MCG Executive Briefing for August 26, 2019

This 1990 Porsche 962C with a Le Mans resume could bring up to $1.9 million at the RM Sotheby’s London sale. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing. 

 

 

Today’s Headlines: 

+   Among the automakers, Ford, Tesla, Daimler, and BMW are said to be the most vulnerable to additional tariffs imposed by China as the USA/China trade war escalates. More at Automotive News Europe. 

 Insiders say a Z06 version of the C8 mid-engine Corvette will arrive in late 2021 with a twin-turbo V8 boasting more than 800 horsepower and 700 lb-ft of torque. More at Autoblog.

 Toyota will provide 3,700 vehicles to the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, including 850 battery-electrics, 500 fuel-cell cars, and several dozen self-driving shuttles. More at The Detroit News. 

+  The American Automobile Association forecasts that retails gasoline prices will fall this autumn, from a national average of $2.75 in July to around $2.40. More at USA Today. 

+   The Andretti Autosport mega-team is reportedly close to expanding to five full-time IndyCar entries for 2020, with the fifth car likely to be driven by Colton Herta. More at Racer. 

 Following the death founder Ian Hope, the British Car Museum in Te Awanga, New Zealand, said to be the world’s largest British auto collection, is closed indefinitely. More at Hemmings Daily. 

 Electric carmaker Tesla is scouting locations for a possible assembly plant in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), the German daily Rheinische Post reported. More at Reuters. 

 Four significant historic racing cars from rallying, Le Mans, and Formula 1 have been added to the docket for the RM Sotheby’s London auction on October 24. More at Classic Cars.com Journal.

 According to CEO Olivier François, the current Fiat 124 Spider, which is based on the Mazda Miata, may soon be slated for discontinuation due to disappointing sales. More at The Drive. 

 Gander Outdoors Truck Series driver Tyler Dippel has been suspended by NASCAR indefinitely for “actions detrimental to stock car racing, though no specifics were cited. More at NBC Sports. 

Review the previous Executive Briefing from August 23 here.

Photo by Ralph Steckelbach courtesy and copyright RM Sotheby’s. 

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