Dan Akerson. Editor-in-Chief's Note: The Good News? He takes the reins of GM this morning as CEO. The Bad News? Despite all of the heavily orchestrated "get to know Dan" media coverage over the last two weeks, I have not seen one good reason - not one - for this guy to assume control of a car company. Can I repeat that? Not one. Good luck, Dan, you're gonna need it. And by the way, if you don't know what they're talking about in a meeting that has something to do with product? Shut-up and listen before weighing-in with your brilliance. The instant "experts" who have run roughshod over this business over the last 20 years have left a legacy of glaring mistakes, poor decisions, bad judgment and enough flat-out incompetence to last a lifetime. Please try not to add to that legacy, okay? And remember one more thing. Just because this job fell into your lap doesn't mean you're qualified for it. Prove that you're just not another opportunistic corporate financial weasel who has just been given the keys to the candy store for no apparent reason other than the fact that you were next on deck and you were "acceptable" to Wall Street. Or not. - PMD

Potential Fiat Dealers: Editor-in-Chief's Note: We just wanted to clarify that there's no truth to the rumor that the Chrysler dealers interested in the idea of getting a Fiat franchise were serenaded with "Love Train" by the O'Jays at a meeting this week. It never happened. There were signs of creeping giddiness and overheated expectations, however. - PMD

GM Marketers. Okay, boys and girls, it's crunch time. The new Chevrolet Cruze arrives in showrooms at the end of the month and you know what that means, don't you? It means that the dancing around the issue of making Chevrolet advertising great again will officially come to a stop with new advertising - from new ad shop Goodby Silverstein & Partners - making its debut along with the Cruze. And you know what that means, don't you? It better be frickin' great. Anything less will be a massive disappointment.

(Tasca Ford)
Tasca Ford will be offering professionally-built '33 Hot Rods from Factory Five as complete rollers. The cars will come completely assembled and painted (less engine & transmission). Custom paint jobs will also be available. Vehicles can be purchased directly at the dealership or from Factory Five Racing, in Wareham, MA. The new car can be seen up close at the Tasca Ford Open House event on Sept 11, 2010 - in Cranston, Rhode Island - in honor of Bob Tasca Sr.

(Ford)
Ford has introduced a new Police Interceptor utility designed to complement the sedan introduced earlier this year. Ford's big selling point to police agencies? The purpose-built sedan and utility Police Interceptors deliver at least 20 percent better fuel economy than the current Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. Ford’s new Police Interceptor utility vehicle - based on the upcoming 2011 Explorer - is equipped with the Ti-VCT 3.5-liter V6 engine which delivers at least 280 horsepower with E85 compatibility. Front- and All-Wheel-Drive configurations will be available when it hits the streets in 2011.

WE'RE OPENING THE VAULT!

The AE wearables are back - and only in extremely limited quantities and sizes, we might add - and once they're gone, they're gone! We're starting with our most popular items, the classic AE Sweatshirt and AE Hat. Click on a PayPal button below to order yours now! (If you prefer to pay by check, please send us an email with AE STORE in the subject line, and we'll reserve your item.)

AE Sweatshirt - Crewneck, sturdy 80/20 cotton/poly, in black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. Size XL only. 40 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

AE Hat - Black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. 25 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

Publisher's Note: Check-out John McElroy's daily news show covering everything about the auto biz by clicking on the graphic below. Good stuff guaranteed. - PMD

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" hosted by Autoline Detroit's John McElroy, with Peter De Lorenzo and friends this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

By the way, if you'd like to subscribe to the Autoline After Hours podcasts, click on the following links:

Subscribe via iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=311421319

Subscribe via RSS:

http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/podcasts/feeds/afterhours-audio.xml

Sergio Marchionne. Editor-in-Chief's Note: The all-knowing, all-seeing automotive guru shocked a few members in the media this past Monday when he informed the keyboard-stained wretches gathered for the Joe Biden Puff Tour of the Jeep plant in Toledo that it would be "difficult" for Chrysler to make a profit this year. Whaaa? Now wait a minute, didn't he say - like five minutes ago - that Chrysler was going to blow the socks off this business (in so many words), and that things were so damn rosy that it just couldn't get any better? Yes, it's the hard, cold, High-Octane Truth, folks, but what did happen between then and now, exactly?  Did sun spots intervene? Or did Sergio just run out of his personalized chromium-tipped shovels? But, not to worry as Sergio reminds us, because after all it's not his - or Chrysler's - fault but rather it's those damn loans from the U.S. Treasury, which translated directly into debt that is just killing them. Killing them. But it's all good, according to The Maestro of Machiavellian Musings - at least when it comes to Chrysler's future, and especially around career politicians like Biden - because they're super engaged and on-target. No product other than the new Grand Cherokee to speak of for the next six months, but it's all gonna be good, you'll see. Uh-huh. As Joe Pantoliano's "Guido the Pimp" character said so famously in "Risky Business" - "Time of your life, eh kid?" - PMD

(GM)
The Chevrolet Suburban is celebrating its 75th Anniversary - the first vehicle to reach 75 years of production - and Chevrolet is commemorating the milestone with a special 2010 75th Anniversary Diamond Edition model (above right, next to a 1936 model). The idea for the Suburban was born out of a need for a heavier-duty, truck-based wagon, according to Chevrolet. Through the early 1930s, most manufacturers offered car-based wagons for professional use. Open models with windows and rear seating were known as depot hacks, and were used to ferry passengers and their cargo around train stations and boat docks. Enclosed models, typically without rear seats, were known as sedan deliveries. The original 1935 Suburban could seat eight, while easily removable seats provided a large, 75-inch-long by 77-inch-high (1,905 x 1,956 mm) cargo area. The 2010 Suburban seats up to nine, but offers up to 137.4 cubic feet (3,891 L) of cargo space when the second-row seats are folded and third-row seats are removed. Editor-in-Chief's Note: We love the Suburban, and we're glad it has withstood attacks from the Green Pitchfork Brigade and others who think it's their place to tell us what we can and cannot drive. It's one of America's great vehicles, and we hope it lasts another 75 years. - PMD

1946 Chevrolet Suburban.

1951 Chevrolet Suburban.

1968 Chevrolet Suburban.

75 years of Chevrolet Suburban.

WE'RE OPENING THE VAULT!

The AE wearables are back - and only in extremely limited quantities and sizes, we might add - and once they're gone, they're gone! We're starting with our most popular items, the classic AE Sweatshirt and AE Hat. Click on a PayPal button below to order yours now! (If you prefer to pay by check, please send us an email with AE STORE in the subject line, and we'll reserve your item.)

