ON THE TABLE - JUNE 26, 2013

(Ford)
Speaking of things having to do with all mankind, Ford has rejuvenated a nearly 90-year-old advertisement that propelled the company’s vision for putting the world on wheels. The “Opening the Highways to All Mankind” advertisement was originally placed in the Saturday Evening Post on January 24, 1925. It detailed Henry Ford’s original vision of providing affordable, safe transportation to everyone. In 2007, the ad came to the attention of Ford CEO and President Alan Mulally, who used the ad as a vision for the transformation of Ford from survival to profitable growth. “Henry Ford was talking about one Ford, one plan, one team and working together – and that is exactly our One Ford plan,” said Mulally. “We are using this same vision to Go Further today in developing high-quality, fuel-efficient, safe and smart products that customers want and value – and that are affordable – so that we can continue opening up the highways to all mankind." The image in the ad shows a family overlooking a hilly landscape dotted with cars and Ford manufacturing facilities in the background. The text details Ford’s vision for extending safe and efficient transportation to everyone through an efficient organization committed to profitable growth, continuous improvement and service to customers. (Note the idea of "everyone" - as in mankind - here. Acura's new theme "Made for mankind" is so completely at odds with their elitist idea of targeting "the enlightened" that it makes the Ford painting all the more meaningful. The whole idea of the automobile has the concept of egalitarianism at its core. It's fine that there are cars just for the 1 percent, but "mankind" and Henry Ford's idea was all about the 99 percent. - WG) Until mid-2012, the painting used to create the 1925 advertisement had languished, unseen. Titled “Visions of Tomorrow,” the painting was in storage at The Henry Ford, a history museum complex in Dearborn, Mich., that collaborates in a unique partnership with Ford Motor Company to preserve America’s and Ford’s rich heritage. The Henry Ford led restoration of the painting and a paper print of the ad, supported by a grant from Ford Motor Company Fund, the company’s philanthropic arm. Mulally and The Henry Ford’s President Patricia Mooradian unveiled the restored painting on Monday at the Henry Ford Museum. The painting is highlighted in a new addition to the museum’s “Driving America” exhibit. See a video of the painting's restoration here.

(GM)
While we were away Buick celebrated its 110th birthday. Buick celebrated its 50th birthday with the 1953 Skylark, an opulent, limited-production convertible with advanced design and technology. Each had Italian wire wheels and the owner’s name engraved on the steering wheel. The same year also marked the first year of Buick V-8 engines and a new twin-turbine Dynaflow automatic transmission. Today, GM says that Buick is "a modern luxury brand offering vehicles with sculpted designs, luxurious interiors with thoughtful personal technologies, along with responsive-yet-efficient performance." That pretty much describes any number of auto manufacturers, doesn't it?

(Cadillac)
Starting in August, the all-new Cadillac Twin Turbo V6 will go into production as an optional engine for the 2014 XTS. The new Cadillac Twin Turbo V6 is also a signature feature of the upcoming all-new 2014 CTS luxury performance sedan. In the XTS, the twin turbo will produce an SAE-certified 410 horsepower (306 kW) and 369 lb-ft of torque (500 Nm). In both the CTS and XTS product lines, the twin turbo will be the centerpiece of a new model offering called Vsport. The Vsport models will be slotted beneath Cadillac’s elite high-performance V-Series models. Pricing for the 2014 XTS starts at $45,525, including destination fees, unchanged from 2013, with standard equipment including the 3.6L V6 engine that makes 306 hp, CUE, intelligent brake assist and Magnetic Ride Control. Three option packages are available: Luxury, Premium and Platinum Collections. The XTS Vsport model will be offered only in the up-level Premium and Platinum Collections. In addition to the twin turbo engine, Vsport offers upgraded 20-inch wheels and a unique grille, with pricing starting at $63,020 including destination fees.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: All about the new Porsche 918 Spyder. Go here. - PMD

(Images courtesy of Ford)
The 2014 Ford F-150 Tremor is the first-ever EcoBoost®-powered sport truck that "addresses the needs of street truck enthusiasts looking for high-performance V8 power with V6 fuel economy," according to Ford PR. The short-wheelbase, regular-cab Tremor couples the style of the FX Appearance Package with an EcoBoost engine and a launch-optimized 4.10 rear axle (!) – the shortest final drive ratio offered in an EcoBoost F-150.

Tremor features a "custom-inspired" (really?) FX Appearance Package with flat-black accents and includes unique 20-inch flat-black wheels, stylized body-side graphics and black badges with red lettering.

Tremor is the only regular-cab F-150 offering a flow-through center console and bucket seats with Alcantara seat inserts. Other interior touches include black leather seating surfaces with red piping, brushed-metal accents and a red-stitched steering wheel. 

