Artist Art Fitzpatrick, famed for his elegant, highly detailed depictions of automobiles in advertising and catalog illustrations, mainly for Pontiac, has passed away at 96. Get all the latest auto industry news in the Executive Briefing.
Today’s headlines:
+ At the Los Angeles Auto Show this week, Fiat introduced the much-anticipated 124 Spyder, its two-seat sports roadster built on the Mazda Miata platform. More at Autoblog.
+ U.S. authorities are investigating German parts supplier Robert Bosch GmbH over its possible role in the Volkswagen emissions cheating scandal. More at Automotive News Europe.
+ Chevrolet snared two top magazine honors as Motor Trend named the Colorado as its Truck of the Year and the Camaro its Car of the Year. More at USA Today.
+ Citroen will withdraw from next year’s World Rally Championship, taking the year off to develop an all-new World Rally car for the 2017 season. More at Racer.
+ Daimler will expand its Mannheim, Germany plant to add a production line for the V12 Biturbo engines used in Mercedes S-class vehicles. More at Automotive Business Review.
+ An autonomous Audi RS 7 sedan has set a record lap of 2:07.67 at the FAST Parcmotor 2.6-mile race track near Barcelona in Spain. More at Motor Trend.
+ Artist Art Fitzpatrick, half of the Fitz & Van team renowned for their posh, photorealistic depictions of automobiles in new car ads and brochures, mainly for Pontiac, has passed away at 96. More at Advertising Age.
+ The redesigned, second-gen Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid sedan was named 2016 Green Car of the Year, the auto industry’s top environmental award. More at the Detroit Free Press.
+ Germany’s largest trade union, IG Metall, announced it will deepen its partnership with the United Auto Workers to strengthen labor rights at German automakers and their suppliers based in the USA. More at Reuters.
+ NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Kyle Busch, 30, has signed a multi-year contract extension with the Joe Gibbbs Racing team, Toyota’s lead operation. More at Sporting News.
Read the previous Executive Briefing from November 16 here.
1960 Pontiac illustration by Art Fitzpatrick and Van Kaufman.
I love Fitz & Van’s work. I’ve got three of their lithographs hanging on the wall behind me. It’s not because they’re Pontiacs, it’s because they’re great art.