Automotive

BREAKING: Ford says goodbye to Mark Fields, appoints Jim Hackett as the new leader

BREAKING: Ford says goodbye to Mark Fields, appoints Jim Hackett as the new leader Ford Motor Company, its board and shareholders were apparently fed up with ex-CEO Mark Fields’ failure to deliver.

What’s going on?
It seems Mark Fields’ career as the CEO of Ford was rather short lived. After taking the lead of Dearborn’s own in 2014, stocks took a dive under Fields’ leadership. As a result, Ford’s executive board and major shareholders didn’t want to deal with him any more.
Taking Fields’ place is Jim Hackett, who led Ford’s Smart Mobility division before becoming CEO. Prior to working at Ford Motor Company, Hackett is most known for his 30-year tenure of Steelcase, a massive furniture conglomerate.
Another major shift in Ford’s executive team is the departing of Ford’s Group Vice President of Communications, Ray Day.
Why did Fields get the boot?
Despite increased sales and a projected profit of around $9 billion before taxes, Ford still suffered from market share loss. As a result, potential investors were turned-off by this market share loss, causing the value to drop by 40 percent under Fields’ reign.
Who’s the new guy?
Jim Hackett is most known for turning around office furniture company, Steelcase. His new obligation to lead and hopefully turn Ford’s stock around wouldn’t be the first of this kind.
More to come as it develops.
For the press release, check it out below.
– By: Chris Chin

MAY 22, 2017 | DEARBORN
FORD APPOINTS JIM HACKETT AS CEO TO STRENGTHEN OPERATIONS, TRANSFORM FOR FUTURE; FARLEY, HINRICHS, KLEVORN TAKE ON NEW ROLES

Jim Hackett named as Ford Motor Company president and CEO, succeeding Mark Fields, who is retiring. Hackett, who will report to Executive Chairman Bill Ford, is recognized as a transformational business leader
Hackett led Steelcase Inc.’s turnaround to become the world’s No. 1 office furniture maker, served as interim Athletic Director at University of Michigan and has led Ford Smart Mobility LLC since March 2016. He served on Ford’s board from 2013 to 2016
Hackett, together with Bill Ford, will focus on three priorities: Sharpening operational execution, modernizing Ford’s present business and transforming the company to meet tomorrow’s challenges
Ford also named leaders to three new roles under Hackett. Jim Farley is appointed executive vice president and president, Global Markets, Joe Hinrichs is appointed executive vice president and president, Global Operations, and Marcy Klevorn is appointed executive vice president and president, Mobility
Mark Truby is appointed vice president, Communications, and elected a company officer. He succeeds Ray Day, who plans to retire from the company next year and will provide consulting services until then
Paul Ballew is appointed vice president and Chief Data and Analytics Officer
DEARBORN, May 22, 2017 – Ford Motor Company today named Jim Hackett as its new president and CEO and announced key global leadership changes designed to further strengthen its core automotive business and accelerate a strategic shift to capitalize on emerging opportunities.
Hackett, 62, has a long track record of innovation and business success as CEO of Steelcase, Interim Athletic Director at the University of Michigan and executive chairman of Ford Smart Mobility LLC since March 2016.
Reporting to Executive Chairman Bill Ford, Hackett will lead Ford’s worldwide operations and 202,000 employees globally. He succeeds Mark Fields, 56, who has elected to retire from Ford after a successful 28-year career with the company.
“We’re moving from a position of strength to transform Ford for the future,” Bill Ford said. “Jim Hackett is the right CEO to lead Ford during this transformative period for the auto industry and the broader mobility space. He’s a true visionary who brings a unique, human-centered leadership approach to our culture, products and services that will unlock the potential of our people and our business.”
Added Hackett: “I am so excited to work with Bill Ford and the entire team to create an even more dynamic and vibrant Ford that improves people’s lives around the world, and creates value for all of our stakeholders. I have developed a deep appreciation for Ford’s people, values and heritage during the past four years as part of the company and look forward to working together with everyone tied to Ford during this transformative period.”
Hackett, together with Bill Ford, will focus on three priorities:
Sharpening operational execution across the global business to further enhance quality, go-to-market strategy; product launch, while decisively addressing underperforming parts of the business
Modernizing Ford’s business, using new tools and techniques to unleash innovation, speed decision making and improve efficiency. This includes increasingly leveraging big data, artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, 3D printing and more
Transforming the company to meet future challenges, ensuring the company has the right culture, talent, strategic processes and nimbleness to succeed as society’s needs and consumer behavior change over time
Bill Ford and Ford’s Board of Directors thanked Fields for his significant contributions to the company.
“Mark Fields has been an outstanding leader and deserves a lot of credit for all he has accomplished in his many roles around the globe at Ford,” Bill Ford said. “His strong leadership was critical to our North American restructuring, our turnaround at the end of the last decade, and our record profits in the past two years.”
Also today, Ford announced a new structure for its operations and named three new leaders reporting to Hackett:
Jim Farley, 54, is appointed executive vice president and president, Global Markets. In this role, Farley will oversee Ford’s business units, The Americas; Europe, Middle East & Africa and Asia Pacific. In addition, Farley will oversee Lincoln Motor Company and global Marketing Sales & Service. Farley has served as executive vice president and president, Ford of Europe, Middle East and Africa since January 2015. Farley will also oversee the strategy and business model development for electrified vehicles and autonomous vehicles.
Joe Hinrichs, 50, is appointed executive vice president and president, Global Operations. In this role, Hinrichs will oversee Ford’s global Product Development; Manufacturing and Labor Affairs; Quality; Purchasing; and Sustainability, Environmental and Safety Engineering; Hinrichs has been serving as Ford executive vice president and president, The Americas, since December 2012.
Marcy Klevorn, 57, is appointed executive vice president and president, Mobility. In this role, Klevorn will oversee Ford Smart Mobility LLC, which was formed last year to accelerate the company’s plans to design, build, grow and invest in emerging mobility services, as well as Information Technology and Global Data, Insight and Analytics. Klevorn has served as group vice president, Information Technology and Chief Information Officer since January 2017.
All three appointments are effective June 1. New leaders to succeed Hinrichs, Farley and Klevorn will be the subject of a future announcement.
“We are fortunate to have three dynamic and talented leaders in Jim Farley, Joe Hinrichs and Marcy Klevorn taking on greater responsibility,” Bill Ford said. “Each has a track record of driving innovation, cost efficiency and delivering results around the world. They will work closely with Jim Hackett to lead Ford’s day-to-day operations, build our brand and capitalize on emerging opportunities.”
In addition, Ford appointed Mark Truby, 47, vice president, Communications, effective immediately, reporting to Bill Ford. He was elected a company officer. Truby has previously led Ford’s Communications teams in Asia Pacific and Europe, Middle East & Africa. Truby succeeds Ray Day, who plans to retire from the company next year and will provide consulting services until then.
Ford also elected Paul Ballew, 52, as Global Chief Data and Analytics Officer, reporting to Klevorn. Ballew has been leading Ford’s global data and analytics teams since December 2014, including development of new capabilities supporting connectivity and smart mobility.

