ON THE TABLE

April 6, 2011

P. J. O'Rourke. P.J.'s hilarious diatribe against the burgeoning movement of adding bicycle lanes throughout cities across the world (including New York) in Saturday's Wall Street Journal was priceless. Opening with "A fibrosis of bicycle lanes is spreading through the cities of the world. The well-being of innocent motorists is threatened as traffic passageways are choked by the spread of dull whirs, sharp whistles and sanctimonious pedal-pushing..." P.J.'s screed gets better from there, and there are so many great bits throughout the piece that you owe it to yourself to check it out. But we'll leave you with this one: "This promotion of childishness in the electorate means that bike lanes are just the beginning. Soon we'll be making room on our city streets for scooter and skateboard lanes, Soapbox Derby lanes, pogo-stick lanes, lanes for Radio Flyer wagons (actually more practical than bicycles since you can carry a case of beer - if we're still allowed to drink beer), stilt lanes, three-legged race lanes, lanes for skipping while playing the comb and wax paper, hopscotch lanes and Mother-May-I lanes with Mayor Bloomberg at the top of Lenox Hill shouting to the people on Park Avenue, 'Take three baby steps!'" Perfection.

Toyota. The struggling Japanese automaker has something to crow about at least. Yesterday, the automaker formerly known as "The Juggernaut" announced the sale of the one-millionth Toyota Prius in the United States, Toyota Prius sales topping two million in October 2010 and overall global Toyota hybrid sales passing three million last month.

(GM)
Chevrolet has announced the 2012 Chevrolet Centennial Edition Corvette, which will be available on all Corvette models – including Grand Sport, Z06 and ZR1 – starting this summer.  The Centennial Edition package comes exclusively in Carbon Flash Metallic, with satin-black graphics and unique Centennial Satin Black wheels and red brake calipers. The wheels are constructed of lightweight cast-spun aluminum and include a thin red outline around the perimeter of its surface on the Z06. The wheels are specific to the respective Corvette models, including 18-inch/19-inch for Coupe, Convertible and Grand Sport; and 19-inch/20-inch for Z06 and ZR1. Magnetic Selective Ride Control is also included on all Chevrolet Centennial Edition Corvette models. The Chevrolet Centennial Edition will be available via order code ZLC. Chevrolet will also auction a Corvette Z06 Centennial Edition at the Barrett-Jackson collector car auction in West Palm Beach, Fla., on April 9, with the proceeds to benefit the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer. It will be the 100th 2012 Corvette off the assembly line, with a vehicle identification number ending in “00100.”

(BMW)
BMW debuted the "Concept M5" at 2011 Auto Shanghai, which is, for all intents and purposes, the production M5. BMW calls the Concept M5 "a premium class business sedan with the dynamic qualities of a high-performance sports car." Really? At any rate, it's the new M5.

(Photos courtesy of BMW)

Billed as the world's biggest classic car fair, the 2011 Techno Classica (held in Essen, March 30 - April 3) featured more than 1200 exhibitors from 30 countries. BMW Group Classic works in close association with the BMW Clubs International Council, parent organization of all BMW Clubs officially recognized by BMW AG, and more than half of the exhibits at this year's Techno Classica originated from club ownership. A total of 800 clubs and 250,000 car and motorcycle enthusiasts are now organized in the BMW Clubs International Council. Among the highlights at last week's event were Rolls-Royce celebrating the centenary of its iconic figurehead: the Spirit of Ecstasy, 50 years of Mini Cooper and 75 years of the BMW 328.