AE Sweatshirt - Crewneck, sturdy 80/20 cotton/poly, in black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. Size XL only. 40 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

AE Hat - Black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. 25 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

Publisher's Note: Check-out John McElroy's daily news show covering everything about the auto biz by clicking on the graphic below. Good stuff guaranteed. - PMD

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" hosted by Autoline Detroit's John McElroy, with Peter De Lorenzo and friends this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

By the way, if you'd like to subscribe to the Autoline After Hours podcasts, click on the following links:

Subscribe via iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=311421319

Subscribe via RSS:

http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/podcasts/feeds/afterhours-audio.xml

August 18, 2010

Editor-in-Chief's Note: This week marks the annual celebration of the automobile like no other in the world. The Woodward Dream Cruise has grown into a cultural phenomenon that refuses to be battered by a dismal recession-depression that has crippled this state while remaining defiant in the face of the near total collapse of one of this country's showcase industries, or cowed by a bi-coastal movement that would sentence us to glorified clown cars guided by unseen forces with our "best interests" in mind. The fuel-injected dreams on display and the passion that exudes from the people driving or watching is a sight to behold, and frankly, after all of these years - and in spite of the looming Green stranglehold that is hell-bent on turning us into Rickshaw Nation - it never gets old. Raucous, delightfully unruly at times, gut-wrenchingly loud and wildly satisfying, the Woodward Dream Cruise remains - refreshingly so, I might add - unspoiled, unfettered and free. Free of the hand-wringing, free of the political posturing, and free of the tight-assed stuffiness that makes other so-called must see "celebrations" of the automobile so damn boring and predictable, the Woodward Dream Cruise is a grand celebration of creativity and enthusiasm for of one of our - as human beings - most basic, yet seductively passionate pursuits - the freedom of mobility. Long may it be vital, and fun. - PMD

 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Memo to the swells in charge: Is it our imagination or did the 1933 Delage D8S Roadster that took home the top prize at the annual auto extravaganza look like a frickin' kit car? That's it? It just didn't seem all that special to us, certainly not worthy of the high-falutin' OMG "Best of Show" award. Oh the horror, the horror.

(Photos Courtesy of Ford)
Just when you think Ford has done everything they can possibly do to the Mustang, along comes something new and even more bad ass than before, in this case the limited production 2012 Boss 302 Mustang due next Spring, as Ford says: "the quickest, best-handling straight-production Mustang ever offered by Ford, based on the world-class foundation provided by the 2011 Mustang GT." “The team at Ford wanted to offer their fellow Mustang enthusiasts something really special – a beautifully balanced factory-built race car that they could drive on the street,” explains Dave Pericak, Mustang chief engineer. “The Boss 302 isn’t something a Mustang GT owner can buy all the parts for out of a catalog or that a tuner can get by adding a chip. This is a front-to-back re-engineered Mustang with every system designed to make a good driver great and a great driver even better.” (Editor-in-Chief's Note: We've included a lot of copy from Ford here, only because the myriad changes to make the new Boss 302 are extensive - and impressive. - PMD)

Led by Mike Harrison, the Ford V8 engine team tweaked the 412 horsepower, 5.0 liter, 2011 Mustang GT engine with a new runners-in-the-box plenum/velocity stack intake system. That's combined with revised camshafts using a more aggressive grind and the same twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) used on the Mustang GT. More aggressive control calibration yields 440 horsepower and 380 lb.-ft. of torque (actually 10 less than the current 5.0), while still offering a smooth idle and low-end torque for comfortable urban driving. The clutch has upgraded friction materials while a short-throw, close-ratio six-speed manual gearbox comes standard. A 3.73 ratio rear axle using carbon fiber plates in the limited-slip differential to improve torque handling and longevity is used. And a torque-sensing (Torsen) limited-slip differential is an available option (coupled with Recaro front seats).

The Trick Stuff: Every Boss features a unique quad exhaust system. Two outlets exit in the rear similar to a standard Mustang GT - but the other two outlets exit to either side of the exhaust crossover - sending exhaust through a set of metal discs that act as tuning elements before the pipes terminate just ahead of the rear wheel opening. Visually subtle, the side pipes flow very little exhaust but a lot of exhaust sound, providing a sonic experience unlike any other Mustang, and giving home tuners an additional avenue for modification. “We added the attenuation discs to meet legal regulations, but we knew buyers might operate these cars in situations where noise regulations weren’t an issue,” Shawn Carney, Mustang NVH engineer, said. “The disc is removable and includes a spacer plate sized to match aftermarket exhaust dump valves. If an owner wants to add a set of electric valves, they just undo two bolts on either side; the disc and spacer slide out and the valve will slide right in. And the side pipes are tuned so that drivers can run wide-open and the sound levels are comfortable – very aggressive but livable for an all-day track outing.” “We’re Ford engineers, but we’re also enthusiasts,” Carney added. “We understand owner mods are part of the Mustang experience, so we try to help where we can.” We say, oh hell yes!

Other Good Stuff: Higher-rate coil springs on all four corners, stiffer suspension bushings, a larger-diameter rear stabilizer bar, and lowered by 11 millimeters at the front and 1 millimeter at the rear versus the Mustang GT. And adjustable shocks and struts are standard on all Boss Mustang models. “We’ve given drivers five settings for their shocks,” says Brent Clark, supervisor of the Mustang vehicle dynamics team. “One is the softest, two is the factory setting and five is the firmest, and we’ve provided a wide range of adjustment. A customer can drive to the track on setting two, crank it up to five for improved response on the track, then dial down to one for a more relaxed ride home. What’s unique is that drivers will find – thanks to the way the suspension works as a complete system – the softest setting isn’t too loose and the firmest setting isn’t too controlled; each step just provides additional levels of control.” The Mustang team opted for traditional hands-on adjustability similar to the Gabriel shocks available on the original Boss 302. “The shock adjustment is right at the top of the shock tower, built into the rod and easily accessible from under the hood or inside the trunk,” says Clark. “You just take a small flat-head screwdriver, turn the adjustment screw between one and five, and head back out onto the track.” To complement the suspension, the speed-sensitive electronic steering system has been retuned to maximize feedback and road feel to the driver. The driver is also given the option of fine-tuning the steering feel to his liking by selecting one of three settings through the instrument cluster menu: Comfort, normal and sport modes help offer track-tuned steering when desired without sacrificing low-speed maneuverability in parking situations and everyday commuting. The Boss also gets unique traction control system (TCS) and electronic stability control (ESC) settings to help drivers achieve maximum performance whether on the street or at the track. Both systems can be completely disabled in controlled track situations where maximum driver skill is utilized, or fully engaged for maximum safety during normal driving or in less-than-ideal traction conditions. Intermediate sport mode allows drivers to push their cars hard at the track without completely disabling the safety systems, permitting more aggressive driving before the TCS and ESC systems intervene. The Boss 302 also gets unique, lightweight 19-inch black alloy racing wheels in staggered widths: 9 inches in front, 9.5 inches in the rear. The Pirelli PZero summer tires are sized specifically for each end of the vehicle, 255/40ZR-19 front, 285/35ZR-19 rear. The result? The Boss is the first non-SVT Mustang in history to achieve more than 1.0 g of lateral acceleration.

