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mercedes has been eyeballing the bottom-feeder segment for decades. They want to be the German General Motors, but seemingly cannot successfully swing the creation/management of a second brand.

Car & Driver :

Hilarious...a FWD shitbox w/ BMW badging..so wrong on so many levels. Wrong for MB also...

Found the C&D article..they compared the CT4-v to the BMW 235i Gran Coupe and M-B AMG A35...odd comparison. https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison-test/a34304375/2020-bmw-m235i-gran-coupe-vs-cadillac-ct4-v-mercedes-amg-a35/ The 235i Gran Coupe and A35 are both transverse engine appliances---...they should have compared against the 3 series and C-class which have the proper RWD sports sedan architecture like the CT4.

I read that article. i am glad it sort of Shames BMW for making the new 2 series on a front drive chassis. 2 series is what i equate to Pontiac EXCITEMENT! A German Grand AM!!

I wanted to wish the Canadians on the forum a Happy Thanksgiving (celebrated the second Monday of October). And wish a Happy Columbus Day to anyone who celebrates it. I do. I'm thinking there won't be any parades in Little Italy neighborhoods anywhere this time around. But one can always pop into an Italian bakery.

mmmMMMMMmmm : Silverado! 3.0L TD, plz.

Tortoise Beetle -

Wisconsin. Classy joint : Someone's got a hard-on for used cars :

Got out of the Malibu next to this toyoter. Boy does this look like cheap, glued-on crap.

I knew you'd bring that shit up...that's only in trucks. I was talking about cars... nothing to do with Ford's performance DOHC V8s in the Mustang..

Guess again...and it's new from Ford. Something to be said about the venerable, reliable push-rod V8 https://www.dieselhub.com/specs/ford-7.3l-gas-v8.html NASCAR is ancient tech.? Ah no, better study up! Here's some to start. https://www.sportekz.com/motorsports/nascar-race-car-cost/

I was thinking specifically of Ford and Toyota. They don’t have pushrod V8s in their car lineups today...NASCAR is just about marketing for the automakers...the technology is ancient, they still have 4spd manuals and only recently got fuel injection. I can't imagine automakers get much out of NASCAR that is applicable to production vehicles..

Definitely, a lot has to do with excellent aerodynamics in today's NASCAR race cars, but the traction system, latest in rubber compound tires and lower weight all comes into play. Years ago I drove a full regulation 650 hp Chevy NASCAR on Vegas Motor Speedway with the Richard Petty Driving Experience. It's definitely an awesome experience. My hot lap was 148.7 mph with a framed certificate and all, one of the highest in a group of 30 in the class. I had a blast! I highly recommend it if any of you get a chance.

The Ram 700 has been around since 2014 as a restyled, FWD-based unibody Fiat product. This is a new version of it. The Mitsubishi Mighty Max was a RWD-based, body-on-frame pickup built from 1983-1995. Totally unrelated to each other. Of course I love the single cab version of the new Ram 700. I would buy one if it had the 1.3t 4 from the Renegade, and an uplevel trim package of some sort. Are you sayin' you're POPPIN' FRESH?

I am all about popping into (Italian) bakeries. Perhaps too much so.

Seems British Motor Heritage is building from the ground up all Brand New MGB Roadster EVs priced at $116,000. https://www.autoblog.com/2020/10/09/electric-classic-mgb-roadster/ While a concept, according to various news stories and Amazons news release, this is to be used as a test mule to verify the design. https://blog.aboutamazon.com/transportation/introducing-amazons-first-custom-electric-delivery-vehicle https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1129894_amazon-shows-rivian-electric-delivery-vans-it-will-use-starting-in-2021 https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a34315562/amazon-rivian-electric-van-prototype-revealed/ While a concept, according to various news stories and Amazons news release, this is to be used as a test mule to verify the design. https://blog.aboutamazon.com/transportation/introducing-amazons-first-custom-electric-delivery-vehicle https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1129894_amazon-shows-rivian-electric-delivery-vans-it-will-use-starting-in-2021 https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a34315562/amazon-rivian-electric-van-prototype-revealed/

