G. David Felt

@surreal1272 Happy B-Day Old Man, I got ya beat by 5 years. 54 isn't bad, Like @balthazar I do wake up and wonder what body parts are gonna hurt, but today was day 5 of ski season, nailed 16 miles of skiing, so not too bad on this old body. For you, a young 49, Keep Rocking life to the fullest, have a great drink, dinner and after dinner drink and enjoy the perks of another year of Life on this big blue marble!

Yup still ugly to me. Hard Pass, no wonder they died off.

Damn those are UGLY!

Awesome to hear your doing well and yes sadly, there does seem to be a clear divide that is more political due to ignorance from the leadership of that side rather than intelligence, science and medical testing of facts proving otherwise. I can say from my own work with the CDC, John Hopkins, Harvard Medical and Oxford that a Mix of say Pfizer and Moderna Booster seems to do really well also. So you can stay with just one brand or mix it up between Moderna and Pfizer and still do really well since both are based on the same MRNA technology. Have a great relaxing healthy and safe Holiday Season.

It would seem that Tech Features and Conquest Cash is what is doing it to get BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi customers to buy Genesis. Genesis hopes a little pampering results in lots of conquest sales | Automotive News Europe (autonews.com) Interesting is that there is nothing yet on the statistics web sites for their sales in conquest. Hopefully in 2022 we will finally get some firm data on where the luxury sales are coming from. What info is out there shows Genesis dropped market share in 2020 and has promised to double dealerships starting in 2021 to 2022 to help increase luxury sales. Genesis U.S Sales Figures (carsalesbase.com) In regard to what is available on Statista, you have to pay to see the numbers. • Search | Statista (upenn.edu)

Toyota IMHO does not have Reliability. Too much proof out there online but everyone is entitled to their opinion. Even with a 180 that Toyota is implying they are doing as they have announced a battery plant to be built and operational by 2025 in Liberty NC Toyota to build $1.29 billion EV battery plant in North Carolina (cnbc.com) They are still going to be behind everyone else and they have stated that the bulk of their EVs will be out by 2030 but everyone else especially GM is planning to have most in production by 2025 with more coming out and refresh versions between 2025 and 2030. Toyota is late and there is NOTHING they can do at this point to make up the ground. Lemmings are always willing to wait to be told when and what to do, so I am sure the Toyota Lemmings buyers will wait and be half a decade behind everyone else.

Toyota is late to the party, late to starting battery development and supplies, late to the whole EV movement as they bet on Hybrids going to Hydrogen. Yet Hydrogen makes no sense in the retail auto space unlike Semi trucks which make more sense. Sadly, we all know that Hydrogen takes more energy to produce the fuel than what you get out of it and the market has spoken so Toyota is behind the 8 ball and is doing the same thing they did the last 5 years, legal lawsuits to try and postpone them losing market share. They not only still are pushing their worthless lawsuit against CARB and California to stop EVs, but they have also even filed legal motions against their own Japanese government which is moving forward with support for EVs over Hydrogen. They might have money in the bank, but they have idiots in leadership positions and that will cost them in the long run. Interesting times we live in and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top as I do not expect Tesla to be tops in the EV auto market once Everyone Has EVs to sell. Agree, Toyota is a good 5 to 6 years behind everyone else since they bet big on Hydrogen only to lose out. I actually expect them to do ok with Electric Semi Trucks powered by Hydrogen Generators, but in the retail auto space, they are falling behind fast.

Ultimate Gas Production food!

? Maybe like BMW M and Mercedes AMG it was awaiting hand made parts so it could fly again.

