Auto News 5

Porsche has released the first official pictures of its upcoming Panamera four-door GT, ahead of its debut next spring (likely at the Geneva motor show). Mechanical details are scant, but the company did reveal a few basics.

Fact: Rolls-Royce's target customer has liquid assets deep into the eight-figure range. That's how much cash is readily available should one get the urge to splurge on a new solid-gold bowling ball, a platypus-hide humidor, or an invisible hovercraft. This is the demographic that owns a large room equipped with a pool filled with money, except they don't even swim around in it, because they have people to do that. Eventually, these tycoons, moguls, and scions are going to want to travel somewhere inaccessible by hot-air balloon or sedan chair, and for that, they'll need an automobile. I humbly suggest the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coup.

How did you get started with De Loreans?
I'm a mechanic by trade, and in 1983, I had an independent shop in L.A. that worked on English and French cars. The De Lorean was basically an English/French car , so I started working on them. The company was having difficulty, and dealers didn't want to work on the cars. I got so busy that I started concentrating on De Loreans. From there, it's crept up. We opened another facility in Texas, and in 1997 I put together a deal to buy the remaining De Lorean parts inventory.

Q&A | Luca de Meo, Alfa Romeo CEO