Chief designer Darrell Behmer refined the styling to evoke the 1969 Boss in a contemporary way. "We approached this as curators of a legend,” explains Behmer. “We’ve taken design cues from the ’69 Boss street car and the menacing '69 Bud Moore/Parnelli Jones race cars and carefully updated them to give the 2012 the proper bad-boy attitude that is unmistakably a Boss Mustang.” Each Boss Mustang will have either a black or white roof panel, coordinated to the color of the side C-stripe. Available exterior colors are Competition Orange, Performance White, Kona Blue Metallic, Yellow Blaze Tri-Coat Metallic and Race Red. A unique fascia and grille has blocked-off fog lamp openings and aggressive lower splitter, a version of the design used – and proven – on the Boss 302R race car. (The Boss 302 Laguna Seca package is shown above at left, more on that package below.)

"What we were after on Boss was reduced overall lift with improved balance,” says Pericak. “We needed to keep the car glued to the street or the track at high speeds without increasing drag or affecting top speed and fuel usage. The end result is an aero package that uses front, rear and underbody treatments not for show, but for effect – the balance and stability of this car all the way to its 155-mph top speed is just outstanding.” Inside, a unique Boss steering wheel covered completely in Alcantara suede complements the standard seats, which are trimmed in cloth with a suede-like center insert. Boss customers can select a package that includes Recaro buckets, designed by Ford SVT in cooperation with Recaro for high performance Mustang models, and shared between the Boss and GT500. A dark metallic instrument panel finish, gauge cluster and door panel trim also differentiate Boss from the standard Mustang, while a black "cue ball" shifter and “Powered by Ford” door sill plates complete the package. The Boss also loses eleven pounds of sound-deadening material to let occupants further enjoy the intake, engine and exhaust note.

“When we built the Boss, we had to step back and ask ourselves ‘How do we improve on this?’” said David Pericak, Ford Mustang chief engineer. “That car is so strong we realized the Laguna Seca package was going to have to be just a fraction of a step back from the Ford Racing 302R to top it. So we went back and threw daily-driver practicality out the window, cut some things we couldn’t cut on the volume model, like the back seat, and built it the way we would set up a production Boss for pure competition.” The Boss 302 with the Laguna Seca package deletes the rear seats, instead adding a cross-car X-brace that couples the structure between the rear wheels. The brace offers chassis stiffness improvements of as much as 10 percent and allows the suspension tuning – precisely calibrated by the Mustang team – to do a more focused job.

Standard Recaro front seats - which were designed by Ford SVT in cooperation with Recaro for high performance Mustang models - are shared between the Boss and GT500. An Alcantara-covered race steering wheel and gauge pack is also included on the Laguna Seca version. Note the black "cue ball" shifter. Cool.

The Laguna Seca package has higher spring rates and a larger rear stabilizer bar – all upgraded over Boss specifications – and drivers can dial in exactly the level of shock stiffness a particular track requires using the four standard, independently adjustable dampers with Laguna Seca-specific valving. Laguna Seca models use lightweight 19-inch alloy racing wheels in staggered widths: 9 inches in front, 10 inches in the rear. R-compound ultra-high-performance tires, 255/40ZR-19 in the front, 285/35ZR-19 in the rear. “The R-compound tires on the Laguna Seca are so sticky we had to really work on the rear suspension tuning to make sure drivers can get the most out of them,” explains Pericak. “The rear stabilizer bar is the largest we’ve ever installed on a production Mustang – including any SVT product. The rear spring rate was also maximized to work with the massive rear tires and balance the car for minimal lap times.” Standard Boss 302s already get vented brake dust shields to help cool the rotors, but Laguna Seca models receive Ford Racing front brake ducts that force outside air directly onto the 14-inch vented front rotors. The Boss Laguna Seca is the best-handling Mustang ever, with more than 1.03 g of lateral acceleration, stopping distances shortened by three feet from 60 mph over Boss, 0-60 acceleration improvements of one tenth of a second, and an overall expected lap time improvement of one to two seconds over the standard Boss on a typical road course.

The Boss Laguna Seca employs an aggressive front splitter for track use which adds downforce at the front of the car, while helping channel air under and around the car. At the same time, air impacting the front end is funneled into the radiator and brake ducts, supporting cooling even under grueling race conditions. "The Laguna Seca front splitter is really a Ford Racing piece we’ve lightly adapted for our purposes,” explains Pericak. “It’s been tested and refined for the last six months on the Boss 302R to perform exactly as required on the track; we just made a few changes so it could be adapted to the production Boss – though owners will still want to avoid speed bumps and parking blocks.” A large rear spoiler is sized to exactly complement the effect provided by the front splitter and underbody aero treatments, with the combination adding as much as 90 pounds of downforce at 140 mph. “Balance is the key on Boss, and even more so on Laguna Seca,” said Pericak. “A winning race car has to do everything well, and we’ve had the ability to test all the engineering that went into the Boss Laguna Seca on the Ford Racing 302R. It’s not for everyone: It’s stiffer, there’s no back seat, and the aero package is designed for downforce, not speed bumps in the mall parking lot. But for hard-core Mustang racers who want something they can occasionally drive on the street, to shows or whatever, Laguna Seca is the car they’ve been waiting for, and they’re not going to be disappointed.”

"Boss is a hallowed word around here, and we couldn’t put that name on a new Mustang until we were sure everything was in place to make this car a worthy successor,” explains Pericak. “We were either going to do it right or not do it at all – no one on the team was going to let Boss become a sticker and wheel package.” Amen, brother.

(Ford)
Mustang chief engineer Dave Pericak with the 2012 Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: Check out the Porsche 918 Spyder as it visits U.S. soil for the first time here. - PMD

WE'RE OPENING THE VAULT!

The AE wearables are back - and only in extremely limited quantities and sizes, we might add - and once they're gone, they're gone! We're starting with our most popular items, the classic AE Sweatshirt and AE Hat. Click on a PayPal button below to order yours now! (If you prefer to pay by check, please send us an email with AE STORE in the subject line, and we'll reserve your item.)

AE Sweatshirt - Crewneck, sturdy 80/20 cotton/poly, in black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. Size XL only. 40 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

AE Hat - Black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. 25 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

Publisher's Note: Check-out John McElroy's daily news show covering everything about the auto biz by clicking on the graphic below. Good stuff guaranteed. - PMD

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" hosted by Autoline Detroit's John McElroy, with Peter De Lorenzo and friends this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

By the way, if you'd like to subscribe to the Autoline After Hours podcasts, click on the following links:

Subscribe via iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=311421319

Subscribe via RSS:

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John Krafcik. The Hyundai Motor America CEO announced at the CAR Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City that Hyundai's entire U.S. lineup will achieve an average of 50 mpg by 2025. Grandstanding PR move? Calculated attention grabber? Half "moonshot", half wishful thinking? A logical progression for where the industry's engineering efforts are heading? Yes.

