The Dallara DW12 Honda in which rookie Alexander Rossi won the 2016 Indy 500 will be among the featured offerings at the Mecum Auctions Monterey sale next month. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s Headlines:
+ Steve Beahm, passenger car chief for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in North America, says the Dodge and Chrysler brands will continue to play a key role in the product line. More at Motor Trend.
+ Volkswagen wants to produce the new I.D. Crozz crossover and I.D. Buzz microvan in the United States, where the German automaker intends to concentrate its electric vehicle production. More at Autoblog.
+ Morris Nunn, a former driver, engineer, constructor, and Formula 1 and Indy car team principal who launched the career of Alex Zanardi, among others, is dead at 79. More at Racer.
+ JR Automation, maker of custom automation and robotics equipment, will spend $4 million to expand its Holland, Michigan operations, generating 100 new high-tech jobs. More at Crain’s Detroit Business.
+ Leaked documents suggest that Jeep may be working on a Grand Wagoneer powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat engine with 717 horsepower. More at Road & Track.
+ North American automakers and suppliers are loudly pushing back against a Trump administration proposal to impose tariffs of up to 25 percent on vehicles and parts. More at The Detroit News.
+ Audi’s suspended CEO Rupert Stadler has appealed to a court to be released after spending the past month in jail on charges related to the Dieselgate scandal. More at Automotive News Europe.
+ Featured consignments at the Mecum Auctions Monterey sale on August 23-25 will include the Dallara Honda in which Alexander Rossi won the 2016 Indy 500. More at Classic Cars.com Journal.
+ Calling it “business as usual” and saying it was never in doubt, three-time Formula 1 world driving champion Lewis Hamilton has signed a two-year contract renewal with Mercedes. More at Motorsport.com.
+ The state of California will celebrate the re-opening of State Route 1, damaged by rock slides, with a parade featuring a vehicle from every year of the road’s existence since 1911. More at Hemmings Daily.
Review the previous Executive Briefing from July 16 here.
Photo courtesy of Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
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Seems your link is inop for the Jeep Hellcat article.
> Dodge’s role is to be prominent as America’s sports car brand.
Awful lot of drag racers and no sports cars that I can see. Also looks like Dodge goes upmarket and Chrysler goes downmarket with minivans, crossovers and family cars. And a Hellcat-powered Grand Wagoneer? I don’t think anyone at FCA knows what their brands they used to be or what they are supposed to be now.