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So many of us have been saying this for years at this point.

'Blazer' could be a good name for an EV...use a little flame logo like an electrical fire..

I remember way back when the first gen Miata had a special edition in dark green w/ a saddle interior...would like to see that color combo again.

Yup. For me, its not about the price. Well, its not JUST the price tag, but how small it really is. I get that tech is expensive and the early adopters have to foot the bill for new tech, and usually Im NOT the first early adopters, but somewhere between, the second wave of early adopters to just before half of the population accepts the new tech. Its just that the Bolt is a sub-compact. I dont do sub-compact cars. And Im guessing many people are like me in that they too, dont do sub-compacts. This is where General Motors really needs a BEV slightly BIGGER than the Cruze/Volt. It could be slightly smaller than the Malibu, but ideally, for the masses for GM to really sell 200 000-400 000 BEVs per year, like Tesla's Model 3, is really doing a Chevy Trax, but more so an Equinox sized CUV BEV. If they truly are serious, which I think NOW they are, but when they did the Bolt and released the Bolt for sale, I think they just wanted to be the first to market. (with an "affordable" BEV to beat the Model 3.) But I feel that was a piss poor effort, in hindsight. It is NO secret now as it was NO secret then: 1. sub-compact hatchbacks do NOT sell well in the North American market. Like ever. 2. compact, but more mid-sized CUVs are the hot ticket items 5 years ago and even more so today. But the trends were showing themselves then. Piss poor attempt to capture the market with piss poor decisions or the product (the packaging) and piss poor marketing. Being the first to market, while it works if you got the perfect product, is NOT a good marketing strategy...and the Bolt is NOT the perfect product in its class. The Telsa Model 3 wipes the floor with it. And THAT is the reality. The Bolt is a very good BEV. The Model 3 is eons ahead of it. And then we have Tesla's (super)charging network. I will keep on stressing that part as Tesla's image is not only the cool factor with its cars, and the crazy, zany Musk pet projects like the loop tube and the space rocket thing, but Tesla's image is strong with the EV folk with their charging network.

Dear GM: We need an Equinox BEV stat. Bolt is still too small.

Went yesterday to the Philly Auto Show, was pretty decent show, also midweek very few people, good opportunity to see all the cars. Few thoughts: Blazer - in person looks not as good as in pictures. Still a different take at mid size crossover. Looks inside and out different than most vanilla crossovers. I wish it would drive as sporty as it looks. G70 - looks great, interior looks very nice and very driver oriented. However, after I adjusted front seat for my height the back seat had about as much space as a Mustang. Even less than my G37, and I think they are very similar in size. Shame, I think it will hurt it. Just because of that I would got with Stinger even though it is not as nice inside. Miata RF - sat in it and asked the show girl close the roof. I fit well and I am 6'1". Fits like glove, really like it. GT500 - looks awesome, However, I think I prefer GT350. They had Bullitt there as well, and people could sit in it. Looks great, comfortable inside. I am torn between Mustang and Miata, I want them both Jeep Gladiator - actually looks very awkward to me. I didn't like it. Regular Wrangler is great. iPace - it is more of a wagon than a crossover. I was surprised how low is it. Interior is really nice. Looked at few other cars but no special impressions.

They need to offer it in more colors. Ergonomics are fantastic. It is a honey on an autocross course also.

I absolutely love it.

Hi there! I'll admit writing this feels somewhat awkward as I really don't like talking about myself. Most of the time, I'm churning out news stories and reviews for various places. But this is somewhat important. Next week, I'll be starting a new job with JATO Dynamics as a Specifications Researcher. Basically, I'll be digging into the various information about features, options, and other information on new vehicles. This may seem somewhat odd to be moving from a writing position to doing a bit of research, but it actually uses a lot of the skills and knowledge that I have gathered from being a freelancer. Also, I've been feeling slightly burnt out in terms of the writing. I've noticed that it has been taking me slightly longer to get various pieces out, along with doing anything that is sort of creative and not sounding like a MadLibs. Now for the big question, what does this mean for Cheers & Gears? For now, I'll be taking a bit of a break from writing. I won't be giving up the ghost, but not doing a constant stream of news that I have been able to do since going freelance full time since 2012. I'll still be getting various news pieces, along with reviews and the odd opinion piece up. But I hope this break allows me to recharge and get back on writing somewhat more consistent and creative. I just want to say thanks to you, the members and readers of Cheers & Gears for somehow being able to put up with my writing for quite some time. It has been fun and something I enjoy, even when the thread somehow goes off the rails.

An "all-new" Acadia is big problem. Debuting years old product from another market into Australia???? Of all places? Get the HELL outta there if that's the best you can do! Maybe someone else is doing that too, but the race to the bottom will have unintended consequences. 1 in every 10/100/1000 CLA-minded people will consider test driving a Genesis G70 for the same price. Once they do they'll probably never go back to Mercedes... for example. You can do the reverse, like bring a Ford Ranger and slap some extra steel and safety equipment. You can bring the Caprice and SS...and give Holden much needed production volume. But you cannot take a Regal and call it a commodore. However you could badge engineer a commodore and get away with calling it a GNX. It'd have the performance chops with the correct drivetrain and hardware.

Oh no, they've been electronic for quite a while now. The Hummer H2 had an electronic locking rear end when you selected 4L.

Electronic locking diffs on trucks is available on every truck outside of the Ridgeline, that I can think of. Jeep's system might be the only in a FWD-based CUV that can lock the rear end. Yeah, the Cherokee Trailhawk is the first CUV that I see that has a locking rear diff. All of the others have various traction controlled systems for mimic 4-wheel drive.

