Diarmuid O’Connell. Editor-In-Chief's Note: O’Connell, "vice president of business development" for Tesla, criticized other automakers for offering electric cars he described as “little more than appliances,” as reported by The Detroit News. “The industry’s attempts to date to advance the state of electric vehicle technology, they’re probably really not even trying,” he said. This must be news to the thousands of people hard at work on advanced vehicle electrification programs at General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Porsche, Hyundai, Nissan, etc. His comments came at the Center for Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, Michigan. D-Bag-ism is apparently part of the corporate mission statement at Tesla. What a flaming jackass. -PMD
Editor-In-Chief's Note: The Buick Avista received the IMAC awards for 2016 Concept Car of the Year and the Most Significant Concept Vehicle of the Year at the 2016 North American Concept Vehicle Awards ceremony at the Concours d’Elegance of America in Plymouth, Michigan, on Sunday. The press release says, "The awards recognize the vehicle that makes the strongest impact in terms of automotive design, engineering and market responsiveness. The Avista is both an indicator of Buick’s future design direction and a celebration of its deep design heritage." Huh? What does this "invented" award really mean? How about jack-shit.com? They should re-name the awards the "Self-Aggrandizement" Awards or the "We're So Desperate For Attention That We Just Can't Control It So We're Making It Up As We Go Along" Awards because it fulfills some deep-seated and perpetually entrenched longing by mainstream auto journos to have people actually give a shit about what they think - while ensuring they get a never-ending series of press cars to drive - so that they can go on pretending that they're much more important than they really are. This is much more than a sidebar in this town, it's a full-fledged cottage industry that never, ever stops. And, of course, it dovetails perfectly with the current state of what passes for American "culture" where everybody gets a trophy and a hug for just showing up, especially if it can be monetized in some way (or traded for press cars to drive). The Avista is a decent design and that's fine, but this just in, folks, it's frickin' August and the car got all the attention it needed eight long months ago at the Detroit Auto Show. -PMD
(Photo by Steve Fecht)
Newly-minted General Motors Vice President Global Design Michael Simcoe stands next to the Buick Avista.
(BMW)
The first generation of the BMW M3 made its debut in 1986. The original M3 was developed by BMW M GmbH as a homologation special to enter the World, European and German Touring Championship (DTM) racing. To mark the 30th anniversary of this high-performance BMW, 500 “30 Jahre M3” (30 Years M3) special editions will be produced, of which 150 units will be available here in the U.S. As a tribute to the first generation of the BMW M3, the anniversary edition “30 Jahre M3” is built in the exclusive BMW Individual exterior color Macao Blue metallic. The special M3 features the Competition Package with 20-inch forged, "666 M star" spoke design light alloy wheels and mixed Performance Tires (265/30 R20 front, 285/30 R20 rear), Adaptive M suspension, full Merino Leather in Black/Fjord Blue with color-matching contrast seams, the BMW Individual High-gloss Shadow Line and sport exhaust system with black chrome tailpipes. Special “30 Jahre M3” logos can be found in the interior and there are a bunch of other swell details too. The Limited Edition M3 gets nineteen more horsepower, which takes output to 444HP and 406 lb-ft. And, in the tradition of all special edition packages, the "30 Years" M3 will cost more too. $83,250 for a manual gearbox and $86,150 with the Dual-Clutch transmission. Destination and Handling extra.
Editor-In-Chief's Note: According to a report in Automotive News, FCA execs ordered an internal review of its reported sales numbers in mid-2015 and discovered that thousands of vehicle sales reported by FCA's brands didn't have actual buyers. Oops. Don't think there's fire generating that smoke? The investigators from the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice obviously think there is. It seems that Sergio's obsession with delivering monthly sales gains at all costs is going to be a very costly decision, which is why he's going to sell the company off as soon as he can lasso a serious buyer. This is going to get real ugly, folks. UPDATE: Upon further review - and with the SEC and DOJ circling around FCA's Auburn Hills, Michigan, campus like sharks - FCA announced on Tuesday afternoon (7/26) that their much ballyhooed 75-month sales streak actually ended - ahem - three years ago at 40 months. This is due, according to FCA, to "a new sales reporting methodology" that is said to be more accurate. Uh-huh, sure. We're all going to have to put fishing waders on to navigate our way through that raging river of unmitigated bullshit. Listen, folks, if you needed any more evidence after all of this time that Sergio Marchionne and his espresso-swilling posse were only out for themselves then you haven't been paying attention. Marchionne's obsession with showing sales gains at all costs has finally exposed him for what he well and truly is: Just your above-average carpetbagging mercenary angling for one last big score. What will the outcome of the DOJ investigation into all of this be? That remains to be seen, but you can bet Marchionne is in feverish talks with the Chinese to cash out, so that he can bail while the bailing is still good. -PMD