I agree, good question to ask, seems you can find plenty of cold weather results on the Chevrolet Bolt and yet all these stories talk about how great the Tesla Alaska testing site it, but still no real data. An exclusive look at Tesla's extreme cold testing facility - Roadshow (cnet.com) Tesla's Winter Testing Facility In Alaska Is Pretty Incredible (insideevs.com) Interesting that even on Tesla own forum owners admit that they want to see but have found no info on Tesla 3 cold weather battery degradation. Cold weather testing — Tesla Forums Interesting that another Tesla Forum also has the same results of no info on any of Tesla products even though they have their winter testing ground. They do mention Bolt data and how good the Bolt is at minimal battery degradation in extreme cold. Cold weather testing? | Tesla Motors Club This is probably one of the best news stories on Tesla and how it matches up to the Bolt. Tesla in -36c Saskatchewan Canada takes 10 min to heat up before it lets you drive it. Chevrolet Bolt heats up in seconds and due to the battery tech that manages the battery pack, even in the extreme cold you can get in and drive right away. WIN GM. Teslas & Other EVs In Extreme Cold (-36°C) - CleanTechnica Tesla Support has plenty of cold weather tips and they state to use their software app to make sure the auto is ready for you 10 minutes before you leave by having it do the cold weather start up process. This makes me even more want to take a GM EV over a Tesla. Winter Driving Tips | Tesla Interesting that RIVIAN has learned from GM as they manage the heating of the battery pack in extreme cold to keep it ready to use instantly rather than a 10 min preheat like Tesla. Rivian testing is done near the north pole in -40C in Canada. Rivian tests R1T electric pickup in sub-zero temperatures - Electrek This tends to make me think GM and Ford will have far superior EVs in Cold Climates over Tesla.

I love it all, Multi-Cultural Food Fest! ?

I think allot of this is still up in the air. We could see a TTI6 or a TTV6. Might be easier for them to beef up their existing V6 than clean sheet an I6.

Agree, I am liking what I see on the GMC Sierra EV. Based on GM's corporate web site and there, GMC/Chevrolet social media pages, the CES or Consumer Electric Show in January we will see these trucks unveiled.

Toyota is not new to auto electrification, but they have found themselves on the far side of the moon in comparison to other OEMs in being ready to sell electric autos to the global public. Toyota sued California CARB in attempts to stay ICE with their hybrid Prius line-up and Hydrogen as Toyota had bet big on Hydrogen over electric autos to the extent of selling Hydrogen autos in California and building some Hydrogen fueling stations. Yet while this could be the way for Semi trucks or what is known as Class 8 heavy haulers that use hydrogen generators to power an electric power train, it seems the public has chosen to endorse BEV or battery electric autos. As such, Toyota has had to make a massive change and went on a hiring spree of engineers to support a global electric auto lineup for Toyota and Lexus and with that, they have announced the following: Akio Toyoda announces 30 battery electric models by 2030 Total global battery electric vehicle sales to reach 3.5M within same timeframe Lexus aims for 100% battery electric mix in Europe*, N. America and China by 2030 Announcement underpins Toyota Motor Europe plan for 100% CO2 reduction in all new vehicles sales by 2035 in West Europe bZ battery electric family in Europe to expand with introduction of a small crossover as follow up to bZ4X launch They also had a Media Briefing on their battery EV strategies: It would appear that the Toyota Tacoma electric pickup is their most complete concept EV that could go into production. Sadly, for some weird reason, I cannot download the press release images from their website, please look at the images here: Electric Auto Portfolio It would seem Bugatti has rubbed off on Toyota / Lexus for one of their electric super cars. Strangely I find the future design directive of Toyota / Lexus to be a very Angular style. I did find that all the extra-large images have been posted here: Toyota Pickup EV Concept Likely Previews Electric Tacoma (insideevs.com) Toyota unveils full global battery electric line-up Video: Media Briefing on Battery EV Strategies | Corporate | Global Newsroom | Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website View full article

Interesting thought about the revving. It will be interesting to see how their TTV6 holds up under the LEAD FEET of a Hellcat or TRX owner.

GMC has given us a peak of the upcoming electric Sierra pickup truck which will launch only in a Denali Trim and being the third all-electric auto in the GMC Portfolio. According to GMC Vice President Duncan Aldred, the Denali Trim line holds tremendous equity for GMC and their customers being one of the most popular trims sold. To quote the VP: “We now have an opportunity to evolve Sierra’s capabilities and technologies, as afforded by transitioning to an all-electric propulsion while also elevating the luxurious design and comfort associated with Denali.” The electric Sierra will be purposefully built on the Ultium Platform with premium materials and capabilities that GMC Customers have come to expect. This truck will have a full reveal next year in 2022 and be assembled at the Factory ZERO Assembly Plant in Detroit and Hamtramck, Michigan. GMC Expands EV Lineup, Offers 1st Look at Electric Sierra Denali View full article

Thank you, yup, no need to be at anyone's wedding, I guess. LOL Party was good, at the Golden Breeders second home on Camano Island up north in the San Juan Islands area. Here are some pics. FYI, there were 10 humans and 13 goldens. LOL As the evening wore on, everyone got pretty comfy. Mark and His wife who are the dog breeders and home owner changed cloths as Mark broke out his latest batches of Whisky that he makes for Tast testing. Overall ended up being a good night. Dogs were having a blast playing. Seems my Cadillac dealership is doing a major remodel to the 21st century from the existing 1960's building it was.

