G. David Felt

Not sure if Lucid will be around in 10 years, but I have to say the Saphire is an awesome looking car and has a dynamite motor system. Introducing Sapphire | Lucid Motors

2023 promises to be an exciting year at the global auto companies are lining up many new EV releases. Audi since August 2021 has been introducing concept autos to the sphere family. The activesphere concept will be the fourth model in this sphere family of premium mobility. Audi activesphere concept is focused on the active lifestyle person allowing them maximum variability for both on and off pavement. Full details about the activesphere will be given at the reveal at the begining of 2023. Audi showed off the sphere family during the Monterey Car Week in California on August 18th to 21st, 2022, showing the first three concepts, Audi Skyphere, Audi grandsphere and Audi urbansphere. Sphere family - Audi brings vision of future mobility to Monterey Car Week - Audi Newsroom (audiusa.com) Audi skysphere - Audi skysphere concept (2021) | Audi MediaCenter (audi-mediacenter.com) Electric Drive system 465 kW or 624 HP with 750 Nm or 552 lb ft of torque in RWD allowing 0 to 65 mph in 4 seconds with a 500 km (310 miles) battery pack. More details at the link above. Audi grandsphere - Audi grandsphere concept (2021) | Audi MediaCenter (audi-mediacenter.com) Electric Drive system 530 kW or 711 HP with 960 Nm or 708 lb ft of torque in AWD allowing 0 to 65 mph in 4 seconds with a 750 km (466 miles) battery pack. More details at the link above. Audi urbansphere - Space travel in the heart of the megacity | Audi MediaCenter (audi-mediacenter.com) Electric Drive system 295 kW or 396 HP with 690 Nm or 507 lb ft of torque in AWD with a 750 km (466 miles) battery pack, designed for ultimate comfort in urban dense cities. More details at the link above. In four door configurations, Audi seems to have embraced the suicide door style for their EV products. Full details on the all-electric Sphere family can be found on Audi Global Media Site. Audi.com – the international Audi website | audi.com Audi Concept Cars | progress.audi One consistency that is seen here in the Audi Sphere family is the fast back rear that we have seen on the Cadillac family of EVs. View full article

Seems October 16th, 2022, Mercedes will finally reveal the 2024 EQE electric SUV. First glimpse of the interior of the new EQE SUV - Mercedes-Benz Group Media So, it would seem that the EQE will get the same MUUX Hyperscreen for the top-level dash and then the other lower tier dashes identical to the EQS. So other than size and car versus SUV, why is the EQS so much more special than an EQE?

Seems Ford is ready to go step in step with California for all auto's be EVs by 2035 as a national standard. Ford Statement on Proposed Advanced Clean Cars II Regulations in California | Ford Media Center

Latest finds, the old roadster was in my neighborhood and the ghostbusters wanna bee auto was at the local Fred Meyers.

Now back to the topic at hand, 2023 Dodge Hornet PHEV and others are getting more pictures and info of it out and testing in Europe. SPOTTED: 2023 Dodge Hornet C-SUV Prototype! (moparinsiders.com) Now this story Alfa Romeo CEO Promises the Tonale Will Bury Its Bad Reputation Regarding Reliability - autoevolution is something of what I think many of us have in mind and why the wait and see attitude of a Dodge based on an Alfa. To quote the story, it takes owning two Alfa's to end up with one good Alfa. ? While the CEO of Alfa says the Tonale is what they believe will change people's perceptions, this also is part of the bigger overall problem where the current Alfa's have been nothing but buggy money pits and as such, I would not expect any difference with the Tonale and since the Dodge Hornet 2023 is based on this same auto, I expect it to be up in the air in regard to reliability until proven.

I will laugh in regard to the cheap to maintain and reliable as most Corolla's are manual everything. This is where the myth of reliable comes from, Toyota sells a ton of manual everything auto's, Manual Windows, Manual Door locks, manual, manual, manual and they just work and last. Yet take a look at more automated electronic stuff and Toyota like everyone else is just average and in some cases worse. My neighbor talks about how great his 2002 Toyota pickup is as it has not had any major issues, everything still works, and he calls it bullet proof. I then pointed out, his is a base model truck, manual transmission, manual windows, manual door locks, no AC, basic AM/FM radio, manual seats. This truck is garage kept, driven less than 7K miles a year. Course nothing has broken or worn out, like me he works from home and barely drives. As you move up to Toyota Auto's in the last 10 years, lots of recalls and broken stuff as the manual stuff is no longer selling when the buyers are wanting everything automated and electronic. Just as GM was King, Toyota took the crown, but the future is not promised or guaranteed and as we move into the EV world, Toyota will probably be kicked off the as King of the Hill. Toyota offering to buy back bZ4X electric SUVs with wheels that might fall off - CNN This does not bode well for Toyota who is having to play catch up to the rest of the industry.

