Q. I hear that some Chevrolet
dealers
will be charging $10,000 or more over list price for the radical new
mid-engine Chevy Corvette. Is this likely? — J.H. (via
Internet)
A. What else is new?
It’s long been a common practice for many new car dealers to
charge way over list price for a really new model such as the 2020
Corvette, even if it causes future potential customers of those
dealerships never to buy vehicles from them again. Many dealers will
squeeze every dime they can out of customers willing to pay over list
price, thinking only of their immediate profit on a hot new model. Of
course, it’s short-sighted thinking by dealers who charge
over invoice, but part of the blame must go to those who pay over
invoice. After all, this is not a limited-production model. Automotive
News reports that “more than 50” Chevy dealers have
pledged to sell the new ‘Vette for no more than sticker
price. Of course, the car isn’t cheap to begin with
at $59,995. And then, even dealers who charge only the sticker price
can increase their profit on the new Corvette by offering it with
extras such as wheel upgrades, which can be declined by a
buyer.
Q.
Will this electric car madness ever go away? — E.R. (via
Internet)
A. It keeps building. For instance, Ford has agreed with Volkswagen to
jointly develop an electric car for the European market.
Q.
What a letdown. The new Porsche Taycan battery electric model is said
to be the fastest Porsche and isn’t even the
automaker’s revered 911 model. — A.D. (via Internet)
A. The new Porsche Taycan is said to be the fastest production Porsche,
doing 0-60 m.p.h. in 2.6 seconds. When introduced late this year, the
Taycan will come in high-powered Turbo and Turbo S versions and start
at $154,860 and $188,960, including shipping. It has a relatively short
charging time. Note that a base Taycan priced at lower than $100,000 is
scheduled for the second half of 2020. The main rival of the Taycan
Turbo and Turbo S is said to be the Tesla Model S sedan.
Porsche says there currently are no plans to build an electric
911..
Q. I hear Lamborghini is even
going
for advanced mild-hybrid technology. Can this be true? — J.R.
(via Internet)
A. Lamboghini’s new Sian will be it’s most powerful
model with 819 horsepower. Its 785-horsepower V-12 gas engine is
boosted by 34 horsepower from an electric motor to get the 819
horsepower figure. Interestingly, the car’s electric motor is
built into the gearbox. With the electric assist, the car has constant
torque without any drop during gear shifting. It reportedly does 0-60
m.p.h. in under 2.8 seconds.
Q.
The Maserati Quattroporte sedan looks sexy and has a gorgeous interior.
But is it very good in all respects? — J.R. (via
Internet)
A. While fast and sexy, the Wall Street Journal says the 2019
Quattroporte is an “old horse” that should be
“headed for the glue factory.” I’d rather
have a 1963-69 Maserati Quattroporte sedan. It was a beautifully styled
supercar with four-door convenience— a rarity for an Italian
automaker in the 1960s. While quite civilized, with a sumptuous cabin,
it had a four-camshaft V-8 that was a version of the mighty Maserati
450S race engine. Only 759 were built. It thus had great snob appeal.
Hardly anybody except trendy “beautiful people” saw
one or knew what it was if they did. Car and Driver magazine had a
1960s feature about the car that said it was definitely for such folks.
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