ON THE TABLE - MAY 22, 2013

 GM. The Silver Silo Crew announced it will move its Treasury office team in New York City to its Detroit headquarters in the Renaissance Center in mid-2014, affecting about 70 employees. “GM Treasury plays a crucial role in the success of our company, and locating the team in Detroit will fully integrate them into our core business operations,” GM Chief Financial Officer Dan Ammann said in a statement. This move is so long overdue it's stunning that it has taken this long. Once upon a time (in ancient times) GM having its Treasury office in NYC was a big deal. It's irrelevant now. - PMD

  The ONE VOICE Coalition. The nation's largest Italian American anti-bias organization has received a formal written apology from Fiat-Chrysler CEO, Sergio Marchionne, for his use of a pejorative term offensive to Italian Americans, that he verbalized earlier this year at a press conference at the Detroit Auto Show.  As most of you probably remember, Marchionne was commenting on the long-delayed introduction of the new generation of Alfa Romeos (a perpetual state, we might add).  He stated, "I won't put an American engine into that car. With all due respect to my American friends, it needs to be a wop engine."  According to Reuters, after reporters registered evident surprise at his use of an ethnic slur, Marchionne turned to one of them and asked, "Why are you surprised?" Mr. Marchionne stated (at the time of the press conference) that the use of negative and derogatory terms, such as "wop," were funny and, he alleges, that he used the term "in jest."  However, after a relentless campaign by ONE VOICE, led by its Founder and President Dr. Manny Alfano, Mr. Marchionne issued a written letter to the Coalition, acknowledging his remarks were unacceptable and apologized to "anyone who may have been offended" by those remarks.

(BMW Group)
BMW is unveiling the BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2013. The BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé is a one-off and "represents the exclusive interpretation of a luxurious BMW Coupé as seen through the eyes of Pininfarina." Whatever. Color us unimpressed, as in really? All that build up for a warmed over 6 Series Gran Coupe?  BMW says they've "created a new automotive persona brimming with character and ready to join the high-end luxury class – typically BMW while sporting the distinctive signature of Pininfarina." Please. We do, however, like the BMW Motorrad Concept Ninety (below). With the BMW R 90 S turning 40 this year and with BMW celebrating 90 years of two-wheeled history, the company orchestrated a tribute to both these anniversaries also to be presented at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2013: the BMW Concept Ninety. In partnership with the custom bike company Roland Sands Design, the BMW Motorrad design team has come up with an exclusive homage to the BMW R 90 S. Former motorcycle racer Roland Sands and his team are among the most in-demand partners in the custom bike scene. "Their design standards and the technical finesse with which they implement their high-class custom and performance parts endow the BMW Concept Ninety with an exclusive and self-assured presence," say BMW PR minions. We would agree.

(Aston Martin)
Aston Martin marked its first 100 years with a 100-plus car parade at the Nurburgring Nordschleife on May 19th, just ahead of the start of the 41st ADAC Zurich Nürburgring 24 Hours. Led by Aston Martin CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez at the wheel of the stunning new CC100 Speedster Concept, which made its global debut at the Nürburgring this weekend, the parade comprised cars from the brand’s past and present. Among the models making the 22 km lap were the DB5 used in the recent James Bond film Skyfall, a One-77 hypercar, the 1959 Nürburgring 1000 km-winning DBR1 with original driver Sir Stirling Moss at the wheel, and a modern Centenary Edition Vanquish bearing the numberplate ‘100YRS’.

(Images courtesy of Aston Martin)
Aston Martin is celebrating its centenary with the debut of the CC100 Speedster Concept. "Created as a stunning celebration of the great British brand’s 100 years of sports car excellence the one-off CC100 looks both to the past and the DBR1 – Aston Martin’s greatest sporting triumph on the track – and to the future with its teasing glimpses of potential future design direction," so says Aston's PR minions. The 6.0-litre V12-powered concept completed a lap of the famous Nordschleife before Germany’s ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nürburgring race. “CC100 is the epitome of everything that is great about Aston Martin. It represents our fantastic sporting heritage, our exceptional design capability, our superb engineering know-how and, above all, our adventurous spirit! I have nicknamed it ‘DBR100’ because of its affinity to the great 1959 race-winning cars and, of course, our 100-year anniversary in 2013," commented Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez, who wheeled the car. Designed and constructed in fewer than six months at Aston Martin’s global headquarters in Gaydon, working with key supplier Multimatic Inc, under the leadership of Special Projects and Motorsport Director David King, the finished look of the two-seater CC100 is the work of Design Director Marek Reichman working alongside the brand’s Chief Exterior Designer Miles Nurnberger. With a body and interior crafted from carbon fiber, tooled and provided by low volume specialists Multimatic, the CC100 utilizes the latest generation AM11 naturally aspirated V12 gasoline engine mated to a six-speed hydraulically actuated automated sequential manual transmission.

