G. David Felt

If ya read the story from the link they say that Dodge started the Performance Upgrade aftermarket with warranty and that Ford and GM copied it with their own performance department. That is what the story says, I have no idea who is first, just stated what the stories said. Quote: In 1974, Direct Connection officially launched as the exclusive source for performance parts and technical information, straight from the manufacturer.

True and we cannot ignore China. I think this decade will see some major disruption and death of established as well as new startup auto OEMs.

Seems Dodge is missing out on the $23 Billion aftermarket for performance parts / upgrades. As such Dodge who started the Performance aftermarket for OEMs and where Ford and GM copied them has returned to their roots with Direct Connection of Warranty Backed, Emissions legal Performance Go Fast Parts that you can have your dealer install or do yourself. Dodge Announces New Direct Connection Performance Parts Lineup, Parts Catalog and Technical Hotline | Dodge Garage Gotta love Package upgrades of performance. Direct Connection will provide enthusiasts with the “keys” to unlock the full horsepower potential of their vehicle in the form of a new Direct Connection Tuner and Stage kits for the Dodge Challenger Hellcat and Redeye models: Direct Connection Tuner (included in Pre-stage Kit) Plug-and-play engine tuner gives enthusiasts the power to upgrade an engine calibration at the touch of a button, plugs into the OBD-II port and can be used to install factory-tuned, 50-state-legal Stage kit calibrations. Tuner includes a hand-held tuning device and mounting hardware. Pre-stage Kit (Challenger SRT® Hellcat Redeye) Includes the Tuner along with a performance air cleaner and low temp thermostat. Pre-stage Kit also comes with a pre-loaded 50-state emissions-legal calibration that adds five horsepower and allows future performance upgrades via downloadable tuning maps. Stage I Kit (Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye) Features a key code to unlock installation of the Stage I factory-tuned, 50-state emissions-legal calibration, resulting in a jump to 840 horsepower and 770 foot-pounds of torque when in high-octane mode. (Requires purchase of Pre-stage kit) Stage II Kit (Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye) Building on Stage I Kit, includes a 3.17-inch “Hellephant” engine pulley and key code to unlock installation of the Stage II factory-tuned, 50-state emissions-legal calibration which achieves a huge boost up to 885 horsepower and 787 foot-pounds of torque. (Requires purchase of Pre-stage Kit and Stage I Kit) Pre-stage Kit (Challenger SRT Hellcat) Pre-stage Kit includes Tuner and a pre-loaded 50-state emissions-legal calibration that adds five horsepower and allows future performance upgrades via downloadable tuning maps. Stage I Kit (Challenger SRT Hellcat) The Stage I kit adds a 3.17-inch “Hellephant” engine pulley and the Stage I key code that unlocks factory-tuned, 50-state emissions-legal calibration to achieve 757 horsepower and 696 foot-pounds of torque. (Requires purchase of Pre-stage Kit) Go to the link at the start or here for more details, but talk about a ton of performance go fast competition packages that are now warranty backed by Dodge. Dodge Announces New Direct Connection Performance Parts Lineup, Parts Catalog and Technical Hotline | Dodge Garage Other News: Seems that Toyota is now coping in looks and details the American Full size SUV. 2023 Toyota Sequoia Arrives With 437 HP And New Luxury Trim | CarBuzz

More news as it seems Stellantis is out Trademarking Avenger as an BEV in various countries. Seems an EV Muscle car maybe according to this story and the screen captures of the trademarks. Dodge Avenger Returning As Electric Muscle Car? | CarBuzz

We now know via the Cadillac Society web site that the 6.2L V8 Escalades will all come with an exclusive to Cadillac 10 Spd transmission. 2022 Cadillac Escalade Gets New 10-Speed Automatic Transmission (cadillacsociety.com) This is different than the 10spd transmission that is installed with the 3.0L diesel or the smaller V8 gas engines in GM stable. I have to also say that I am always glad to see sketches of possible design direction, but at the same time not always thrilled with the style. Interesting to say the least. Cadillac InnerSpace Concept Design Sketches Released (cadillacsociety.com) Have to say that the Matte Emerald Green Forest color is nice, shame they did it for such a short time. Dark Emerald Frost Unavailable On Collector Edition Cadillac Blackwings (cadillacsociety.com) This is an ugly black eye, I hope Cadillac gets this resolved properly. Not good to see this valve issue affecting so many Escalades, 2014 to Current and Cars with the V8 2016 to 2019. Cadillac V8 Engine Valve Lifter Suit Claims Recall Is Necessary (cadillacsociety.com)

