With Ferrari getting spun off of the FCA empire this year, CEO Sergio Marchionne is positioning Maserati to be the company’s new prestige brand.

According to Bloomberg, Marchionne is seeking to double Maserati’s sales goals (to 75,000) and increase its profit margins to 15 percent (up from the current 10) by 2018. In comparison, Ferrari has a profit margin of 13 percent. “Ferrari’s power, prestige and profits have helped bankroll the more pedestrian Dodges, Jeeps, Fiats and Chryslers that account for most of [FCA's] revenue.” says the article. Incidentally, typical FCA margins over around 3 to 4 percent.

However, after a highly publicized falling out with the ex-Ferrari chairman, Marchionne decided to spin off Ferrari, selling 10 percent of its stock in order to fund other business ventures. This removes FCA’s control over the exotic car maker, a position Fiat has held for 45 years. As a result, “Maserati becomes the most coveted, exclusive brand that we have,” says Marchionne.

In contrast, Fiat has only owned Maserati since 1993. The goal of the company is to now boost sales by introducing new models like the Levante SUV and a new entry-level coupe. However, it must also balance that against brand exclusivity and dealers who have been seen as too aggressive with incentive discounts.

Alfa Romeo’s new BMW 3-Series-fighting sedan, the Giulia, took only two and a half years to develop, the blink of an eye in auto manufacturing timelines.

According to Car, it was FCA head honcho Sergio Marchionne that appointed chief engineer Philippe Krief to head a skunkworks team of 10 specialists to get the job done. This gave Krief, who was working on Ferrari at the time, the freedom to execute a single vision without the too-many-cooks paralysis that often befalls big companies.

Krief recalls Marchionne’s phone call from April 2013. “You have to come and do the new Alfa, we have to do something totally different. So please take a bunch of guys, go somewhere and think about that. You have two years and two months!”

The sedan was originally on track to be a front-wheel-drive platform to succeed the Alfa 159. That project was scrapped entirely in order to develop a RWD sports sedan in record time. Not only that, but Krief, who had previously worked on the Ferrari 458 Speciale, promises there will be a hint of prancing horse in the Giulia’s driving dynamics.

Though the Giulia does utilize the Maserati Ghibli and Quattroporte platforms, the turnaround time was still extraordinarily quick. Typically, an automaker needs at minimum four years to develop a car.

Paris-based Citroën has published a set of teaser sketches that preview the next C-Quatre. The sedan is being designed largely for the Chinese market.
Aimed right at the Volkswagen Jetta, the C-Quatre is being developed jointly by Citroën and China’s Dongfeng Motors, one of its biggest shareholders. The sketches suggest that the sedan will eschew Citroën’s latest design language and instead adopt a more premium look characterized by sculpted body panels and a healthy dose of chrome trim.

Inside, the C-Quatre gets a simple, minimalist yet elegant cockpit with rectangular air vents and faux aluminum trim on the center console. All told, the C-Quatre is shaping up to be a lot more upscale than the C4 hatchback sold in Europe.

Mechanically, Citroën’s next sedan will use turbocharged three- and four-cylinder gasoline-burning engines sourced from the PSA Peugeot – Citroën parts bin. Front-wheel drive will be the only configuration available, and most models will ship with an automatic transmission.

The next Citroën C-Quatre will make its official debut in the coming weeks, and it will go on sale across China before the end of the year. At the time of writing Citroën is not planning on selling the sedan in its home country, but there’s a small chance that it could join the company’s lineup in Spain.

The one-off 2006 Lamborghini Concept S is scheduled to cross the auction block in New York City this fall.
Based on the Gallardo, the Concept S was initially presented to the public at the 2005 edition of the Geneva Motor Show as a simple design study devoid of all mechanical components. While it was instantly recognizable as a member of the Gallardo family, it stood out thanks to a pair of saute-vent windshields and a split cabin divided by piece of sheet metal called a spine in Lamborghini-speak.

