Each week, our German correspondent slices and dices the latest rumblings, news, and quick-hit driving impressions from the other side of the pond. His byline may say Jens Meiners, but we simply call him . . . the Continental.
Season's greetings from the Autobahn.
Besides the unsurprising announcement of Mary Barra becoming GM's next boss, and an amusing advertising back-and-forth between Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar triggered by the latter's "cat-like reflexes" ad, December has been rather slow. The business is gearing up for the Consumer Electronics Show and the Detroit auto show in January. Coinciding with those two big happenings is the NDTV Car of the Year event in New Delhi, as well as a bevy of car launches coming up soon. It will be a furious start for 2014. Looking ahead to the coming year, the industry is facing a lot of questions—here are the ones I think are the most critical:
What Fiat really needs is cash, not so much this big pickup.
Can Fiat Take Control of Chrysler?
Fiat/Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne is looking to take over Chrysler entirely, but the UAW is waking up to the true value of its share in the Michigan-based carmaker. Fiat—product-strapped and ailing—needs Chrysler's cash and technology far more than the UAW needs Fiat's money right now.
Will Volkswagen Recover in the U.S.?
Volkswagen sales in the U.S. are dismal, and the situation has caught the attention of CEO Martin Winterkorn. The precision and attention to detail in many of VW's offerings obviously has gone unappreciated; meanwhile, the brand is still suffering from its reputation for poor quality acquired over many years. As a semi-niche player not entirely unlike Subaru, VW's offerings go unnoticed by large portions of the market. Perhaps the MQB-based crossover will bring relief. But not in 2014.
Walter de Silva and Marc Lichte.
What Will Happen at Audi Design?
Audi's new chief designer Marc Lichte has the difficult task of empowering the design department within the premium brand's delicate corporate structure. And Lichte needs to address the visual sameness that permeates Audi's vehicle portfolio. But before the designer can leave his own mark, he must launch a number of vehicles that bear his predecessor Wolfgang Egger's signature, including the imposing second-generation Q7.
How Strong is the Momentum at Lamborghini?
What's next for Lamborghini after it launches the new Huracán? Lamborghini's show cars of late—specifically, the Veneno and the Egoista—don't hold many clues, being been little more than juvenile styling exercises. What Lambo really needs is a third model, like the Urus SUV, which has been peddled on show floors for almost two years now. When is the production version coming, again?
Will this car still define BMW?
How Will the i3 and the i8 Change BMW's Image?
The i3 EV and the i8 plug-in hybrid are beacons of the Reithofer era at BMW. Both cars seem to have generated considerable interest in the U.S., and there are waiting lists for the low-volume i8. But core BMW owners are interested in other things anyway, like whether it's right to replace the brand's legendary straight-six engines with turbocharged fours, what the future holds for the manual transmission, or if electric power steering will ever be as good as BMW's hydraulic systems. Perhaps the answers to such questions will arrive with the 2015 M3 sedan and M4 coupe.
- First Drive: Volkswagen Crossblue Concept
- Instrumented Test: 2014 Audi Q5 TDI Diesel
- First Drive: 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA250 / CLA250 4MATIC
Not crappy: The Holden-engineered Chevrolet SS.
Can GM Tackle the Luxury Market—and Europe?
Incoming GM chief executive Mary Barra must decide what to do with the large rear-wheel-drive Omega platform currently under development. One Omega-based Cadillac model is confirmed, positioned slightly above the XTS, but what about a Caddy flagship sedan or a Buick derivative? Meanwhile, outgoing CEO Dan Akerson has relegated Chevrolet to lame-duck status in Europe, and GM's continental hopes now rest on Opel and Vauxhall. If these brands fail, GM fails on the continent.
Behind the wheel of the GLA250 crossover.
Can Mercedes-Benz's Image Remain Intact?
The influx of front-wheel-drive models at Mercedes, such as the CLA and the upcoming GLA, means only one thing: the automaker is chasing higher sales volumes. Mercedes' U.S. chief Steve Cannon has even said that he aims to give Camry and Accord buyers "a compelling alternative." These little front-drive cars are a lot of fun to drive, and they have potential to rejuvenate the brand. Let's just hope Mercedes doesn't start giving them away too cheap . . .
My first Mercedes.
Happy New Year to Me: My Latest Wheels
Speaking of lower-priced Benzes, this 81-horsepower 1999 A140 is the latest addition to my garage. I adopted the little Mercedes from my sister-in-law, who had replaced it with a Volkswagen Tiguan TDI. After the first 500 (rather leisurely) miles behind the wheel, I can see why she was eager to make the switch—especially given the car's last 30 miles in my hands were spend behind a tow truck (the V-belt snapped). Questionable reliability aside, the original A-class is an interesting piece of automotive history. As such, I will fix my new A140 and keep it.
from Car and Driver Blog http://blog.caranddriver.com
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