2021 Hyundai Santa Fe gets more power, more efficient engines and a all new Hybrid. There is also an all new Premium top line trim package. 2.5L 4 banger replaces the 2.4L base engine, Power increases by 6hp to 191 and increases 4 lb-ft to 182 lb-ft 8 sp tranny stays, but FWD increases 1mpg to 26 mpg combines, AWD stays at 24 mpg combined 2.0L turbo is replaced by 2.5L turbo with new dual clutch 8 sp tranny. Motor gains 42hp and 51 lb-ft of torque for total of 277 hp / 311 lb-ft of torque. A gain of 2 mpg for both FWD or AWD with Combined 25 mpg FWD or 24 mpg combined AWD. Hybrid MPG is not released yet but system has 224 HP and 195 lb-ft of torque via 6sp tranny with standard AWD. QUOTE: Santa Fe is picking up a new range-topping trim called Calligraphy. It can be spotted from the outside by its unique grille and 20-inch wheels. Inside it gets Nappa leather upholstery, faux suede headliner, additional ambient lighting and an 8.5-inch heads-up display. It comes exclusively with the turbocharged 2.5-liter engine and all-wheel drive. https://www.autoblog.com/2020/10/12/2021-hyundai-santa-fe-engine-specs/

For sure, but even that output pales in comparison to today's and those were BB numbers. "Old" hp numbers were much different with significantly higher low end output numbers at a lower rpm than high end numbers. It just shows how far the modern IC engine has come, fuel delivery, head design and flow, much higher compression ratio, free flow exhaust design etc..

'21 M3 starts at $70K- inapplicable in a test of "$50K sports sedans". FWD-based M235i is BMW's entry in this segment, for better... or in this case; worse.

i don't know if the 8 speed in the Colorado is the same 8 speed in the CT6? but the 8 speed in the CT6 has issues as well, likely similar issues, and that is why my enthusiasm for looking for an early version CT6 was blunted. Also its why CT6's are getting cheaper on the used market. If i look for a CT6 in the future it must have the new 10 speed automatic, which by all accounts has been a great tranny for the Caddies and Camaros.

reg, I wasn't crying because of your choice of replacement, was crying because I'm not READY to go through the process of replacing my beautiful blu Z71 Colorado. I wish everything was hunky-dory with it. You hear things and think "it won't happen to me".

I do like the color....a Soul was on the table for my wife until and Trax won in the end. But I really have a soft spot for these...can’t go wrong with one. Congrats to your mom!

Since she turned her 2012 Soul in at the end of its lease, when I would visit her and go driving, she would point out EVERY SOUL SHE SAW. Here's a photo of another at the same dealer, this one has black interior, mom likes the lighter color:

Great review, as usual. And, good to see ya yesterday! Now, the Malibu write up! The Charger lines look great in basic white. People seriously need to know how greatly fuel efficient that Chrysler 3.6 can be.

148 whoppin' hp! Funny how times have drastically changed. 750hp in today's Cup cars.

Short-lived compact division of NASCAR :

So if it's a "prototype"... then I assume Amazon hasn't, actually, "taken" it and is using it for deliveries. If correct, what a strangely-worded story.

I dig it!!!

The Grand Wagoneer looks great, imo.

Have to say I like the Jeep GC way better than the Wagoneer Concept they unveiled. https://www.motor1.com/news/442218/jeep-grand-wagoneer-concept-2022/ Seems that an all glass roof is the rage today for auto's, hopefully Jeep will attach them better than Tesla has done on the model Y.

Got one waxed car today.... ?

Time to get those last waxes in before the cold....

Man, I always loved the Wildcat series of dream cars. Thanks for posting!

I end with Imperials at '68. Chrysler didn't put the design mojo into them in the fuselage years like they did '55-68. They don't look any more expensive than a Chrysler of that era. I think it showed, as Imperial was dead by '75 IIRC. This era 300s are generally sweet tho. But again- it goes flat with the '73s. The domestic OEMs used to focus on their full-size cars, but once the intermediates were fleshed out & pulling huge numbers, those became the focus instead. GM, Ford, Chrysler all followed this pattern, and all their full-sizers suffered dropping volumes as a consequence. Not that I place a high significance on volumes per say, but it's indicative.

Speaking of fuselage Mopies, I like the beastly Chryslers and Imperials also..

"The New Oldsmobiles are in early this year."

GTX :

Some of them are weird, most are on the bland side... but they have this smooth, commanding presence. The '70-71 Fury & the '69-70 Polara 500 (ONLY with the Suprlite option) are pretty appealing. '72 Polara & Monaco... not so much.

There's something about these Mopars, they're so... visceral. Clearly the body of the car, and all else, is SECOND FIDDLE to the powertrain. Cubic inches 383, 413, 426, 440... all of them carried a heavy mantle and a reputation for power and durability, backed up by the legendary Torqueflite automatic. All magic... CRAZY MAGIC. This is why I love Dodge today, the tradition and heritage they carry MEANS SOMETHING to AMERICANS, strong and free. May the Mopar flag forever wave!

Payback for Godzilla :

Just saw a purple one this week.....

GTS :

A lot of low-price cars in this era had cloth standard. Vinyl was an upgrade. Not sure about the Biscayne, but I got your wording that IF it had vinyl...