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Honda Proving Center Returns To Action Following Renovation

Honda Proving Center Returns To Action Following Renovation

Following a complete renovation, the Honda Proving Center (HPC) is open again and ready to function as a full on testing ground for future Honda and Acura products. Located in the Mojave Desert, near Cantil, California, HPC is an ideal place for Honda to test and develop a wide range of automobiles, motorcycles, side-by-sides, and ATVs.
“The enhancements we made at the Honda Proving Center will play an important role in advancing the performance capabilities of our products for our customers,” said Jeff Conrad, Senior Vice President, Automobile Division, American Honda.
The remodeled HPC features a 7.5-mile banked oval track where vehicles can exceed 200 mph during testing. A 4.5-mile winding road course accompanies the oval track, and incorporates 28 curves and six different hills. The new and improved HPC now has a 1.3 million-square-foot vehicle dynamics area and a modified powersports complex to support the development and testing of Honda motorcycles and other all-terrain vehicles.
The renovation of the 3,840-acre warm-weather testing facility provides Honda with two key proving grounds in the United States. In addition to HPC, Honda also conducts verification testing at the Transportation Research Center, an automotive proving facility located in East Liberty, Ohio.
“HPC has long played a valuable role in the development of our products and this renovation will ensure it continues to do so,” Conrad added.
Interesting enough, all original and existing asphalt at the old HPC site was recycled and used for the renovation of the new and improved site. The video below shows more. Just for the record, if we worked for Honda, we would want to be assigned here, preferably with the Acura NSX. The Civic Type R would’t be half bad either.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.

Photo, Video & Source: Honda North America.

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The Enzo Ferrari Years With Alfa Romeo

The Enzo Ferrari Years With Alfa Romeo

The Triple Crown of Motorsport is quickly approaching, leaving automobile enthusiasts eager to see who will come out on top during what is considered a series of the most important auto races in the world. From May 25th to May 28th, all eyes will be on the prestigious Formula 1 Grand Prix on the Circuit de Monaco, a race that has long attracted spectators for the event’s racing difficulty and glamorous location.
Action will then move stateside for the Indianapolis 500, followed by the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the oldest Motorsports and endurance car race in the world.
In honor of the upcoming flurry of high-stakes Motorsports racing, now is the perfect time to explore the history of some of the earliest Motorsports competitors. One such brand that gained international praise is the fiery Alfa Romeo, which roared into the racing world in 1911. While Alfa Romeo stopped participating in the Formula 1 circuit in 1988, this iconic Italian brand has over 100 years of racing success and is recognized for being a dominant force in Motorsports.
Alfa Romeo can claim many firsts in its history, including becoming the first car to win the World Automobile Championship in 1925, and successfully following up this win with a first-place victory at the inaugural F1 championship. 120 titles later, Alfa Romeo has raced in just about every form imaginable, picking up victories in rally races and endurance hauls alike.
One of the staples of Alfa Romeo’s racing success was its elite racing team, which included Antonio Ascari, Tazio Nuvolari, Juan Manual Fangio, and for close to 20 years, Motorsport legend Enzo Ferrari.
Enzo Ferrari piloting his Alfa Romeo at the 1922 Targa Florio. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
Ferrari’s Dreams Begin With Alfa Romeo
Before Enzo Ferrari created and managed one of the most recognizable Italian car brands of all time, he honed his early racing skills with Alfa Romeo. Ferrari’s interest in the fast-paced world of Motorsport was first piqued as a child, when at the age of 10 he accompanied his father and brother to the circuit on Via Emilia in Bologna, Italy.
After an honorable discharge in WWI, Ferrari failed to secure a job with Fiat, and instead started his career with car manufacturer Costruzioni Meccaniche Nazionali as a test driver. He was quickly promoted to the company’s racing division and made his official debut at the Parma-Poggio di Berceto race in 1919. The following year, Ferrari joined Alfa Romeo to work and compete as a racer, which launched his first long-term employment in the automotive field.
In 1921, Ferrari began his run as an Alfa driver with a series of successes, including a fifth place finish at the Targa Florio and a second place finish at Mugello. By 1923, Ferrari had solidified his racing prowess to the Alfa team with his win at the inaugural Circuito del Savio, which attracted the attention of Count and Countess Baracca, the parents of legendary Italian WWI pilot Francesco Baracca. After watching Ferrari’s win, the Countess gifted the young driver with a signed photograph of her son and encouraged Ferrari to use the emblem on the side of her son’s plane as a mascot on his cars. This black charging horse emblem will become the Ferrari symbol known around the world when Enzo starts his own company.
In 1924, Ferrari was honored by the Italian state and made a Cavaliere (knight) to honor his services to the nation as a successful racer with Alfa Romeo. In 1927, his honorable status was upgraded to Commendatore (knight commander) for his continued contributions to sport, which he followed up with a definitive first-place showing at the first Circuito de Modeno in the Alfa Romeo 6C-1500 SS.
By the early 1930s, Ferrari had stopped driving race cars and had dedicated his efforts to managing drivers under Scuderia Ferrari, which became Alfa’s official racing department in 1933. The team that Ferrari oversaw included legendary driver Tazio Nuvolari, who famously beat Nazi-backed Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union vehicles at the German Grand Prix in 1935. During this time, Scuderia Ferrari also made critical contributions to the brand on the production side, with the creation of the Alfa Romeo 158 Alfetta, one of the company’s most successful race cars.
Ferrari left Alfa Romeo in 1939 under the condition he could not use the Ferrari name in racing for the next four years, a bargain that inspired the consummate competitor to make it one of his goals to beat Alfa Romeo in one of his own vehicles. Though he left Alfa Romeo on less than favorable terms, Ferrari contributed to some of the most formative years of the marque as both a driver and manager.
Enzo Ferrari. Photo: Ferrari Media.