(BMW Group)
BMW is about to launch the freshened 5 Series family here in the US. "Fresh contour lines for the surround of the BMW kidney grille and redesigned lower air intakes reinforce the sporty appearance of the 2014 BMW 5 Series Sedan," according to BMW's PR minions. Xenon Adaptive headlights are fitted as standard on all 5 Series models, while Adaptive LED Headlights join the options list for 2014. Elsewhere, the side indicator lights are now integrated into the exterior mirrors. Also new in the BMW 5 Series are the Luxury Line and Modern Line, in addition to the popular M Sport choice, each containing select design and equipment features.

(BMW Group)
The BMW 535d has been added as BMW’s latest diesel variant in North America. Its inline-6 BMW Advanced Diesel engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology makes 255 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 413 lb-ft of torque from 1,500 – 3,000 rpm (preliminary figures). Simultaneously, the new BMW 535d Sedan is expected to show substantial fuel efficiency gains over its gasoline-fueled counterpart. BMW’s xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive system is also available on the new 535d Sedan. The top-of-the-line engine of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan now features an updated V-8 with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology and BMW’s Valvetronic throttle-less intake technology, developing 445 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque.
 
(BMW Group)
The 5 Series chassis technology – which includes a double-wishbone front axle, integral rear axle and Servotronic variable power steering function – has been "honed to deliver an unrivaled balance between sporty performance and ride comfort," according to BMW. The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo comes with standard air suspension, including automatic self-leveling rear suspension. The Driving Dynamics Control switch on the center console is standard on all models. Adaptive Drive and Integral Active Steering can be specified as options. Brake Energy Regeneration, the Auto Start-Stop functionality, and ECO PRO mode - the suite of standard-fitted BMW EfficientDynamics technologies - now also includes a coasting mode (which disengages the powertrain while coasting), and the ECO PRO Route function, which can be selected via the Navigation system. From the rear, "The accentuated width of the rear end is underlined by an extra crease in the apron, as well as slim, sharply contoured and therefore more striking rear lights,"  BMW says. The BMW 5 Series currently rolling off the assembly line is the sixth-generation model and has been a fixture in the BMW portfolio since 1972, longer than any other current model. The enhanced, 2014 BMW 5 Series Sedan and 5 Series Gran Turismo will go on sale at Authorized BMW Centers in the US in August 2013.

(Images courtesy of Porsche Cars North America)
The 918 Spyder has been designed, developed and produced by Porsche engineers who build race cars, in cooperation with series production specialists. A great deal of insight gained from the development of Porsche's new racing cars being developed for the 24 hours of Le Mans in 2014 has been integrated into the 918 Spyder – and vice versa. The structural concept of the 918 Spyder with a rolling chassis as its basis – a basic vehicle that can be driven even without a body – is race car tradition at Porsche. The concept of the V8 engine originates from the LMP2 RS Spyder race car. The load-bearing structures, the monocoque and sub frame, are made of carbon fiber reinforced polymer. Many parts of the 918 come from manufacturers who have a proven record as suppliers for motorsport vehicles. (But after all that the car is heavy, weighing approximately 3,715 lbs., 3,616 lbs. with “Weissach" package. - PMD) 