I probably frequent off road trails in my Escalade more than most do in any luxury, Premium or Regular SUV. I love to watch movies, but I honestly do not recall one where I saw the Toyota Land Cruiser. Please point out a movie if it is common in it as I would love to know, but the action, sci/fi movies I watch I have never seen one. I see more GM products especially in the Korean Dramas I watch with my wife than Toyota Products. I would agree with you that 99.99999% of luxury, Premium and Regular based SUVs are never used anywhere else than on the local pavement. Quoting the G-Wagon is an Apples to Orange comparison since the G-Wagon is based first in the Military side of life and then a retail version was made to maximize profits for Mercedes. I am not aware that the Land Cruiser was ever built as a Military product first. I agree with you the Escalade is a BOF SUV that does it's job very well for those that have actually taken it off road for a luxury product that does not have as the Military Grade G-Wagon has of 3 lockers with those solid axels that have now been proven to not be any better than modern Coil Over suspension systems.

I really like it more and more as I see it. I think GM will have a major hit on their hands. Better looking than the Porsche competitor EV or anything Mercedes has. Audi EVs look good, but history of reliability keeps me from them. Japanese has nothing of interest in this category and Korea has not gotten their version out under the Genesis line yet. China I have no interest in buying from. This looks awkward and yet futuristic to me.

So far I have heard that the Land Cruiser is the Japanese equal to the Land Rover and everyone talks about how capable they are, yet while we have seen old and new Land Rovers off the basic dirt road in actual real hard environments, I have yet to see the Land Cruiser other than at the mall and basic US roads. I consider them overrated as I hear from folks all the time about how capable they are but have not really ever seen them marketed that way or shown in any news feed or even movies. While I have not searched YouTube and I am sure there are some videos of a Land Cruiser off road in heavy muck, I have not even seen them up at ski resorts, so when folks say they are capable awesome off road SUVs, I have to say overrated as I have not seen them in the woods, mountains, ocean shores, etc. I see them plenty around the PNW, but they all seem to be soccer mom mobiles, more of a status symbol than a true used off road auto. So that gets the overrated from me and now as Drew points out how few are produced and yet I see them all the time around here, I have to say that they are more of a status symbol and soccer mom than used for what one would think they are engineered for. To me, the Land Cruiser is much like the rest of Toyota, Overrated on Quality, long life, etc. when in reality, more of just another average auto. Now back on the subject of the Dodge Hornet and how it will be manufactured on the same line as the Alfa twin, I have to really question quality and reliability. My gut tells me Stellantis is tired of paying large sums to buy credits to offset the profits of Dodge and the emission nightmare of the Dodge V8 SRT variations they have.

Seems the first test mules are off the pre-production line. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mark-reuss_ev-activity-6967922445248839680-Jykq?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android

I would pass, being in the place of heavy road salt, bet it is heavily rusted/corroded. Seems the NE autos no matter who runs heavy rust/ corrosion. I do get the thought due to being the cult of Toyota Land Ceuisers is so true, they pay top dollar for an over rated SUV.

It will be interesting to see the packaging especially since it is built in Europe and shipped here. Limited sales, more like checking off a box for the company and reduce emissions.

I agree that performance details would be nice on the auto. We do know the charging speed as it is an 800V platform, so charging is fast just like Porsche, GM, Kia, Hyundai, etc. Anyone that supports 800V.

Interesting Jay Leno Garage videos, he is now a Walmart supplier. Seems they decided after this episode to build an Electric version of Sam Walton truck. Jay Leno recreated Sam Walton's 1979 Ford pickup with an electric F-150 Lightning | Fox News

Who cares about the Model S Plaid or Lucid or even the Kia. Dodge is using themselves to benchmark themselves and the Hellcat is that benchmark. I would have to think in common sense that yes they will have those others in mind and will want to ensure that their Charger SRT EV is truly fast, so it will be interesting to see down the road what the final numbers are. We know it is AWD, so Torque Vectoring I am sure will come into play. Per this story, Tesla does have Torque Vectoring between 3 motors, but no sense on how many motors Dodge will use in this AWD configuration. Just too many unknowns at this time to make any real judgement on the performance side of the auto other than they say it is faster and better than the ICE Hellcat. We can debate the outside and inside look of the auto and I have to say it looks great, way better than anything being produced by European or Asian or any American auto company at this time. This is a great benchmark to step up too. Will be interesting to see what GM does with the Camaro.

