Recent Articles
Mercedes R-Class Is Not, Repeat, NOT a Minivan
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: img Daimler AG ::: 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class
THE R-Class is not a minivan.
So sayeth Mercedes-Benz marketing who on MBUSA.com are -seemingly with gritted teeth- laughing off any correlation between the 7-passenger, whale-shaped, family friendly bus conveyance known as the R-Class and something so low, ha ha, as a Dodge Caravan or Honda Odyssey. Oh, how silly.
In fact, they’d like you to call the R-Class “crossover.” Yes, that’s the same kind of half-step SUV that one might associate with BMW’s plumb X6 or Cadillac’s Lexus-fighting SRX.
“Thanks to the newly designed R-Class crossover, you don’t have to settle for a minivan,” the text on MBUSA.com claims.
Mercedes used to classify the R-Class as an “SUV”. But now its designation’s resolved. Cross that question right off the list. The Mercedes R-Class is a minivan crossover because Mercedes marketing calls it a minivan crossover.
That was easy.
This Weekend: Park Ferrari, Take Piaggio
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: img Piaggio Aero ::: Piaggio P180 Avanti II
THE weekend’s upon us. So let’s say you live in New York and want to go chill with Barry on the Vineyard. Roadtrip? Great! And you just took delivery of a spanking new Ferrari 458 Italia – what better excuse than to stretch its nimble legs cross New England? Except for one bloody problem – traffic. Brutal, democratic traffic.
What to do? Well, if you’ve thumbed through this month’s DuPont Registry you might notice an advert for the Piaggio P-180 Avanti II.
It’s an unusual Italian prop plane with two sets of wings, aft-facing Pratt & Whitney propellers, and features a very slick fuselage that looks just like a jet from your wildest James Bond fantasy but – Piaggio claims – the plane costs a (sizeable) fraction of the price to own and operate.
Attaining a jet-like max speed of Mach .7, max ceiling of 41,000 ft, and a max range of 1,800 nautical miles, for the well financed traveler the P-180 seems to represent upward mobility at a relative bargain.
How relative?
An entry level Gulfstream with similar performance (though longer range @ 2,500 miles) costs $11 million to acquire to say nothing of the higher maintenance costs that are associated with planes powered by jet propulsion.
The P-180, by contrast, will set you back $5 million or so and consume fuel at just under 100 gallons an hour which is better they say, though it makes the 458 Italia look very frugal.
Still, what price to be above the weekend fray and with friends in no time?
eBay Watch: Ferrari 512TR
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: img via eBay ::: 1992 Ferrari 512TR (Testarossa)
FOR those who find the Ferrari Testarossa too much the 80s hit single (problema?) and take issue with the final styling modifications of the 512M (per che?) the 512TR steps in as the happy compromise.
Blessed with the magical 4.9 Liter flat-V12 heart and soul that made the Testarossa so memorable but with the softer 90s touches that blessed other Ferraris like the 348 and 355 (five spoke, starfish wheels, for example), the 512 represents la bella figura e la bella vita.
This particular M.Y. 1992 Texan car is for sale with a buy-it-now price of $93,980.
While that’s less than advertising $94K, the number, particularly for an early 90s Ferrari with 18K on the clock seems somewhat high. Many Testarossas can be had for $50K-$60K. No word on whether any major service was completed (perhaps reason for the inflated price point).
This rosso corsa 512TR still strikes that gorgeous balance – the exotic cocktail that’s Pininfarina styling bridging the 80s and 90s. Almost irresistible…
[eBay]
Max Bling: Jaguar XJ75
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: img Jaguar Cars ::: Jaguar XJ75 Platinum Concept
“The XJ is thoroughly modern, and captures the innovative and daring character that our founder Sir William Lyons built into every Jaguar.” – Mike O’Driscoll, Managing Director Jaguar
JAGUAR message: what’s new = what’s right and proper.
So out with frumpy old elegance, wilton carpet, and thick, aromatic hides. Down with evolutionary design and on with the revolution! Let’s set upon every fad and pounce on every technological trend, ill advised or not. ‘Cuz it’s what the people surely want!
As Jaguar pitches itself out of a black hole and hopefully into some black ink, the company is as busy as ever shedding the Holland & Holland patina of yesterday to embrace Burberry plaid with all the force and speed of England’s rugby team.
Speaking of rugby, have you heard of the Jaguar Academy of Sport?
The Jaguar XJ75 Platinum Concept, is a key, showy part of Jaguar’s 75th Anniversary celebration, and it marks a decisive turn to all that blings. A direct appeal, in other words, to all those high-rollahs in Flo-Ridah and footballers in Manchester.
Right and proper. Let’s hope this strategy works.
It’s A Duesy! 1929 Duesenberg Model J Up For Auction
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: img RM Auctions ::: 1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe
ARGUABLY, the peak of automotive art happened circa 1925-1935.