This is a sad statistic! Omicron Deaths in U.S. Exceed Delta's Peak (msn.com) Another sad loss of life due to ignorance about Vaccines. ‘NCIS’ Actor Who Decried Vaccine Dies of COVID Complications (msn.com)

I just realized, today is Tesla Earnings Day and these 3 stories say what you want to watch for: Tesla's Earnings Day Is Here. This Is the Real Number to Watch. | Barron's (barrons.com) Earnings Preview: What To Expect From Tesla Today (forbes.com) Tesla Earnings Today: 1 Key Metric to Watch Closely | The Motley Fool

Interesting Drag race between two electric power cars. Race #1 Lucid Air DE Performance (92% SOC) Tesla Model S Plaid (92% SOC) - win 0-60 mph: 2.98 s 60-130 mph: 4.70 s 100-150 mph: 4.69 s 1/4 mile: 9.83 s @150.59 mph Race #2 Lucid Air DE Performance - win Tesla Model S Plaid (Launch Mode not used) 0-60 mph: 3.02 s 60-130 mph: 5.05 s 1/4 mile: 10.21 s @125.64 mph Race #3 Lucid Air DE Performance Tesla Model S Plaid - win 0-60 mph: 2.56 s 60-130 mph: 4.98 s 1/4 mile: 9.67 s @146.02 mph Race #4: Roll race at 25 mph (40 km/h) Lucid Air DE Performance: Tesla Model S Plaid - win Watch Lucid Air Dream Edition P Vs Tesla Model S Plaid Drag Races (insideevs.com) I am sure some will be excited for this brand, but meh by me, but seems 5 new BEVs in 2025 and pure BEV only by 2030. Bentley announces 'Beyond100' sustainability strategy, investing nearly $3.4 billion to go all-electric by 2030, five new BEVs starting in 2025 - Electrek

Seems that Foxconn bought at the end of 2021 Lordstown EV Plant in Lordstown, Ohio. As such, with the purchase came an agreement to produce the Lordstown Endurance Pickup truck with Deliveries to begin in Q3 2022. Foxconn chairman predicts exceptional Q1 but challenging 2022 - Nikkei Asia Lordstown Endurance electric pickups will be delivered in 2022, claims Foxconn chairman (greencarreports.com) Seems Foxconn will also produce 3 other BEVs at this plant for sale in North America. Seems this truck might get to market after all and before Tesla.

Bunker Slot Windows is the Number One Complaint I hear about the Camaro. Especially from more established Camaro fans. Young, new Muscle car people seem to not care as much, but the current Camaro is a Failure IMHO.

Good question, but I do not think that will happen. If you ask most people what they hate about ICE auto's, you find fueling, maintenance and repairs. Repairs happen no matter what type of auto you get, but maintenance can be reduced and fueling, this is resolved for local driving by charging at home or work. I see nothing but better quality of life which is what technology is all about, making life better. Better questions to ask I think: Do you want to plug in at home and recharge starting every day with a full battery charge or have to drive to a fuel station to refill? If stuck in traffic, would you rather burn fuel to stay comfortable dwindling your tank faster or have the intelligence of the computer direct power consumption only to those items that need to use it to regulate the comfort of the auto? Most electric auto's do not have the lubricants that ICE auto's have and require going to the dealership or a 3rd party place to have addressed. That maintenance is what most auto owners I believe would love to get rid of. We currently have generic appliances that as many here have stated are forgettable. As such, how would that change as most EV's right now are forgettable. Examples of BLAH BEV's: Tesla auto's Mercedes Nissan BMW Examples of BEV's that I believe are to stick in the minds of people: F150 Lighting Mach-E GMC Hummer Rivian Yes, a very debatable list of autos but I do think there are those that are very attractive to the consumer and then there are the lemming mobiles. We have this whether it be ICE or BEV.