The Concept S generated a hugely positive response from the public and potential owners so Lamborghini built a second example that was fully functional and a little closer to production. The Sant’Agata Bolognese-based company initially planned on making 100 examples, but the production process turned out to be so long and expensive that production stopped after just a single example had been built.

The one-off model is powered by a Gallardo-sourced 5.0-liter V10 engine that sends 520 horsepower to all four wheels. The odometer only reads about 110 miles but the naturally-aspirated ten-cylinder is said to be in working order.

Sotheby’s predicts the Lamborghini Concept S will sell for anywhere between $2.4 and $3 million when the hammer drops on November 18th. Stay tuned to Leftlane for a post-auction update.

Mercedes-Benz’s Mercedes-AMG sub-brand has published a batch of teaser shots that preview the next-gen C63 Coupe. The Stuttgart-based automaker’s next hot-rodded coupe will be presented to the public for the first time this September at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
Aimed squarely at the BMW M4, the C63 Coupe will be powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine borrowed from the Porsche 911-fighting GT coupe. The standard C63 will pack 469 horsepower and 479 lb-ft. of torque, while the more expensive C63 S will turn the dial up to 11 with 503 horsepower and 516 lb-ft. of torque.

Both engines will spin the rear wheels via a seven-speed automatic transmission controlled by shift paddles. In its most powerful configuration, the C63 Coupe will be able to reach 60 mph from a stop in about 3.9 seconds before going on to a top speed of approximately 180 mph.

The teaser images show that the C63 Coupe will get a race-inspired body kit that will add flared fenders and a model-specific front bumper with a splitter. The Coupe’s front fascia will be similar to the sedan’s, but the teaser images do a good job of hiding its overall silhouette and its rear end.

After greeting the show-going public in Frankfurt, the next Mercedes-AMG C63 will go on sale across the nation early next year as a 2017 model. It will carry a premium over its four-door counterpart, which starts at $64,825.

What’s next?

Non-AMG versions of the Coupe will also be on display in Frankfurt. Official details haven’t been published yet, but expect a C400 Coupe powered by a 329-horsepower twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine and a mid-range C450 AMG model fitted with a 362-horsepower version of the six.

Lexus has detailed its US-spec 2016 ES lineup, including the EX 350 and EX 300h.
Visually, the mid-cycle refresh essentially matches the updated ES that was unveiled earlier this year at the Shanghai auto show. The front end has been revised with a pronounced chrome-trimmed spindle grille — consistent with Lexus’ latest design language — and reshaped LED headlights, among other changes.

The rear end has also been outfitted with new L-shape taillights, while the exhaust tips are much larger with a rectangular outlet clad in chrome. Further distinguishing the exterior appearance, new 17-inch alloy wheels and four new exterior colors have been added to the lineup.

The 2016 ES models bring Lexus’ Safety System+ technology suite, including pre-collision warnings, lane departure alert with steering assist, intelligent high-beams and dynamic cruise control. Smartphone integration and remote connectivity are also improved for the latest model year.

The interior has received a few minor changes, starting with a redesigned steering wheel and shift knob. Buyers can also choose from new trim colors ranging from matte bamboo to Linear Dark Mocha.

The ES 350′s 3.5-liter V6 engine has carried over from the 2015 package, delivering 268 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque. The 300h hybrid pairs a 2.5-liter straight-four with two electric motors for a total output of 200 ponies.

The company has not yet announced pricing or launch dates for either package.

Elio Motors has quickly raised $19 million in crowdfunding commitments to help build its affordable three-wheeler.
After establishing a crowdfunding campaign on Start Engine last month, the fledgling automaker has received nearly $1 million in non-binding commitments from interested investors every day. The company has just $6 million left before hitting its $25 million goal.

The company has taken advantage of new investment regulations outlined in the 2012 JOBS Act, which allows startups to raise up to $50 million from accredited and non-accredited investors.

