Mercedes-Benz 280 SL to 560 SL (R 107) The classic car convertible is still extremely popular today. Cologne “We will adore it as if it had gull-wing doors,” predicted experts when the Mercedes-Benz SL R 107 series was phased out in 1989. The 280 SL to 560 SL series, which had been built for almost… Continue reading German Handelsblatt: 50 years of the Mercedes-Benz 280 SL to 560 SL: Germany’s most popular vintage convertible 001271
Tag: FCA
Cleantechnica: 2020 US Electric Vehicle Sales Report 000579
How did US electric vehicle sales go in 2020? We’ve published reports for Europe and China, but US electric vehicle sales have been left nearly untouched. The problems are: 1) there is no unified reporting agency for the country that reports out vehicle registrations, 2) there aren’t even state reports on this that we could… Continue reading Cleantechnica: 2020 US Electric Vehicle Sales Report 000579
2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat Sells Out, It’s Rarer Than the Dodge Demon
2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat Sells Out, It’s Rarer Than the Dodge Demon
22 Jan 2021, 10:58 UTC ·
by
Mircea Panait
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Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, now known as Stellantis thanks to the merger with Groupe PSA, has a habit of shoehorning the Hellcat under the hood of otherwise boring vehicles. The Durango SRT Hellcat is anything but dull thanks to the 6.2-liter unit of an engine, partly because it runs the quarter-mile in a simply staggering 11.5 seconds.
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The most powerful three-row SUV ever offered with a license plate bracket also happens to be rare. Dodge will build a total of 2,000 units according to the press release at the end of this story, which means that a family-sized utility vehicle is rarer than Mopar’s muscliest muscle car ever, the Demon.
“It’s a single model-year run,” said Dodge head Tim Kuniskis, “ensuring that it will be a very special, sought-after performance SUV for years to come. Based on anticipated demand, all dealer allocations have already been reserved, but there is still some time to secure an unsold dealer order.”
Read that quote again, then remember that you’ll have to place an order at an authorized Dodge dealership nevertheless. The unsold orders, therefore, are likely to be marked up into the stratosphere by dealers who care more about quick money instead of continued patronage from a happy customer.
Excluding $1,495 for the destination charge, the most exciting Durango ever produced can be had from $80,995 before optional extras. There aren’t too many of those, frankly, because the Hellcat is pretty much loaded as standard. There is only one special color for the exterior that costs extra, the stripes will set you back $1,195 or $1,295, three-season Pirelli P-Zero tires add $595 to the tally, and Laguna leather seats are available at $1,595.
Scheduled to end production this June, the Durango’s future is a bit uncertain because Stellantis doesn’t wish to comment on future products. The safest scenario would be for Dodge to continue making it on the same platform, which is underwhelming if you consider the all-new underpinnings of the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Giorgio Global architecture would be an interesting upgrade, but that doesn’t seem too likely either.
According to hearsay, the next generation of the Durango – codenamed SD – would join the Ram 1500-based Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer for the 2023 model year at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Michigan. In this case, Dodge would switch back to body-on-frame construction.
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Bentley Continental GT Marks 80,000th Production Milestone
Bentley Continental GT Marks 80,000th Production Milestone
27 Jan 2021, 21:53 UTC ·
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Mircea Panait
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After years of crippling losses under the control of the Vickers conglomerate, Volkswagen saved Bentley in 1998. The financial troubles didn’t go away immediately, but with the Continental GT introduction, the British automaker’s fortunes have changed for the better.
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2003 is when the first example of the breed rolled off the assembly line in Crewe, and since then, Bentley produced more than 80,000 units of the ultra-luxurious grand tourer with 2+2 seating and up to 12 cylinders. Over the course of 18 long years, the Continental GT's power ratings have improved by 27 percent while emissions have been reduced by 48 percent.
