This 1964 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III with cabriolet bodywork by Mulliner was among the top five sellers at the 2016 Bonhams Paris Retromobile auction. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ Citing the growing worldwide popularity of SUVs and crossovers, Ford will add four new SUVs to its global product lineup over the next four years. More at the Detroit Free Press.
+ General Motors CEO Mary Barra announced the company’s Opel/Vauxhall unit will launch a long-range, affordable five-seat electric car called the Ampera-e in 2017, closely based on the Chevrolet Bolt. More at Automotive News Europe.
+ In advance of the Chicago Auto Show, Nissan unveiled its redesigned 2017 Armada full-size SUV using body-on-frame construction from the Nissan Patrol utility. More at the Chicago Tribune.
+ In Chicago, Nissan also revealed photos of its all-new standard-sized 2017 Titan pickup, to be built on a smaller platform than the current Titan XD. More at The Detroit News.
+ NASCAR has enacted a charter system for its Sprint Cup teams to create franchises similar to those in professional stick-and-ball sports, offering guaranteed income and starting positions. More at the Charlotte Observer.
+ Daimler AG will invest $2.9 billion by 2019 in next-generation diesel engines to meet coming emissions testing standards, says Bernhard Heil, powertrain vice president. More at Yahoo! Finance.
+ Former Top Fuel and Funny Car driver and longtime ESPN analyst Mike Dunn has been named president of the International Hot Rod Association. More at Dragzine.
+ Tesla Motors reports that it sold 25,202 Model S electric luxury sedans in the U.S. in 2015, an increase of 51 percent over the previous year. More at Autoblog.
+ Fiat Chrysler Automobiles says it has invested $2.66 billion since September 2014 and created 1,200 jobs to produce the next-generation minivan at its Windsor, Ontario plant. More at Reuters.
+ Lennie Pond, a 17-year NASCAR veteran with 234 career starts who won the 1978 Talladega 500, has died at age 75 due to complications from cancer. More at ESPN.
+ Top sellers at the Bonhams Paris auction included a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Berlinetta at $2.38 million and a 1964 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Cabriolet at $480,000. More at Sports Car Digest.
+ Italian Grand Prix promoters plan to meet with Formula 1 supreme leader Bernie Ecclestone this month to resolve an impasse regarding the Monza circuit’s future on the series schedule. More at Racer.
Read the previous Executive Briefing from February 8 here.
Photo by Bonhams.