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Hagerty Buys the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance

Classic car insurance company Hagerty announced Wednesday it acquired the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, held each March on tiny Amelia Island, off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida.

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. The shows founder, Bill Warner, 78, will remain as Chairman Emeritus. Warner founded the show in 1996, and it’s evolved into a must-attend event for car enthusiasts.

2021 Best in Show Concours dElegance 1926 Hispano-Suiza H6B Cabriolet — The 2021 Best in Show Concours dElegance was the 1926 Hispano-Suiza H6B Cabriolet.

“Our objective is to knit the enthusiast community together in a way that supports and protects the future of car culture,” said McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty, in a statement. “We are incredibly proud to have the opportunity to build upon and scale Bill’s vision.”

A growing portfolio

Hagerty’s move adds to their growing portfolio of top-notch automotive events. The company now owns some of the premiere automotive concours in the country, including Concours d’Elegance of America, the California Mille, and the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance.

It also hosts Hagerty’s Festival of the Unexceptional in the United Kingdom, with the next show slated to occur July 31. In addition, the company takes part in more than 2,500 automotive events annually.

Warner had been looking to bring in someone to take over the show for several years, but to little avail. Rumors have been circulating for weeks that a sale was imminent, but word did not leak out until Wednesday, with the issuing of a press release and a letter to the judging staff.

The 2021 Best in Show Concours de Sport was the 1974 Shadow DN4.

A legacy in the collector car community

Warner founded the vent looking to infuse the staid world of the concours with the passion of motorsports. That dual passion could be seen in Warner’s insistence that a Best in Show award be given to one production car and one race car, as Warner felt that race cars always got slighted at concours. The innovation has been copied by other American automotive events.

The most recent show, held May 23, Best in Show, Concours d’Elegance awarded to a 926 Hispano-Suiza H6B Cabriolet, while Best in Show, Concours de Sport went to a 1974 Shadow DN4.

Held on the grounds of the Ritz Carlton Amelia Island for the past 26 years, the event has raised more than $3.75 million for charity.

Marketed as “The Aristocrats of Motordom,” Bakers were widely admired. Thomas Edison owned one. President Taft bought one for the first White House automotive fleet.

But the show reflects its location, held on an island that’s home to the show’s venue, the Ritz-Carlton, as well as funky, thanks to Fernandina Beach, a low-key Southern town with an eclectic main street and home to Florida’s oldest continuously operating bar.

The show is very much a reflection of Warner, and his passion for anything automotive. Warner, a Jacksonville native, spent years photographing races at Sebring and Daytona for Road & Track and Sports Car Graphic.

While the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, founded in 1950 and America’s first, considers itself the most important collector car show, many collectors prefer Amelia, which has quickly risen to challenge its hidebound rival. It’s hard to imagine the stuffy California show fielding Chevrolet Corvairs or yellow Italian sports cars or beach cars. To Warner, it’s all about pushing the envelope on what’s expected at a concours.

“Those two fairways are my canvas, and the cars are my oils,” Warner told the Tribune News Service of his show field at the Ritz Carlton in 2015. “Everyone has the same canvas; everyone has the same oils. You just have to have the creativity to come up with something special.”

Considered the oldest surviving electric car, the Electrobat IV was developed by chemist Pedro Salom and engineer Henry Morris, who received the first U.S. patent for the electric car in 1894.

That, and a healthy dose of Warner’s Southern charm, has endeared the show to many, including automakers such as General Motors, McLaren, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz, as well as some the top race car drivers, car designers and industry executives.

In the same Tribune News Service story, Warner also knew his time with the show might coming to a close. “I think the hardest thing for me to pass on is my demented automotive mind. You have to understand the feng shui of the show. It’s not just about lining cars up.”

An old tradition

A modern-day concours d’elegance is little more than a 21st century update of a 19th century tradition, where wealthy carriage owners would meet and compete to see who had the best carriage. Owners were asked to compete by invitation only, you couldn’t pay to compete, a tradition that continues today. The name concours d’elegance is a French term meaning “a competition of elegance,” and only the finest, rarest cars are asked to compete.

The concours season starts in Florida in March with the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, hits a crescendo with California’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and wraps up with the South Carolina’s Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance in November.