Took me multiple times too, to watch. One messed up movie. LOL

The 800V Banshee platform is capable of being done in either a 2 door or 4 door and as such they wanted to honor the original Daytona Charger which was a 2 door. If I was a betting man, I would expect them to have both a 2 and 4 door Charger along with a 2 door Challenger as a special step above the charger model in performance muscle cars. Yes, nothing other than it is more powerful and track tested to beat the ICE Hellcat. This would also imply that they will be as they are now tops in this segment over anything from the European or Asian auto makers.

Performance made us do it according to the CEO of the Dodge Brand Tim Kuniskis with this backed up by the J.D. Powers APEAL Study showing Dodge is the #1 brand for mass market appeal. hq_15759.mp4 Dodge delivered on the goals that they set, Drive like a Dodge, Look like a Dodge and Feel like a Dodge and it just happens to be battery powered (BEV). With these three focus points, the Dodge team delivered the following bullet list: Three game-changing, patent-pending features make up the core of the Charger Daytona SRT Concept: R-Wing: Front aerodynamic wing retains Dodge profile while achieving aerodynamic efficiencies Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust: Industry-first exhaust system for an electric vehicle delivers a performance sound that rivals the SRT Hellcat eRupt: Multi-speed transmission with an electro-mechanical shifting experience that’s pure Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept powered by new 800V Banshee propulsion system Concept design revolutionizes the look of a BEV while offering subtle nods to Dodge brand’s muscle car legacy Illuminated Fratzog badges on front grille and taillamp symbolize electrified future of Dodge while also signifying the brand’s commitment to its performance heritage Vertical exterior grille details add texture while evoking style of iconic 1968 Dodge Charger Concept’s interior is modern, lightweight and provides a signature Dodge driver-centric cockpit Interior parametric texture, also inspired by 1968 Charger grille detail, unites interior elements while providing connection to the exterior Center console includes a unique jet-fighter-inspired cap that flips up to allow engagement of the start button and a pistol-grip shifter design inspired by the past, but with a modern execution Panoramic glass roof gives an open-air feel, helping to include rear passengers in the vehicle experience Rear hatch and fold-flat rear seats provide unmatched storage capacity for a muscle car Cockpit immerses the driver’s sensory experience through performance sounds, lighting features and vehicle displays With a touch of a steering wheel button the driver can engage Auto, Sport, Track and Drag modes, instantly changing the driving dynamics, display graphics, sound and interior lighting, enhancing the driver experience For complete information on Dodge and the brand's Never Lift plan, which provides a 24-month road map to Dodge's performance future, visit Dodge.com and DodgeGarage.com The 800V Banshee propulsion system exceeds the famed Dodge SRT Hellcat engine in performance according to Dodge and will be accompanied by an industry-first BEV Exhaust sound. This Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust tone can reach a 126 dB, making it as loud as the Hellcat Powered Dodge. The Charger Daytona SRT Concept is a true Dodge muscle car and exists because performance made them do it to set the standard. This is more than just a show car but a new production ready auto that exhibits muscle, attitude and performance proven in that it runs a blazing quarter mile and per Dodge, when it comes to product cycles, it outruns Darwin. This concept redefines the American Muscle car as it shows where Dodge is heading. Per Dodge, the 2023 Dodge Hornet is the brand's first-ever electrified performance vehicle and shows where dodge is heading The Dodge famed Charger Daytona was the first vehicle to break the 200 mph on a NASCAR track in 1970, Charger Daytona SRT Concept packs this performance and much more when it comes to the track be it racing or quarter mile. The Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept screams performance as it is the first Dodge electric vehicle that is faster than any Hellcat in all key performance metrics. The New Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept uses the 800 V Banshee propulsion system tied to an all-wheel-drive system pushing new boundaries in what a performance auto can do while also giving industry best all-weather capability. Key features that will be a part of the Dodge Performance Experience. Quote: eRupt Transmission Unlike typical BEVs, the Dodge brand’s eRupt multi-speed transmission with electro-mechanical shifting delivers distinctive shift points, throwing shoulders into seatbacks in true Dodge style. The Charger Daytona SRT Concept also boasts a PowerShot push-to-pass feature. Activated by the push of a button on the steering wheel, PowerShot delivers an adrenaline jolt of increased horsepower for a quick burst of acceleration. Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust While most BEVs embrace their virtually silent electric motors, that just wouldn’t do for Dodge. The Charger Daytona SRT Concept voices a 126 dB roar that equals the SRT Hellcat, generated through a new, patent-pending Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust system. Yes, Dodge added an exhaust to an electric vehicle. The industry-first Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust pushes its one-of-a-kind performance sound through an amplifier and tuning chamber located at the rear of the vehicle. The Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust represents the next generation of tactile, bone-shaking, muscle attitude, creating a visceral “Dark Matter” sound profile experience in concert with the eRupt transmission. Dodge Design, First and Foremost The Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept features inspired design that takes on the challenge of revolutionizing the look of a BEV while offering subtle nods to the brand’s muscle car past. That design principle begins to unfold up front, where the Charger Daytona SRT Concept’s patent-pending R-Wing redefines the typical Dodge front end, maintaining the