ON THE TABLE - OCTOBER 9, 2013

 Dodge. Editor-in-Chief's Note: Olivier Francois, Fiat-Chrysler's marketing guru, thinks Ron Burgundy can create buzz for the new 2014 Dodge Durango. Will Ferrell revisits his infamous news anchor character from the movie "Anchorman" in a series of improv spots that Ferrell and Adam McKay, the duo behind FunnyorDie.com, had complete creative control over. That the spots blatantly promote "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues" - which is coming out in December - is obvious and pretty much the point of the whole exercise. Francois is taking a risk that the buzz will have a positive rub-off on the Durango image, but the real danger is that the Durango will get lost in the shuffle of the movie promotion (which is exactly what happens when you watch a few of the spots strung together). To prevent the spots from becoming stale and repetitive, Ferrell is said to have ad-libbed 70 spots, which wasn't expected but will go a long way to keep the campaign fresh. Will it work? For a while, yes. But the net-net of it is that Ferrell and McKay are getting paid by Fiat-Chrysler to promote the "Anchorman" sequel, and the Durango plays the Sideshow Bob role. "The Dodge brand's irreverent tone and attitude make Ron Bergundy the perfect pitchman for the new 2014 Dodge Durango," said Francois. Really? I doubt it. It will certainly be good for a few laughs, but will it resonate enough to actually move the metal? No. - PMD

 Cadillac. Editor-in-Chief"s Note: We see that Cadillac can't seem to rid themselves of the notion that Donald Trump somehow imparts "class" to any event they have in New York, but there he was, in full bloom, at the new Escalade unveiling. It's always something with Cadillac, it appears. They take three steps forward with the stunning Elmiraj concept in Pebble Beach, then they take five back by allowing this country's most vacuous - and relentlessly classless - TV "personality" to be anywhere near one of their media events. Rigoddamndiculous, as Dr. Evil would say. And truly pathetic.  - PMD

 Lincoln. Without a perfect product cadence, Lincoln is in danger of getting lost in the shuffle, so why not go after a competitor in its advertising to generate buzz and visibility? And what better soft target competitor to go after than Lexus, whose buyers are so bored that a bright shiny thing with the right amount of stuff on it from another manufacturer just might do the trick?

(BMW Group)
The BMW i3 will go on sale in the US market in the second quarter of 2014. The battery electric model will have a base MSRP of $41,350, before any federal or state incentives, and before Destination & Handling fee (currently $925).  The range-extender model will have a starting MSRP of $45,300, before any federal or state incentives, and before Destination & Handling fee.

(Ford)
Monday marked the 100th anniversary of the moving assembly line invented by Ford Motor Company under the leadership of Henry Ford. “One hundred years ago, my great-grandfather had a vision to build safe and efficient transportation for everyone,” said Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford. “I am proud he was able to bring the freedom of mobility to millions by making cars affordable to families and that his vision of serving people still drives everything we do today.”

(GM)
Cadillac has introduced the all-new 2015 Escalade, calling it "a sophisticated luxury SUV designed to establish new benchmarks for hand-tailored craftsmanship and technology." The fourth-generation Escalade is an entirely new design yet much of the story of Cadillac’s redesigned flagship SUV focuses on the interior, where Cadillac claims new levels of luxury combine with the latest technology.

(GM)
The Escalade product line will consist of the standard model, as well as the extended-length ESV edition, which offers a 14-inch-longer (355 mm) wheelbase and approximately 20 inches (508 mm) more in overall length, maximizing space for third-row passengers and 60 percent more cargo space behind the third-row seat than the standard Escalade. The new Escalade is offered with 2WD and 4WD drivetrains and features a new 6.2L V-8. Cadillac’s Magnetic Ride Control is now standard.

(GM)
Full LED lighting is standard on the new Escalade. The headlamps incorporate the industry’s first Total Internal Reflection LED high-beam function, which consists of four vertically stacked crystal lenses and LEDs. The low beam consists of five crystal lenses and LEDs that create the light pattern. The Cadillac script is branded in the headlamp bezel. Tall, thin vertical LED taillamps reach to the top of the Escalade and feature the brand’s wreath-and-crest insignia, which illuminates in the dark. Escalade also features LED-illuminated door handles on the Premium Collection. “The new Escalade’s surfacing is sophisticated, and the sectioning of the body exudes more emotion to forge a new presence for Cadillac’s iconic SUV,” said Bob Boniface, design director, Cadillac Exteriors.

(GM)
The new Escalade interior features cut-and-sewn and wrapped materials, with several wood trim options. Cadillac says the new interior is dramatically quieter thanks to a stronger new body structure, new and enhanced acoustic material, and Bose Active Noise Cancellation technology. CUE, Cadillac’s advanced system for connectivity and control, is standard featuring state-of-the-art voice recognition with touch controls common with the world’s most popular tablets and mobile devices. A standard 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster can be reconfigured with four themes and an available head-up display projects information onto the windshield. An available Blu-Ray DVD rear entertainment system includes a nine-inch, roof-mounted screen on Escalade and two nine-inch screens on Escalade ESV. 