American Comeback
Despite its storied history, many drivers in the United States don’t know much about these Italian sports cars. For those who do, Alfa’s track record here was marred by spotty quality and poor service support. They officially left the U.S. market in 1995. However, a three-commercial showing at this year’s Super Bowl confirms that Alfa Romeo is most assuredly back in the game stateside.
The return of the Giulia is a pre-cursor to the arrival of the Stelvio, a new SUV. While only time will tell if the excitement and passion of Italian engineering will woo American drivers, Alfa Romeo’s pedigree as one of the greatest racing vehicles ever certainly bodes well for the sports car enthusiast. As Top Gear and The Grand Tour’s Jeremy Clarkson once said, “you can’t be a true petrolhead if you have never owned or wanted to own an Alfa Romeo.”
Richard Reina is a Product Trainer at CARiD.com and lifelong automotive enthusiast.

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Ford Names Jim Hackett As CEO, Announces Global Business Strategies

Ford Names Jim Hackett As CEO, Announces Global Business Strategies

Ford Motor Company has named Jim Hackett as its Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. The announcement comes as Ford emphasized “key global leadership changes in an effort to strengthen core automotive business and capitalize on emerging opportunities.”
Although no management changes materialized, General Motors echoed similar sentiments last week when it announced a shifting in its international markets.
“We’re moving from a position of strength to transform Ford for the future,” said Bill Ford, Ford Motor Company Executive Chairman. “Jim Hackett is the right CEO to lead Ford during this transformative period for the auto industry and the broader mobility space.”
Forthright Leadership
Hackett, 62, is the former CEO of Steelcase and Interim Athletic Director at the University of Michigan. In the latter position, he was instrumental in recruiting current head football coach Jim Harbaugh. Since March of last year, Hackett has overseen Ford Smart Mobility LLC as Executive Chairman. He will now lead Ford’s global operations, encompassing about 202,000 employees.
“I am so excited to work with Bill Ford and the entire team to create an even more dynamic and vibrant Ford that improves people’s lives around the world, and creates value for all of our stakeholders,” Hackett said. “I have developed a deep appreciation for Ford’s people, values and heritage during the past four years as part of the company and look forward to working together with everyone tied to Ford during this transformative period.”
Ford praised Hackett’s leadership and his ability to forge bonds with people.
“He’s a true visionary who brings a unique, human-centered leadership approach to our culture, products, and services that will unlock the potential of our people and our business,” he said.
He succeeds Mark Fields, 56, who retires after a successful 28-year tenure.
“Mark Fields has been an outstanding leader and deserves a lot of credit for all he has accomplished in his many roles around the globe at Ford,” Ford said. “His strong leadership was critical to our North American restructuring, our turnaround at the end of the last decade, and our record profits in the past two years.”
Mark Fields speaking at the 2016 edition of the Consumer Electronics Show on the benefits of the Ford Smart Mobility initiative. Photo: Sam VarnHagen.
Three-Tier Plan
With Hackett now at the helm, Ford outlined three top objectives going forward. The first is to enhance what Ford calls a “go-to-market” strategy that includes addressing poor performing areas of the company. The second deals with modernization, including the incorporation of new tools and processes to increase innovation and efficiency, while leveraging big data. Under this umbrella, expect to see Ford invest in advanced robotics and artificial intelligence.
The last objective is to ensure Ford is ideally suited to respond to the changing needs of consumers and society as a whole. It also deals with fostering a healthy internal culture, recruiting the right talent, and encouraging overall transformation. This third objective is arguably the most important, given Ford’s history. The cutthroat and callous corporate culture of Ford is well documented in the book American Icon by Bryce G. Hoffman – such conditions motivated then CEO Bill Ford to recruit Alan Mulally from Boeing.
One incredible scene in the book recalls the Saturday evening when Ford and his wife Lisa took Mulally to dinner in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They spent much of the afternoon going over the deeply entrenched attitudes and resistance in Ford making it impossible for the automaker to move forward. At one point, when Mulally excused himself from the table, Lisa Ford leaned over to her husband and whispered “he seems to good to be true.”
Alan Mulally, former President and CEO, Ford Motor Company, was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame at the 2016 induction and award ceremony at the Cobo Center in Detroit, Michigan. Photo by: Sam VarnHagen.

