 The Autoweek Dispatch, 6/19/20: Why Aston Martin Hired AMG's Boss Some new car launches, a few facelifts and an attempt at saving a season. BY WES RAYNAL Semi-lockdown, week five: Bronco now has a launch date, BMW's mighty M5 gets a few updates and Formula E tries to salvage its season. Here's what's happening in the car world:
QUOTE OF THE WEEK "Tobias has established a successful track record of implementing business transformation in a competitive environment. Under Tobias' leadership, Mercedes-AMG has more than doubled its product portfolio and quadrupled the number of AMG units." —Keith Stanton, Aston Martin's interim chief operating officer, explaining to Autoweek why hiring Tobias Moers away from AMG to replace Andy Palmer was an easy call. He added that Moers stood out for his financial performance, expanding profit margins and a clear strategy that boosted AMG's brand awareness and value.
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK From the likely expansion into its own brand to the nutty Cobra Jet 1400 dragster to the just-shown Mach 1 rebirth, there's been a lot of Mustang news lately. I get why the Mach 1 is returning: As we pointed out the Mustang has been around for so long Ford needs to grease the skids every so often with a special edition. So after the GT350, GT500 and Bullitt (in the last five years), it's time for a new Mustang Mach 1. As in the Bullitt the V8's power is bumped to 480 hp from 460, connected to either a six-speed short-throw manual or Ford's 10-speed automatic. There are parts from the GT350, and the Mach 1 has stiffer steering and suspension. Mustang fans being as passionate as any in the car world, you might have known a lot of that already. But did you know the Mustang was the world's bestselling sports car in 2019, or that it was the bestselling sports coupe in the world from 2014-2019? Or how about this: that the Mustang has been the bestselling sports car in the U.S. for the last 50 years? In August 2018, Ford produced the 10-millionth Mustang. Matching the first 1965 Mustang, the 10 millionth was a 2019 Wimbledon white convertible with a V8 engine. We reached out to Mustang marketing boss Jim Owens for the story. "Lee Iacocca (then Ford general manager) and Don Frey (Mustang project manager) showed the car to the public at the 1964 World's Fair Ford and had no idea what the car's level of success would be," Owens told Autoweek. The car went on sale April 17, 1964, just a couple weeks after the Plymouth Barracuda, was based on the Falcon and was priced at less than $2,400. "In the first 13 months Ford sold more than a million," Owens told us. "Since then in the last 56 years as the market rose and fell along with gas prices the Mustang has always had two things going it, a passionate fan base and a special place in Ford history." With the Mach-E order books opening in a few days it reminds us to ask the question, how long the ICE is going to be in a Mustang. Does Owens ever see the Mustang lineup being 100% electric? He wouldn't commit one way or the other but did point out to us, "Right now we have more performance variety in the Mustang lineup than ever before. People always say the muscle car's glory days were the '60s but with GT350, GT350R, GT500, I'd argue it's today." Like the Camaro and Challenger, hopefully the Mustang has a long, bright future.
RACING LINES No surprise here: Dale Earnhardt Jr. has breezed into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. The retired two-time Xfinity Series champion, 26-time Cup Series winner and 15-time Cup Series Most Popular Driver is part of the Class of 2021, which also includes the late Modified/Truck Series star Mike Stefanik and the seemingly ageless Red Farmer. The three-person class was selected last week, but not revealed until Tuesday on NBCSN-TV's NASCAR America program. The Formula E Series sees a really small window to finish its 2019-20 season and is going for it. The series announced Wednesday (June 17) racing will resume in August with six races planned over a nine-day stretch at the Tempelhof Airport in Berlin. The races are doubleheaders Aug. 5-6, 8-9 and 12-13. The series raced at Templehof in 2015 and from 2017-19. The airport has been closed since 2008.