Toyota Offers First Official Look at Next-Generation Tundra Pickup

2022 Toyota Tundra leaked pic — Part of a series of photos, this leaked picture of the 2022 Tundra TRD Pro in red forced Toyota to show off the new truck earlier than desired.

Toyota has been quietly providing a sneak peek at the next-generation Toyota Tundra to a handful of dealers and members of the media in recent weeks. Now that one of those retailers leaked out an image of the truck, Toyota has decided to release the first formal image of the 2022 Tundra.

There’s good reason for a dealer to get excited. The current Tundra has been around for an unusually long period of time, coming to market all the way back in 2007 and getting what was a relatively modest update for 2014. Its key domestic competitors, the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado and Ram 1500, have gone through several complete makeovers during the same period. Even the Nissan Titan had a long-awaited remake in 2016.

“Some people don’t know how to keep a secret,” Toyota said in a tweet with the first official picture of the new 2022 Tundra.

Images leak out

The truck pictured in Toyota’s pic was nearly identical to the one in the leaked image, but for color. And, based on a number of details, appears to be a TRD model aimed at off-roaders. One of the most intriguing features is the light bar built into the truck’s new and significantly enlarged grille. The leaked images also show a TRD Pro tailgate. The official image also features 18-inch wheels shod with Falken off-road rubber.

There are plenty of questions to be asked about the next-generation truck. For one, will it be offered with more trim levels and body styles than the outgoing Tundra — and, in particular, in heavy-duty form? Detroit brands like Ford, Chevy and Ram offer seemingly endless variants that allow buyers to precisely match their needs and desires, something analysts believe have allowed the domestics to retain dominance.

Powertrain options make up another matter of speculation. The current Tundra offers a base 5.7-liter V-8 making an acceptable, if not overwhelming 381 horsepower. It’s widely expected that Toyota will lift a page from the Detroit playbook with an expanded series of engine options starting with a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6.

Toyota Tundra iForce Max — This shot certain implies what kind of transmission to expect.

New powertrain options to include a hybrid

But there are growing expectations that a hybrid will be offered, as well. That should come as no surprise considering Toyota was a pioneer in that technology — and the fact that it has repeatedly laid out a goal of “electrifying” essentially every product in its portfolio. Meanwhile, it has watched Ford get a leg up by launching a hybrid version of the latest-generation F-150.

If a hybrid is in Tundra’s plans, will it match Ford’s strategy with the PowerBoost and offer a built-in generator that can provide power at work and camp sites?

While Toyota still isn’t offering any official details about the next-generation Tundra, the official release of this pic will clearly resonate with current owners and potential buyers. Until now, they’ve had little to go on but for spy shots, rumors and a short company video that revealed an unspecified engine cover with the words “iForce Max” stamped in. That appears to be the name Toyota will use for its hybrid powertrain.

Pricing is one of the other details we’ll likely have to wait to have revealed. The current Tundra model starts around $36,000.

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Lincoln Planning “Full Portfolio” of EVs by 2030

After years of delays and false starts, Lincoln finally plans to introduce what it describes as a “full portfolio” EVs, with the first to make its debut in 2022.

Lincoln chief Joy Falotico revealed the brand’s plans to add four new BEVs to its line-up and offer a “full portfolio” by 2030.

In all, four battery-electric vehicles, or BEVs are now in development, Lincoln said in a statement. The luxury brand also said a “full line-up of connected vehicles” is in the works, taking things a big step beyond what it currently offers through its Sync infotainment system.

The rollout of the first Lincoln EV will come during the same year the brand celebrates its 100^th anniversary, “no better time to propel the Lincoln brand forward,” said Joy Falotico, the automaker’s president.

The technology will fit Lincoln’s “Quiet Flight” mantra she added, since electric motors are virtually silent and smooth. They can also produce the sort of horsepower and torque that luxury buyers expect.

Brand’s history with hybrids

Lincoln has offered a handful of conventional hybrids in the past decade, as well as plug-ins like the 2021 Lincoln Aviator Touring model. But it has repeatedly scuttled plans to bring a fully electric model to market. That includes a battery SUV that, it announced two years ago, would be developed as part of parent Ford Motor Co.’s alliance with EV startup Rivian. That project was scuttled last year, though Ford said it eventually will work with Rivian for a new, all-electric model.