Internal Structure
Ford also announced a new operations structure with three key leaders, each reporting to Hackett. Jim Farley, 54, was appointed Executive Vice President and President, Global Markets. He will oversee Ford’s business units, The Americas; Europe, Middle East & Africa and Asia Pacific. In addition, Farley will oversee Lincoln Motor Company and global Marketing Sales & Service. Farley has served as Executive Vice President and President, Ford of Europe, Middle East, and Africa since January 2015.
He will also oversee the development of electrified and autonomous vehicles.
Joe Hinrichs, 50, was named Executive Vice President and President, Global Operations. He will oversee Ford’s global Product Development; Manufacturing and Labor Affairs; Quality; Purchasing; and sustainability, Environmental and Safety Engineering; Hinrichs has been serving as Executive Vice President and President, The Americas, since December 2012.
And finally, Marcy Klevorn, 57, was appointed Executive Vice President and President, Mobility. Klevorn will oversee Ford Smart Mobility LLC, which was formed last year to design, build, grow, and invest in emerging mobility services. She has served as Group Vice President, Information Technology and Chief Information Officer since January 2017.
“We are fortunate to have three dynamic and talented leaders in Jim Farley, Joe Hinrichs, and Marcy Klevorn taking on greater responsibility,” Ford said. “Each has a track record of driving innovation, cost efficiency, and delivering results around the world.”
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
Photos & Source: Ford Motor Company.

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Review: The 2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack swings at a growing niche and hits the nail on the head

Review: The 2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack swings at a growing niche and hits the nail on the head We take the 2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack right into the heart of the Alltrack’s ideal market: Vermont.

What is it?
In a market saturated with crossovers of all sizes, the wagon has seemingly disappeared into the background. Buyers are after car-based SUVs. And just as we thought wagons are dead, several automakers reintroduced some new long-roof offerings, indicating otherwise. Volkswagen is one of those automakers, and they just recently introduced a new version of the Golf Sportwagen. It’s called the Golf Alltrack. It follows Audi’s allroad recipe of increasing ground clearance and beefing-up the undergarments to make a more versatile vehicle. Given how I find myself as part of the ideal demographic and potential buyer base of the Alltrack, Volkswagen offered us one for review.
The US outdoor industry comprises of $887 billion of consumer spending annually. Part of it involves the National Park system managing over 420 sites spread over 84 million acres where humans can indulge in outdoor activities. Americans certainly didn’t invent the concept of having fun in the wild. But they’ve done their hardest to make it accessible to all. Ranging from $25-35K, the Volkswagen Golf Alltrack is for those longing for the European ‘everything’ wagon. This includes your recreational climbers, campers, anglers, bikers, hikers, skiers, hunters, backpackers, geocachers, and many others, just to name a few.
Comparisons to Subaru’s offerings are inevitable, but the VW offers a different experience. Playing over the mountains and through the valleys of Vermont, the white VW sticks out despite its attractive but subtle lines. This clearly proves it’s not a ‘Subie. So Volkswagen stands a solid chance of making a dent in the Outback/Crosstrek market. Here’s why.

2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack Specifications

Style:
Compact Wagon Crossover
Seating Capacity:
Five passengers
Base Price:
$25,850
Price As Tested:
$35,705
Engine:
1.8L DOHC TSI EA888 turbocharged and intercooled 16-valve V6 with direct injection – 170hp @ 4500 rpm; 199 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm
Transmission:
Six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic (six-speed manual opt.)
0-60 MPH:
7.5 seconds
Top Speed:
129 MPH (electronically-limited)
Curb Weight:
3,499lbs
Fuel Economy (City/Highway/Combined):
22 / 30 / 25 mpg w/ 13.2 gal. tank
Desired features:

Like either Subaru wagon option, it has desired features that owners may never need. It brings an alternative to the table and it (mostly) avoids fluffing up the insides with things that functionally-minded people don’t quite need. But the Alltrack does have 7.5 inches of functional, ground clearance. Couple that with part-time 4MOTION all-wheel-drive, lane keeping assist, radar-guided cruise control and virtually continuous plastic skid plates underneath, and it’s easy to tell this Golf means business.

Over a weekend filled with torrential rain, the car trounced steep class IV, unpaved and hardly maintained single-lane thoroughfares. Water bars, intermittent streams, and soft surfaces presented no challenge. Riding 1.2″ higher than the standard Golf Sportwagen, the Alltrack can reach trailheads, portage sites, and rugged camps where a Sportwagen, or even a standard Subaru Impreza couldn’t even dream of. It does everything a Crosstrek or an Outback sets out to do in terms of four-season off-road abilities.
The rear seats fold flat and cargo space is down only by seven cubic inches to the Outback’s. That makes camping out in the boot a possibility for those wanting to get a head-start on their outing. Though seemingly obvious things you’d expect to find in an outdoorsy vehicle, like 1-liter Nalgene bottle-compatible cupholders, are non-existent. Thankfully, there’s other apparent attention to detail, such as the inclusion of rubber floor mats that extend up the rear seatbacks. So there’s no guilt in popping the seats down and throwing a moistened mountain bike or two in the back.