GM. More models for every division, with new entries for Buick, GMC, Chevrolet and Cadillac coming at a furious pace. What will prevent GM from creating a train wreck with a bunch of models from the various divisions stepping all over each other in the marketplace? We're not sure, but if this is the new Detroit disease (see Peter's Rant this week - Ed.) then we're not liking it. What happened to the whole fewer but better models idea? And who says that each division has to have a wide array of product offerings (Buick could have as many as seven)? Really? In the immortal words of Vince Lombardi, What the hell is going on out there?

Witch Hunt Futures. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that brakes weren't applied by drivers of Toyota vehicles in at least 35 of 58 crashes blamed on unintended acceleration, after analyzing data recorders or "black boxes." NHTSA also saw no evidence of electronics-related causes for the accidents in a report to lawmakers. Uh-oh. Who you gonna call now, the Ghostbusters?

Chrysler Group. The company has invited over 600 dealers to something called the "Fiat Experience" on August 30. It's there that dealers will experience the reality of the Marchionne "plan" for the integration of Fiat into the U.S. market for the first time. They will also get a glimpse of Fiat North America, er, the "new" Chrysler, circa 2013, and find out how much it's all going to cost. Bring money, folks, "magic" doesn't come cheap.

Editor-in-Chief's Note: The passing of Jerry Flint last weekend, long-time auto industry reporter and commentator, marks the end of an era in this business. Tough and not shy about his opinions, Flint made his presence known to auto industry executives, some of whom were ill-equipped for Flint's brand of candor. Auto industry analyst Joe Phillippi told Automotive News that he referred to Flint as “the Senator” and said he'll be “missed though not by the fools, bumblers and knaves he so often skewered.” - PMD

(Ford)

If you just gotta have a Harley-Davison-themed truck, Ford's got your number. The new 2011 Ford Harley-Davidson™ F-150 being unveiled in Sturgis, South Dakota, today has a new 6.2-liter V8 engine standard, making it the most powerful Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 ever offered. The engine, which debuted earlier this year on the 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor, delivers 411 horsepower and 434 lb.-ft. of torque and maximum trailer tow capacity of 9,300 pounds. Other new standard features include a voice-activated Navigation System, a 4.2-inch productivity screen, power moonroof and Remote Start System. Also standard are 22-inch Euroflange forged wheels with a polished center wheel cap and low-profile performance tires. A choice of two colors are available – Tuxedo Black and Ingot Silver - and new graphics on the hood and body side of the truck are executed in an engine-turned finish and feature dimensional satin chrome “Harley-Davidson” lettering. The graphics are reminiscent of the “speed scallops” used on hot rods, according to Ford. Interior trim panels are in Tuxedo Black paint, while the door scuff plate and console lid also carry the engine-turned finish. All interior chrome surfaces feature a new satin finish. Premium leather-trimmed seats come with accent color inserts and a unique cloisonné badge. Other Ford truck news? Ford has four new engines available at launch for 2011: A 3.7-liter V6 and a 5.0-liter V8, each with fuel-saving and performance-enhancing twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) technology, and a version of the 6.2-liter V8 that is the base engine in the 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty. A 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, specially tuned and calibrated for the F-150, will also be available in early 2011. The new engine lineup is said to deliver a 20 percent increase in fuel economy.

(Ford)
The Magnificent Beast - aka the 2011 Shelby GT500 - is on the short list for the AE Car of the Year.

WE'RE OPENING THE VAULT!

The AE wearables are back - and only in extremely limited quantities and sizes, we might add - and once they're gone, they're gone! We're starting with our most popular items, the classic AE Sweatshirt and AE Hat. Click on a PayPal button below to order yours now! (If you prefer to pay by check, please send us an email with AE STORE in the subject line, and we'll reserve your item.)

AE Sweatshirt - Crewneck, sturdy 80/20 cotton/poly, in black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. Size XL only. 40 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

AE Hat - Black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. 25 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

Publisher's Note: Check-out John McElroy's daily news show covering everything about the auto biz by clicking on the graphic below. Good stuff guaranteed. - PMD

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" hosted by Autoline Detroit's John McElroy, with Peter De Lorenzo and friends this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

By the way, if you'd like to subscribe to the Autoline After Hours podcasts, click on the following links:

Subscribe via iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=311421319

Subscribe via RSS:

http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/podcasts/feeds/afterhours-audio.xml

Bob King. Editor-in-Chief's Note: The new UAW President - aka "The Enlightened One" - had his "Mr. Cooperative" hat on at the Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, saying that “The UAW of the 21st Cen­tury is a force for innovation. We are committed to the success of our employers of our partners.” That's a load of crap, Bob, and you know it. Do you actually think you can get up in front of a bunch of industry leaders, make nice, and have people buy it, hook, line and sinker, while forgetting all of the incendiary rhetoric you spewed just a few months ago? Some might have been swayed, but talk is cheap, Bob, and I'm not buying any of it. You are still a giant "we'll see" - at best - for this industry, and I predict you'll be able to quell your loose cannon tendencies for only so long. - PMD

Chevrolet Volt Dealers. Rumors are rampant that some Chevrolet Volt dealers plan on charging huge mark-ups over sticker for the extended-range electric vehicle. Uh, we're shocked. Not. What? You mean there are dealers out there (or should we call them Cutting Edge Electric Propulsion Purveyors) who are going to charge over sticker to the first-on-the-block types who just gotta have one right out of the gate? Who knew?

Ford vs. Chevy. From the "Old-Time Horsepower Wars" File comes word that Chevrolet and Ford are locked into a heated battle for Heavy-Duty Pickup Truck horsepower supremacy. GM fired the first shot by upgrading its Duramax diesel, which now cranks out 397 horsepower and 765 pound-feet of torque, topping - temporarily - Ford’s 2011 Super Duty diesel.  But the Detroit Free Press is now reporting that Ford is turning up the wick on its Power Stroke diesel by another 10 horsepower and 65 pound-feet of torque, bringing the totals to 400 and 800 respectively.  That’s enough to put Ford's Super Duty back at the top of the mountain, No. 1 in payload, towing and power. Somehow we don't think we've heard the last of this ongoing battle, but still, we hope it doesn't get out of hand and escalate into something like this, as "Otter" waxed so eloquently in Animal House: "We gotta take these bastards. Now, we could do it with conventional weapons but that could take years and cost millions of lives. No, I think we have to go all out. I think this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture to be done on somebody's part."