“We’re always looking for new ways to do things and crowdfunding is certainly the wave of the future for entrepreneurs, start-up organizations and investors,” said Elio Motors chief Paul Elio. “With so many people expressing interest in our vehicle and our company, it shows we are on the right track – both in how we have developed and marketed this vehicle and also in how we are raising the capital needed to continue our march toward production.”

Once the company reaches its funding goal and completes the necessary Securities and Exchange Commission audit, the funds will be used to build 25 prototypes for testing and validation. Work on a fifth-generation prototype has already begun, complete with Elio’s IAV-designed engine and a transmission from Aisin.

Elio is still working to bring the three-wheeler to market with a promised $6,800 price tag and 84-mpg efficiency rating. The company expects to employ 1,500 workers at a Louisiana factory once production begins, while creating another 1,500 jobs at third-party suppliers.

The project has already faced several delays, but is now claimed to be on track for production by mid-2016.

Ford has detailed the innovative carbon-fiber wheels that ship as standard equipment on the Shelby GT350R Mustang.
The company claims to be the first major automaker to offer mass-produced carbon-fiber wheels for a production vehicle, though the technology has been available for years on Koenigsegg supercars and from aftermarket suppliers.

The Blue Oval teamed with Australian supplier Carbon Revolution to built the lightweight GT350R rims. The latter company specializes in composite wheels, claiming to produce the only one-piece carbon-fiber wheel with continuous fiber construction.

Using carbon rather than traditional aluminum helps reduce the car’s overall heft and improves handling dynamics, thanks to a significant reduction in unsprung weight. The new wheels weigh just 18 pounds each, compared to 33 pounds for an equivalent aluminum design.

“The carbon fiber wheels reduce vehicle weight by 60 pounds compared to aluminum, yet are stiffer for better steering response,” said Ford Performance chassis supervisor Adam Wirth. “We believe this is a game changer for the industry, a great example of improved performance through innovation.”

Engineers found that the GT350R’s brakes were creating rotor temperatures in excess of 1650 degrees Fahrenheit during track testing. Carbon Revolution looked to the Space Shuttle for inspiration, creating a ceramic thermal barrier coating around the inner wheel barrel and on the back of the spokes via plasma arc application.

The companies worked to create a special gloss-black finish that is aesthetically flawless and capable of handling years of exposure to salt, UV radiation and road chemicals.

The GT350 and GT350R also introduces a new 5.2-liter V8 engine for Ford, featuring a flat-plane crankshaft that helps keep weight down while allowing it to reach an 8,250-rpm redline. It is the company’s most power-dense mill, boasting 526 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque.

The GT350R will be available in showrooms later this year.

Audi has confirmed plans to outfit the next-generation RS 4 with a downsized engine.
The company will trade the existing naturally-aspirated 4.2-liter V8 powerplant for a smaller turbocharged V6 unit. It is unclear if the engine will be an all-new design or a retuned version of an existing mill.

“I think that power has increased more than enough, and of course other performance is improved too,” Audi Quattro head Heinz Hollerweger told Car and Driver.

The comments suggest the V6 will deliver a tangible power improvement over the V8, which produces 420 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque. Electric turbocharghing technology has been mentioned as a potential feature to help improve performance at low rpm.

Hollerweger suggested Europe is becoming a “less important” market for Audi as the company focuses on improving growth in the US and China. There is a “glimmer of hope” that the RS 4 will be offered in the US market, but only as an Avant wagon or an RS 5 Sportback.

“The potential in China and the U.S. for RS models is getting us thinking about body styles that may work there–maybe a hatchback, like the RS7,” the executive added.

Audi is reportedly planning on introducing the RS 4 early in the ninth-generation A4‘s life cycle. The basic sedan will be formally unveiled later this year in Frankfurt, before arriving in showrooms next year for the 2017 model year.