characteristically blunt Dodge profile while developing a more aerodynamic vehicle. The R-Wing, an homage to the original Charger Daytona design and to a key figure behind development of the original vehicle, allows air to flow through the front opening, enhancing downforce. Incorporated into this functional performance hood, the front R-Wing holds true to the brand’s dramatic exterior themes while delivering an aerodynamically improved pass-through design. Carbon-fiber intakes tucked into both sides of the front and rear lower fascias provide an air curtain to assist in aerodynamic performance. The Charger Daytona SRT Concept combines modern looks with a long, wide and confident road presence. The front grille stands out with cross-car illuminated lighting centered by a white illuminated Fratzog badge, a symbol teased last year by the Dodge brand. The three-pointed Fratzog badge, originally featured on Dodge muscle cars from 1962 through 1976, was previously used without any meaning or context — until now. The return of the Fratzog logo represents the electrified future of Dodge and signifies the brand’s unwavering commitment to its performance heritage, but with new technology capable of pushing limits well beyond the cars of today. Simple, vertical details on the front grille add texture while calling back to the brand’s heritage, specifically the iconic 1968 Dodge Charger. The concept distills performance to its simplest form, enhanced by a typically playful Dodge exterior color name, Greys of Thunder, that gives a high-gloss graphite feel with deep textures. The concept’s “waterline” tracks around the sides and gives a planted look while emphasizing the upper portion, keeping the visual weight up high. Subtle, muscular shaping of the wheel fenders accent the body styling. The vehicle avoids excess decoration — headlights almost disappear, hidden underneath the R-Wing and integrated seamlessly into the aerodynamic surface providing just the functional elements needed for forward lighting. Both the front and rear lighting feature a full width design centered by a 3D illuminated Fratzog badge. The exterior lighting elements are truly unique – even in the dark, you’ll know the Charger Daytona SRT Concept’s silhouette. Flush door handles continue the minimalist design. Brushed aluminum “screaming” Banshee fender badges announce the new propulsion system that drives the concept. Painted-pocket 21-inch wheels with diamond-cut faces continue the aerodynamic efficiencies with a turbine-like design, and a red Fratzog logo embellishes the wheel center locks. Grey six-piston brakes provide the stopping power. A new hatchback design is highly functional, giving the concept a dual personality: a beast at the track that can still meet every day needs. The design, along with rear seats that fold flat, offer unexpected utility and storage capacity from a muscle car. The Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept is a Driver-centric Interior. This Charger features two large screens properly integrated into the dash with a 16-inch instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch center screen, creating a cocooned, driver focused setting accompanied by an 8x3-inch Head-up display (HUD) showing additional vehicle information of the driver's choice depending on their current driving needs from track day to a summer cruise. The Daytona SRT Concept dash is a slim design, instrument panel and mid-bolster in Ultraviolet color with blue and silver accent stitching featuring a "waterline" that extends across the EV from door to door. The upper instrument panel area creates a sculptural surface floating above the cluster with the Ultraviolet color touching multiple interior surfaces, enhancing shadows and highlights. The sculptural flow continues from the doors to the center console where one will find a Pistol-grip shifter along with the launch control switch. The steering wheel design delivers a thinner feel due to the flat top and bottom. The steering wheel is also not connected to the rim, giving it a floating feel while incorporating paddle shifters along with the PowerShot button on the right and the drive mode controls on the left. These are all capacitive touch controls and inspired by actual racing cars. The cockpit immerses the drivers sensory experiuence with performance feeling, sound, lighting and displays while giving a simple one-button press on the steering wheel that lets you pick from Auto, Sport, Track and Drag modes, instantly changing the driving dynamics, instrument cluster information, HUD Content, performance sound, lighting and feedback of the vehicle. From the rear center console to the panoramic glass roof, the Charger Daytona SRT Concept delivers on an open-air feel, helping to include the rear passengers in the vehicle driving experience. Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept Image Gallery Here Dodge wanted to remind their SRT fans that for more than a 100 years the spirit of John and Horace Dodge has been carried out and their influence continues today as Dodge shifts to electric Muscle cars, but still offers through the end of 2023 the Drap-stip dominating 807-horsepower Dodge Challanger SRT Super Stock, the 797-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Redeye, the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world and the 710-horsepower Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, the most powerful SUV ever as well as the best-in-class standard performance in the compact utility auto segment in the 2023 Dodge Hornet, making the final push of internal combustion powered auto's a final best-in-class send off as they welcome in the Most Powerful Electric Muscle Car, the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT EV. As Dodge moves into a pure electric world of driving performance, they wanted to remind us that the way information will be released will be via various websites, social media sites, etc. Follow Dodge and company news and video on: Company blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com Dodge brand: www.dodge.com DodgeGarage: www.dodgegarage.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/dodge Instagram: www.instagram.com/dodgeofficial Twitter: www.twitter.com/dodge and @StellantisNA YouTube: www.youtube.com/dodge, https://www.youtube.com/StellantisNA View full article