Joe DeMatio. Editor-in-Chief's Note: Joe is one of the best in the business of writing about automobiles and one of our favorites, but his "My Father's Footsteps" story in the September issue of Automobile - where he retraces the footsteps of his father, Warrant Officer Robert J. DeMatio, as his 118th Field Artillery Battalion, 30th Infantry Division, XIX Corps, United States 1st Army, hits Omaha Beach two weeks after D-Day and then makes its way through Europe right up until VE-Day, with Officer DeMatio keeping a detailed, typewritten journal every step of the way - is simply outstanding. The fact that Joe is reporting on the new Cadillac CTS-V Coupe as well and how American power - at least automotive power, anyway - is still embraced on the Continent just adds to the piece. But the heart of the story - about a different time and a different, more noble and purposeful era, and the indelible connection between fathers and sons - is why it's superb, and a must read. - PMD

(BMW Group)
The 2011 BMW 5 Series (on sale this fall) will have an M Sports Package designed specifically for each model, meaning the new BMW 5 Series Sedan (shown) and the new BMW 5 Series Touring will feature tuned packages that will differ, albeit only slightly.The M sports suspension, the M aerodynamics package and 18-inch M light alloys featuring a double spoke design are present and accounted for on both models. 19-inch M light alloys are also available as an option. Both light alloy versions come with different size tires at the front and rear on the 5 Series Sedan. And the "M" version of the BMW 5 Series Sedan also gets a specific M rear spoiler developed specifically for it.. Other features include sport seats with Alcantara/fabric upholstery - with high-grade materials, contrast seams and the M emblem on the seat - developed exclusively for the M Sports Package, as well as an M leather-clad steering wheel, M gear shift knob, M footrest, an anthracite BMW Individual roof lining and Aluminium Hexagon interior trim strips. Bring lots of money.

Editor’s Note: I was more than happy to spend a few days last week with the 2010 Infiniti G37 Convertible. Our tester arrived in Vibrant Red with a Stone interior. I’m not a ‘red’ person, but I must admit, the car looked great. And it definitely attracted attention (people seem to really like red convertibles – go figure). The power retractable hardtop is activated at the touch of a button on the center console. Just press and hold while the system works its magic, and a beep sounds when the process is complete. Of course this renders the trunk totally useless, but it’s basically useless to begin with. Let’s face it – you don’t buy the G37 Convertible if you need to haul stuff. You buy it because you want to spend your days with the top down, while enjoying a fair amount of luxury and performance. Our G was the Sport 6MT version, which means it came equipped with a 6-speed manual, aluminum 4-piston front and 2-piston rear sport brake calipers, 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels, a unique front fascia and sport seats. Summer. Convertible. What’s not to like, right? With its good looks, abundance of features and respectable performance (although the car feels heavy – and it is), it’s easy to see why the G37 is so popular. And make no mistake, the G37 has all the right stuff – on paper – but something is missing. It’s perfectly executed, but it’s sterile somehow, soulless, if you will. This obviously doesn’t matter to a lot of people, and that’s cool – the G is perfectly respectable in many ways (and a whole lot of fun on a summer afternoon). But if it’s my $50k, I need something more.

2010 Infiniti G37 Convertible $50,035 ($46,950 base  price, 3.7-liter DOHC 24-valve V6, 6-speed manual; navigation package, $1,850; R-Spec high-friction brake pads, $370; destination charge, $865)

WE'RE OPENING THE VAULT!

The AE wearables are back - and only in extremely limited quantities and sizes, we might add - and once they're gone, they're gone! We're starting with our most popular items, the classic AE Sweatshirt and AE Hat. Click on a PayPal button below to order yours now! (If you prefer to pay by check, please send us an email with AE STORE in the subject line, and we'll reserve your item.)

AE Sweatshirt - Crewneck, sturdy 80/20 cotton/poly, in black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. Size XL only. 40 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

AE Hat - Black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. 25 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

Publisher's Note: Check-out John McElroy's daily news show covering everything about the auto biz by clicking on the graphic below. Good stuff guaranteed. - PMD

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" hosted by Autoline Detroit's John McElroy, with Peter De Lorenzo and friends this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

By the way, if you'd like to subscribe to the Autoline After Hours podcasts, click on the following links:

Subscribe via iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=311421319

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GM. The Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid has been priced at $41,000, including shipping, and GM plans to drill into potential consumers that's it's a real car - with real capabilities - that won't leave them stranded. “Our strategy will be, ‘It's more car than electric,' ” U.S. Marketing chief Joel Ewanick said in a conference call. “They're looking for a real car. They're looking for a car that will meet their transportation needs, that gives them no anxiety... You can drive it across the country without having to recharge, and our competition can't do that.” GM says the Volt can travel up to 40 miles on battery power before it switches to its on-board gasoline-powered generator engine. The Nissan Leaf - the Volt's only competitor so far - is a full electric vehicle with a 100-mile estimated range - and your range may vary, big-time - before drivers need to recharge. The Volt, which will officially be available in late November if not December (they're saying possibly October but we're not buying it - Ed.), will qualify for a $7,500 federal tax credit just like the Leaf, which hits dealers in December priced at $32,780. The Big News? GM will lead Volt advertising with an eye-opening lease deal - $350 a month for 36 months with a $2,500 down payment - despite being priced higher than the Leaf. (The Leaf lease deal is $349 a month for 36 months with $1,999 down.) Ewanick said that GM can offer such a competitive lease rate because of the elevated residual values brought about by high consumer demand and interest and the competitive advantage of an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty on its lithium ion battery system.

(GM Corp.)
Step right up, all you "early adopters" out there, and you too can be the first on the block to have a Chevrolet Volt in your driveway - as long as you live in California, Connecticut, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Texas, and the nation’s capital - at least at first.

Peter Bejin. The craftsmanship supervisor at the Chicago facility where Explorer will be produced had this to say: “Crafting a high-quality vehicle is like preparing a gourmet meal. You start with high-quality ingredients, execute your recipe with flawless preparation and finally, present it with flair and panache.” And that’s our AE Quote of the Week.

BMW. The BMW Group will be the Official Mobility Partner of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) from now through 2016. BMW Group will also be the Official Mobility Partner of four National Governing Bodies: USA Bobsled & Skeleton, U.S. Speedskating, USA Swimming and USA Track & Field.

(Photo by Pawel Litwinski © 2010 Courtesy of Gooding & Company)
Considered the ultimate Pre-War racing Alfa Romeo, this 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza with coachwork by Brianza will be offered at Gooding & Company's upcoming Pebble Beach Auctions. An exceedingly rare and significant Alfa Romeo, this Monza was piloted by a few noteworthy Genovese drivers during the 1930s and 1940s, including the famous Renato Balestrero. In his hands, chassis 2311218 competed successfully at all the major European racing events, including San Remo, Gran Prix of Bari, Circuito di Senigallia, Circuito di Modena, and Circuito di Voghera, all of which supported Balestrero’s achievement of winning both the 1947 Sport Nazionale and Sport Internazionale Championships with this 8C Monza.  In the Monza’s later years of vintage racing, it competed successfully in the Mille Miglia twice (1997 and 2001), Laguna Seca (1997, 1998, and 2008), Copperstate 1000, New England 1000, Colorado Grand and the 8C Tour. Notably, this car has an unbroken ownership history from new and has had only three Californian owners since 1954.

Notsopuremichigan.com. A parody of the brilliant Michigan tourism campaign Pure Michigan, notsopuremichigan.com offers a series of hilarious (and seriously sarcastic) videos that poke fun at various Michigan destinations, including Mackinac Island, Grosse Pointe and hipster hangout Royal Oak. We thought our native Michigander readers might get a kick out of it.