Lincoln is not saying what sort of BEV it plans to debut next year. But with the company effectively out of the passenger car market in the U.S., it appears highly likely that the marque will introduce some sort of utility vehicle.

Lincoln EV Interior Cutaway sketch — Lincoln is looking to reimagine its vehicle portfolio as it moves toward electrification.

It will be based on an all-new “flexible architecture,” a skateboard-like platform putting both batteries and motors below the cabin load floor. The platform will be able to configured in either rear- or all-wheel drive, according to Lincoln.

Ford was an early pioneer in electrification with products like the short-range Focus EV and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. But it lagged behind as other manufacturers, starting with Tesla, began rolling out longer-range BEVs that also delivered more sporty performance.

Coming back to battery power

The carmaker joined the expanding market with last year’s launch of the Mustang Mach-E. And CEO Jim Farley said last month that the company will boost its investment in electrified vehicles to more than $30 billion by mid-decade. That will include more pure battery-electric models than previous planned. The next model in the rollout will be the Ford F-150 Lightning pickup set to begin production early in 2022.

While more and more mainstream products are coming to market, the higher premium for battery power has led many manufacturers to emphasize premium and luxury segments. Mercedes-Benz will join the fray later this year with the EQS, an all-electric alternative to the familiar S-Class. Startup Lucid will debut with a nearly $150,000 version of its Air sedan late this year.

Some of the shift to EVs may offer a chance at a new vehicle design ideas.

Lincoln’s technology push also will see it upgrade its connected vehicle technology and services. Today’s Lincolns come equipped with the brand’s version of Ford Sync. Using a smartphone app, a customer can lock the vehicle, remotely start some models, and performance a variety of other remote functions. Lincoln wants to go several steps beyond and is expected to introduce pay and even subscription services, as well.

Among other things, connected vehicles could be linked to a local network — or even to each other — to track weather and road conditions.

New Lincoln models are being equipped with smartphone-style over-the-air update capabilities. These will allow the automaker to remotely update software and even add new vehicle functions, such as advanced driver assistance systems.

That, said Falotico, will allow Lincoln “to create an always-on relationship with (customers) and help transform the Lincoln brand for the future.”

Data Breach at VW of America Vendor Impacts 3.3 Million People

Volkswagen of America revealed 3.3 million buyers and prospective buyers in North America were the subject of a data breach after one of its vendors left some files unprotected.

VW said only a small number of people had sensitive information, like social security numbers and dates of birth, exposed.

The automaker is offering some assistance and says the info was mostly phone numbers and email addresses. The majority of those involved were interested in Audi, a VW subsidiary. The information obtained is typically used by Audi and some of its U.S. and Canadian dealers for digital sales and marketing efforts.

According to Reuters, most of the information exposed was collected between 2014 and 2019, and largely consisted of phone numbers and email addresses; however, within the 3.3 million, about 90,000 Audi customers and potential buyers had sensitive information put at risk.

Bigger potential problems for some

VW is offering credit production to those affected by the data breach.

For the 90,000, in addition to things like the type of vehicle purchased or lease or, in the case of prospective buyers and lessees, what they were interested in, the hackers accessed data relating to purchase and lease eligibility.

Even worse, for 95% of those driver’s license numbers were collected. In a small number of cases, it included information like dates of birth, social security numbers and other account numbers. VW said none of that information was gotten from Canadian accounts.

The automaker thinks the data was secured between August 2019 and last month. VW found the problem. The company said it will offer free credit protection services to those impacted by the event.

“We recently discovered that an unauthorized third party obtained limited personal information received from or about customers and interested buyers from a vendor that Audi, Volkswagen and some authorized dealers in the United States and Canada use for digital sales and marketing activities,” the company said in a statement.

“We regret any inconvenience this may cause our current or potential customers. As always, we recommend that individuals remain alert for suspicious emails or other communications that might ask them to provide information about themselves or their vehicle.”