The infotainment system with the Fender speaker package sounds great for all occupants. The memory-based nav interface is intuitive and the touch screen offers near-smartphone levels of responsiveness. Apple CarPlay works as advertised, making porting communications, navigation, and audio seamless.
What makes an outdoor lifestyle wagon have human qualities:
Photo provided by Volkswagen AmericasOn long trips, our testers varied in size and all occupants confirmed their love of both the front and rear seats. This is something that Subaru continuously failed to gain our trust on for decades. In the VW, aspirin is not required before or after 50 miles. Subaru’s interiors have grown up by leaps and bounds, but VW dabbles in the Audi parts bin. That sets the tone for the rest of the experience and nails it on the head. Warm-blooded humans can enjoy the soft touch surfaces abound. Wheelie-bin plastic is smartly shunned to areas that are lacking in finger trafficking.
Photo provided by Volkswagen AmericasOutside of a WRX or a BRZ, Subaru’s line is not driver-focused—including the CVT-only Outback. The Alltrack offers six-speed transmissions in either manual or dual-clutch DSG flavors. But the best detail of them all: the center console is angled towards the driver, reminding me of my love for drivers’ cars like vintage BMWs. Equipped with the DSG, our tester was at times indecisive regarding shift points. But 90% of the time, the Drive, Sport, and Manual modes worked as you’d imagine them to. Whether the piece of meat at the controls wishes to relax on the way back home, or fire the car around hairpins up mountain passes with quick, sonorous, perfectly blipped downshifts, the ‘veedub abides.
At 3,400 lbs, the Alltrack is heavier than the Outback by 100-300 lbs, depending upon configuration. The Subaru’s suspension setup is honest about its gravel road focus, while the VW throws out its chest, providing positive feedback when wound tightly on a paved surface. The Alltrack is not flummoxed by buckling tarmac and offers more than adequate suspension travel. But when presented with a washboard dirt road or loose gravel, its suspension becomes incandescent—writhing around like an angry child does after it has projected its cereal onto the nearest wall. It’s not unusable, just an irritation compared to decades of dirt road brilliance from Subaru.
What this car can’t do:

The reliable Subaru Outback is oddly classified as a truck by the EPA. It can tow 2,700 lbs and gets slightly lower fuel economy. The EPA on the other hand, classifies the Alltrack as a car, especially one not set up for towing. This obviously results in the Alltrack offering better economy. Our copy of the VW had electrical issues. The infotainment system opted for a career change for six hours that didn’t involve electricity, an issue dating back to 2014. To add, three of the four lights on the front of the car chose to take in water on a particularly rainy weekend. Both issues suggest Volkswagen might have some issues with quality-control oversight.
Conclusions:

The Outback and the Alltrack are priced similarly. The Outback caters to an interesting range of beings: those that are so outdoor-biased, they barely know the inside of their car. Then, there’s those that long for the L.L. Bean catalog for needlessly impulsive buys, for the two day outings they experience out of the 365 days in the year.
For us humans, there’s really only one choice–the Alltrack. After a multi-day cold and wet slog of a backpacking trip, the VW was a welcome sanctuary of durable and attractive surfaces. Its heated seats, available on all trim levels, were much appreciated given that they heat up in under two minutes. It’s easy to glide your way home, or continue to seek thrills in the twisty bits. Yarding on the car produces an enjoyable noise and loading the suspension up is thoroughly satisfying. Until Buick joins the party with their Regal TourX and others follow suit, the Alltrack is proof that the wagon segment has a ever-growing pulse.
– By: Sawyer Sutton
2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack Breakdown

Pros

Cons

· Excellent compromise of comfortable and fun-to-drive handling
·   The ride can be stiff on some of the rougher surfaces
·   Comforting, functional, and smartly designed interior
·   Some minor reliability issues
· Still offers a manual
· Cup holders can’t hold water cans that outdoorsy people love
Would I recommend one? The 2017 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack provides a hugely compelling alternative to the Subaru Outback and Crosstrek lot. The Golf Sportwagen is already an excellent automobile all around and the Alltrack finds itself in a niche where it clearly has the potential to sway many buyers its way.
Photos Copyright 2017 © Sawyer Sutton  for egmCarTech.
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Brembo, General Motors Team For Advanced Braking Technology

