.A. Auto Show, the second of four all-new Lincoln vehicles coming over the next 24 months designed to fuel the brand’s reinvention. The Lincoln MKC offers an assortment of first-in-class features, one of the most distinctive being its wraparound liftgate. Notably lower and wider than its corporate cousin, the Ford Escape, the MKC also distances by offering an all-new 2.3-liter EcoBoost® turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 275 horsepower and 300 lb.-ft. of torque.

(The Lincoln Motor Company)
With the new MKC, the Lincoln design signature is starting to come into focus. Expressive details, different executions and approaches, they're all part of what Ford is trying to achieve by resurrecting its luxury brand. “Our design team worked tirelessly to create a vehicle that attracts new customers to the brand while meeting the expectations of longtime Lincoln drivers,” said Max Wolff, director, Lincoln Design. “The execution of the new liftgate is a prime example of how a premium design element can create a better customer experience.” The Lincoln design approach also carries through to the interior, where you'll find Lincoln’s signature push-button gear shifter, brand specific leathers with French stitching, and available Bridge of Weir leather and real wood trim.

(The Lincoln Motor Company)

(The Lincoln Motor Company)
To be more consistent with the Lincoln driving experience, an all-new Lincoln steering wheel debuts on MKC and will be available on all future Lincoln vehicles. This highly tactile leather-wrapped wheel provides better feeling and control and puts the brand’s new design DNA in the driver’s hands, according to Lincoln. “We gave attention to every detail to convey a stylish, fashion-oriented vehicle,” said Soo Kang, Lincoln interior design chief. “Our use of colors, materials, stitching – every detail was considered to create an overall luxurious experience.”

(The Lincoln Motor Company)
The MKC will come standard with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder turbocharged engine, projected to produce 240 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 270 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm, according to preliminary Lincoln test data. When equipped with the all-new 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine, MKC is projected to deliver 275 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 300 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm. The Lincoln MKC will only be available with EcoBoost engines. Class-exclusive Active Grille Shutters are designed to help improve MKC fuel efficiency at highway speeds. The MKC in standard form has front-wheel drive and 18-inch wheels. Drivers can upgrade to Lincoln’s Intelligent All-Wheel Drive and 19-inch wheels. The Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system also includes Continuously Controlled Damping which constantly monitors the road, allowing the suspension to react on average within 20 milliseconds. Drivers can use Lincoln Drive Control to select from sport, comfort and normal drive modes. CCD is also available in the standard front-wheel drive configuration of MKC. Look for the new Lincoln MKC to arrive in showrooms next spring.

(Audi)
The Audi A3 Cabriolet will hit the UK and Europe next April. The details on the U.S. version are still to come, but in the meantime this is what it will look like. (Audi)

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Gary Vasilash of Automotive Design & Production sums up last week's episode of Autoline After Hours - which featured Tadge Juechter, the chief engineer of the new Corvette Stingray - here. - PMD 

(Porsche)

Porsche will mark two world premieres and three North American debuts at the upcoming 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show. The Porsche Macan compact SUV - the automaker’s fifth model line - will be unveiled during the Porsche press conference on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 11:35 a.m. PST. The Macan is a pivotal part of Porsche's future product - and profitability - cadence. Editor-in-Chief's Note: Once the Macan comes online, Porsche will be making more Cayennes, Macans and Panameras than they will pure sports cars (911, Boxster, Cayman). The company will derive most of its profitability from its non-sports cars as well. A good thing? To many Porsche enthusiasts, no. But Porsche insists that it will press the reset button on its image when it enters the 24 Hours of Le Mans next June - and hopefully wins - thus reminding everyone of what Porsche stands for. We'll see. - PMD.

(Porsche)

Other world debuts in L.A. for Porsche include the 911 Turbo Cabriolet and 911 Turbo S Cabriolet models. Additionally, the vaunted Porsche 918 Spyder will be shown for the first time at an auto show in North America, and the Panamera Turbo S and Panamera Turbo S Executive models will also be on display shortly after their world debut at the Tokyo Motor Show the same day. The Los Angeles area is Porsche’s most important market, with 17 percent of all cars sold in the U.S. Given that, the company is currently building the Porsche Experience Center Los Angeles, which will offer a world-class test track and handling course, including special surfaces which replicate inclement weather conditions where customers and auto enthusiasts can hone their driving skills and try out the latest Porsche models. The experience center, located in Carson, California, will also be the new home of Porsche Motorsport North America, currently located in Santa Ana, California.