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BMW Takes Wraps off Slew of 2022 Models

Just a week after it debuted its first all-electric offerings for the U.S. market, BMW’s followed up with the debut of its 2022 X3 and X4 sport-activity offerings plus their X3 M and X4 M siblings, as well as the new 430i Gran Coupe and M440i Gran Coupe.

BMW’s readying its updated 2022 X4 models for their U.S. debut later this year. Its produced at the company’s plant in South Carolina.

The new models get substantive updates inside and out, the company noted, including improvements to the drivetrain, infotainment and safety technology features. In addition, the X3 M40i and X4 M40i feature 48-volt mild-hybrid system.

BMW’s X3 line-up boasts rear-wheel drive X3 sDrive30i, all-wheel drive X3 xDrive30i and M all-wheel drive X3 M40i. The X4 gets the xDrive30i model as well as the X4 M40i. They’ll be produced at the company’s plant in Greer, South Carolina — home to all of its SAV production — alter this summer.

Prices start at $43,700 for the X3 sDrive30i, jumping to $45,700 for the X3 xDrive30i and $57,800 for the X3 M40i. Meanwhile the X4 xDrive30i is $51,800, followed by the X4 M40i at $62,400. Destination of $995 is in addition to all MSRP pricing.

A few tweaks

The X3 M sprints from 0 to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds due to the improved torque for 2022.

The exterior updates do include the much-maligned “beaver teeth” kidney grille for the X3 and X4, although they are smaller than those seen on other new models. The changes also include redesigned headlights, front and rear bumpers, exhaust trim and rear lights.

In terms of performance, the BMW X3 M40i and BMW X4 M40i gain the benefits of a 48-volt mild hybrid-system for the new model year. The mild hybrid technology draws on a 48-volt starter/generator and an additional battery, so it has significantly expanded possibilities when it comes to brake energy recuperation, the company notes.

When the accelerator pedal is released, the generator converts the kinetic energy into electricity, which is stored in the 48-volt battery. Recuperation in coasting mode is particularly intense in Sport mode.

Plenty of performance with new X3 M and X4 M

The new X4 M Competition gets a 37 lb-ft increase in torque for the new model year.

With a new X3 and X4 comes the opportunity for the mad scientists at M GmbH to have some fun, which comes in the form of the 2022 X3 M and X4 M as well as the Competition variant for each one.

Set to hit the market in September, the X3 M and X4 M are powered by a turbocharged inline-6 cylinder. Naturally, it’s been improved for the new models.

The latest version of this engine currently delivers 457 lb-ft of torque in the BMW X3 M and X4 M and 479 lb-ft of torque in Competition tune. This is an increase of 37 lb- ft of torque for the Competition package equipped models and an increase of 13 lb-ft for the 2022 BMW X3 M and BMW X4 M.

The engine features characteristics typical of M, including track-proven cooling and oil supply systems, linear power delivery and a high redline of 7,200 rpm.

The new 430i zips from stop to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds powered by a 2.0-liter twin turbo 4-cylinder engine.

The new increased torque production lowers the 0-60 acceleration time of the BMW X3 M and BMW X4 M from 4.1 seconds to 3.9 seconds and from 4.0 seconds to 3.7 seconds for the Competition package-equipped X3 M and X4 M.

Top speed is an electronically limited 155 mph, which is increased to 177 mph when the optional M Driver’s Package is selected. This package also includes a voucher for driver training at one of the BMW Performance Center driving schools around the country.

Pricing on the new X3 M starts at $69,900 while the X4 M comes in at $73,400, plus the $995 destination charge for both.

Lower is not slower

The new 440i xDrive Gran Coupe was developed with heavy influence of BMW’s motorsports expertise from M GmbH group.

For those only requiring the sport and not the activity, BMW covered that as well with the debut of the second-generation 4 Series Gran Coupe. The Bavarian brand revealed two offerings: the 430i Gran Coupe and the M440i Gran Coupe.

BMW claims the new 4 Series models “promise and deliver class-leading design, performance, infotainment, connectivity and advanced driver assist safety systems.” The all-wheel-drive 430i features a long, low body and room for five adults. It’s powered by a twin turbo 2.0-liter 4 cylinder putting out 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. It handles the 0 to 60 spint in a very capable 5.8 seconds. While it offers plenty of punch, it’s M440i that appeals to the racing driver in buyers.