The 918 Spyder's 4.6-liter, eight cylinder engine produces 608 HP. But with 154 HP from the hybrid module on the rear axle and 127 HP from the electric motor on the front axle, the real combined output is 887 HP. Maximum torque with the V8 only is 390 lb.-ft. at 6,600, but it's the equivalent of 940 lb.-ft. of torque calculated on the crankshaft, with the complete system in 7th gear and 787 lb.-ft. with the complete system, 3rd gear. The engine is derived directly from the power unit of the successful RS Spyder, which explains why it can deliver engine speeds of up to 9,150 rpm. Like the race engine of the RS Spyder, the 918 Spyder power unit features dry-sump lubrication with a separate oil tank and oil extraction. To save weight, components such as the oil tank, the air filter box integrated into the subframe and the air induction are made of carbon fiber reinforced polymer. Further extensive lightweight design measures have resulted in such features as titanium connecting rods, thin-wall, low-pressure casting on the crank case and the cylinder heads, a high-strength, lightweight steel crankshaft with 180 degrees crankpin offset and the extremely thin-walled alloy steel/nickel exhaust system. Striking features of the V8 are that it no longer supports any auxiliary systems, there are no external belt drives and the engine is therefore particularly compact. Weight and performance optimizations achieve a power output per liter of approx. 133 hp/l – the highest power output per liter of a Porsche naturally aspirated engine – which is significantly higher than that of the Carrera GT (106 hp/l).

The 918 Spyder interior stays true to the current Porsche interior design idiom but blends in overtones from the Carrera GT, while pushing it even further.

One of the 918 Spyder's most endearing attributes is sure to be its sound.  It features "top pipes" - tailpipes that terminate in the upper part of the rear end immediately above the engine. No other production vehicle uses this solution. The top pipes’ greatest benefit is optimal heat removal, because the hot exhaust gases are released via the shortest possible route, and exhaust gas back pressure remains low. This design requires a new thermodynamic air channeling concept. With the HSI engine, the hot side is located inside the cylinder V, the intake channels are on the outside. There is another benefit as well: the engine compartment remains cooler. This is especially beneficial to the lithium-ion traction battery, as it provides optimum performance at temperatures between 68 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Consequently, less energy needs to be used for active cooling of the battery.

Performance of the Porsche 918 Spyder? Top speed: More than 211 mph. In purely electric mode: 93 mph. Other stats: 0-62 mph: 2.8 sec; 0-62 mph (in electric mode): 7.0 sec; 0-124 mph (0-200 km/h): 7.9 sec; 0-186 mph (0-300 km/h): 23.0 sec. The range in purely electric mode is 18 miles.

Letter from L.A.

By Tom Pease

Beverly Hills. Twice a year an event in Beverly Gardens Park takes place that celebrates art, where artists from around the world show and sell their wares. It used to be called “The Affaire in the Gardens” but recently has been renamed the artSHOW. Lincoln has been there for the past few years showing off their wares and offering test drives. Offering me a chance to drive a car for free is always welcome, of course, so I made my way over from my hovel in the glamorous “Industrial Triangle” area of Beverly Hills to the park. I had a political meeting in the 600 block of Rodeo so I parked there and walked back to the test site off of Crescent and Park Way.

First the complaints. Really, Lincoln, call me. You need help with these events. Specifically, you need a gay. Preferably me. What possessed you to dress the hosts, both male and female in dark-blue jeans, blue gingham-looking shirts and tan brogues? They looked like Jed Clampett's kin. Did someone back in Michigan think it would be a cute “Beverly Hillbillies” reference? I'm sorry - I thought you were selling luxury cars?

The other thing was the color of the cars there. Most were black with dark interiors while one was red and two others were silver. I think it would have been better of you either had all the cars be one color, or better yet have a range showing off the different colors, interior and exterior. Again, this is Southern California - we like color, and we like light interiors.

The last complaint was the length of the drive. I got there in the morning and had to leave to get to my meeting since the hybrid wasn't arriving back. Upon my return in the afternoon, despite the fact that you weren't in any way overwhelmed with people standing in line for your cars I was allowed to drive the product around the block. Left off of Park on to Crescent, left on Carmelita, left on Cañon and left back onto Park Way to park. Really?