(GM)
The 6.2L V-8 in the 2015 Escalade is rated at an SAE-certified 420 horsepower (313 kW) and 460 lb-ft of torque (623 Nm) – a nearly 5-percent increase in horsepower and 10 percent more torque. The new 6.2L features direct injection, Active Fuel Management or cylinder deactivation, continuously variable valve timing and an advanced combustion system, designed to make the most of power, torque and efficiency across a broad range of operating conditions. The engine is matched with the Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission with enhanced TapShift control. Production of the 2015 Escalade begins next spring in Arlington, Texas. Editor-in-Chief's Note: Make no mistake, the new Escalade will be a much sought after machine with certain segments of the population, from the livery trade to people who just enjoy having plenty of room, comfort and bigness. We haven't driven it yet, but the list of improvements and tweaks to the design look to be very impressive. - PMD

(Photos courtesy of Riva-World)

The Riva Aquarama Lamborghini, which was built 45 years ago for and commissioned by Ferruccio Lamborghini, founder of the Italian sports car brand, has been fully restored to its original condition. Considered to be the fastest Aquarama in the world, the runabout was stashed away in the corner of a boatyard, hidden under old tarpaulin and above all, hidden from the world. Enthusiasts were aware of the existence of Ferruccio Lamborghini’s Riva Aquarama, but didn’t know where the legendary sports boat was after its owner passed away in 1993. That is until a Dutch Riva collector tracked it down and had it fully restored to original condition by Riva World, a world-renowned specialist in the restoration of Riva boats. Now in 2013, three years after restoration work on the Aquarama Lamborghini began, the boat is back to life. Sandro Zani, owner of the well-know Dutch Riva restorer, traveled to Italy on a regular basis during the past three years, including visits to the Ferruccio Lamborghini Museum, in order to document all the details and elements of the original, before beginning the extensive restoration.

The two Lamborghini 4.0 V12s, are equipped with six twin Weber carburetors (twelve in total), delivering 350HP each with a rev range between 700 and 5,000 rpm. Together they give the Riva Aquarama Lamborghini a top speed of around 48 knots, compared to 40 knots for regular Aquaramas that Riva fits with twin V8 units as standard equipment. “One of the two original engines from the Riva can still be seen in the Ferruccio Lamborghini Museum in Italy, but unfortunately wasn’t available for sale for this project,” explains Sandro Zani. “That is why we bought two other V12 engines, one of which in the US, and converted them so they would be fully suitable for use in a boat. Thanks to the Ferruccio Lamborghini Museum, we were allowed to disassemble and re-create various original parts of the original engine in the museum. In addition, Lino Morosini, who 45 years ago was head of the Riva engine division and one of the fathers of the Aquarama Lamborghini, provided us with additional information with which we were able to adapt the twin V12 powerhouses, water-cooled via specially designed closed circuit, so they were completely in line with the original specimens.”

The wooden interior was repaired and the seats were reupholstered in the famous Riva design; all buttons and switches were disassembled, repaired and reinstalled; all chrome parts were renewed.

The project took around three years in total, during which the Aquarama was returned to its original condition from top to bottom. The wooden hull was repaired, sanded and no fewer than 25 coatings were applied.

After a few test runs in the Netherlands the legendary Riva was transported to Italy, where the sports boat was given free rein on Lago d’Iseo. Carlos Riva (above), the founder of the brand and the man who back in 1968 was himself urged by Ferruccio Lamborghini to build the Aquarama in just three months’ time, was able to take a ride. 

Editor-in-Chief's's Note: Our "Quick Take" this week has us in a 2013 VW GTI Autobahn 4-Door. I'll dispense with the bullshit and say right up front that the VW GTI is one of my all-time favorite cars. Anyone who writes about cars and reviews them brings certain biases to the table, and anyone in this business who suggests otherwise is kidding themselves. To me, the GTI is everything an all-around enthusiast machine should feel like. The power is wonderfully responsive, the steering exudes perfect feel, the braking is excellent, the gearbox is spot-on and the overall handling is cat-quick agile, to the point that I find the GTI to be simply superb in every respect. The car is what driving fun is supposed to be all about and I would venture to say that if you don't find the GTI entertaining then something is wrong and maybe it's time to turn in your "I'm a driving enthusiast" card. I look forward to an extended drive in the Ford Fiesta ST for comparison purposes, but until then if someone asked me if I could only have one car to serve all my needs - performance, everyday versatility, reasonable cost and fun - what would it look like? It would look exactly like the VW GTI. - PMD

2013 VW GTI Autobahn 4-Door: $31, 790 ($30, 995 Base Price; Carbon Steel Gray Metallic exterior; Titan Black Leather Interior; 2.0-liter direct-injected turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with with 200HP and 207 lbs-ft of torque; 6-speed manual gearbox; front-wheel drive; 18" alloy wheels with all-season tires; heated front seats; power heated exterior mirrors and front washer nozzles; SiriusXM Satellite Radio (limited time subscription included); 4-Door Autobahn Package includes Power sliding/tilting sunroof with shade, RNS 315 touch screen navigation system, Dynaudio premium sound system, partial leather seat coverings, Keyless entry with push button start, Leather-trimmed multi-function steering wheel, Xenon headlamps with AFS; Destination Charge, $795)  

Adherence to Brand Image: As far as I'm concerned the GTI is the essence of what a driving enthusiast's VW should be and in that regard it adheres to the VW brand image perfectly. At least the aspect of the image that promotes enthusiast machines, which seems to be a smaller and smaller part of the overall VW brand image. But does it really matter? Driving enthusiasts will continue to seek out the GTI as long as VW keeps building them correctly. And that's a very good thing. - PMD