The inline 6-cylinder engine powering the BMW M440i xDrive Gran Coupe was developed with the motorsport expertise of BMW M GmbH and comes with weight-optimized pistons and connecting rods as well as a twin-scroll turbocharger with indirect charge air cooling. It generates 382 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, pushing the BMW M440i xDrive Gran Coupe from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds.

The new 4 Series offerings begin production in July with the first ones hitting the streets in August. The 430i comes in at $44,800 while the M440i starts at $58,000 with a destination charge of $995 for both.

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Ford May Sales Rise Due to SUVs

Most automakers posting May sales results enjoyed massive upticks compared to their year-ago results — except Ford Motor Co.

The Bronco Sport helped the company’s portfolio of SUVs keep its sales numbers positive in May.

Ford saw sales rise just 4.1% as inventories on its highly profitable trucks were very low, while Hyundai, Honda and others revealed triple-digit jumps for some vehicles and double-digit overall increases. No automaker has seemingly been hurt by the ongoing semiconductor shortage like Ford.

In fact, its retail sales results — excluding its fleet sales — were down 11.2% in May, a reflection of just how much Ford dealers are struggling to meet demand for the brand’s F-Series pickups. To be fair, CEO Jim Farley has repeatedly warned the second quarter would be the company’s worst due to the chip issue.

“Ford sales were up 4.1% on tight inventories, while year-to-date sales increased 11.3 percent,” said Andrew Frick, vice president, Ford Sales U.S. and Canada, in a statement. “Ford and its dealers are working harder than ever to match the right mix of inventory to best meet the needs of our customers at the local level.

“We have been receiving a massive number of reservations for our all-electric F-150 Lightning over the last two weeks — totaling over 70,000 trucks. Ford brand SUVs had their best May sales in 18 years, while Lincoln SUVs posted a new May record.”

SUVs carrying the company

2021 Lincoln Corsair Reserve front — Lincoln’s SUV, including the all-new Corsair, posted their best May since 2003.

The travails of truck inventories are well known. Fortunately, the company’s SUVs picked up the sales slack in May showing a 48.6% increase in total sales compared to last May and 27.9% on the retail level — again hurt by the chip problem.

Despite that difference, it was the company’s best May sales result for SUVs at the retail level since 2003. Ford brand SUVs were up 51.8% over a year ago on new product introductions of Bronco Sport and Mustang Mach-E, along with the continued momentum of Escape, Explorer and Expedition.

The Bronco Sport and Escape performed well in the highly competitive small SUV segment, officials noted. Ford’s May retail share is up almost 4 full percentage points in the small SUV segment, with sales of both Bronco Sport and Escape expanding their sales within two very different customer groups. Escape sales were up 51.4%, while the majority of Bronco Sport customers are coming from outside the Ford brand.

Lincoln SUVs did the Ford offerings one better, producing a record result last month. Lincoln SUV sales were up across the entire lineup in May with a total of 7,871 SUVs sold – up 24.3 percent. Perhaps just as impressively, the entire brand was up 5% and is up 15.3% for the year thus far. Those numbers are impacted by the massive drop in MKZ and Continental sales, which are no longer produced and dealers are trying to clear out remaining inventory.

2021 Mustang Mach-E — The Mustang Mach-E is part of the reason why the company’s electrified vehicle sales were up 184% last month.

EVs going crazy

A Mustang Mach-E sits for just 10 days once it gets to a dealer and many are selling upon arrival. Mach-E sales totaled 1,945 in May, and 10,510 year-to-date.

The Mustang Mach-E is performing so well, the company is building more Mach-E’s than the original gas-powered pony car, according to Bloomberg. Ford’s plant in Mexico has produced 27,816 electric Mustang Mach-E models in 2021 while the Flat Rock, Michigan facility building the Mustang has churned out 26,089 vehicles, according to production data the automaker released Thursday.

Erich Merkle, Ford’s sales analyst, told Bloomberg that Mustang production in Flat Rock has been hampered by the chip shortage. However, Farley told a group of journalists after the introduction of the F-150 Lightning the Mach-E is outperforming expectations and its completely sold out of its initial production run.