Brembo, General Motors Team For Advanced Braking Technology

Brembo recently unveiled a new line of advanced braking upgrades for select General Motors vehicles. The Brembo Performance Brake Upgrade System is available for the Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe, and Suburban; the GMC Sierra, Yukon, and Yukon XL, and the Cadillac Escalade.
The Brembo kits feature the company’s iconic red six-piston, fixed aluminum calipers loaded with brake pads that clamp onto to 42 percent larger (16.1-inch x 1.3-inch) GM Duralife vented rotors.
Pit Road Meets Main Street
The new components were engineered to meet customer demand by capitalizing on a racing legacy. Brembo has used race tracks around the globe for over 40 years as a testing ground, ultimately (and literally) building that experience into the braking components for everyday vehicles. The new Brembo package enlarges the brake pad area by a whopping 84 percent to increase thermal capacity, a particular benefit for Silverado and Sierra customers.
“The Brembo brake systems are typically designed to withstand higher thermo mechanical loads than our competitors’ brakes,” said Dan Sandberg, Brembo North America President and CEO. “Our brake pads and rotors have a higher capability to absorb thermal loads typical of applications with a heavy payload or a trailer.”
Brembo and GM conducted extensive testing on the new kit, concluding it provided a 31 percent reduction in pedal force and a 12 percent reduction in pedal travel at max deceleration.
“Because brake systems are a critical safety component, durability testing is crucial to verifying the structural resistance of our components for the entire life of the vehicle with respect to calipers,” Sandberg said. “Through this testing, we are also able to predict the life of wearable components like brake pads and rotors, and the overall performance of the system through most environmental conditions.”
Photo: Chevrolet.
Signature Style
Brembo took full advantage of the inner real estate regarding the 20 and 22-inch wheels on GM trucks and SUVs. The upgraded components are easily noticeable with the all-aluminum, red two-piece Brembo caliper, which features the Chevrolet, GMC, or Cadillac insignia accordingly. For all of Brembo’s products, the all-aluminum calipers are among the most significant.
“The real products that put us on the map and launched our expansion were the aluminum calipers,” Sandberg told us last year. “That novelty started on the performance side and has now moved into segments which are higher volume and obtainable by the normal consumer.”
Brembo’s signature calipers are mated to GM’s Duralife brake rotors, which effectively double the service life when compared to a traditional rotor. The rotors bake for 24 hours at more than 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit in a special oven. The resulting atmosphere causes nitrogen atoms to bond to the rotors’ surfaces, hardening and strengthening them against corrosion and wear. These two essential components together – Brembo’s all-aluminum caliper and GM’s Duralife rotor – mean greater durability, better performance, and increased safety for the everyday driver.

Lasting Relationships
In March, Brembo was named a GM Supplier of the Year during the automaker’s 25th annual Supplier of the Year awards. Winners were chosen by a global team of GM purchasing, engineering, quality, manufacturing, and logistics executives. The selections were based on performance criteria in Product Purchasing, Indirect Purchasing, Customer Care and Aftersales, and Logistics.
“We are very proud of the partnership that Brembo and GM have developed over the past decade,” Sandberg said.
The GM awards ceremony began in 1992 – this is the second time Brembo has received such honors. Sandberg notes the new braking upgrades reflect how GM and Brembo work together to meet the needs of customers.
“It’s perhaps the best example of what a true collaborative relationship can accomplish,” he said. “Everyone wins here.”
Brembo was recognized as a Supplier of the Year by GM in March. Left to right, Wade Sheffer (GM), Daniele Castiglioni (Brembo), Dan Sandberg (Brembo), and James Danahy (GM) pose for a photo during the ceremony in Orlando, Florida. Photo: Brembo North America.
Availability & Installation
The Brembo Performance Brake Upgrade System can be purchased in the parts department of any authorized GM dealership, or online through the respective Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac accessories websites. The package includes all the necessary hardware and instructions for the do-it-yourself mechanic – or the components can be installed at the dealership. The Brembo upgrade does not void the GM new vehicle limited warranty when installed by an authorized dealer.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
Brembo Performance Brake Upgrade System part numbers:
· Chevrolet – 84263234
· GMC – 84263235
· Cadillac – 84263236
*Does not fit SEU wheels.
Photos & Source: Brembo North America.

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2019 Porsche 911 Speedster: And The Order Books Shall Be Opened

2019 Porsche 911 Speedster: And The Order Books Shall Be Opened Gorgeous and rare, the Porsche 911 Speedster is a special edition like no other.
The flat-six engine revs to an impressive 9,000 rpm as it cranks out 500 horsepower.
Expect it at U.S. dealers near the end of the year but the ordering window is now open.
Step aside you plebes! Porsche has finally opened its order book for the 2019 911 Speedster, and they are taking names, numbers, and cash (lots of cash) from those well-heeled enough, and desirous enough, and anybody else wanting their 70th anniversary celebration sports car. Unlike a lot of “special” models from other manufacturers, the 2019 Porsche 911 Speedster is actually kind of special.
First, let’s get the bad news out of the way: $274,500. That’s how much the 2019 Porsche 911 Speedster will set you back. That, plus another $1,250 for delivery.
If you want to add any of the optional Heritage Design Package stuff, that’ll set you back about the cost of Honda Civic: $24,510. So like I said, step aside you plebes!
All Business & Motorsport-Inspired
You do, however, get some bang for your buck. Most notably, way back there in the engine bay you’ll find a 4.0-liter flat-six cranking out 502 horsepower and 346 lb-ft. of torque. That is, to use the engineering term, a lot of power. More than enough to jet you from zero to 60 in 3.8 seconds and top out at 192 mph. Oh, and said plant revs to a 9,000 rpm redline. Spaß!
Of course this is going to be a fun car, because unlike a lot of other special models, the 2019 Speedster was not developed by the marketing department, oh no. It was the brainstorm of the Porsche Motorsport department in Weissach. The windshield and side windows are cut down for that traditional speedster style and the top is a manually-operated lightweight fabric deal. There are even two carbon fiber “streamliners” (headrest fairings) on the rear decklid for an added bit of functional panache.
The inside of the 911 Speedster is all business with a focus on driving fundamentals. The door panels are lightweight with storage nets and door pulls for weight reduction. The door sill guards get the “Speedster” script and are made of carbon fiber. The seats come in basic black leather, but if you want to get all flashy, you can get red stitching for the dashboard, and red “Speedster” stitching on the headrests. You can even get a GT Sport steering wheel with a red 12 o’clock center marker.
2019 Porsche 911 Speedster interior layout. Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
Related: Porsche versus the S&P: Can this classic sports car top the stock market?
Slim Fast Diet
There’s enough weight loss found throughout the Speedster to make Colin Chapman proud (if not outright envious). The front lid, front fenders, and rear decklid are made from carbon fiber; and that rear decklid tips the scales at only 22 lbs. The front and rear fascia are constructed out of lightweight polyurethane. Further savings is found in the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes, dropping about 50 percent in weight versus cast iron rotors. The fabric top is all manual and has no motors or gears or other stuff that adds weight for the sake of your lazy convenience.
Air conditioning? Gone! Unless you really want it, then you can add it as a no-cost option if you so desire.
The six-speed manual transmission saves around nine lbs. over the seven-speed manual in the 911 Carrera, and nearly 40 lbs. compared to the PDK dual clutch unit. Oh, did I mention the 2019 Porsche 911 Speedster comes with a manual box? Well it does! So all you neo-luddites should be happy now.
Add all this up, and the 2019 911 Speedster weighs 3,230 lbs. No, not as light as a Lotus, but hey, for a Porsche (which have been getting rather porky as of late) that’s not bad. So, like they say: to go fast, add lightness and stand on that 500 horsepower mill hanging way out back!!!
The 2019 Porsche 911 Speedster comes with individual throttle bodies to increase overall response. Photo: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
Related: Spending a day with the Porsche 911 GT3 RS.
And The Engine Too!
That engine is based on the 911 GT3 and GT3 RS, having been enhanced with individual throttle bodies for sharper response. The new, high-pressure fuel injection and exhaust systems shave a further 22 lbs. (roughly) of weight. Also, the chassis comes from the 911 GT3 and features rear axle steering and dynamic engine mounts for more precision and stability. Finally, the 20-inch, Satin Black center lock wheels with high-performance tires look super cool.
Limited Run
But like I said, step aside you plebes! Porsche is now taking $274,500 plus for the new Speedster. Porsche is only making 1,948 examples of this special 911 Speedster. Why such an odd number? Because 1948 was when Porsche got their start. To celebrate that anniversary, Zuffenhausen is making this Speedster on a limited run.
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz.
2019 Porsche 911 Speedster Gallery