This is a perfect example of how technology is helping to make a better quality of life over old ways of doing things. This is why Human Society must evolve. Better for all IMHO.

Happy Birthday @Paolino Wishing you an awesome day!

This is sad that a Nurse gets infected with Covid and dies 12hrs later. It 'Went Downhill Extremely Fast': Nurse Dies 12 Hours After Testing Positive for COVID (msn.com) They do not state if he was vaccinated or not since Florida does not require it, but he did have heart issues and the Covid attacked his heart issue and killed him. Update: According to this story it would seem he was unvaccinated and got the vaccine once he was diagnosed having Covid. It ‘Went Downhill Extremely Fast’: Nurse Vaccinated & Died 12 Hrs After Testing Positive W/COVID-19 – Nats News (nataliekeshing.com)

No matter how we look at it be boosted, fully vaccinated only or 1 dose, the U.S. is FAILING at leading the World. So many places are doing a better job than here in the US. Sad that due to ignorance, lack of common sense, how ever you want to state it, be they educated or uneducated, the unvaccinated are hurting this country more than helping. The other issue is the people that are now complaining about not being able to work cause companies are forcing vaccination on them. This is an issue that again shows their ignorance as a private company can decide if they want vaccinated or unvaccinated employees. If a person wants to work, then getting vaccinated so it is not a limit in job application is a no brainer. Agree, at this point the comparison should be boosted citizens in the world. Based on Booster, then Chile is leading the world and the US is in 12th place.

Sorry it was not clear enough as the funny was the web site posting it. I have since clarified it.

I find this sad about the people who have died and funny at the same time based on the web site that is listing them. Famous Anti-Vaxxers Who Have Died From COVID-19 | NewsOne

Seems Chevrolet is sending out a link to allow one to do a Virtual up close and personal tour of the Chevrolet Silverado EV. S-Electric AR Final - Animations (silveradoevathome.com)

GM is accelerating its drive to lead the EV industry with a $7 billion investment in Michigan, creating 4,000 New Jobs and retaining 1,000 existing jobs. One can watch the 46-minute announcement here: https://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/home.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2022/jan/0125-michigan-investment.html With our investments in charging infrastructure, our dealer network and digital platforms for our customers, General Motors is well on its way to U.S. EV leadership by mid-decade. We’ll have the broadest EV portfolio, with an EV for every lifestyle and price point. The bulk of the details are as follows: Orion Assembly to become the 2nd U.S. plant building Chevrolet Silverado EV and electric GMC Sierra By the end of 2025, GM to have more than 1 million units of electric vehicle capacity in North America GM and LG Energy Solution to build 3rd U.S. Ultium Cells battery cell manufacturing plant to increase battery supply $7 billion is the largest single investment announcement in GM history Lansing Michigan is where the 3rd Ultium battery plant is to be built. GM's assembly plant in Orion Township, Michigan will be converted to build the full-size Chevrolet and GMC electric pickups. Quoting Mary Barra: “We are building on the positive consumer response and reservations for our recent EV launches and debuts, including GMC HUMMER EV, Cadillac LYRIQ, Chevrolet Equinox EV and Chevrolet Silverado EV. Our plan creates the broadest EV portfolio of any automaker and further solidifies our path toward U.S. EV leadership by mid-decade.” Factory ZERO and the Lansing assembly plant will be capable of 600,000 electric pickup trucks by the end of the year. GM has been the leader in U.S. full-size truck deliveries over the past two years and GM is going to build on this. Specific details are as follows for the Orion Assembly and new Ultium Cell battery plant: Orion Assembly for production of Chevrolet Silverado EV and electric GMC Sierra — GM is investing $4 billion to convert the facility to produce electric trucks using the GM-developed Ultium Platform, which gives the company the flexibility to build vehicles for every customer and segment. This investment is expected to create more than 2,350 new jobs at Orion and retain approximately 1,000 current jobs when the plant is fully operational. GM estimates the new jobs at Orion will be filled by a combination of GM transferees and new hires. Electric truck production, including the Chevrolet Silverado EV and electric GMC Sierra, will begin at Orion in 2024. The Orion investment will drive significant facility and capacity expansion at the site, including new body and paint shops and new general assembly and battery pack assembly areas. Production of the Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV will continue during the plant’s conversion. Site work begins immediately. New Ultium Cells battery cell plant at Lansing site — GM and LG Energy Solution, via their Ultium Cells joint venture, are investing $2.6 billion to build Ultium Cells' third U.S. battery cell manufacturing plant. This investment is expected to create more than 1,700 new Ultium Cells jobs when the plant is fully operational. Site preparations will begin this summer and battery cell production is scheduled to begin in late 2024. Ultium Cells Lansing will supply battery cells to Orion Assembly and other GM assembly plants. In addition to this announcement, GM is investing $510 million in the following two Lansing Assembly plants. Lansing Delta Township Assembly — Investment is for production of the next-generation Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave. Lansing Grand River Assembly — Investment is for plant upgrades. GM is now projecting that 50% of North America assembly production will be EV production by 2030. GM is also working to expand and build a new supply chain via strategic supplier agreements for batteries and EV components, this is expected to be scalable, more resilient, sustainable and North American Focused. The following strategic supplier agreements include the following: MP Materials to scale rare earth magnet sourcing and production in the U.S. VAC to build a new magnet factory in the U.S. to support EV growth. POSCO to build a new North America plant to process Cathode Active Material. GE Renewable Energy to serve as a source of rare earth and other materials. Wolfspeed to develop and provide silicon carbide power device solutions. Controlled Thermal Resources to develop a source of U.S.-based lithium through a closed-loop process with lower carbon emissions when compared to traditional processes. GM expects to have more than 1 million units of BEV assembly capacity by 2025 and the capability to respond to the projected growing electric vehicle demand. GM North America is currently building or converting the following to build EVs. Factory ZERO - Detroit and Hamtramck Michigan Spring Hills Assembly, Spring Hills, Tennessee CAMI - Ingersoll, Ontario Ramos Arizpe Assembly, Mexico GM Accelerates its Drive to Lead the EV Industry with $7 Billion Investment in Michigan, Creating 4,000 New Jobs and Retaining 1,000 (3) A $7 Billion Investment in Michigan | LinkedIn GM Quote Sheet GM's Commitment to EV Jobs & Investments in Michigan GM in the U.S. View full article