CAR NEWS AND NOTES This is even less of a surprise than Earnhardt Jr. getting into the Hall: As it has been with every car it has launched, Tesla's Model Y launch is fraught with a number of quality issues on cars already delivered to customers, and in fact some are refusing to take the car at delivery. The issues range from small stuff—misaligned panels, swirl marks in the paint—to big ones such as wonky charging ports, rear seats not attached and other concerns. The website Electrek says it "appears to be a greater problem than usual even by Tesla standards." Yikes! Like BMW's updated-for-2021 5-Series, the new M5 has modified styling, new tech and mostly carryover powertrains. The kidney grille is larger, the LED headlamps and taillights are slimmer. Inside two 12.3-inch screens sit atop the dash, one for the digital instrument cluster, the other to handle infotainment duties. BMW also fiddled with the M5's interior layout somewhat. M5 Competition models have new adjustable shocks with revised software meant to improve interstate travel and soften bumps. The car starts at $104,495 and hits showrooms in August. Two more German newcomers due later this year are the new-look Mercedes-AMG E63 S sedan and wagon and a new, lower-cost and lower-output version of the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door, the all-wheel drive AMG GT 43. It uses a 3.0-liter inline-six for power, as does the AMG GT 53, but the 43 model makes do with 362 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque—57 hp and 15 lb-ft fewer than the GT 53. Also like the GT 53, the 2021 GT 43 uses a 48-volt electrical system called EQ Boost for an additional 21 hp and 184 lb-ft when needed. EQ Boost uses a 48-volt battery and electric motor functioning as the engine starter, alternator and low engine speed power and torque booster. Mercedes says the 43 can hit 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds. Starting price is $90,950. Changes to the AMG E63 S include a larger front grille for better cooling, a reshaped front bumper with a front splitter designed to reduce front axle lift and inside, a new AMG steering wheel and updated Mercedes-Benz User Experience, or MBUX, infotainment system. Well lookee here: The Ford Bronco has an official release date, for real this time. Ford is taking the wraps off its new Bronco July 9, after postponing the reveal date earlier this spring due to you know what. As reported, there are two Broncos to start with (and many more to follow)—the big Bronco and the Bronco Sport—and the July 9 reveal is the larger model. It will come with either two or four doors, with a 2.3-liter four expected as the base engine with the 2.7-liter turbo V6 possible.
WHAT WE'RE DRIVING The King of LA, aka West Coast Editor Mark Vaughn, is spending the next three months in the last of the Mk7 GTIs in anticipation of the next generation, due sometime next year (maybe). Vaughn's is fully loaded, wearing a $37,415 sticker. For that he has everything on the midlevel SE (LEDs, panoramic sunroof, leather seats), as well as adaptive cruise, DCC adaptive chassis control and an 8-inch touchscreen info-NAV-o-tainment screen called the MIB II. Vaughn has three months to enjoy the 16-valve 2.0-liter turbo-four's 228 hp and 258 lb-ft. He's a lucky dude. Around the Motor City Robin Warner is checking out the Lexus UX, a compact SUV that leans more toward pampering the occupants than, say, an Audi Q3 or BMW X2. Warner's is a hybrid and as he reports you'll feel relaxed driving the UX, just not engaged. Our tester stickers for $43,625. As Warner says you could spend more than $43,625 on something else and be a lot less comfortable on the road.
MOSTLY ODDS, SOME ENDS What's the perfect summertime accessory whether you own a VW Bus or not? A Mini-Me version of the VW Bus designed to hold your drinks, of course! You need the Board Masters Volkswagen Cool Box. It's designed in the shape of the T1-generation Volkswagen Type 2, has steerable rubber wheels and a telescoping handle and holds 7.75 gallons. About the only thing it doesn't have are light-up headlights. Extremely cool.
LISTEN UP In our 114th (!) "Autoweek Podcast," Wes Raynal, Wesley Wren and Robin Warner open the show discussing the upcoming 2021 Nissan Rogue and its new-look features. They also get into the Porsche Cayenne GTS and Subaru Crosstrek, both receiving new engines. Closing the show, Mike Pryson talks with Al Pearce about the 2021 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees. Pearce gives his thoughts about Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s inevitable induction, guides the listener through the entire voting process, and explains why the two other inductees, Mike Stefanik and Red Farmer, are significant to NASCAR. Tune in here, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever podcasts are played.
WHAT'S AHEAD As always we're around this weekend monitoring and reporting on automakers' and sanctioning bodies' latest efforts as they continue crawling out from underneath COVID-19. We'll be continually updating the site this weekend. You'll know what's new when we do. Check back often! Thanks for reading Autoweek and please stay safe. WATCH THE LATEST EPISODE OF IN THE CAR WITH
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