AUGUST 21, 2019
Monday, August 19, 2019 at 09:07AM 
Porsche announced that during a 24 hour test, a pre-production Taycan covered a distance of exactly 2,128.1 miles at the 7.8-mile high-speed track at the Nardo Technical Center in Puglia, Italy, which the manufacturer runs through its Porsche Engineering Group GmbH subsidiary. With peak temperatures of 107 degrees Fahrenheit and a track temperature of up to 129 degrees, the average speed was kept between 121 and 133 mph. The test was carried out without interruptions, according to Porsche, as the prototype only stopped for quick charging and driver changes among six factory test drivers. "The Taycan mastered this ambitious endurance run without any problems," commented Stefan Weckbach, Vice President Product Line, Taycan, adding, "The result achieved in Nardo highlights the advantages of the unique 800-volt technology and its high maturity level. Before the Taycan is launched on the market at the end of the year, we will have covered over 3.7-million test miles across the globe."
The Taycan is the first fully electric production vehicle with a system voltage of 800 volts. This technology helped the 919 Hybrid win the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times in a row and is now making the leap into series production. The 800-volt technology enables consistently high performance, according to Porsche PR minions, reducing the charging time and decreasing the weight and the packaging space of the cabling. During the endurance test at the Nardo Technical Center, 800-volt charging stations by Porsche Engineering Group GmbH were used. These stations will also be used in a joint venture with Ionity. The Taycan's sophisticated thermal management also proved itself in Nardo, according to the manufacturer. Thermal management in the Taycan revolves around a highly efficient, intelligent system for cooling and heating the high-voltage components. This prevents potential power losses due to excessive heat generation and ensures the optimum temperature for the most efficient charging process has been reached when the vehicle arrives at a charging station. 
The electric powertrain in the new Porsche Taycan is designed in such a way that it can unleash its full power even after accelerating several times at short intervals. At the end of July, a prototype Taycan accelerated down an airfield from a complete stop to 124 mph 26 successive times. The average acceleration figure from the timed runs was under 10 seconds, with a 0.8-second difference between the fastest and slowest acceleration runs. 
The Bentley EXP 100 GT concept. We're just showing you the pics, since everything else about it appears to be vaporware.
Based on a rear-wheel-drive architecture, the new Lincoln Aviator offers intelligent all-wheel drive and the option of a gasoline or hybrid powertrain. The standard twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine is paired with a new 10-speed SelectShift® automatic transmission and delivers 400HP and 415 ft.-lbs. of torque. With the hybrid option, Aviator Grand Touring’s twin-turbocharged engine and advanced electrified technology delivers 494HP (combined) and best-in-class 630 ft.-lbs. of torque (combined). The electric motor in the Aviator Grand Touring has a maximum output of 75 kilowatts and includes a 13.6-kilowatt-hour battery pack. The new Lincoln Aviator will be the Lincoln to get in the coming months.
High-performance wagon enthusiasts rejoice! Audi of America has announced that the all-new high-performance wagon, the RS 6 Avant, is coming to the U.S. market. Powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, the new Audi RS 6 Avant delivers 591HP and 590.0 lb-ft of torque in European trim. It goes 0-62.1 mph in 3.6 seconds and achieves a top track speed of 155.3 mph. (U.S. power and performance specifications will become available closer to market introduction.) The standard eight-speed Tiptronic® transmission with optimized shift times and new launch control function transmits the power of the 4.0-liter engine to the quattro® permanent all-wheel drive. Wheel-selective torque control can help enhance handling by ensuring additional traction across each axle through individual-wheel braking application. The quattro® sport differential offers a dynamic driving experience and helps enhance cornering agility by actively splitting torque between each of the rear wheels, with the ability to direct nearly all torque to one wheel. The Audi RS 6 Avant will arrive in the U.S. sometime in 2020 and will be available for customer orders. More info to come.
