Imagine a Hyundai i30 that shared its infotainment screen with a Maserati. Or a Fiat platform which sits under a Tuscon. Well, if Hyundai’s CEO has his way, that’s exactly what could happen.
According to the Asia Times, CEO Chung Mong-koo is waiting for an decline in Fiat Chrysler Automobile’s shares to make his move and launch a takeover bid for the company. FCA, which owns Fiat, Chrysler, Alfa Romeo, Jeep, RAM, and Maserati, is ripe for the picking, especially as Sergio Marchionne, its current chief executive, is just about ready to retire.
Marchionne could look to approve the move, given his interest in mergers. Previously he approached GM and Volkswagen for involvement, but this appears to be the most serious move yet.
The Korean company could benefit from an even greater reach and a slice of both the lucrative US and Chinese markets. However, given the current political climate, and President Trump’s lack of support for companies outside the US, it’s unclear whether the merger would get off the ground.
Good luck catching Porsche
There is a video doing the rounds on YouTube and it honestly looks like it’s been sped up. But it establishes as a fact that Porsche has firmly stamped its authority on the Green Hell. It’s a circuit that sorts the men from the boys, and in Sabine Schmitz’s case, it sorts the women from the men.
Last week, however, the Nurburgring Nordschleife (North Loop) saw its greatest competitor ever. A record set back in 1983 by F1 driver Stefan Bellof was smashed, and not by a small margin. Bellof’s 6 minute 11.13 second lap was remarkable, not just because it stood for over 35 years, but because nothing else could come anywhere near it until even recently.
However, Timo Bernhard piloting a Porsche 919 Hybrid Evo LMP1 racer pulled off a ridiculous 5 minutes and 19.55 second lap, and blew away the motoring world. The doubters came piling in early, claiming it wasn’t possible, while the supporters cheered because the both the last record and this new one were both set in Porsches.
But Bernhard’s lap looks almost supernatural. His reflexes are crazy, the smoothness despite the track surface is remarkable and his faith in both the brakes and tyres is greater than an pontiff’s faith.
Even if you’re not a motorsport enthusiast, it’s worth spending the five minutes to watch. Check it out here – https://youtu.be/PQmSUHhP3ug
Ferrari’s version of Ikea
Auctions are fascinating events, especially if you find the right ones. Some of them uncover hidden gems, while others just feature bits and pieces. Combining the two, and them being worth something is a bit of a rare treat.
Coys Auctions had an event last Saturday at Blenheim Palace in the UK, where plenty of rare and original spare parts went under the hammer. The difference with these spare parts, though, is how they all went together.
A few weeks ago, the most expensive car ever was sold. It was a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO and it sold for a ridiculous US$70 million. The spare parts at Saturday’s auction were enough to recreate an original and genuine 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, meaning the potential to be even more expensive than the one just sold.
Of course, matching parts numbers would be the issue, and whoever puts the vehicle together is going to have to spend a lot of time sorting through and assembling – it’ll be a bit more complicated than an Ikea set. Then there’s painting it, fixing upholstery and all the other wonderful things that need to be done to an old car.
No word on how much they paid for the Ferrari lot, but it’s safe to say the figure is a bit higher than a Pickles Auctions weekend.