Photos & Source: Porsche Cars North America, Inc.

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BMW M5 Marries M xDrive

BMW M5 Marries M xDrive

I greeted this news with a smirk at first, and then, after half a second of thoughtful reflection, decided that adding all-wheel drive, or as BMW calls it, xDrive, to the Bavarians mighty M5 is probably a good move. BMW can lose all notions of restraint from time to time, especially when it comes to the M5. They have been known to put all sorts of crazy drivetrains into the M5, and sell them to anyone whose considerably large check didn’t bounce.
So maybe maximizing power delivery and traction isn’t that bad of an idea?
Motor Madness
The M5 has, from the get go, been about what’s under the hood first, last, and always. Yes, they have always handled very well, considering their size and shape and especially weight. And yes, they have always had exemplary brakes, since Germans have a fetish for those. But, the M5 engine on the other hand, has always been the car’s feature party trick. The first M5 had the same plant from BMW’s M1 supercar. That would be like Ford taking the engine out of the current GT and dropping it unaltered into the engine bay of a Crown Victoria. (Actually, that sounds like a pretty good idea, but I digress.)
And that was where the M5 started from, and it got only more nuts from there. BMW put a V10 in the M5 for a few years, and it had the maintenance needs of the space shuttle’s APU. Great car, sure, but when the factory says, “remove engine and ship it back to us in Germany,” as a matter of routine maintenance, perhaps you’ve wrapped things a bit too tight.
The latest M5 is motivated down der Bahn by BMW’s 4.4-liter V8 engine with a TwinPower Turbo set up. The plant features higher injection pressures, new turbochargers, more powerful lubrication and cooling systems, and a modified, lighter exhaust system. This is, in a way, throwing technology at a problem, rather than some of the brute force answers of the past, but hey, if it works, it works.
What is noticeable about this latest M5 variant is the all-wheel drive system. BMW’s xDrive has been tweaked and proven on their range of SUVs, and also on lower siblings in the corporate stable (3 Series and such), but now the Bavarians are asking it to take a big bite of the performance apple.
The sixth generation BMW M5 with M xDrive will launch this year. The M5 first appeared in 1984. Photo: BMW of North America, LLC.
Selection & Strength
Like a lot of modern cars, especially performance oriented modern cars, the latest M5 has a number of driver selectable traction and performance schemes to choose from. For example, the M5 has five different configurations based on combinations of the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and M xDrive modes. The driver can select from DSC on, M Dynamic Mode (MDM), and DSC off, which are DCS modes – then 4WD, 4WD Sport, and 2WD, which are M xDrive modes. The hardware bits and pieces of the M xDrive are based on those of the BMW xDrive all-wheel drive system and the Active M Differential. M-specific driving dynamics control software then ensures, ahem, “innovative deployment.”
The whole drivetrain has been reinforced for greater strength and rigidity to accommodate the higher torque and rear-biased configuration, along with the 2WD option. The transfer case splits the engine’s drive between the front and rear ends in an adjustable ratio; the Active M Differential takes care of splitting the grunt between the rear wheels. This is all factored in by a bunch of ones and zeros and computers so the rear diff can vary from zero and 100 percent lock, as the situation demands.
An eight-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic features short shift times and precise ratio spacing. The transmission combines with M xDrive and the turbocharged V8 engine for an optimum balance of fuel economy and sportiness. Photo: BMW of North America, LLC.