(BMW Group)

More than 130 historic sports cars spanning eight decades of automotive history will go head to head for victory in the “1000 Millas Sport” in Argentina, November 14-16. This year’s event will be the 25th edition of South America’s foremost classic car rally. BMW Group Classic will be sending a trio of exceptional cars "embodying the sporting spirit of BMW." Besides a BMW 2000 CS and BMW 3.0 CS, BMW is sending its BMW 328 Kamm racing saloon, a faithful replica of the racing car built in 1939, which used the latest aerodynamics and lightweight design expertise at the time – and which competed in the Mille Miglia a year later. Developed in close cooperation with streamlined design pioneer Wunibald Kamm, the sports car boasted a still impressive Cd of 0.25. Its spaceframe (weighing just 30 kg) and aluminum bodywork gave the BMW a curb weight of 760 kg, and the 136 hp six-cylinder in-line engine powered it to a top speed of 230 km/h (143 mph). Accident damage meant the original car was consigned to the scrap heap in the early 1950s, but in 2010 BMW unveiled this replica version, which traces the original design drawings in full. And it has been a regular attraction at international classic car exhibitions and competitions ever since. 

(GM)
The revised 2014 Buick Regal has a new, standard, turbocharged, direct fuel-injected 2.0-liter engine, which produces 259 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. That means the Regal has more standard horsepower and torque than the Acura TSX, Audi A4, Lexus IS 250, Mercedes-Benz CLA 250, Volkswagen CC and Volvo S60. When compared with the 2013 Regal Turbo, the new 2.0L Turbo produces 18 percent more horsepower, 13 percent more torque and higher mpg numbers. Equipped with its six-speed automatic transmission, the 2014 Regal gets an EPA-estimated 21 mpg city and 30 mpg highway, an increase of 3 mpg or 17 percent city economy over the 2013 Regal Turbo. One of Ward’s 10 Best Engine (it made its debut in the Cadillac ATS), the new 2.0L Turbo is comprised of about 95 percent new parts compared to the outgoing engine. 

(Subaru)

When even Subaru is getting into the design game, you know design will continue to grow in importance as the Ultimate Initial Product Differentiator. Subaru will unveil its new Legacy Concept next week during the media preview days for the L.A. Auto Show, and it is said to provide a look at the styling cues for future Legacy models.

(Mercedes-Benz)
Mercedes-Benz designers have developed this concept of a super sports car – the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo - for the new PlayStation® 3 racing game Gran Turismo® 6. The concept is designed to be powered by an AMG V8 biturbo engine developing 585HP and a maximum torque of 800 Nm. Other details: An aluminum space frame body and components in carbon fiber, a weight of 1385 kilograms which translates to 2.4 kilograms per HP, and AMG ceramic high-performance composite braking system. The AMG sports exhaust system features eight - count 'em - tailpipes integrated into the rear end, and for fans of Gran Turismo® 6 the Mercedes-AMG sound designers "have created a powerful, sonorous exhaust note that authentically celebrates the V8's love of high engine speeds," according to the automaker.

(Mercedes-Benz)
"By virtue of its proportions and expressive appearance, the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo embodies the brand's defining design philosophy of sensuous purity in a unique way. The design of this concept car reflects to extreme effect the perfect symbiosis between emotional, sensuous contours and intelligently presented high tech," says Gorden Wagener, Vice President Design Daimler AG. Editor-in-Chief's Note: With all due respect to Mr. Wagener, this concept has virtually nothing to do with current Mercedes-Benz design, unfortunately. It's almost Bill Mitchell-esque in its emotional pull, which is something that the current Mercedes-Benz design language utterly lacks. And it makes the CLA - which various media-types can't keep salivating over - look positively craptastic. - PMD

(Mercedes-Benz)
The radiator grille is a reinterpretation of the wide Mercedes-Benz sports car grille with central star. Though its shape is reminiscent of the legendary 300 SL racing car of 1952, the grille is composed exclusively of LEDs. Mercedes-Benz insists that the variable LED grille with different light patterns is a further development of the diamond grille introduced with the new A-Class. Huh? Right.

(Mercedes-Benz)
The Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo will make its debut as a 1:1-scale model on November 19, 2013, at the opening of the new Mercedes-Benz Research & Development Center in Sunnyvale, California. The concept will make its debut on the virtual racetrack when the new racing game goes on sale in December 2013 – as the first of the "Vision Gran Turismo" series of vehicles.

