This all-red selection of exotic sports cars from the Steve Todhunter collection will be offered in separate lots at the Mecum Glendale auction. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s Headlines:
+ Chevrolet is adding a larger crossover EUV version of the Chevy Bolt on the same platform, while the current Bolt sedan gets an upgraded interior and a $5500 price cut. More at Autoblog.
+ As part of an aggressive turnaround plan, Jaguar has now committed to making its entire product line electric by 2025, while its Land Rover stablemate will follow. More at Forbes.
+ Some dealers reportedly are tacking on a $50,000 markup to the sticker of the Hellcat-powered, 702 hp Ram 1500 TRX pickup, boosting the door price to $125,000. More at The Drive.
+ Volkswagen is not concerned by any Apple plans for a passenger vehicle that could include the iPhone maker’s battery technology, says chief executive Herbert Diess. More at Reuters.
+ Alpine Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso has successfully undergone corrective surgery after sustaining a fracture to his upper jaw in a cycling accident last week. More at Motorsport.com.
+ General Motors has agreed to a $5.75 million settlement with the state of California regarding false statements made to investors about ignition switch defects. More at The Detroit News.
+ Researchers at the National Bureau of Economic Research determined that electric vehicle owners drive around 5300 miles per year, half as far as fossil-fuel drivers. More at Car and Driver.
+ Mercury Marine has unveiled the Verado V12, a 7.6-liter outboard motor with 600 hp and an articulated lower drive unit that turns independently of the upper power unit. More at Motor Trend.
+ Featured attractions at the Mecum Glendale auction on March 18-20 will include 20 vehicles from the collection of Steve Todhunter, including a selection or exotic sports cars. More at Sports Car Digest.
+ Bugatti has released photos of an unbodied prototype chassis of the Centodieci $8.9 million sports car, which is now in dynamometer testing at the Molsheim, France factory. More at Motor Authority.
+ Mazda announced that the company will be closing up its DPi program and parking its RT24-P prototypes at the conclusion of the 2021 IMSA SportsCar racing season. More at Road & Track.
Photo courtesy and copyright of Mecum Auctions.
Review the previous Executive Briefing from February 12 here.
Have you paid a visit to Mac’s Motor City Garage on Facebook? It’s lots of fun with rare photos, lore, trivia, and great discussions. Click here to go the page and join MCG. Be sure to check out our companion Facebook group MOTOROLOGY, too, and our latest page, Friends at Mac’s Motor City Garage.
EV production is starting to snowball. The rate of change is accelerating.
The authors say their results suggest that “EVs may not be as easily substituted for gasoline vehicles as previously thought.”
Just now figuring that out, huh? 5300 miles a year? We drive at least 4 times that much a year, probably much more. EV’s may make sense for a city dweller, but for us rural folks, not so much so. Maybe in time, but forcing the change too quickly will destroy the EV market as people hang on to their older ICE vehicles. I can’t afford a new EV, but can afford a 20 year old ICE vehicle.