Strong Mach-E sales doesn’t mean that the Mustang has suffered. The all-new Mustang Mach 1 helped lift performance Mustang sales to more than 13% of retail sales, compared to 10% last year, the news agency noted.

Overall, Ford electrified vehicle sales skyrocketed 184% last month, some of which was driven by the aforementioned Mach-E, but it wasn’t alone, officials noted. F-150 PowerBoost totaled 2,852 for the month, Escape electrified sales totaled 3,617 – up 125% over last year. Explorer Hybrid sales also had a big increase of 132% compared with a year ago on sales of 1,156 SUVs. The future looks bright on that front as well. The previously mentioned F-150 Lightning secured more than 70,000 deposits since its debut about two weeks ago.

BMW Shows Off Newest EVs: iX and i4

BMW is keeping up with the Joneses when it comes to new electric vehicles, showing off the long awaited iX and i4 today to the U.S. public.

The new BMW iX puts out 516 horsepower and races from stop to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds.

The new models offer something for all tastes: a new utility model as well as a coupe-style sedan and its first-ever M-branded EV, the i4 M50 — not that performance will be an issue for any of the new models.

The 2022 iX xDrive50 debuts as a “new generation” sport-activity vehicle for the Bavarian automaker. Unfortunately, those in the U.S. wanting to take part in its debut are going to have to wait until Q1 next year for it arrive in America.

When it does arrive, they’ll be very happy, sliding behind the wheel of a 516-horsepower all-electric beast that runs from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds — with an estimated range of 300 miles per charge.

The new i4 eDrive40 boasts 335 hp and 300 miles of range.

Not only does it drive fast, the iX charges fast with DC fast charging at up to 200 kW, available 5G and Personal eSIM support. It also offer plenty of room for passengers with an open, airy cabin featuring a single-piece panoramic glass roof with electrochromic shading.

Impressive on the inside

In addition, it follows the trend of others in the luxury space with the BMW Curved Display and iDrive 8, BMW Digital Key Plus with ultra-wideband radio technology, available Bowers and Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound with 4D audio and the iconic BMW kidney grille serving as an intelligent sensor panel with self-healing capabilities.

The new SAV aimed to offer “an exhilarating driving experience combined with a sense of well-being for both drivers and passengers all the while enjoying the journey with safety, security and in luxury,” the company said.

A more powerful iX M60 model, with over 600 hp and the first all-electric Sports Activity Vehicle from BMW M GmbH, is planned for the future. The new iX xDrive50 starts at $83,200 with destination charges of $995.

The 2022 BMW i4 M50 is the company’s’ first-ever all-electric M-branded performance offering.

The flip side

While sedans are on the outs, they’re still viable in electrified form and the new i4 borrows from BMW’s coupe-like styling for many of its performance models. The i4 blends the functionality and space of the gran coupe design with the instantaneous power delivery of BMW’s fifth generation eDrive, the automaker says.

Class-leading driving dynamics and long-distance comfort, elegant design, uncompromising workmanship, cutting-edge user-vehicle interface and advanced infotainment and driving assistance technologies all combine to deliver a zero-emissions BMW worthy of the Ultimate Driving Machine moniker.

Power is provided by BMW’s latest 5th generation eDrive technology which combines the electric motors, power electronics, charging system and high-voltage battery. The electric motor, power electronics and transmission share one compact housing while the high-voltage battery measures only 4.3-inches in height and is mounted low in the floor of the new i4 for improved vehicle agility.

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Toyota Teases Debut of All-New Tundra Pickup

A key component of the success of any new model introduction is timing, and Toyota certainly has that down for the debut of its 2022 Tundra, which it offered up a teaser look at this week.

Toyota introduced a new color for its TRD Pro model for 2021: Lunar Rock.

Describing it as the “future of Toyota trucks” the company released a 10-second video of the truck in silhouette with the lights suddenly coming on to show the front end of the truck surrounded by fog, showing a dramatically different look for the new truck.

What the company doesn’t reveal in the quick flick is any information about when the next the truck will emerge from the smoky darkness for all to see. However, some reports suggest the new model could make its debut before the middle of next month.

