G. David Felt

stirred

Been seeing more and more R-31 to R-34 Nissan Skylines in Washington lately. http://davidsclassiccars.com/nissan/115285-1987-nissan-skyline-gts-r-1-of-800.html

True, Hoovers can SUCK well! Agree, that the original Z that started this is still a looker to this day!

Smart (be it a 4 year old or 94 year old, asking questions is always smart)

Maybe this was the Clown Edition!

So true, they USED TO HAVE some good stuff, sadly, those days seem to be forgotten by the current executive team. I get where the Grill is coming from on this concept, but today this is really just seems retro weird on a 21st century auto. Just DOES NOT WORK for me IMHO.

For comparison side by side, 2003 350Z Have to say the back end is better in this new version, front end is a FAIL!

Newest photo's show the true size of the Ford Maverick Mini Pickup with a Ford Ranger right behind it. additional views of the truck with the Ranger on the site. https://www.autoblog.com/2020/09/21/ford-maverick-spy-photos-suspension/

I also wonder how fast GM will roll out the Chevrolet Silverado EV truck since it will be produced in the same assembly line.

GMC is not bad looking, Hyundai Tuscon I think is solid, Chevrolet just so blah. I think the Hybrid of the Tuscon is a winner. Hoping it will beat the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid, but Toyota does lead in this segment. 2021 GMC Terrain CUV 2022/2021 Tuscon Hybrid / ICE 2021 Chevrolet Equinox

Hummer by GMC Truck reveal is Oct 20th 2020 with production set to begin first half 2021 on sale summer 2021. That is still way ahead of Ford now. As Ford had originally stated Summer 2021 on sale and it slipped to production start late 2021 and now late 2022. Like Tesla, they seemed to have slipped big time. I wonder if this is due to ramping up battery production which was also an issue with Tesla. GM / LG battery production will help them deliver far more reliably I think than others. Will have to see as I do expect Rivian to deliver their truck first, then GM and then is a toss up between Ford and Tesla.

Why

Interesting first review of the 2021 Yukon Denali. I will say that I am tired of it being compared to smaller European luxury SUV/CUV's but then what else is there to compare it too. I do love the new interior on the Yukon Denali. https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/reviews/2021-gmc-yukon-preview/

I do find it bothersome that Ford has continually slipped on when they will have their electric F-150 out in production. Now according to Detroit Press, production is to begin in mid 2022 as a 2023 model? This would put them behind Rivian, Tesla, GM and who knows who else. https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/ford/2020/09/17/ford-invests-rouge-electric-f-150-uaw/5819541002/

Suburban 4 wheeling, got it!

Hopefully the Hummer by GMC can change that by starting a stylistic trend away from coasting mediocrity of blah design. Chevrolet trucks is a perfect example of an ugly brick design that just screams HELL NO!

WOW, The American brands need to pay attention to this car. European needs to watch as this is hot. Normal questions from the Sasquatch of the site. Headroom, hip room and Leg room for tall large people? Is the dash intuitive? Seat's, comfy lazy boy style, Ricardo racer style or somewhere in between? Road and wind noise, just how quiet is it?

Here on the local news, Camry and Rav4 Hybrid are the top selling auto's in Washington state behind full size Trucks and Luxury SUV/CUVs. I honestly think we will go through a solid Hybrid with EVs move to total EVs around 2050. Course I will be pushing daisy's by then.

Not Advocating, pointing out that costs have dropped big time on various technology and I would expect unique interfaces to come out in both Chevrolet, GMC and Buick that are far more customizable and lower cost to product than a large assortment of manual gauges. I would not expect the OLED display in the other 3 brands, but I would expect lower resolution LCD displays to become normal as it is far more customizable and easier to produce. Tech has always changed things and I expect this in the 21st century.

Miserable

Kia anounced this week their business plan to become a leading global EV brand. Kia is working to install supporting Fast Charging systems across the world. They have dedicated to install 2,400 chargers in Europe and 500 in North America in their dealer network. They are also working with various EV charging networks and gas stations to install infrastructure to support rapid fast charging. Quote: Kia reveals first stage of future product plans – seven new dedicated BEVs to launch by 2027 across several vehicle segments Brand’s first dedicated BEV, codenamed CV, to launch in 2021 and reveal Kia’s new design direction BEVs to account for 25% of Kia global vehicle sales by 2029 Kia to work with worldwide network to expand EV charging infrastructures Full BEV lineup will establish Kia’s position as a leading EV brand in the market https://www.kiamedia.com/us/en/media/pressreleases/16703/kia-motors-accelerates-business-transformation-to-become-a-leading-ev-brand

Cadillac has their current Franchise agreement expiring in November. GM worked with the Franchise Dealer Council in writing up the new agreement. This new agreement has EV's set out as a sub section of the Cadillac dealership and will require a $200,000 investment in tools for the service center, updated displays, sales training, and charging stations plus more. The dealers will have to follow the franchise agreement to the T if they want to sell the new Cadillac EV line of Auto's. Cadillac has also made it clear that if you want to stay a Cadillac Dealer, you will have to make this investment otherwise GM and the dealership will part ways this November. The $200,000 is a minimum and all the upgrades must be done by the end of the second quarter of 2021. This will support Cadillac as it leads the company in becoming the first division to be pure electric with their first auto's being the Lyriq SUV and the Celestig hand-built flagship sedan. https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/cadillac-ev-dealers-investment/ https://www.autonews.com/dealers/cadillac-requiring-dealers-make-200000-upgrades-evs?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Labor Party in the UK wants to change the ban on new ICE auto sales from the current 2025 to 2030. This will require that the Labor party get the conservative party to join in making this change which would also help the UK meet their Paris accord for reduction in air pollution. Originally the Conservative party had passed banning ICE auto's starting in 2040, but due to changes in ICE production in the country, companies like Honda moving production to the US as well as other auto company changes, the Conservatives changed this to 2035 to match when certain auto companies will leave the UK. A growing base of Businesses and city councils are calling for a more ambitious phase-out policy of stopping all Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid and Van sales within the UK. The UK has avoided brown out this crazy year with work from home and pandemic lock downs due to the Tesla battery stations they have been installing across the country. Microsoft has moved their data center to below the ocean to reduce power needs for cooling, etc. The move to natural sounds, cleaner air and a better over all life style seems to be driving this change in the UK. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? https://electrek.co/2020/09/18/egeb-uk-ice-cars-2030-microsoft-data-center/#more-147706

Lucid Air has beat Tesla Plaid record set last year at Laguna Seca race track. Tesla using their yet to be released Plaid power train set a Laguna record of 1:36.55 Lucid set the new course record at Laguna in 1:33.00 I wonder if GM will go after this record with their Ultium Power Train family? https://electrek.co/2020/09/18/lucid-beats-tesla-model-s-plaid-prototype-on-racetrack-with-its-own-tri-motor-air-test-vehicle/