Because it is a TRD Off-Road and not a TRD Pro, it likely won't be too pricey. Personally, I would just want the rear to be able to be locked. I don't know how fancy this new AWD system is but I would just want it to not allow me to get stuck in snow because I wouldn't be off-roading it.

100% agreed. That 2.7 is like 20 years old at this point. It's such a worthless engine.

I wonder how much they will charge for beefed up suspension, knobby tires (that will be crap on road) and some body cladding? And who is going off roading in a RAV4? But if they can sell a couple thousand of these option packages a month it is probably a pretty easy profit grab. The 2.5 liter 4 in this makes 40 more horsepower than the 2.7 liter in the Tacoma. Why isn’t this engine in the Tacoma? Does Toyota not know what engines they have in house?

Yeah...they should do a BEV Blazer, like yesterday. This is where I do NOT understand the product planners. We saw a couple of years ago how many people forked over deposit monies for the Tesla Model 3 without ever seeing the car and how it looks on the inside and the outside. The crossover trend has been on the rise since the mid-1990s. Like...no-one at GM (or any other company for that matter) could marry the two together? Is it THAT hard to come up with a BEV that meets the masses expectations? CUVs sell. EVs DO sell. Yes its only Tesla that has a run-a-way success rate. But man...dont CEOs see what I, and many other folk like you guys see that the Nissan Leaf just plain SUCKS visually. The BOLT SUCKS visually. The Leaf and the Bolt are NOT the right package. The Model 3 is at the most minimum of car length and size. No one at these companies that get paid quite well, I might add, they cant figure that out? The Model X may not sell quite as high as the Model S...but it does sell. This is where I do NOT buy the argument that only Tesla EVs have the capacity to sell. 1. The Model S and Model 3 sell in a CUV/SUV dominated world. 2. They are attractive, normal looking cars 3. They are NOT that affordable yet swathes of people are flocking to them 4. Both the Model 3 and Model S are quite capable in cargo hauling duties and are quite comfortable in daily driving their owners and their families from point A to point B without being CUVs. 5. If Chevrolet has a tough time selling sedans, but they do not have a tough time selling Equinoxes, maybe a cool factor BEV for them CAN be a BEV midsized, sporty CUV...like the Blazer... If you cant beat Tesla and their Model 3 because Chevy does not have a BMWesque little sedan to do battle head on with the Model 3, because the Bolt and the Model 3 are THAT different from one another, then Chevrolet could STILL play in that game by offering something COMPLETELY different yet just as cool as the Model 3 yet sticking it to Tesla by making a BEV Blazer and giving the fight to the Model X... Undercutting the Model X in price. The Blazer as is, is a SEXIER SUV than the Model X (in all honestly, the Model X is ugly AF!!!) Its easy as that... There is NO risk. CUVs sell. They sell a lot. There IS a market for EVs. GM and Chevy are NOT tapping into the right segment. Chevy has ITS strengths and they COULD do CUVs BETTER than Tesla. I said that the Model 3 is eons ahead of the Bolt. Well, a BEV Blazer could be eons ahead of the Model X. Sure the Model X has cool rear doors. Make a Blazer a more practical and capable BEV CUV and Chevy might be able to peddle at least 200 000 BEV Blazers...at least... You cannot tell me America is not ready for EVs when Tesla sells a ton. You cannot use the Bolt and Leaf as proof because the Leaf and Bolt are crap as compared to the Model 3. You cannot use the iPace as Jaguar does NOT have the charging network that Tesla has. The Jag asks Model S and Model X prices but Jag does NOT have the charging network behind it. You cannot use the Leaf and Bolt as "affordable" BEVs when in actual fact, they are about the same price as the Model 3...Tesla has a charging network behind it. The other EVs are based on same model cars that are considerably more expensive than their ICE model counterparts. The Volt 2nd gen included over the Cruze but it still did well enough. A BEV Blazer, although GM does not have the charging network of Telsa, will have a huuuuge price advantage OVER the Model X. Maybe EV folk will overlook that. Its not as if the Blazer comes cheap either. But a 60 000 BEV Blazer, (what?) I think the ICE Blazer is 50 000, still undercuts the Model X considerably at 60 thousand... They wont make money off a BEV Blazer? Well...didnt GM just say they will go full out on EVs anyway...so moot point!!!

They should do Blazer electrical, it has the looks, now give it a good electrical powertrain to stand out.

bland exterior. Interior looks to be a great place to spend daily in. Bottom line: Id rather the Camry over this.

I would so rock one of these in my fleet.

I love the looks, orange is not my color but this one looks great, especially with the black wheels. Anyway, special edition was gone in 4 hours after going on sale. Yesterday was at Philly auto show and sat in the MIata RF. Asked the Mazda show girl (who was gorgeous btw )to close the roof to see if I fit. I fit ok and I am 6'1". New Miata fits like a glove, surprisingly comfortable inside.

Had no Idea that these were fully loaded $52K Canadian dollars and they used to have a $14K rebate but that is over now to the North. WOW. Price is a big issue for the car in 2019 to this reviewer and due to the Polar Vortex, it took longer to charge, but over all not a bad auto to the guy.

Sorry, now that I've seen it, I cannot unsee... those cheeks!

Agreed! In the end we all fight-but the respect and friendship is there..... ?

Yup... and then there were none.

I think Regal will be gone soon and Camry most likely will switch to turbo-four in the next generation

Vintage car carnage...worth killing ten minutes of time.

I could see that, as part of GM's ongoing retreat from global markets.