@Drew Dowdell @Robert Hall Had a zoom meeting with my coworkers in Cork Ireland and now that 95% of the population is vaccinated and boosted, 97% has vaccination, the place is opening up with only 1 requirement, to wear a mask out in public and inside public areas till June. Otherwise, the overall jubilation of the folks that they are getting back to a much more normal way of life, with some very solid changes, over 50% of Irish people have groceries now home delivered reducing the amount of people shopping in store and a few other things I thought was interesting like 88% of all alcohol sold is home delivered. They asked me why was America being so dumb about vaccination and how it keeps the hospitals from being overwhelmed? I honestly could only say due to ignorance of both educated and uneducated people that have bought into the Great American LIE as I have begun to call it about vaccination, and political agendas of people. It is amazing to hear from around the world how head shaking this has become when a simple process of getting vaccinated can reduce the issues. I honestly think the ones here that are very much against the Covid Vaccine have not tried to understand the science or even read valid data on the virus as they seem to buy into the greatest lying media Facebook. My wife has a friend she has known for decades, she is 70 years old, very much Anti-Vaxxer and believes even with no testing or proof that she had Covid multiple times already and swore she had the Omnicron Variant at Thanksgiving last year. I pointed out that the first case was reports in South Africa November 24th 2021 and in the US as of Dec 1st 2021. How could she have it before it got here? Her response was that it already was here in the air and she knows this because the proof is on Facebook. ? When did Facebook become a credible News / academia source of data? Right NEVER! ? It really is sad, but I have also become one that those that wish to ignore it and think they can survive without vaccination, then should pay for it all. Let them pay more in hospital costs, insurance, etc. Why should the rest of us that are vaccinated be affected? Let the Military setup Triage tents and let the unvaccinated attempt to recover in the tents and let those being responsible get back to life and if needed elective surgeries in the main hospital.