Editor’s Note: Let's just get this on the table right now - I am available 24/7 to take delivery of my 2014 Bentley Flying Spur. Perhaps you just took delivery and are simply not happy with your color (excuse me,colour) choice, perhaps it is just too fast or just too luxurious. I don’t need to know the reason for your displeasure; I just need to know when you’ll be arriving my house! Okay, now that that’s out of the way, let me just say that the Flying Spur can really fly! Its twin-turbo 6.0-litre turbocharged W12 produces a staggering 616hp and 590 lb-ft of torque (up from 552 and 479, respectively, last year). It also features a new 8-speed automatic and all wheel drive is standard (with a 60/40 rear bias). And while it certainly looks like it weighs 5,445 pounds, it is simply amazing when you engage those horses. The stats claim zero to 60 in 4.3 seconds, and while I didn’t test this outright, I can tell you that 80 was the new 60 as I flew down Woodward Avenue. (Nevermind that fuel economy is rated at 12mpg city and 20mpg highway.) Redesigned for 2014, the Continental Flying Spur is now just the Flying Spur. There is a supremely confident, no-nonsense air about this car that I really wasn’t expecting. Yes, it is luxurious and powerful and unmistakable in its road presence. But there’s sort of a subtlety about it - almost understated, if you will. I know that’s hard to believe - I mean, this is a Bentley we’re talking about. But it doesn’t really scream excess; it just is. It sits there calmly, grandly, waiting to do your bidding - with grace and elegance to spare. The cabin is finished to the nth detail, with plenty of hides and secondary hides and veneers to go around. I must say, I did expect the seats to be a bit more cushy, a little more luxurious and not quite so sporty, but then again, given what happens when you really punch it, it’s good to have that extra support. I am a huge fan of heated seats (and a huge critic of the ones that automatically dial back the heat levels - like “they” know what I want). Well, no worries in that regard. Basically, those seats could bake scones. And once you've baked said scones, you can repair to the rear seats and enjoy them on your optional picnic trays. Two dainty little trays - just the perfect size for your proper English tea on-the-go (or your Pimm's Cup). What else caught my eye? The push-button knobs that open and close the vents - a very cool nod to the Bentleys of yore. What didn’t I like? The paddle switches on the steering column. They really clutter things up (and in fact look cheap), and they should be dispensed with posthaste. There are 17 exterior color choices for the Flying Spur, so please follow along as I list them here: St. James Red, Moonbeam, Beluga, Onyx, Glacier White, Dark Sapphire, Thunder, Granite, Hallmark, White Sand, Havana, Midnight Emerald, Meteor, Blue Crystal, Cumbrian Green, Silver lake, and a new color, Dark Cashmere. Then, there’s the interior and the premium grade hide in a choice of 12 colors: Beluga, Imperial Blue, Porpoise, Newmarket Tan, Saddle, Burnt Oak, Magnolia, Dark Bourbon, Portland, Brunel, Fireglow, and Linen. And don’t forget the wood trim! Veneer choices include Burr Walnut or Dark Fiddleback Eucalyptus on the fascia panels, console and door waistrails. None of these appeal to you? Worry not, there are more than 100 additional exterior paint colors available, five additional hide colors and five additional veneers, as well as a bespoke color-matching service. Let’s just say that as WordGirl, I find the idea of being in charge of the Bentley color palette irresistible! Clearly, the Flying Spur is not everyone's cup of Earl Grey, and there are plenty of automotive choices even in this rarefied segment. But if you need to feel invincible, if you need power and luxury and that little extra something that really does border on sheer splendor, then you need the 2014 Bentley Flying Spur. It says on the Bentley website that “the new Flying Spur is a remarkable luxury sedan.” I can report that yes, indeed, it is. -WG

Editor-in-Chief's Note: I concur. - PMD

2014 Bentley Flying Spur

Base Price $200,500, Price as Tested, $240,010

Paint Colour, Glacier White
Main Hide, Linen
Secondary Hide (love that!), Burnt Oak
Carpets, Burnt Oak
Seat Belts (since when do we call out the color of the seat belts?!?!), Linen
Veneer, Burr Walnut

Cost Options
Contrast Stitching, $1,905
Contrast Binding to Carpet Overmats, $220
Boot Carpet, $545
Contrast Carpet Binding to Boot Carpet, $100
Emblem Stitching, $640
Driving Specification with 21” Polished Wheels, $13,985
Storage Case to Centre Console, $615
Contemporary Style Cross-Banding to Fascia, Door Waistrails & Picnic Tables, $1,295
Deep Pile Carpet Overmats to Front and Rear, $480
Dual Tone, 3 Spoke, Hide Trimmed Steering Wheel, $2,235
Front & Rear Ashtray With Cigar Lighter, $440
Veneered Picnic Tables, $2,000
Battery Charger (European Adaptor), $125
Naim for Bentley Premium Audio System, $7,480
Rear View Camera (In Addition to Park Distance Control Front and Rear), $1,215
21” Six Twin Spoke Alloy Wheels - Polished, $5,560
Space Saving Spare Wheel, $670

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Adherence to Brand Image: Yes.