On to the cars. I drove the MKZ in both the hybrid and gas-powered version. I still think that anyone who doesn't choose the hybrid is nuts, at least if they live in Los Angeles. In the driving we do here there's simply no trade-off in handling and since it's the same price as the less expensive gas engine I really think it's a no-brainer. The giant sunroof is a gas, but actually cuts down on vision out the rear window, which isn't great to begin with. I actually kind of like the push-button gear selection although I know it would take some time to get used to, and I wonder why they put the electronic parking brake control on the lower-left dash instead of the console where it really should be (looking at you Cadillac ATS.)

I also drove the MKX, which seemed huge and I was told had slightly outdated styling that was going to be firmed up soon. It also seemed to have software that needed to be updated. I'm just not an SUV sort of guy in any form.

Lincoln seems to be a brand in flux and I don't quite know why. They don't seem to be able to pin down what they want to do: are they luxury? Near luxury? They keep tweaking grill textures and hoping something tossed at the wall will stick. They seem to be going for being the American Volvo in design when I think they should mine their design successes in the way Cadillac has done and they've done themselves in the show cars they've put out in the past years.

The MKS is a great car. But what they need to do is to make sure that the software upgrades get to all their models. Why should I have a different interface on the MKS than on the MKX?

Note to all manufacturers: I hate it that I have to have an interface at all to change my radio station, but if you want to imitate Apple with this crap - which in my opinion belongs on a phone and not a car in the first place - could you at least have a mobile update like my iPhone so that I won't have to try to remember how to call up a radio station on my '11 Belchfire as opposed to my '14 one?

Please, knobs. Now.

Editor-in-Chief's's Note: For our "Quick Take" this week (sorry, I neglected to take pictures) we're in the 2013 Buick Encore with all-wheel-drive. This "globally designed, five-passenger small luxury crossover expands Buick's portfolio" according to Buick. I have to admit that when I saw this rig at the Detroit Auto Show I gave it a five-minute once-over and kept walking, figuring I'd get the concept later. But the fact is that the small crossover segment is about to take off and it's easy to see why. This little Buick was highly-maneuverable bordering on being nimble, I wouldn't say that it veers into fun-to-drive territory but at least it fares well in somewhat spirited driving. And did I say the Encore was little? Yes, it is. When they say "small crossover" they're not kidding, because the Encore is definitely small. Not in a Toon Town sort of way mind you, but it seems shrink-wrapped nonetheless. As for its versatility it's surprisingly good, but I see it more as a vehicle for active young couples without kids, or a young couple whose kids are the size of E.T. Then again older boomers will probably flock to the thing too, because of its size and promise of just the right amount of versatility. One caution, I thought the seats left a lot to be desired. They were too flat and didn't offer enough support. They need work. That said, I liked the Buick Encore much more than I thought I would. Enough to buy one for myself? No. But I can see how it has the potential to be very popular in the market. - PMD

2013 Buick Encore AWD-Premium Group: $32,230 ($29,690 Base Price; Ruby Red Metallic; Titanium Interior; 1.4-liter DOHC Ecotec Turbo with Variable Valve Timing with 138HP and 148 lbs-ft of torque; 6-speed automatic; "Active on Demand" all-wheel drive; 18" chromed aluminum wheels, $995; Leather seating; Heated front seats; Standard leather-wrapped, tilt and telescopic steering wheel with heated outside mirrors; Audio system with navigation including AM/FM/SERIUSXM stereo with Buick IntelliLink and 7" diagonal screen, USB port, Input jack, $795; Destination Charge, $750)

Adherence to Brand Image: Buick is the brand that exists more so for China than the US market, and GM is hell-bent on feeding it more product as soon as possible. Buick wants to be the premium choice in every segment it competes in, but hey, so does every other manufacturer in the world. Manufacturer brain trusts insist that they will compete at the top of each segment or be best in segment. But as we well know, they all can't be best. Somebody has to slip to the next tier down. GM is defining Buick as the premium alternative, the high-styled brand that is worth consideration. I'd rate the Verano and LaCrosse as being true to that mission, and the Encore too, in a weird way. The Regal? It's superfluous and a mistake. The company has big plans for Buick, including a statement vehicle that will carry the Riviera name. Buick exists between Cadillac and Chevrolet in the GM empire. And it markets some pretty nice vehicles. Maybe that's enough.  But then again, it's never enough. - PMD