Needing an update

Domestic automakers dominate full-size pickup truck sales in the U.S. Although Toyota’s produced a capable product, the company’s never really curried enough favor with truck buyers to challenge the competition.

Despite a significant update on the 2019 model, sales for the Tundra have fallen each of the last two years. This is problematic since the company sells a fraction of the full-size pickups of its competitors, Ford, Chevrolet/GMC and Ram.

The company’s Nightshade edition features a blacked out grille, wheels and other components.

Ford sold nearly 800,000 F-Series pickups in 2020. Toyota sold 109,203 Tundras — a 2.2% drop — compared with 111,203 pickups sold in 2019. That number is a 5.6% decline from the ear they sold 118,258 vehicles in 2018.

Special edition models

The automaker’s tried to get some attention with several special edition models, including the Nightshade version, which features a blacked out grille, wheels and other components. It also offers a TRD Pro model clad in a slew of off-road components making it rough and ready.

The Tundra TRD Pro model got a new color for 2021: Lunar Rock. It replaced Army Green in the TRD Pro color pallet. Other colors include: Super White, Magnetic Gray Metallic and Midnight Black Metallic. Additionally, the maker offers the Trail Special Edition with an emphasis on extra storage, convenience and unique styling.

The truck is powered for 2021 exclusively by the 5.7-liter i-FORCE V8 engine that offers up to 10,200 pounds of towing capacity and a maximum payload of 1,730 pounds. It’s available in Double Cab and CrewMax four-door cab styles.

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Aston Martin’s New CEO Takes the Wheel

Having been owned by any number of automakers and industrialists, Aston Martin Lagonda is once more getting a new lease of life.

The crisis-prone automaker barely skirted bankrupt for the eighth time last year, thanks to a cash infusion by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll and an increase in Daimler AG’s equity stake to 20%, up from 2.6 percent.

New Aston CEO Tobias Moers came over after leading Mercedes-AMG.

This was followed by the August arrival of the firm’s newest CEO, Tobias Moers, the former chief executive officer of Mercedes-AMG.

A new chief executive and new goals

Moers came to Aston Martin Lagonda after more than 25 years at Daimler AG, most recently as Chairman of the Management Board, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Technical Officer of Mercedes-AMG. During his tenure, Mercedes-AMG more than doubled its product portfolio and quadrupled the number of AMG units sold as part of a financially successful brand management strategy.

The move comes as Stroll, now Aston Martin Lagonda Executive Chairman, is looking to attain annual sales of 10,000 units, and achieve earnings of 500 million pounds, or $704.6 million, on annual revenues of 2 billion pounds, or $2.8 billion, by 2025. For now, merely securing a profit would be notable.

Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll bailed out Aston Martin and is now executive chairman.

Aston Martin posted a first-quarter loss of 42.2 million pounds, or $59 million; that’s down from the 110-million-pound loss, or $153 million, from the same period last year. But revenue increased to 244 million pounds, or $340 million, a 153% increase year-over-year.

Action plan

The improving financial picture comes as Moers puts his plans into action by selling excess inventory, simplifying production, revising its product strategy, and entering into a technology agreement with Mercedes-AMG, which already supplies engines to Aston Martin, a point of contention with some brand enthusiasts, even though Aston Martin hasn’t designed and built its own engines from scratch since the 1960s.

“It is our obligation to fix the business and the company to get on a much more efficient level to produce and manufacture cars,” Moers said, during a recent interview with TheDetroitBureau.com from the company’s Gaydon, Warwickshire headquarters.

“A company like us, you cannot run your own electrical architecture, it’s impossible. You’re not going to be able to be pay the bill for that. A Vantage could give a good margin, but we have to fix the business around us.”

This snarling V-12 puts out 1,000 horsepower and 11,000 rpms and it powers the new Aston Martin Valkyrie.

Moers is looking for the company’s production to be driven by demand, rather than wholesale supplying dealers with cars. “We started into the year close to 3,000 cars in stock,” Moers said, “and this is not good.”