Seems after 13 years since its resurrection that the Dodge Challenger has finally taken the crown as top selling Muscle Car. It Took 13 Years, But The Dodge Challenger Has Finally Won (jalopnik.com) In 2015 Ford Mustang hit it peak followed by the Chevrolet Camaro and every year since has dropped in sales. 2015 was also the year that Ford released the current Mustang that is still selling 7 years later. 2015 Ford Mustang sold 122,349 to 66,377 Challengers. 2021 Sales Ford Mustang 52,414 Chevrolet Camaro 21,893 Dodge Challenger 54,314 Dodge say's being the segment leader was not the aim, but rather delivering to the Muscle car crowd what they wanted in the form of various packages and special limited-edition Challengers like the 392, Scat Pak, Demon, Hellcat, etc. Dodge has done one thing that both Ford and GM are missing from their Muscle cars as well as the full lineup and that is the Skittles of Color options and package options. I do have to agree with the final statement of this story: I have no pony — sorry — in this race, but I will commend Dodge for doing the most with the oldest. The Challenger only has two years left, tops, and I have a feeling the 2024 run will set sales records as people try to snap up the very last of the ICE muscle car breed. If the supply chain allows Stellantis to build enough of them, that is. With only a couple years left before Dodge, Chevrolet and Ford are supposed to start transitioning their muscle cars to BEVs, it is going to be an interesting time over the next 24 month.

Sad and frustrating to read stories like this of total stupidity by anti-vaxxer's. https://www.newsweek.com/unvaccinated-28-year-old-denial-covid-diagnosis-dies-after-ripping-off-oxygen-mask-1672332?amp=1

