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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