ON THE TABLE

December 12, 2012

GM. From the "Churnin' And Burnin'" File comes word that GM, wrestling with too many pickups for most of the last half of the year as they tried to guess between enough and too many to have on hand - it has over 240,000 of them piled up at dealers across the country, by the way - in preparation for the launch of its new pickups next summer, is launching new incentives to help clear the decks. Get down to your dealers, truck buyers, they're almost free, as long as you're paying cash. But if you have to finance through Ally Financial, just walk away.

(GM)
GM unveiled the new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 1500 pickups today (12/13) in Pontiac, Michigan. GM says the trucks are, "designed to be the most refined, best engineered full-size pickups in the market." Among the many updates for 2014 are fresh new exterior designs inside and out for each brand; a trio of fuel-efficient EcoTec3 engines featuring direct injection and cylinder deactivation to improve efficiency; and quieter, more comfortable, more functional cabs. The interiors are particularly impressive.

The UAW. Remember those Chrysler Jefferson North Assembly-plant workers who were fired after a local Detroit TV station took video of them drinking alcohol and smoking pot during their breaks in 2010? The UAW filed grievances on behalf of the fired workers and a third-party arbitrator has just reinstated them, agreeing with the union that Chrysler had improperly terminated the employees. Sure, makes sense.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Check out Tom Walsh's column in the Detroit Free Press on the State of Michigan's new "right-to-work" laws here. He gets at the real problem with this: "In today's world of unprecedented mobility and instant communication, investment and jobs go to places with the top talent, the best educated and most skilled workers. What is Michigan doing to move the needle on the talent and education levels of our residents?" - PMD

Sergio Marchionne. Continuing his feud with anything to do with VW, Fiat-Chrysler is now offering $1,000 in conquest cash to any VW owner buying a Fiat-Chrysler product (excluding the Viper and a couple of others). Sure, makes sense, II. As if.

 Sean Penn. According to reports, the actor-activist, who founded a relief organization in response to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti and still spends about half his time there, compares life in the country's capital city - Port-au-Prince - to Detroit, saying, "It's not more dangerous, it's not less dangerous." Like you would know about Detroit? Jackass.

 Coda. The company has laid off 50 employees due to sluggish sales. A truly shocking development. Not.

(Photo by Mike Maez, Images copyright and courtesy of Gooding & Company)
This extraordinary 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider will be presented at Gooding & Company's 2013 Scottsdale Auctions on January 18 and 19. The auction house acclaimed for selling the world’s most significant and valuable collector cars, is offerings a blue chip 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider, a highly-original 1959 Porsche RSK and aone-off 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Speciale by Pinin Farina, among other cars, including Edsel Ford’s personal 1930 Ford Model A Sport Phaeton. The preview and auctions will be held at Scottsdale Fashion Square, in Scottsdale, Arizona.

(GM)
The all-new 2014 GMC Sierra fullsize pickup, which will be revealed to the media tomorrow, will be the latest in a bloodline that stretches back over a century. The first truck to wear a GMC badge debuted in 1912, while a predecessor from the Max Grabowsky’s Rapid Motor Vehicle Co. was the first commercial truck operated in the City of Detroit 10 years earlier. In the '50s cars again influenced truck design, resulting in more safety, comfort and performance. The highlights of the '55 model were the hooded headlights and panoramic glass (above).

(GM)

The 2.0L turbo I-4 engine that powers the all-new Cadillac ATS is one of WardsAuto.com 2013 “10 Best Engines” for North America. The 2.0L turbo’s 272 horsepower is the highest specific output of any GM production engine, and at 136 hp per liter, is the most power-dense engine certified by the Society of Automotive Engineers. Among the 2.0L turbo engine’s highlights: direct-injection, twin-cam, four-valves-per-cylinder, continuously variable valve timing; twin-scroll turbocharger with air-to-air intercooler; forged-steel crankshaft with modular balance shaft system; and a two-stage variable-displacement oil pump with jet-spray piston cooling.
 

 Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Ford, Honda, Ram, Subaru. Congrats to the "Ward's Auto World 10 Best Engines" winners: Audi S5 3.0L Supercharged V-6, BMW 328i 2.0L Turbo I-4, BMW 135is 3.0L Turbo I-6, the aforementioned Cadillac ATS 2.0L Turbo I-4, Ford Focus ST/Taurus 2.0L Ecoboost I-4, Ford Shelby GT500 5.8L Supercharged V-8, Honda Accord Sport 2.4L I-4, Honda Accord 3.5L V-6, Ram 1500 3.6L Pentastar V-6, and the Subaru BRZ 2.0L H-4 Boxer.

(Images courtesy of BMW)
A third body variant of the BMW M6 - the BMW M6 Gran Coupe - joins the existing Coupe and Convertible models in the lineup. Like its siblings, the BMW M6 Gran Coupe boasts the M formula of high performance with luxury and aesthetic appeal. The high-revving BMW V8 with M "TwinPower" Turbo technology and 412 kW/560HP launches the BMW M6 Gran Coupe from 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.2 seconds. Along with the standard BMW Individual High-gloss Shadow Line package, bespoke features include the carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) roof, prominently flared wheel arches, M gills, aerodynamically optimized exterior mirrors and exclusive 20-inch M light-alloy wheels in double-spoke design. Another M signature - twin exhaust tailpipes -  are positioned on the outer edges of the rear apron, which also includes a diffuser made from CFRP. The BMW M6 Gran Coupe is expected here next summer.