This explains why Moers will be keeping its two production facilities, in Gaydon, England and Saint Athan, Wales, but closing Gaydon’s paint shop. Saint Athan’s shop is new and can handle 10,000 units a year — more than enough to accommodate the 4,000 vehicles a year Moers sees as the brand’s natural demand.

Looking ahead

Beyond what’s on the ground, Moers is streamlining future products by cancelling the hybrid V-6 planned for the Valhalla mid-engine supercar, and replacing it with a Mercedes-AMG hybrid electrified powertrain that will produce 1,000 horsepower.

The Valkyrie, powered by a Cosworth-built V-12, is expected later this year, along with a mild hybrid version of the DBX, followed next year by a high-performance variant. And look for the Vantage, DB11 and DBS to receive mid-cycle facelifts. Further out, the company is planning to produce a fully electric Aston Martin, as well as vehicles based on the DBX platform.

The Aston Martin Valkyrie takes the British brand into a new realm of performance.

“It is not a challenge to bring all these products to life, that’s not the challenge,” Moers said. “But rebuild the brand and get a clear definition of what Aston Martin stands for? That’s one of the challenges, but we have a clear plan to do that.”

The new CEO said that the company’s IPO amidst crumbling finances caused consumers to doubt the firm’s continued existence, which is now assured, he said.

“The ultimate goal for us is turning Aston Martin into a self-sufficient company, a self-maintaining company. You can see the strength of the brand. Everybody knows what Aston Martin is; but what does Aston Martin stand for? For sure we could be Ferrari competitors, but I don’t want to talk about being a competitor. We have to define our own path.”

However, that path doesn’t include a takeover by Daimler.

“There is no hidden agenda. I’m not here because they’re going to the buy whole company; that’s not the reason I’m here,” Moers said. “There are some cars out there which we count as a true competitor; their life is a bit too easy at the moment.”

Look for that to change.

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Former UAW President Williams Gets 21 Months for Role in Scandal

A U.S. District Judge in Detroit sentenced former UAW President Dennis Williams to 21 months in prison plus a year of supervised release and $10,000 fine for a charge of conspiracy to embezzle union funds.

Williams already pleaded guilty to the charge and the federal sentencing guidelines called for a prison sentence of 18 months to 24 months, but Williams’ lawyer, Tara Reynolds asked for a reduced sentence of one year and one day. Williams also made restitution to the UAW in the amount of $133,000 and paid another $15,400 in back taxes on the money improperly taken from the UAW.

UAW President Dennis Williams was sentenced to 21 months in prison and a $10,000 fine.

He becomes the highest-ranking UAW officer ever sentenced to prison for misconduct in the UAW history. The $10,000 fine imposed by Judge Paul Borman is in addition to the restitution Williams is making out of his own pocket.

Williams a pariah with union members

However, during the “victim-impact” portion of the hearing, Steve Cares, the assistant U.S. District Attorney representing the government, read from letters by UAW members which expressed deep-seated anger about Williams’ actions while he served as the union’s top elected official from 2014 to 2018. Previously, he held the union’s second-highest office, Secretary-Treasurer, from 2010 to 2014.

The money he spent to promote his lavish lifestyle should have been spent to serve the UAW members he was elected to represent, Cares said, reading from the letter. Union members trusted him to use his influence for them and instead he made it harder for the UAW to use and to grow it influence, he added.

Cares also noted that Williams still continues to maintain the embezzlement was orchestrated by his successor as UAW President, Gary Jones, who is scheduled to sentenced for his part in the conspiracy next month, rather than accept full responsibility for his actions.

Williams claimed Gary Jones, left, and Vance Pearson, right, misled him.

Still shifting blame

Williams, when asked to speak from a San Diego courtroom during the hearing conducted via Zoom, said he regretted not asking more questions and said the scandal that engulfed him has destroyed his reputation as well as his connection to the UAW, which he first joined in 1977.

The embezzlement is the only blemish on a life that included service in the U.S. Marine Corps.

He noted during his tenure as one of the UAW’s top officers he succeeded in balancing the union’s budget, expanding its membership and negotiating the end of the controversial “two-tier” wage scale.

In imposing his sentence, Borman acknowledged Williams came up the “tough way” to serve as the union’s top officer but “there was a need to recognize the seriousness of the offense.”

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