WE'RE OPENING THE VAULT!

The AE wearables are back - and only in extremely limited quantities and sizes, we might add - and once they're gone, they're gone! We're starting with our most popular items, the classic AE Sweatshirt and AE Hat. Click on a PayPal button below to order yours now! (If you prefer to pay by check, please send us an email with AE STORE in the subject line, and we'll reserve your item.)

AE Sweatshirt - Crewneck, sturdy 80/20 cotton/poly, in black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. Size XL only. 40 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

AE Hat - Black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. 25 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

Publisher's Note: Check-out John McElroy's daily news show covering everything about the auto biz by clicking on the graphic below. Good stuff guaranteed. - PMD

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" hosted by Autoline Detroit's John McElroy, with Peter De Lorenzo and friends this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

By the way, if you'd like to subscribe to the Autoline After Hours podcasts, click on the following links:

Subscribe via iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=311421319

Subscribe via RSS:

http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/podcasts/feeds/afterhours-audio.xml

 Electrification of the Automobile. David Shepardson, reporting for The Detroit News Washington bureau, says that the heads of trade associations representing automakers, utility companies and battery companies sent President Obama a letter urging him to establish a task force to help make it easier for thousands of electric vehicles that will begin hitting the streets starting late this year. "We believe that the critical, immediate next step for the administration is to provide the necessary coordination of the growing federal, regional and private efforts," said the letter, signed by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the trade group representing GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota and seven others. In other words, unless steps are taken - and in a hurry - the American car-buying consumer isn't going to bite at these new electric vehicles, not without huge incentives, that is.

Honda. The short story? Honda plans on building more "green" cars, including a plug-in hybrid and an all-electric car. All fine and dandy, but when are they going to get their soul and mojo back?

VW. The German auto conglomerate is going "all-in" with hybrids and electrification too as part of their growth strategy here and around the world. Yeah, but if their dealers aren't up to fixing what they've got now, how are they going to do when it gets really complicated. We're just sayin' is all.

GM. It was announced that the SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture will introduce a new brand in China - Baojun - in order to market its future lineup of passenger cars. You guys just can't help yourselves, can you? Was the whole "we need to reduce our brands" thing just a show for Washington?  Or doesn't it count in China? Editor-in-Chief's Note: Ed Welburn - GM's Design Chief - called me this afternoon to say that though GM did need to reduce its brands here in the U.S., in China it's quite a different situation. The Baojun brand will be targeted at entry-level consumers - a couple tiers below even the least expensive Chevrolet - and it's desperately needed in the Chinese cities where consumers are just now starting to buy automobiles. - PMD

Fiat. Reports a second-quarter profit on sales of its trucks and agricultural machines. Uh-oh, does that mean Sergio is gonna go after John Deere in this market too?

U.S. Auto Dealer Retail Groups. Pssst, don't tell anyone, but this reduced dealer count thing is going to result in the biggest dealer profits in two years at the mega dealer groups. No wonder we don't hear them complaining about the dealers that got axed.

Toyota. Just when Toyota thought it might be getting out of the woods they get subpoenaed by a federal grand jury in New York to provide documents related to flaws in steering relay rods. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has also opened an investigation into the issue. Memo to Toyota execs: Thought the worst was over? Guess again.

Meadow Brook Concours. Now called the Concours d'Elegance of America at Meadow Brook (and the name was changed - why exactly? - Ed.), this year's event is being dubbed "Not Your Father's Concours." More than 230 cars and motorcycles will be on display on the grounds of famed Meadow Brook Hall, at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. Highlights will include two 1937 Bugatti Type 57 SC Atalantes, a 1934 Voisin C27 Aerosport, 14 famous drag racers from the early days of the sport, and four cars from the Joe Bortz Motorama Collection, including a newly restored and much anticipated 1955 Chevrolet Biscayne concept car. The Concours takes place this Sunday, July 25. Visit www.meadowbrookconcours.org for more info.

(Digital Art by Casey Shain)
Editor-in-Chief's Note: Our good friend and talented artist Casey Shain "artandcolour" weighs-in with some more of his provocative "chopped" illustrations this week, including three Lincolns, a Bentley "Greenbrier" and a 4-door Accord Coupe. Here's what he had to say: "The Lincoln CrossStar is a small awd hatch, maybe for the 'premium' European market, like a Lancia or Audi or Mercedes A/B class. Chopped from a Citroen concept. The Lincoln MK-Zephyr, would be a rear-wheel-drive sport sedan, marking the return of names, but with the MK prefix, just to hedge every bet possible, lol. Chopped from the Infiniti M. The white Lincoln Town Car was chopped almost as a caricature of the current Lincoln design language, but seeing how low I could go with it. I added the slim C-pillar vertical windows from the 80s-90s Town Car and was pleasantly surprised how well they worked overall. Chopped from the MKT. And the Bentley Greenbrier is a shorter, taller luxury crossover sedan. Giugiaro's MegaGamma from the late '70s accurately predicted the future, but I think it might still be 10 years ahead of us. Chopped from the Flying Star shooting brake concept. You mentioned today Honda should find it's mojo again. I couldn't agree more. I chopped this 4-door Accord from the Coupe and it's at least a million times better looking, and more appropriate, than their current 4 door. Maybe not as roomy, but hey, when did the Accord NEED to be a new LeSabre? Remember the first Accord? It could fit in the trunk of the current one. And it was better for it." Great stuff from Casey, and we know our readers will enjoy it! - PMD

WE'RE OPENING THE VAULT!

The AE wearables are back - and only in extremely limited quantities and sizes, we might add - and once they're gone, they're gone! We're starting with our most popular items, the classic AE Sweatshirt and AE Hat. Click on a PayPal button below to order yours now! (If you prefer to pay by check, please send us an email with AE STORE in the subject line, and we'll reserve your item.)

AE Sweatshirt - Crewneck, sturdy 80/20 cotton/poly, in black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. Size XL only. 40 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

AE Hat - Black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. 25 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

Publisher's Note: Check-out John McElroy's daily news show covering everything about the auto biz by clicking on the graphic below. Good stuff guaranteed. - PMD

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" hosted by Autoline Detroit's John McElroy, with Peter De Lorenzo and friends this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

By the way, if you'd like to subscribe to the Autoline After Hours podcasts, click on the following links:

Subscribe via iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=311421319

Subscribe via RSS:

http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/podcasts/feeds/afterhours-audio.xml