The 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV will offer an EPA-estimated 259 miles of range on a full charge, a 21-mile increase over previous model years. Chevrolet’s battery engineering team improved the energy of the cell electrodes by making small but impactful changes to the cell chemistry, which allowed the team to implement the range increase without needing to change the physical battery pack and the way it is integrated into the vehicle structure. The 2020 Bolt EV will arrive in dealerships later this year with a starting MSRP of $37,495 (including destination and freight charges, excludes tax, title, license, dealer fees).
(Chevrolet)
The new, mid-engine 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray will have a starting price of $59,995 (including Destination Freight Charge of $1,095, excluding tax, title, license, dealer fees and optional equipment). The 1LT will start at $59,995, the 2LT trim package will start at $67,295 and the top-level 3LT trim package on the 2020 Corvette Stingray will start at $71,945 (including DFC, excluding tax, title, license, dealer fees and optional equipment). “We’ve packed a lot of performance into the Corvette Stingray at this price when you consider an eight-speed dual clutch transmission, Small Block V-8 and engine-mounted dry sump oil system are all standard,” said Tadge Juechter, Corvette executive chief engineer. Interested Chevrolet Corvette Stingray shoppers can view a pricing guide with available options and order codes and pre-order their vehicle by visiting the 2020 Corvette reveal page at Chevrolet.com. A dedicated Chevrolet Corvette Concierge team will provide 2020 Corvette customers with answers about the vehicle discovery, buying and ownership process. The team, which is based at General Motors headquarters in Detroit, can be reached by calling 866-424-3892. Customers can also live chat with a Corvette Concierge online by visiting Chevrolet.com. The team is available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EDT Mondays through Fridays. The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray goes into production at GM’s Bowling Green Assembly in late 2019. Editor-in-Chief's Note: Anyone who thinks the new Corvette won't put serious pressure on Porsche is kidding themselves. Porsche operatives have allowed their greed to get the best of them, and Porsche prices have been out of whack for a long time. Would I get a Porsche 718 GTS with a base price of $80,700? Or, a new Corvette Stingray with the top-level 3LT trim package for $71, 945? I had quite a few 911s back in the day and I love the 718 Coupe, but I would get the Corvette all day long. In fact, I wouldn't even give it a second thought. -PMD
(Canepa Group)
Legendary UK automotive designer Gordon Murray has created some of the most iconic machines over the past decades, from Formula One race cars to the legendary McLaren F1 road car. The announcement of Gordon Murray Automotive’s supercar, the T.50, has created a huge buzz throughout automotive community. The T.50 is built around a hand-laid carbon fiber monocoque and is extremely lightweight even by today’s standards, weighing in at 2,160 pounds. With a bespoke 650HP, Cosworth-designed 3.9-liter V12 that revs to 12,100rpm mated to a special 6-speed manual transmission, fan-assisted aerodynamics, excellent driving dynamics and the culmination of 50 years’ worth of Murray's design experience, it is expected to be an extraordinary machine. The T.50 marks Gordon Murray’s 50th automotive project and includes design influences from many of his previous projects. Murray says “We expect this to be the last, and the greatest ‘analog’ supercar ever built.” You can learn more about the T.50 at www.gordonmurraydesign.com. Having consulted on the project in its early phase of concept and development, the Canepa Group has been selected as the exclusive North American representative for the T.50 Supercar. “Cars are meant to be driven, and this may be one of the most exciting road cars ever designed. I am both honored and excited to be a part of this amazing project,” Bruce Canepa commented. Canepa is an industry leader in the collector car world; including sales, restoration and motorsports. Canepa Group will handle all aspects of customer support for the new supercar in North America, including sales, importation, service/maintenance, and warranty. Interested parties are invited to contact Bruce Canepa at (831) 430-9940 or bruce@canepa.com regarding available build slots for the T.50.
AE Song Lyrics of the week:
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return we can only look
Behind from where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
"Circle Game" - Joni Mitchell