2022 ALL-NEW FORD BRONCO RAPTOR Let's start by getting the basic info of what all off road nuts want to know about this beast: All-new 2022 Ford Bronco® Raptor™, designed and engineered by Ford Performance to be the world’s first Ultra4 Racing-inspired SUV, is capable of highway-speed desert-dune conquering and Baja rock-crawling Bronco Raptor packs extreme Built Wild™ capability and durability with an exclusive twin-turbo 3.0-liter EcoBoost® engine targeted to deliver more than 400 horsepower*, a Raptor HOSS 4.0 race-ready suspension system, a fully boxed, high-strength steel frame, and standard 37-inch all-terrain tires At 9.8 inches wider than a base Bronco four-door for more confident high-speed cornering, Bronco Raptor epitomizes extreme Built Wild design with race-inspired features inside and out, accented by Raptor-family signature cues In comparison the standard Bronco to a Bronco Raptor. Jim Farley, CEO of Ford Motor Company had the following quote to say: “Raptor is the apex of our off-road lineup and is now a full lineup with race proven content and design that you can’t get from anyone else, Only Ford could create a Bronco Raptor!” To achieve this mile stone, Ford had to create a race proven foundation that starts with a Raptor-Specific frame that supports increased suspension travel, track width for handling stability during high-speed desert runs. This is then complimented by a fully boxed, high-strength steel frame with new shock towers that increase wheel travel and off-road durability. Heavy-duty bash and skid plates provide continuous driveline coverage from the front bumper to the back of the engine, transmission and transfer case. This has been complimented by a 50% total body-in-prime torsional rigidity increase over a standard Bronco Four-door model in the upper body, B-pillar cross bar and C-pillar reinforcement. View additional chassis details at the link at the bottom of the article for enhanced views of the Raptor Chassis details. Ford delivered the following performance to the Bronco Raptor: Competition Performance axles Rear axle is an upgraded semi-float Dana 50 Heavy-Duty AdvanTEK with 235-millimeter ring gear Front axle is an upgraded Dana 44 AdvanTEK which includes half-shafts with 210-millimeter ring gear Upgraded front and rear axles increase track width by 8.6 inches (73.6 inches versus 65.0 inches) Larger Performance driveshafts front and rear to support increased wheel torque Minimum ground clearance of 13.1 inches, 4.8 inches more than a standard Bronco Advanced 4x4 system with 3 modes and a heavy duty high-capacity clutch designed to withstand the demands of performance events. Upgraded transfer case featuring a 3.06 4x4 LO ration for up to a 67.7:1 crawl ratio. Ford Performance and Fox created upgraded High-Performance Off-Road Stability Suspension (HOSS) Fox 3.1 Internal Bypass Semi-Active Dampers Suspension height Sensors Auto adjusting 100's of times per second for maximum adjusted suspension tuning based on terrain Ford Performance Front and Rear control arms 13" of wheel travel Front 60% more than a standard Bronco 14" of wheel travel Rear 40% more than a standard Bronco BFGoodrich 37" KO2 all-terrain tires on 17-inch x 8.5-inch beadlock-capable wheels Performance Electric Steering with larger-diameter inner and outer tie road ends. Twin Turbo 3.0 Liter EcoBoost V6 for 400HP Performance Intercooling and Air-induction system 10-Speed SelectShift automatic transmission Raptor's G.O.A.T. Modes (Goes Over Any Type of Terrain) Terrain Management System 7 driver-selectable modes including a tuned Baja Mode New for Bronco a Tow/Haul mode delivering a 4,500 pounds of towing capavility, 1,000 lbs more over a standard Bronco Trail Control, Trail Turn Assist and Trail One-Pedal Driving modes are also included Ford is putting everyone especially the Jeep Wrangler on Notice that there is a new Dinosaur in town! The Bronco Raptor will have its own exterior Raptor-Family Design cues and will be available in 10 different colors, to quote the press release: For even more Raptor-styling DNA, an available Bronco Raptor Graphics Package includes new splatter graphics on the rear bodysides and hood that use an overlapping broken trapezoidal pattern and floating shapes to present a sophisticated digital appearance. Exterior colors include Hot Pepper Red Metallic, Velocity Blue Metallic, Eruption Green Metallic, Shadow Black, Iconic Silver Metallic, Area 51, Cactus Gray, Cyber Orange Metallic Tri-Coat, Oxford White, plus Ford Performance-exclusive Code Orange paint. Bronco Raptor Interior starts with the following: Bronco Raptor features a familiar heritage-inspired horizontal dash, integrating an all-digital 12-inch cluster. The cluster allows drivers to select from various views, including a Bronco Raptor-exclusive Performance View that emphasizes tachometer and gear readings and allows the customization of gauges. Bronco Raptor comes standard with a High Package that includes SYNC®4 with 12-inch touchscreen with swipe capability, information on-demand panel and enhanced voice recognition. Other technology features include an exterior camera with 360-degree viewing capability. The Lux Package is available for customers looking for even more human-centered technology, such as an available 10-speaker B&O audio system and Adaptive Cruise Control. Base Bronco Raptor models are equipped with Black Onyx marine-grade vinyl seats and rubberized washout flooring. The dark interior is accented with Ford Performance Code Orange splashes on the G.O.A.T. Modes rotary dial, dash vents, door netting, steering wheel stitching and Bronco logo on the instrument panel. Even the push-button ignition lights up in Code Orange. Touchpoints such as the grab handles, steering wheel bezel and gear shifter wear low-gloss carbon fiber accents. ​​​​​​​Owners can opt for upgraded features such as all-new laser-perforated Black Onyx Neo suede seats, vinyl-wrapped instrument panel topper, leather-wrapped outer seat bolsters and carpet flooring. A thicker and sport-contoured steering wheel with magnesium paddle shifters and gloss black Raptor logo center continues the Ford Performance treatment. Ford Performance-designed front seats are unique to Bronco Raptor, designed with aggressive foam side bolsters to help keep passengers firmly seated when the terrain gets nasty. Available Code Orange seat belts provide even more Ford Performance style. To quote the Ford Press Release: “The Bronco Raptor interior was designed around what we know hardcore off-road racers want in a vehicle,” said Ryan Olsson, design manager. “From the all-new Performance View on the cluster and unique steering wheel with paddle shifters and fingertip access to Raptor-specific controls, to its race-ready, high-bolster front seats, Bronco Raptor leaves the factory ready for the starting line.” Customers can start placing orders in March for their Bronco Raptor, the Majority of the 2022 model year will go to reservation holders. 2022-Ford-Bronco-Raptor-Tech-Specs.pdf Videos at Ford Media Center Ford Bronco Raptor Chassis images Ford Bronco Interior Images Ford Bronco Raptor Exterior Images Ford Bronco Raptor Desert-Racing, Rock-Crawling Images Desert-Racing, Rock-Crawling 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor Debuts as Most Powerful Street-Legal Bronco Ever | Ford Media Center View full article