With a pre-auction estimate of up to $13 million, this 1937 Bugatti 57SC Sports Tourer with unique Vanden Plas bodywork will headline this week’s Bonhams Amelia Island sale. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ The U.S. government is investigating complaints of total brake failures on 420,000 Ford F-150 V6 pickups from the 2013 and 2014 model years. More at The Detroit News.
+ Volkswagen’s current chairman and CEO were alerted to the use of illegal emissions-control software in the U.S. two weeks before the carmaker disclosed the scale of its manipulations, Bild am Sonntag reported. More at Reuters.
+ The Renault-Nissan automaking alliance expects to generate $6 billion in savings in 2018 by integrating more divisions and improved resource sharing. More at Channel NewsAsia.
+ The Mitsubishi eX all-electric crossover vehicle, boasting two-row seating and a range of 250 miles, has been given the green light for production. More at Motor Trend.
+ Three-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart, still recovering from an off-season back injury, says he still doesn’t know when he can return for his final season of NASCAR competition. More at USA Today.
+ Subaru announced the production of 15 million all-wheel drive vehicles since the Subaru Leone 4WD Estate Van was introduced in September 1972, 44 years ago. More at Automotive Business Review.
+ Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has parted ways with Wieden+Kennedy, the ad agency that created the Eminem “Imported from America” and Clint Eastwood “Halftime in America” commercials. More at the Detroit Free Press.
+ Porsche GT director Andreas Preuninger has confirmed that the six-speed manual gearbox used in the 911 R will be available on the next generation GT3. More at Autocar.
+ Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari topped the time charts in pre-season Formula 1 testing at Barcelona, but Mercedes led in laps completed by a wide margin. More at Motorsport.com.
+ A field of more than 80 vehicles is set for the Bonhams Amelia Island Auction on Thursday, March 10 at the Fernandina Beach Golf Club. More at Sports Car Digest.
+ Alfa Romeo will introduce the Stelvio crossover, based on the Giulia rear-wheel-drive sedan platform, at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show in November. More at Autoblog.
Read the previous Executive Briefing from March 4 here.
Photo courtesy of Bonhams.