August 2020

A Texas Clipper



This 1956 Packard Clipper found in Texas was one of the last Packards built in Detroit. The last Packard rolled off the assembly line in Detroit on June 25, 1956, although some Packard-badged cars were built until 1958 in Indiana by the merged Studebaker-Packard company. The Clipper was built in 1941-1942, 1946-1947 and 1953-1957 as an entry-level vehicle. In 1956 the Clipper was classified as a stand-alone marque. (Photo by Peter Hubbard)

McLaren Senna breaks four major U.S. track performance test records

(August 28, 2020) The McLaren Senna has completed a historic "clean sweep" by breaking four production-car lap records in the hands of major U.S. automotive publications. The Senna was designed, engineered and developed with a single-minded purpose — to be the ultimate McLaren track-concentrated car for the road. Initially, the Woking design team set out to produce a vehicle capable of setting the best lap time of any road-legal McLaren so far and its US performances are a testament to that focus.

Sixty-five years later, the beauty of the Karmann Ghia endures

(August 27, 2020) When the Volkswagen Beetle became a hit in America during the ‘50s and ‘60s, it won over buyers for its utility, its frugality and its driving dynamics – not its unusual approach to automobile design. Even Volkswagen ads would later compare it to the Apollo lunar module with the tagline: “It’s ugly but it gets you there.”

710-horsepower Dodge Durango Hellcat to start at $82,490

(August 27, 2020) AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Dodge//SRT continues to run full throttle, announcing pricing for the new 2021 Durango lineup with a starting U.S. manufacturer’s suggested retail price of 33,260 including destination charge. New for 2021, the Durango SRT Hellcat — the most powerful SUV ever — has a starting price  of $82,490 including a $1,495 destination charge.

Solution for automated valet parking explored

(August 27, 2020) DEARBORN, Mich. — Many people enjoy driving… until it’s time to park. So why not leave the task to the vehicle? Ford, Bedrock and Bosch are launching a demonstration project with connected Ford Escape test vehicles that can drive and park themselves inside Bedrock’s Assembly Garage in Detroit using Bosch smart infrastructure. This is the first U.S. infrastructure-based solution for automated valet parking where the vehicle will park itself inside a parking garage.

Porsche launches single-vehicle subscription option

(August 26, 2020) ATLANTA — With an increased focus on consumer choice in an age of new mobility models, Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA) today introduced a monthly Single-Vehicle Subscription (SVS) program in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Phoenix, and San Diego. This program offers members access to a single Porsche model for one or three months, for an all-inclusive fee, starting Sept. 25. The new option coincides with the expansion of its existing monthly Multi-Vehicle Subscription and Rental programs to Los Angeles, the largest city yet to host the programs. 



OnStar and data services consolidated to simplify fleet management

(August 26, 2020) DETROIT — OnStar is taking its more than 20 years of safety and security expertise and expanding its offerings to meet the needs of fleet managers and small business owners in a new, more seamless way. Available now, OnStar Business Solutions brings four distinct product offerings together — OnStar Safety Services, OnStar Vehicle Insights, API & Data Services and Wi-Fi — to make fleet management simpler than ever before.

New 603-horsepower Mercedes-AMG 63 S Coupe to start at $117,050

(August 26, 2020) Mercedes-Benz says the redesigned 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe is set to redefine the segment with more power, more technology and more style than ever before. Boasting a handcrafted AMG 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine featuring an electrified EQ Boost starter-generator, this powerhouse produces 603 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque, and can rocket from zero to 60 mph in only 3.7 seconds.

McLaren unveils new lightweight vehicle architecture

(August 25, 2020) Mike Flewitt, CEO of luxury supercar maker McLaren Automotive, today confirmed the introduction of the brand’s all-new, flexible, lightweight vehicle architecture which will underpin its next generation of electrified supercars.

The new architecture, designed specifically to accommodate new hybrid powertrains, has been entirely engineered, developed and produced in-house in the UK at McLaren’s £50m state-of-the-art McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC) in the Sheffield region.

2021 Porsche Taycan — Faster sprints and more convenient charging

(August 25, 2020) The model year changeover in October will bring about numerous new features for the electric Porsche Taycan. The new Plug & Charge function enables convenient charging and payments without the need for cards or an app. Insert the charging cable and the Taycan establishes encrypted communication with the Plug & Charge-compatible charging station. As a result, the charging process starts automatically. Payments are also processed automatically.