(Ford)
A Ford Model A built in 1903 - considered the oldest surviving Ford vehicle - will help kick off the yearlong celebration of the 150th anniversary of the birth of company founder Henry Ford. The 1903 Model A was unveiled Tuesday (12/11) to Ford Motor Company employees by Executive Chairman Bill Ford, who purchased the vehicle at an auction in October.  “The timing was perfect to bring this key part of Ford heritage back to the family as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of my great-grandfather’s birth and his vision to improve people’s lives by making cars affordable for the average family,” said Bill Ford. “His vision to build cars that are reasonably priced, reliable and efficient still resonates and defines our vision today as well.” A dedicated website, www.henryford150.com, also is launching today that includes an interactive timeline of Ford’s life, tours, a calendar of 2013 events and information about efforts to preserve Henry Ford’s heritage.

(Honda)
Honda will unveil an all-new Honda compact "Urban SUV Concept" (catchy name) vehicle in January at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. The Urban SUV Concept, teased in this sketch, is "a global concept model combining a sporty and dynamic SUV profile with a spacious, functional interior" according to Honda.

(BMW)
The new BMW Concept 4 Series Coupe telegraphs what the new 4 Series Coupe that will replace the 3 Series Coupe and Convertible will look like. It is slightly longer and noticeably wider and good looking in the photos, but does BMW really need another number in its mix?

Editor-in-Chief's Note: It's deja vu all over again this week here at AE as our "quick take" has us in the 2013 Audi S6 quattro S tronic. Slightly narrower and shorter in overall length than last week's S7 and devoid of the hatchback body, the Audi S6 sedan is excellent in its own right and a chunk of change cheaper too (although still pricey). Everything I said last week about driving the S7 applies to the S6 although I found the S6 to be a little livelier for some reason, which is strange, because it's slightly heavier than the S7. But there's no question the S7 has a more dynamic visual presence on the road than the S6, even thought both share the same basic vehicle architecture and drivetrain underneath, and that may be enough for most enthusiasts in the market at that price range to blow right past the S6 and head straight for the S7. I know I would. - PMD

(Click on "next entry" below to read last week's "quick take" on the Audi S7- WG)

2013 Audi S6 quattro S tronic: $87,720 ($71,900 Base Price; Phantom Black pearl effect, $475; Black/Lunar Silver interior; Black headliner, Carbon Atlas inlays, $500; 4.0-liter TFSI V8 with 420HP and 406 lbs-ft of torque with Audi Cylinder on Demand technology; 7-speed S-tronic automatic gearbox with sport program and manual shift mode; quattro permanent all-wheel-drive system with sports rear differential; 19" alloy wheels with summer performance tires; Electromechanical vehicle speed-sensitive power steering; Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System, $5900; Innovation package - Audi adaptive cruise control with stop & go, Audi pre sense plus, Audi active lane assist & side assist, Head-up display, Night vision assistant, Cornerview camera system, Power folding exterior mirrors - $5,650; LED headlights with LED DRLs, $1400; 20" alloy wheels with summer tires, $1,000; Front filler panel; Destination Charge, $895.)

Adherence to Brand Image: As I stated last week, while Mercedes and BMW continue to engage in their juvenile, old-school sales wars in this market, Audi continues to focus on what it does best, which is to craft fundamental desirability throughout its product lineup. It took fifteen long years to get where Audi is today, and the company did it by focusing on what really matters, which is design and engineering execution (proven at the most prestigious endurance road race in the world, the 24 Hours of Le Mans), and an equally relentless adherence to its newly defined and emboldened image. They went after the influencers in the media and the industry first, then the enthusiasts, and now the consumer public is buying in too.  The result? Audi is the new luxury-performance standard. - PMD

 

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Our friend Casey Shain (http://artandcolourcars.blogspot.com/) has sent along another sample of his fabulous chopped cars (with his commentary), and we're thrilled to share them with our AE readers. This feature has proven to be very popular with the design community as well. So enjoy and we'll leave them up for a while. Thanks again to Casey for his visionary work. - PMD

Lincoln MkGT 2-seat sports car. V12 EcoBoost Hybrid. Big Bang at the Top!

Cadillac Seville notch-back sedan. A RWD sedan a rung above the XTS. Retros the original Seville's severe notch-back.

Buick Regal Century coupe. An updated AWD platform with the wheelbase extended in the front for ride and handling a la Audi.

Lincoln Continental flagship sedan. A V12 limited production sedan for the ultra luxury halo market.

Fiat 750 sport coupe. The 500's longer 2-seat sport coupe cousin. Think original seventies Honda Prelude for size and market.

Bentley GT 2-seater. A halo super coupe for two to traverse the grand routes of Europe at maximum speed and comfort.

Cadillac ATS coupe. Only a matter of time, I know it!

Chevrolet Malibu Maxx Concept. Updated for '14 as a 3-door hatchback with a full glass roof. The B pillars and greenhouse shape are evocative of the mid '70s Vega-based Monza.

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" with hosts John McElroy, from Autoline Detroit, and Peter De Lorenzo, The Autoextremist, and guests this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

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