Custom Configurations
But here’s where things get really fun. BMW refers to the selectable power delivery and traction schemes as “à la carte handling dynamics” and that’s a very good way of looking at it. Every time you start your BMW M5 it defaults to 4WD mode with DSC on. Which is fine and dandy from a gearhead perspective, because even in this basic mode, you get a certain amount of slip at the rear wheels to generate agility. Coupled with the M xDrive, you get palpable advantages accelerating out of corners.
And yes, there’s even more (and cooler) variations to be had within the AWD system, but the real fun comes up when you turn the system off. Unlike Audi’s sublime quattro set up or Mercedes-Benz with their 4Matic, the M5’s can be turned off. With the DSC deactivated, there is a choice of three modes: 4WD, 4WD Sport, and 2WD, but it’s the 2WD setup we’re talking about here, cause it’s bound to be the most fun.
As the name implies, in 2WD mode, all the power is sent to the rear wheels. This results in, as BMW puts it, “the experience of driving a high-performance sedan with rear-wheel drive only, delivering a pure form of driving enjoyment that captivates in its own unique way.”
You know, the way any near-death experience in low traction situations is “captivating.”
A short press of the DSC button on the center console activates M Dynamic Mode (MDM) and a long press turns DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) off. When DSC is off, the M xDrive settings menu appears in the Control Display at the same time. It is now possible to select 4WD, 4WD Sport, or 2WD mode using either the iDrive Controller or the touchscreen function. Photo: BMW of North America, LLC.
Best of Both Worlds
Keeping the beast going in the desired direction is all down to your right foot, both hands, and that Active M Differential (and a few more digital nannies thrown in, but why ruin a good analogy). So BMW’s new M5 with M xDrive is literally a “have your cake and eat it too” situation. You need all the traction you can get cause that rain from the morning commute has now turned to snow on the evening drive home? BMW’s got you covered. Nobody around on that winding back road on an early Sunday morning? BMW’s got you covered there too.
BMW even asked DTM driver, Timo Glock to offer up an opinion.
“I often drive long distances and I need plenty of room for my family, but I wouldn’t wish to give up the chance to explore the car’s sporting character,” he said. “With M xDrive, not only can the new BMW M5 be steered with the usual precision and agility, it also offers me something I really appreciate, living in Switzerland: a noticeable boost to traction and controllability – even when driving in particular environmental conditions, such as wet weather and snow, and in both everyday driving situations and when pushing the car to its performance limits.”
BMW says the combination of agile handling, terrific feel, and exceptional control are directly related to the Active M Differential. Photo: BMW of North America, LLC.

Limits Pushed
Now, re-read that quote and keep in mind that Timo is, well, Timo’s a little der spinnt. He used to race in F1, where he picked up the nickname of “Mr. Nine Millimeter,” given both his last name and apparent affinity for rap music. But he had a tendency to wreck cars, so he got fired. So then BMW picked him up and let him loose in the DTM series, where that sort of thing isn’t exactly discouraged. Anyway, it puts that “when pushing the car to its performance limits,” quote into a bit greater context.
Or, to put it another way, if Timo can use this thing without killing his entire family, it must be great!
Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He means well, even if he has a bias towards lighter, agile cars rather than big engine muscle cars or family sedans.
Photo: BMW of North America, LLC.
Photos & Source: BMW of North America, LLC.

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Ford Invests $350 Million For Powertrain Technology, Job Creation

Ford Invests $350 Million For Powertrain Technology, Job Creation

Ford Motor Company is investing $350 million in the Livonia Transmission Plant. The move will help Ford expand their lineup of fuel-efficient powertrains while fortifying core automotive business, according to a press release from the automaker. In addition, Ford will create or retain 800 hourly jobs to support new transmission production.
“We remain committed to American manufacturing and investing in our people and facilities,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford President, The Americas.
Continued Commitment
Ford has invested $12 billion in its U.S. plants, creating nearly 28,000 American jobs in the last five years. Closer to home, Ford has, in the last four months, announced more than $2.25 billion in new investments for their Michigan operations. At the Livonia Transmission Plant, where Ford’s latest investment is focused, jobs will be added later this year, with the majority coming in 2019. Last year, the plant received $1.5 billion to support the new 10-speed transmission found in the 2017 F-150 Raptor and other F-150 models. As a result, 500 hourly jobs were created or retained.
“Even as the industry’s largest employer of hourly workers in the United States and biggest producer of American-made vehicles, we believe it is important to continue investing right here in our home market,” Hinrichs said.
Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Forging Bonds
According to Ford, the investments are supported by strong partnerships with the UAW, and federal, state, county, and local governments. Jimmy Settles, UAW Vice President, underscored the importance of such relationships and the impact on American manufacturing.
“Today’s investment at the Livonia Transmission Plant is further evidence of the benefits of collective bargaining and the ongoing commitment of UAW-Ford to lead the way in creating and maintaining automotive manufacturing jobs in America,” he said.
Currently, the Livonia Transmission plant employs about 1,800 people. The workers are responsible for building the six-speed and 10-speed transmissions used in everything from the Mustang and F-150, to Transit and Expedition.
“The addition of these 800 jobs will add job security for the plant’s hardworking men and women, and support for the surrounding community,” Settles added.
Photo: Ford Motor Company.
Innovation & Excellence
The Livonia investment supports Ford’s continued goal of powertrain innovation. Production of a forthcoming transmission for front-wheel drive vehicles is expected to deliver more performance and better fuel economy for customers. According to Ford, the transmission will be finely tuned for both enjoyable driving and measurable efficiency. Most applications will use a common microprocessor with more than 4 million lines of code controlling both the engine and transmission.
Weight reduction and the EcoBoost engine family are at the top of Ford’s list when it comes to overall innovation. So far, it has paid off. The F-150’s EcoBoost V6 lineup, with the military-grade aluminum body, now accounts for more than 75 percent of F-150 sales.
Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and resides in Detroit, Michigan.
Photos & Source: Ford Motor Company.

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