Editor's Note: Peter has been relentlessly hammering Sergio Marchionne almost since the day he arrived here after being gifted the assets of the Chrysler Corporation by the Obama administration. Peter has never wavered once from calling out Marchionne and his "espresso swilling minions" as carpet bagging mercenaries out to make one last score. And with the latest news emanating from Auburn Hills, it seems that Peter was right all along. See some of Peter's most recent columns on Marchionne & Co. below. -WG
THE FOOLS ON THE HILL. 4/20/16
GOOGLE IN FINAL NEGOTIATIONS WITH FIAT CHRYSLER ON AN ADVANCED TECHNICAL PARTNERSHIP. 4/26/16
TWO EMPERORS. NO CLOTHES. 5/11/16
MASTERS OF THEIR IMAGINARY UNIVERSE. 7/6/16
A MIDSUMMER NIGHTMARE. 7/13/16
KING CHAOS REIGNS IN AUBURN HILLS. 7/20/16
Porsche. Editor-In-Chief's Note: Porsche, AE's reigning Brand Image Meter king for the second straight year, has announced that it will be skipping the 2017 Detroit Auto Show. Not only has the cost of appearing at the Detroit Show become prohibitive, according to Reuters and other media sources, but the value of being in Detroit became suspect. Porsche has decided to focus on two shows instead: New York and Los Angeles, its single most important market. The homers around these part may cry foul, but this is a good move on Porsche's part. The Detroit Auto Show is important but this market isn't important to Porsche, so the company is making the right decision for the brand. -PMD
Editor's Note: As a huge fan of the Chevrolet Volt, I was looking forward to this week's tester, the 2016 Malibu Hybrid, which, according to the Chevrolet press release, "leverages knowledge and technology directly from the second-generation Chevrolet Volt." That sounds good, until you figure out that the Malibu isn't an EV with a pure electric range (as with Volt) but rather a traditional hybrid, with electric motors aiding the gasoline engine. The Malibu can operate in all-electric mode up to 55 mph, at which point the gasoline engine kicks in to provide additional power. By contrast, the Volt offers up to 53 pure electric miles, at which point the gasoline engine takes over to provide the rest of the 420-mile estimated range. (Note: the 2017 Volt in our personal fleet is now getting 61 miles on a full charge.) The Malibu Hybrid offers EPA estimates of 47 city/46 highway - which is greater than the hybrid models offered by its competitors, Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry and Hyundai Sonata (but still less than that of the Honda Accord Hybrid). So if mileage is your thing, the Malibu Hybrid is pretty impressive. (But it's also nearly 400 pounds heavier than the standard base Malibu, thanks to the battery pack.) The new Malibu looks good - maybe even really good - and it's certainly a giant leap forward from the Malibu that came before it. But basically, it's basic. A basic mid-size sedan that will neither excite nor offend. (And beware: there is a dramatic reduction in trunk space, thanks again to the battery pack.) The 2016 Malibu Hybrid gets Chevrolet in the mid-size sedan hybrid game, but that's about it. It just doesn't have the technological elegance or the magic of the Volt. That doesn't make it bad - it just doesn't make it all that compelling. -WG
Editor-In-Chief's Note: I like the new Malibu overall, it's wonderfully executed and it provides real value, but I'm not sure the Hybrid version is my cup of tea. Yes, the mileage is indeed impressive, but driving the car leaves more than a little to be desired. My biggest gripe? The CVT transmission is just listless and off-putting. Full disclosure? This is coming from someone who absolutely despises CVT transmissions. I look forward to driving a "regular" Malibu, I'm hoping it will feel better. -PMD
2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid Sedan: $31,130 ($27,770 Base Price; Crystal Red Tintcoat, $395; Jet Black interior; 1.8L Hybrid DOHC 4-cylinder SIDI with variable valve timing; 124HP and 129lbs-ft of torque; Front-wheel-drive; Automatic, two-motor drive unit, hybrid transmission; Stop/Start technology; Four-wheel-disc brakes with ABS, StabiliTrak stability control system includes traction control; Chevrolet MyLink audio system; 7" diagonal color touch screen; Select Bluetooth streaming; Apple Car Play capability and Android Auto capability provided by Apple and Google, available with compatible smart phones; OnStar Remotelink app; XM Radio + service subscription sold separately by SiriusXM after three months; 4G LTE WI-FI Hotspot with limited data trial; Keyless start; Heated seats, driver and front passenger; Tilt and telescoping steering column; Driver Confidence Package - Intellibeam auto high beam control, Front and rear park assist, Sensor indicator - following distance, Forward collision alert, Rear cross traffic alert, Lane keep assist, Front automatic braking - low speed, Lane change alert with side blind zone alert, Pedestian detection, front - $1,195; Convenience and Technology Package - Remote vehicle start, Auto dimming inside rear view mirror, 8" diagonal color touch screen, Wireless device charging, 110V power outlet, leather wrap steering wheel, Multi-color display with enhanced driver instrument info, USB ports (charging only), Leather trimmed shift knob - $895; Destination Charge, $875)
Adherence to Brand Image: Brand Image? Now that's a timely topic. What exactly is Chevrolet's brand image these days? As Peter has said repeatedly, GM is making some of the best cars ever, but you'd never know it. Awesome machines like Corvette and Camaro, technological tours de force like Volt and the upcoming Bolt (bad name alert!), and a very long list of decent - and in many cases excellent - cars, trucks, SUVs and crossovers in between. But I have no idea what I am supposed to think about Chevrolet, the brand. So I don't really know if the Malibu adheres to Chevrolet's brand image or not, because it's not clear what that is, exactly, other than the "most rewarded car company." Ugh. -WG