Thank you Drew, Very weird as I did not see any updates on this thread or the others, so refreshed and still did not see any update on this thread but did for the Hornet thread. Checked and I see the emoji's. Thank you for all you do.

@Drew Dowdell I also noticed this as I see everything like the following: I have cleared the cache on Edge, Firefox and Chrome and still it shows up as the following, not sure why, but agree with Robert, a recent quirk.

Thank you for sharing the link on the Polio booster, very interesting as I also have read of a global uptick in Polio and Tuberculosis. I am hoping the Michelin Defenders I have on both my Escalade and SS Trailblazer will be the last set for those auto's before I move to EVs. So far in AWD on both, the tires are wearing very well and even.

My Wife and I started with a trip to Kauai with another couple and I ended up buying a Time Share that I love on Hanalei Bay. Tropical Vacation Rentals Kauai | Hanalei Bay Resort With this trip to Maui, I can now say that our Favorite Island is Kauai as it has a mini–Grand Canyon, 7-mile crackling sand beach and amazing hiking and colored volcanic sand beaches. Waimea Canyon | Kauai Hawaii (hawaii-guide.com) Polihale Beach Kauai - Kauai Advisor Gorgeous 7 mile long beach Kauai State Parks: An Insider's Guide (parrishkauai.com) Division of State Parks | Hāʻena State Park (hawaii.gov) Our second favorite island is the big Island of Hawaii with the volcanos, space telescope observatories and lots of great outdoors stuff to do. Do not get me wrong, if you like history, then the other islands are great to visit especially for the WWII history to be seen, but there are lots of people and the costs are much higher. If you like hiking, seeing the outdoors, then Kauai and Big Island are the places to go. If you're a movie buff like I am with a minor in Film Analysis, then Kauai wins again due to all the movies that have been filmed there that you can go and explore either on your own or part of a vacation sight-seeing package. Movies Filmed on Kauai - Poipu Beach Association Hawaii Movie Tour in Kauaʻi | Roberts Hawaii Location Guide to Movies Filmed on Kauai (parrishkauai.com) Did ya know that Gilligan's Island was filmed on Kauai? If you wanted one Island to enjoy with a balance of small city life and rural beauty, then Kauai is it. If you are more a city person, then Oahu or Maui is it. Best Hot dog I think is the Extra-Large Hebrew Nation Dogs or Kielbasa dogs from Business Costco, grilled on my own BBQ with a Brioche hotdog bun that is buttered and grilled to a golden brown for a nice Crunch. Add carnalized Spanish Sweet onions, soft, heated cream cheese and BBQ sauce for what we call a Seattle Dog. So, what is your thoughts on the new Dodge Charger SRT EV?