EcoMotors International. Editor-in-Chief's Note: The suburban Detroit-based company has secured $23.5 million from Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and venture capitalist Vinod Khosla, head of Khosla Ventures of Menlo Park, California, which owns 47 percent of EcoMotors. The investment will go directly for engineering and testing of its trademarked Opoc engine technology, which was conceived by Peter Hofbauer, the former head of powertrain development at Volkswagen and now chairman and chief technology officer of EcoMotors. We had EcoMotors CEO Don Runkle on our "Autoline After Hours" show not long ago and it was clear to me that this company is on to something with this engine. In fact, it might just power the transition from ICEs to the eventual application of full hydrogen power one day. The opposed piston-opposed cylinder (yes, you read that correctly) EcoMotors engines use 50 percent fewer parts than standard engines, while delivering 50 percent more fuel efficiency, and the company has already begun development of its sixth-generation Opoc engine. The Opoc design is ultra-compact, highly-efficient and produces excellent power, and this new engine could fundamentally alter our mainstream cars and trucks, not to mention future racing cars. Note, I said our mainstream cars and trucks, not our future fringe electric fleet. Make no mistake, folks. This is a very big deal. - PMD

Hard-core Corvette Geeks. We bet for some of you out there the factory tour and factory delivery of your new Corvette just wasn't quite enough. Now, you can actually help build the engine in your 2011 Corvette ZR1 or Z06. For $5,800 (you have to pay the cost of getting to Detroit on top of that), a Corvette buyer can order something called the "Engine Build Experience" package and will be given access to GM's double-secret Performance Build Center in Wixom, Michigan - where engines for the ZR1 and the Z06 are built by hand - and will actually get to work side-by-side with a professional technician and build the engine for the Corvette ZR1 or Z06 that they've ordered. They will start from the bare aluminum block and go from there, by hand. When finished the engine is tested on a dynamometer and the builder gets to add a personalized nameplate. Then the engine is sent to the Corvette assembly plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, for installation in the car. The engines - whether built by the customer or by the professional technician - are covered by a five-year/100,000-mile warranty. The Engine Build Experience package also includes a concierge service that will set up most of the arrangements. Cool, huh?

Corvette. Editor-in-Chief's Note: Watch closely on Tuesday's Major League Baseball All-Star Game broadcast for "Still Building Rockets" the first new Chevrolet Corvette TV commercial produced in quite a while, or see it here. Why Corvette and why now? First of all, GM and Chevrolet marketing operatives have been criminally negligent over the years for not using the Corvette as a showcase - as the "tip of the technological spear" if you will - in advertising for both Chevrolet and GM. Joel Ewanick, GM's new chief marketing honcho, is out to change all that, which is why you'll be seeing the new Corvette TV spot and seeing Corvette used much more in marketing and advertising. Secondly, Corvette sales are soft. With the GM bankruptcy delaying the next-generation Corvette by at least three years - long after a new car should have been out - Chevrolet must create some serious buzz for the car again. Will it be a "all Corvette all the time" type of thing? No, but at least the car will be visible, which is l-o-n-g overdue. - PMD

Porsche Lovers. The Good News? Rumors suggest that Porsche is probably going to build the Super Duper OMFG Porsche 918 Spyder, the hybrid-assist supercar that made its debut at the Geneva auto show last March. The Bad News? It may cost as much as 500,000 euros, or around $613,000. Porsche has said that it needed at least 1,000 sales pledges to commit to building the car, but more than 2,000 people have expressed serious interest. So we can probably do away with the speculation right now because they're going to build it, count on it. Would we want one here at AE? Oh, hell yes, and if Porsche would like to drop-off a long-term test car we'd be more than happy to enjoy it. But if it were our real money? Then we'd get two Ferrari 458 Italias and call it a day.

Jim Press. From the "Just When I Thought I Was Out... They Pull Me Back In" File, Jim Press, former head of Toyota Motor Corp.'s U.S. operations and former Chrysler Group vice chairman and president, has been working for the Renault SA-Nissan Motor Co. alliance as a consultant for the group's global sales and marketing function, according to a Bloomberg report. Press has been involved with the alliance for about four months, Simon Sproule, a spokesman for the alliance, confirmed. “He's visited with our dealers in the States, Europe and Japan and has already begun providing substantial input,” Sproule told Bloomberg by phone.

Toyota. It seems that NHTSA is discovering through analysis of vehicle data in unintended acceleration cases involving Toyotas that people were stepping on the gas pedal and not the brake in many instances, according to leaked reports. Oh, noooooooo, you mean people are actually going to have to be accountable for their stupid and/or incompetent behavior behind the wheel? Oh what a world, what a world...

Ally Financial. GMAC will basically cease to exist beginning in August as Ally Financial Inc. will use the “Ally” name on most of its consumer and dealer-related auto finance operations here in the U.S. and the rest of North America. The Ally brand will continue to support GM, the Chrysler Group and Saab, etc., but the GMAC name will basically disappear from the scene after 91 years. All together now: Would you miss it? 

GM. One way to make the Volt realistically compelling? Remove as much of the worries for potential customers about the advanced technology that you possibly can. GM will offer buyers of its Chevrolet Volt an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty on the lithium-ion battery's 161 components, including the battery's critical thermal management system, charging system and electric-drive components. Intro for the groundbreaking Volt is slated for October or November, according to GM.

(Ford)
The 2011 Ford Edge Sport will make some serious noise in the category this year. The big news is that the Edge Sport comes equipped with class-leading Mustang power - the 3.7-liter Ti-VCT (twin independent variable camshaft timing) V6 producing 305 horsepower and 280 lb.-ft. of torque - which will give it best-in-class performance and impressive fuel economy of 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway in the front-wheel drive configuration. Other goodies include a six-speed SelectShift Automatic transmission with trick new paddle shifters, sport body work with Tuxedo Black grille and smoked headlamp treatment, special sport-tuned suspension - including revised front strut tuning, rear spring rates and rear jounce bumper and high-flow shocks - and new, class-exclusive, standard 22-inch forged aluminum wheels. Ford also match-mounts the tires - precisely aligning the wheels with the tires - and the wheel/tire assemblies are centered on precision-machined hub pilots. This allows  the wheel/tire/hub assemblies to roll truer, which helps eliminate noise and vibration while improving ride comfort, according to Ford. And finally, the industry-first MyFord Touch™ with SYNC is standard - "opening a new era of driver connectivity through the use of intuitive voice commands" as Ford says - with a 8-inch touch screen in the center stack and two driver-configurable 4.2-inch LCD screens in the instrument cluster.

WE'RE OPENING THE VAULT!

The AE wearables are back - and only in extremely limited quantities and sizes, we might add - and once they're gone, they're gone! We're starting with our most popular items, the classic AE Sweatshirt and AE Hat. Click on a PayPal button below to order yours now! (If you prefer to pay by check, please send us an email with AE STORE in the subject line, and we'll reserve your item.)

AE Sweatshirt - Crewneck, sturdy 80/20 cotton/poly, in black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. Size XL only. 40 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

AE Hat - Black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. 25 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

Publisher's Note: Check-out John McElroy's daily news show covering everything about the auto biz by clicking on the graphic below. Good stuff guaranteed. - PMD

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" hosted by Autoline Detroit's John McElroy, with Peter De Lorenzo and friends this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

By the way, if you'd like to subscribe to the Autoline After Hours podcasts, click on the following links:

Subscribe via iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=311421319

Subscribe via RSS:

http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/podcasts/feeds/afterhours-audio.xml

Chrysler. The company wants to establish 200 stand-alone Fiat dealerships to sell the Fiat 500 here in the U.S. and is suggesting that some of its larger urban dealers might be excellent candidates to get involved. But even the most staunchly supportive Chrysler dealers are adapting a "wait and see" attitude about the possibility, preferring to wait until they see the numbers first before getting too excited. There's a shocker.