Free from modern constraint and truer to a higher aesthetic, some of the world’s most elegantly sculptured machinery was wrought during this historic period of boom and bust.
Duesenberg was the American pinnacle.
More cache than a Cadillac or Packard, more style than a Rolls or a Benz, Duesenberg’s Model Js were simply epic in both appeal and exclusivity. This particular 1929 Model J “Convertible Coupe” by coachbuilder Murphy appears to be a spectacular case in point.
Antique automotive mover ‘n shaker RM Auctions is offering this straight-eight Duesy for bid at Hershey (PA) on October 7-8 (2010). No details on the car yet, but a carefully restored or lovingly kept Duesenberg will fetch a quarter million.
What price, exquisite art?
More Reason To Love Jennifer Love Hewitt
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: img via Zimbio ::: Jennifer Love Hewitt + Bentley Continental GTC
YOU can now add impeccable taste in motor cars to the list.
Above pictured is Jennifer Love Hewitt, lovely star of small and large screen, entering the driver’s side of a pearlescent white Bentley Continental GTC.
Seasoned veterans readers will note that celeb sitings are not generally done here -but- for the sunny Ms. Hewitt and her fine Bentley an exception’s due.
An endorsement deal in the making?
The 2010 Mercury Milan Arrived Just In Time
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: img Ford ::: 2010 Mercury Milan
ANYONE in recent times who’s visited “their local Ford/Lincoln/Mercury dealer” has gone to look at a Ford or consider a Lincoln, maybe even look at that used Honda on the lot, but rarely, if ever, consider a Mercury.
In 2005, the Mercury Milan sedan bowed as a slightly upgraded version of the Ford Fusion and a no-tie-Friday cousin of the Lincoln Zephyr. The differences were minor and mostly cosmetic as was the difference between Ford and Mercury models across the line. Ford planned to produce a modest 25K Milans a year -not exactly a balls-out goal set nor a go-get’em-tiger message to the dealers.
Fact is, Mercury’s been an afterthought for far too long and Ford’s announcement that it will be 
ending the brand in October, 2010 is a retirement long overdue.
In a world of Hyundais, Kias, second-hand Lexuses and Acuras, tighter budgets, and sharper pencils, there’s no room for badge-incrementalist graduation anymore. No more Ford Taurus to Mercury Sable to Lincoln Town Car.
People want the Lincoln at the Taurus price.
Thanks to a global economy the Japanese and Koreans are offering them just that through models built with non-union labor, attractive financing and lease deals, platinum packaged pre-owned programs, and assertive marketing that promises that customers will never want for service or value.
Which is all the Mercury customer ever really wanted. Sad part is… the 2010 Mercury Milan kind of finally delivers.
The modified facelift that was introduced in 2008 and implemented this model year is, on the outside, a study in clean-sheet minimalism. It’s as though a little bit of Italian charm was actually injected into that front fascia – so devoid of typical, aggressive lower airdam and apron treatments as to suggest an almost a blissful serenity.
The inside is less Bauhaus and more of Mercury just adding quality to an originally drab space. That new center console with touch-screen monitor gives the customer a bang-for-the-buck that’s rare in cars that start at $21K. Maybe that’s the reason I’ve spied so many on the roads in recent months.
Did you know Mercury’s been winning product reliability surveys for years? Did you care? Nah, we didn’t, did we. Maybe you noticed Mercury’s easy-on-the-eyes spokeslady – but a pretty face on TV wasn’t going to sway you from your import, was it?
This post may come off as a you-never-miss-’em-’til-they’re-gone ramble, but, when Mercury goes and there’ll be no more new Milans – handsome sedans that uphold the entry-level end of a great American bargain – we may be a little sad.
And Now Your Automotive Moment of Zen LI
Mercedes-Benz Formula Zero Concept
The Challenges in Covering Peugeot’s 508
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: img PSA Group ::: 2011 Peugeot 508
I’D like to talk both more and more authoritatively about the impending 2011 Peugeot 508.
Hotly anticipated by many across the Pond, Peugeot’s slick new midsize sedan features handsome design that’s mainstream enough to even find a new breed of loyal American customers – but – the Peugeot site seems to have tombé en panne.
Chillingly familiar to 80s Peugeot survivors fans Stateside, the dodgy site ergonomics and a “Bad Request” return on a link clicked reveal that Peugeot.com – the French car maker’s international English language web presence – has some ways to go to match up to rival car makers’ global sites.
Kind of like Peugeot, en générale, je crois.
Das Mark Levinson Sound System. Sehr Gut, Lexus.
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: YouTube via LexusEnthusiast ::: Lexus LS460 Advertisement
AT least someone is doing ads classy these days. That having been said, ze Germans are getting better – what with Mercedes cheating death and BMW’s vintage-tastic Mad Men spots.
Matter of fact, in the advertising world, in general, you’ve got to say it’s getting better. A little better all the time.