RIP. Hemi V8 is officially canceled and the Hellcats and everything else V8 is dead after 2023 model year. Dodge Is Cancelling The Hemi V8 (msn.com)

LOL, I actually have NOT been to a wedding since my own wedding in 1991. I switched from Computer sales to engineering in 1994 and donated all my formal wear in 2000 to Goodwill. I have had no reason to have any dress pants or any other formal attire since then. The few people who got married that I know that are close to my kids ended up going to a justice of the peace and skipping the whole marriage thing due to the pandemic and as such are planning a celebration party in 2022. FYI, I did end up going to the party in blue jeans and a polo shirt. Most were in cocktail dresses for the ladies except my wife who wore nice slacks and a sparkly cocktail shirt. All the guys were in what I call the old business casual of dress slacks, dress shoes and a dress shirt with no tie. All of the guys said they should have followed my post and just come comfy as everything was fitting snug due to pandemic weight. 21st century, comfy is the new formal.

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Having read the details of all the press releases I do get where Genesis is going with their tech. Face recognition is you looking at the camera built into the B pillar so that the auto unlocks for you and once you're in, just push the start button. Seems to really simplify the access part. Software on the phone allows a parent to monitor and limit what their child, valet or anyone else could potentially do with your auto when they borrow it. I like this as GM will have something similar when you use your GM Software app so that you can lock other users out of say the Watts to Freedom mode in your new Hummer Truck by GMC. Genesis has not clarified if there is a fob or not or if your phone would be the access point, but I do get where you all are coming from. I get the phone access as an alternative way to manage things in one's life. As I pointed out, my kids love having it on their phone, they both have it setup with their auto's HomeLink in the auto so they can just push the button to open. Yet the phone makes it simple to when needed open the garage from a remote distance that the old-style garage door opener would not do. An example of this is say @Robert Hall who shares his house with his sister breaks or has a dead battery in her garage door opener. Calls her brother and asks him to open it. He is at dinner in the city, takes his phone, opens the garage, she thanks him and drives in and closes it. I think we need to open our minds to the various USE CASES that tech can help us with that many times we might not think about but can make life easier. I do agree with you all that at times a simple key is the best solution or a keypad on above the door handle like FORD offers can also give outstanding use cases such as at the beach or hiking where you might not want to carry much with you. Overall, some very interesting things to think about. I for one wish they would have a way to enforce drivers to only drive and not be a slave to their social media apps on their phone.

My Son and Daughter both have had me replace their module on their Garage door so they can open, close, turn on the lights and if needed open it for me to get something form their homes via their phones. I get the point of technology and how it can reduce the number of keys, fobs, button modules, etc. I get those older folks do not like change as much as younger folks, yet the idea behind this is to simplify life and technology is supposed to simplify life for us. Google is forcing everyone starting Dec 14th to a two-step authentication system. Type your password in or use your fingerprint and you get a text then prompting you to enter the passcode. The issue with this that I see is if you are on a google cell phone and logging in and it texts your phone to enter the passcode, but it is currently locked. I see plenty of problems coming with this system even though I do get the point of why they want dual authentication to ensure a crook has not stolen your data. I love the simple unlock a door when the fob is in your pocket, but why need a fob is your phone has the access software so you can just access your auto when you approach it or scan your fingerprint or face. Tech is to make our life easier; I am looking forward to it finally doing that.

There is more design style here and creases that give it an Athletic Luxury look than the current Jellybean S-Clas / EQS auto. Also, you have face recognition for unlocking the auto and driving it as just one of the many techs that clearly MB does not have. To me this stands out in a good way, and I would much rather drive this than the S-class/EQS.