“I had the pleasure of launching the original,” said chief exec Adrian Hallmark. “Being here for the launch of the latest generation – and the iterations that have followed – has been a source of great pride for me.”
Redesigned from the ground up in 2018 on the MSB vehicle architecture, the Porsche Panamera’s cooler brother is available as a two-door coupe and convertible. The only transmission available is an eight-speed DCT borrowed from the German automaker, and engine options kick off with the twin-turbo V8 that you’ll also find under the hood of the Panamera Turbo.
542 horsepower and 569 pound-feet (770 Nm) of torque isn't too shabby, but the motor the Continental GT deserves is the twin-turbo W12 with 6.0 liters of displacement. The range-topping model belts out 626 horsepower and 664 pound-feet (900 Nm) of torque from 1,350 to 4,500 rpm. In other words, Bentley promises blistering performance despite the generous curb weight of 5,322 pounds (2,414 kilograms) for the convertible body style.
At the time of reporting, the GT V8 Coupe is listed in the United States with a $202,500 starting price. Opt for the GT W12 Convertible, and you’re looking at $240,800 excluding destination charge and optional extras.
As for the competition, only three candidates come to mind. The achingly beautiful and tech-crazy Ferrari Roma is the most obvious, along with the V8-engined Aston Martin DB11 and V12-engined DBS Superleggera.
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Bruce Springsteen was ‘all in’ on Super Bowl ad with healing message
Bruce Springsteen isn’t known for doing commercials, but for this year’s Super Bowl, the rock legend made an exception, with a spot for Jeep about common ground, connection and crossing the divide between red and blue. A month after a mob, driven by debunked election claims, stormed the U.S. Capitol, Springsteen wants us to find “the middle.” “It’s no secret the middle has been… Continue reading Bruce Springsteen was ‘all in’ on Super Bowl ad with healing message
Ferrari, 7,500 euro bonus to employees for 2020
Automotive The Prancing Horse signs the agreement with the trade unions on the recognition of competitiveness. Fifty hires for the beginning of 2021 Ferrari: record fourth quarter, but 2020 net profit down to -13% The Prancing Horse signs the agreement with the trade unions on the recognition of competitiveness. Fifty hires for the beginning of… Continue reading Ferrari, 7,500 euro bonus to employees for 2020
German Manager Magazin: Porsche loses Cayenne boss to Apple000549
For a good seven years, many in the auto industry have feared a secret project by the IT giant Apple. Under the code name “Titan”, Apple has set up its own auto division, which has been the subject of wild rumors for years. For a while, Apple specifically recruited experts in electric cars and autonomous… Continue reading German Manager Magazin: Porsche loses Cayenne boss to Apple000549
A Silicon Chip Shortage Is Causing Big Issues for Automakers
You may have noticed that it’s difficult to get ahold of new high-end graphics cards and game consoles these days. In large part, that’s due to an ongoing global shortage affecting semiconductor foundries. As it turns out, the problem is even more pronounced in the auto industry. In fact, it’s getting so bad that a… Continue reading A Silicon Chip Shortage Is Causing Big Issues for Automakers
Elon Musk says don’t buy a Tesla during production ramps for best quality (TSLA)
Tesla CEO Elon Musk recommended the best time to buy a Tesla in an interview published this week. He said quality tends to be worse at times when Tesla is working to quickly ramp up production. Tesla was building Model 3s so quickly last year that paint wasn’t drying properly, Musk said. Visit the Business… Continue reading Elon Musk says don’t buy a Tesla during production ramps for best quality (TSLA)
Ferrari 812 GTO due this year as likely V12 GT swansong
Ferrari is expected to mark the end of front-engined V12 grand tourer production with a hardcore GTO version of the 812 Superfast. Spotted testing in Maranello last year and believed to be on the cards for an official reveal later in 2021, the 812 GTO could mark the end of a model line of Ferrari GTs… Continue reading Ferrari 812 GTO due this year as likely V12 GT swansong