Wrangler looks princely in purple, Enzo Ferrari series to Apple TV+, $1.685M contract for Packard demo
JL Wrangler looks princely in purple for 2023
Intake: Jeep revealed two new colors for the 2023 Wrangler via Tweet. The colors are called Reign and Earl and are purple and gray, respectively. Get it? We’ve seen the Earl color before when it worn by an overlanding Gladiator concept at which we got a close look last year (see below). Earl was rumored to be in the works for 2022 model year Jeeps but was delayed. Reign is the latest in the range of audacious colors (see: Tuscadero Pink, Gecko Green) Jeep has selected for those that wish to stand out in the Wrangler and is the first purple we’ve seen on the JL. The last time a Wranger had a similar color looks to be the 2016 Wrangler Backcountry, which was the only trim available in Xtreme Purple.
Exhaust: Not to detract from the boldness of whoever successfully argued for Reign on the Wrangler, but the blocky off-roader is one of the few vehicles that seems to look great in any color. Earl follows the muted, non-metallic tones that have previously been offered on Jeep products (Gobi, Anvil, and Rhino). The understated shades seem to be popular with enthusiasts looking to venture off-road and blend in with the natural scenery. Reign will definitely not blend in on a trail, but that’s kind of the point, isn’t it? Plus, it has a fantastic name. — Brandan Gillogly
Last hype photos for Cadillac’s EV halo car before reveal
Intake: These are the last batch of visual appetizers before Cadillac serves us the full serving of details on its Celestiq show car come July 22. Designed to crown the brand’s portfolio, this “sedan” (which we expect to be rather SUV-esque in proportion) will be hand-built in Warren, Michigan, to ensure each one is unique. For now, however, we’re only getting glimpses at the concept car—Cadillac’s vision for “the future of American luxury.” What we know so far: The Ultium-based Celestiq will feature a dazzling array of screens, including a Mercedes-EQ-esque display spanning the entire dash; a moon roof sectioned into four individually dimmable zones; and, judging from these most recent photos, screens for the rear-seat occupants.
Exhaust: Though the three-box silhouette of yesteryear’s decadent Caddys won’t return with the Celestiq, it’s encouraging to see Cadillac shooting for the, erm, heavens once again. The standard of luxury is evolving at an astounding pace, but we’d love to see an American-built machine as the world’s benchmark once again—even if we secretly mourn the interior‘s lack of crushed velvet. — Grace Houghton
Ferrari series in the paddock for Apple TV+
Intake: Automotive racing is ripe with drama, and Hollywood can’t resist. According to The Hollywood Reporter, an Enzo Ferrari series inspired by the well-received biography Ferrari Rex has been ordered up for Apple TV+, simply titled Ferrari. Creatives at the helm include British writer Steven Knight and Italian director Stefano Sollima. The series will cover the turbulent span between 1956 and 1961, some of Enzo’s rockiest, most gut-wrenching years in racing both on and off the track.
Exhaust: Racing on the silver screen is resonating with a wide and growing audience. Projects abound, such as Brad Pitt’s upcoming F1 flick, and there are plenty of reasons why; motorsports is not all sunshine and rainbows behind the scenes. The facts of Enzo’s life are a script unto themselves, and his story should do well if depicted by talented artists who share any enthusiasm for racing and its challenges. “Enzo Ferrari’s utterly extraordinary life was defined by his dramatic personal and professional journey, and Ferrari is a celebration of an incredibly complex and fascinating human being,” Knight told THR. If Knight’s past work on Peaky Blinders is any indication, he likely won’t let off the gas when depicting the darkest sides of Enzo’s ascent. — Bryan Gerould
After 4 years researching an EV supercar, Horatio Pagani decides no
Intake: If you’re waiting for an electric supercar from Italian niche manufacturer Pagani, you’ll be waiting a long time. “In 2018, I created a team working on fully electric cars,” he told Autocar at the recent Milan Monza motor show. The result of that work? No electric car, but Horatio Pagani said he will continue to offer his Huayra R, powered by a Mercedes-Benz V-12 engine. (There’s also a Huayra successor in the works, dubbed C-10 and shown in spy photos below.)Why no electric? They don’t “give good emotion” like a gasoline-powered supercar. Plus, the battery required for high performance and decent range would be too heavy, more than half the weight of the Huayra R. And he isn’t convinced that the footprint of a small manufacturer would make much difference in the overall picture, especially since “90 percent of energy is produced without renewables.” But possibly the most telling finding of the four-year look into electrics: “In four years, we never found interest in the supercar market” for an EV, said Pagani.
Exhaust: Pagani, who bought a Tesla “to understand EVs,” doesn’t think electrics have a substantial role in the supercar market, and given what the cost would be for a tiny manufacturer like Pagani to develop and homologate such a car, it wouldn’t make sense anyway. Of course, other manufacturers such as Porsche would disagree that EVs have no place in the high-performance market. That said, as long as there is a market for multimillion-dollar, V-12-powered supercars, and there apparently is, Horatio Pagani won’t starve.
Contractor selected, Packard Plant moves closer to partial demolition
Intake: The Detroit Demolition Department has selected Michigan contractor Homrich Wrecking Inc. to partially demolish the abandoned Packard Plant on East Grand Boulevard in East Detroit. If approved by the Detroit City Council on July 19, the project will be funded by federal pandemic resources, available through the American Rescue Plan Act, totaling $1,685,000. The contract to demolish a portion of the 100,000-square-foot property would be valid through August 1, 2023. A Wayne County judge ruled in March that the buildings significantly threaten “the public’s health, safety, and welfare” and gave the city permission to start the demolition process after property owner Fernando Palazuelo missed a court-ordered deadline of April 21 to file for a demo permit.
Exhaust: Deciding the fate of the Packard Plant has been a slow process, but so has the demise of the once-stately factory complex. Although we generally stand on the side of preservation, after a recent tour the site we agree that some portions of the complex should come down. Perhaps, as Detroit mayor Mike Duggan vowed in March, the property can be redeveloped while saving the front portion of the city-owned building along the south side of Grand. If that happens, it will be a win-win for both the city and historians. — Jeff Peek