Toyota. The company is adding more time - about a month - in its typical development process to instill more quality checks. Uh, you guys sure a month is going to cover it? We're just askin'.

Tesla. One day you got it goin' on, and a few days later it all turns to shit. Tesla stock debuted at $17 a share last week - soaring at one point to $30.42 - but this morning it's just over $16 bucks a share. Ouch, baby.

(BMW Group)
The BMW Group's Megacity Vehicle (MCV) - due to come on the market in 2013 - will be the world’s first volume-produced vehicle with a passenger cell made from carbon. BMW is calling this new technology its "LifeDrive" architecture, consisting of two horizontally separated, independent modules. The Drive module integrates the battery, drive system and structural and crash functions into a single construction within the chassis. The Life module is primarily made up of a high-strength and extremely lightweight passenger cell made from CFRP. BMW says that this new vehicle architecture opens the door to totally new production processes which are both simpler and more flexible, while using less energy. BMW Group engineers are developing the car’s architecture from scratch and "adapting it to the demands and conditions of future mobility." The goal is to offset the additional weight of an electric vehicle – typically 250 to 350 kilograms - thus the extensive use of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). BMW insists that the "BMW-ness" will come through in its Megacity Vehicle. We shall see.

(Photo by Simon Clay © 2010 Courtesy of Gooding & Company)
Gooding & Company, the official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, will offer five significant Italian consignments for its August 14th -15th Pebble Beach Auctions, including a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione, a  1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta SEFAC Hot Rod (above), a Zagato-bodied 1954 Fiat 8V, a 1955 Maserati A6G/54 Berlinetta with one-off coachwork by Zagato, and a 1971 Lamborghini Miura S. The 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta SEFAC Hot Rod is particularly noteworthy. None other than Sergio Pininfarina himself considered the 250 GT SWB Berlinetta's shape so pure and well balanced that he called it "the first of our three quantum leaps in design with Ferrari." One of only 20 cars built, this machine - chassis 2845 - was sold new to Count Volpi for his Scuderia Serenissima. Its racing history includes a third place at the Tour de France, finishes at the 1000 Km de Paris and Daytona 3-hour Continental, as well as multiple Italian hill climbs and vintage races throughout Germany.  Gooding & Company is presenting this rare, certified Ferrari Factory restoration as "an exciting Estimate On Request consignment." Meaning? Bring bags of money, pal.

WE'RE OPENING THE VAULT!

The AE wearables are back - and only in extremely limited quantities and sizes, we might add - and once they're gone, they're gone! We're starting with our most popular items, the classic AE Sweatshirt and AE Hat. Click on a PayPal button below to order yours now! (If you prefer to pay by check, please send us an email with AE STORE in the subject line, and we'll reserve your item.)

AE Sweatshirt - Crewneck, sturdy 80/20 cotton/poly, in black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. Size XL only. 40 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

AE Hat - Black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. 25 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

Publisher's Note: Check-out John McElroy's daily news show covering everything about the auto biz by clicking on the graphic below. Good stuff guaranteed. - PMD

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" hosted by Autoline Detroit's John McElroy, with Peter De Lorenzo and friends this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

By the way, if you'd like to subscribe to the Autoline After Hours podcasts, click on the following links:

Subscribe via iTunes:

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=311421319

Subscribe via RSS:

http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/podcasts/feeds/afterhours-audio.xml

The Big Ed Report. The short story/gist of yesterday's "I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in" meetings as GM pitched its current and future status with financial analysts and bankers? It's all good. Sort of.

Elon Musk, Tesla. From the "Fools And Their Money" File comes word that Tesla raised $226 million on the sale of 13.3 million shares at $17. That exceeded analysts expectations and by the way, Tesla CEO Elon Musk pocketed more than $23 million on the IPO alone. Does this remind anyone of the Dot Com Bubble? All together now: Oh, hell yes. And just ask yourself, is there any "there" there?

Austin, Texas, GM. Editor-in-Chief's Note: David Shepardson - from the Detroit News Washington Bureau - reports that Big Ed Whitacre will announce tomorrow that the Chevrolet Volt will be available in two additional cities at introduction: New York and Austin, Texas. The GM chairman and CEO will make the announcement during a speech to the Austin Chamber of Commerce. The Volt is already slated to be available in the states of California and Michigan, as well as in the Washington, D.C., area. We're hoping Dr. Bud will weigh-in on this announcement in the next few days too. - PMD

(Mecum Auction)
Mecum Auction will offer the Ed "Big Daddy" Roth "Tweedy Pie" - a 1923 Ford T-bucket - at its second annual Mecum Monterey Auction, August 13-14, 2010, at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Resort & Spa. "Tweedy Pie" became an instant American hot rodding icon when Revell issued it as a car kit in 1963. Featuring custom pin striping by Roth - the wildly popular and irreverent hot rod gearhead best known for his famed "Rat Fink" cartoon creation - the legendary "Tweedy Pie" was featured on the covers of the December 1959 Rodding and Restyling magazine and the March 1962 Rod and Custom magazine.  It has channeled over bobbed Deuce rails, a Corvette V8 engine with six Stromberg 97 carburetors and an Offy manifold. "All enthusiasts from that era remember wanting this particular model car," said President Dana Mecum.  "That first year, millions of 'Tweedy Pie' model cars flew off the shelves comparable to record sales from such pop phenomenon as The Beatles, immediately catapulting this vehicle into mainstream culture." Mecum's Monterey Auction has been expanded to two days as more than 400 vehicles will cross the block.  Cars will be displayed on the beautiful Del Monte Golf Course.  The auction is open to the general public.  For a complete list of vehicles, visit http://www.Mecum.com. 

WE'RE OPENING THE VAULT!

The AE wearables are back - and only in extremely limited quantities and sizes, we might add - and once they're gone, they're gone! We're starting with our most popular items, the classic AE Sweatshirt and AE Hat. Click on a PayPal button below to order yours now! (If you prefer to pay by check, please send us an email with AE STORE in the subject line, and we'll reserve your item.)

AE Sweatshirt - Crewneck, sturdy 80/20 cotton/poly, in black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. Size XL only. 40 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

AE Hat - Black with throwback lettering - the original AE logo in our Chiller typeface shown above. 25 bucks, including shipping. US orders only.

Publisher's Note: Check-out John McElroy's daily news show covering everything about the auto biz by clicking on the graphic below. Good stuff guaranteed. - PMD

See another live episode of "Autoline After Hours" hosted by Autoline Detroit's John McElroy, with Peter De Lorenzo and friends this Thursday evening, at 7:00PM EDT at www.autolinedetroit.tv.

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