The F-150 Tremor is powered exclusively by Ford’s 3.5-liter, 365 HP EcoBoost V6 with 365 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,500 rpm (on regular fuel). An electronic locking rear differential is standard for both two- and four-wheel-drive versions. The F-150 Tremor goes on sale this fall.

(Chevrolet)
Today (June 28th) marks 60th anniversary of the Corvette. The first Corvette went into production in Flint, Mich. on June 30, 1953. Corvette is the world’s longest-running, continuously produced passenger car. The longest-running vehicle of any type is the Chevrolet Suburban. Corvette made its debut as a concept vehicle at the General Motors Autorama in New York City on Jan. 17, 1953. It was such a success that a limited run of 300 production Corvettes began on June 30 of that year. All 1953 models were Polo White with a red interior and they were priced at $3,498. In 2006, the third 1953 Corvette produced sold for a record $1.06 million at auction. Corvette was exclusively available with an inline six-cylinder engine until 1955. That year, the optional V-8 engine was ordered by 90 percent of buyers. The six-cylinder was dropped in 1956. Corvette has been available exclusively with V-8 power since.  Corvettes have been produced at three facilities: Flint, Mich. (1953); St. Louis, Mo., (1954-1981); and Bowling Green, Ky. (1981-2014).

Editor-in-Chief's's Note: Our "Quick Take" this week has us in the 2013 Chevrolet Impala 2LTZ sedan (there goes GM with its stellar naming regimen again, ugh). It's no secret that the Impala is all new in look and feel this year (well, maybe not all that new but more on that later), and GM Design veteran John Cafaro and his team did an excellent job on it. The new Impala has real road presence and I found people were free with their positive comments about it when they got to see it in the flesh. And I can see why, too, as we found the design to be pleasing, inside and out. But I found that driving the Impala was less than invigorating. Not that it did anything wrong, mind you, just that it was kind of blah. Competent and perfectly acceptable, but a little blah. With a reminder of that classic GM front-wheel-drive torque steer thrown in for good measure. But maybe the new Impala requires a different mindset, because when driving around in it - at five-tenths - in the urban slog it is oddly pleasing. Nine out of ten people who are looking for a larger car with a little more room and a modicum of style should have the Impala on their lists because it does everything pretty well, and I'd certainly have no problem recommending it. It's roomy, comfortable and it looks good inside and out. But for the one out of ten buyers looking for more, I would advise them to keep looking. - PMD

2014 Chevrolet Impala 2LTZ Sedan: $39,510 ($35,770 Base Price; Ashen Gray Metallic; Jet Black/Dark Titanium Interior; 3.6-liter Direct-injection V6 with 304HP and 264 lbs-ft of torque; 6-speed automatic; front-wheel drive; 19" aluminum wheels; Leather appointed seating; Heated front seats; Leather-wrapped, tilt and telescopic steering wheel; LTZ comfort & convenience package - Memory settings for driver seat, outside mirrors and power steering column tilt and telescopic, Premium carpeted front and rear floor mats, Carpeted trunk mat, Auto dimming Inside rear view mirror, Power dual outside mirrors that are heated with driver side auto dimming, ground illumination and turn signal indicators, Ventilated front driver and passenger seats, Heated steering wheel, etc. - $1,035; Audio system, Chevrolet MYLink with navigation, $795; LTZ premium audio package - including 11 speaker Bose centerpoint surround sound, 120 volt power outlet - $700; 20" aluminum wheels, $400, Destination Charge, $810)

Adherence to Brand Image: Make no mistake, Chevrolet is the engine that drives General Motors. The new effort by GM to project Chevrolet around the world is notable, as GM marketing operatives firmly believe they can establish this quintessential Americana brand - Chevrolet - in other markets. We'll see about that. I'm not even sure Chevrolet is all that in this country anymore, however, or that consumers even care. Ever since Toyota supplanted Chevrolet as "America's car" GM has been flailing about trying to convince the American consumer public that the brand still matters, to varying degrees of success. The Impala exudes Chevrolet, which is a very good thing. As I've written many times before in my columns, GM needs the new Impala to be a hit. There needs to be a "standard" go-to Chevrolet in this country that people respect and recognize as having a vibrant role in the market, and I believe the new Impala is that car. I'll leave the "Find New Roads" ad theme out of this discussion - for now - but as a preview of a future column Mitsubishi has "Find Your Own Way" for its ad theme now too. It seems that these companies need to find themselves before they start suggesting what we all need to do. - PMD

Editor-in-Chief's Note: This brief moment of hilarity was sent to us by our friend Roger Clarke from the Great White North. Watch it here. - PMD