G. David Felt

I get what you are saying and no, Not talking about putting a Tesla P100D powertrain in an auto like this unless you have the money, time and want to do something crazy. More like just installing a close equal of a modern ICE or if desired electric powertrain. Heck thinking on this, you could probably replace that old motor with a modern 3 cylinder motor and transmission.

Elaphe has set up manufacturing in China and is going to build the updated in-wheel motors for sale. Using four of Elaphe's in-wheel motors gives you a combined 6,000 Nm of torque and 440 kW of power. Since America is too stupid to change to a superior math system, this equates to 4,425.37 LB-FT of torque and 590 Horsepower. Production of these in-wheel motors starts in January 2019 with annual build of 20,000 units and they are currently recruiting for more capital to expand production and go after larger customers. This makes so much common sense on having this in a truck or SUV just not a performance car.

Twin Turbo V8 is the New V12 with all the stupid Displacement Taxes in Asia and Europe.

Amazing he talks about quality fit n finish and the crap that has been built by Jaguar, Land rover, etc. is just pathetic. Have to say, I did get a great laugh out of watching it.

https://www.dailymotion.com/6bf8e0e4-c9ef-4f9b-82a5-efe8dab194fa You talking about this video? Americans do whatever Americans do, Incest! What a douche bag, no wonder they lost their empire. Clearly not interested in living life.

Thinking on this, you have hit an important point, Most of Europe is all about keeping their history roads, buildings, etc all as is and not change with modern roads / buildings. As such American Full size trucks will not work for most of Europe. I would say the mini trucks of past and the mid size trucks of today should do well. Bet if GM offered the ZR2 Bison they could sell there.

I would agree, they have been building out a couple thousand charge points a year and the various stories tend to imply they will be speeding up the ability to have charge points everywhere but nothing about what level or type. Be interesting as norway is on this push also to have the country all EV in the near future. So should be a gauge for bigger places on how they need to implement the charge infrastructure. Course the VW build out will help the US big time.

I have to disagree with you my friend, ANY ICE engine cannot always be rebuilt. Some are past the ability to be done. Sounds like the tranny in these were a mess anyway, so while a start of cool tech back then, retrofitting for a more modern power train might be the easiest and cheapest way to go.

Cool, weird read as the story is written as if it is law but then parts written as if they are proposing changes. Weird, Thank you for your input on it.

Yes, before those you posted and thank you for finding the info and posting, I am wondering if in the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's if this was done before and failed?

Not true, there is plenty of German made stuff I like including auto's. Yet as I stated, this is below what the public here is going to expect unless they are a badge snob.

Yes it says that at the start and then just below it it stays: Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said at an energy conference in Tel Aviv. “From 2030 onwards, the State of Israel will create alternatives and will no longer allow the import of cars that run on gasoline and diesel fuel.”

All the stories say new auto sales are to be banned.

Right!, I am surprised by this and with the heat I would think it would affect it but clearly not.

Nope below it IMHO, I think the Chevy even the Nissan luxury interior is better. That is the problem. MB has built up a reputation for Luxury with the tag line the best or nothing at all. The US expects them to be that and yet they are going vans and low end auto's that compete with Chevy and Toyota and that is affecting their image as people expect them to be uber luxury and something special and they are no longer that.

The ministry of Energy in Israel made the announcement that in 12 years, Israel would be fully reliant on Natural Gas, Solar and Wind power to support the nation for electricity and transportation. 2030 is the year all gas / diesel ICE auto's will be banned. Companies that need medium and heavy duty trucks will have to buy Natural Gas trucks and for consumers all choices will be electric or natural gas. This is on top of stopping all importation of Coal from the US and changing their energy plants to 100% Natural Gas and adding wind turbines off the coast and solar throughout the country. The goal is 83% natural gas and 17% renewable energy production for the country starting in 2030. Currently the country as of today is 71% natural gas, 27% coal and 2% renewable. They have managed due to contract obligations long term to reduce their reliance on outside needs and coal as an example will only be used as a backup source as they complete their obligations under contracts to the US. Israel discovered in 2010 the Leviathan field 10KM or 6 miles off their coast what is considered to be one of the world's largest natural gas fields and comes online January 2019. This field is expected to reduce to zero their reliance on the US for natural gas exports. Israel has signed deals to supply Jordan, Egypt with Billions of cubic feet of natural gas over the next 10-15 years. This comes on top of the Tamar gas field that was discovered in 2009 and started production in 2013. By 2020 Israel is expected to be energy independent for the first time. As the supply lines are finished to Jordan and Egypt, natural gas delivery will start in the 4th quarter of 2019. We then have Denmark who has also announced the end of all gas / diesel new car sales by 2030. Yet here is where they have diverged from the rest of europe that will allow existing auto's to stay on the road till replaced / retired. Denmark has announced that due to the vote of the people, 17 years from now or 2035 all auto's period allowed on the roads must be electric. This means if you have an old auto you like and want to keep it running, you will have to convert to electric. As it stands here is the current date of new gas / diesel auto sales banned: 2025 - Norway 2030 - France, Netherlands, Ireland, India, Austria, Japan, Netherlands, Portugal, Korea, Spain and Israel 2030 - Cities that will ban new gas / diesel auto sales are Athens, Madrid and Mexico City 2040 - The UK has set this as the date for the end of new ICE auto sales. The following places have set electric auto sales targets - China, US, Japan, Canada, Norway, UK, France, Germany, Netherlands and Sweden. 2050 all of the European Union will only be allowed to sell electric auto's. China will have a major effect on the world as they have stated percentage goals for new auto sales for a company with 2019 being the start with 10% of all new auto sales per company must be electric. This goes up every year, it was 8% in 2018, 10% for 2019, 12% for 2020 and so on for the Chinese ZEV mandate. China is currently on track this year to sell one million electric auto's, 149% increase over 2017. Overall, countries around the world are pushing to change the way things have been which will have a large impact on the original oil producing OPEC nations. Independance from reliance on energy from other countries is at an all time high as countries move to have no reliance on other places and be self sustaining by using renewable energy or existing forms of energy they have discovered. Times of Israel Story UPI Story CNN Business Story. Investors Story on China Electric auto sales Electrek story on China EV sales

Do not know, but it is the first one I have heard of. Edit: @balthazar Yoda of auto history, Question restated since @ccap41 found history of recent use of plastic oil pans. So question to you, are these the actual first use or did they try them before in the last 50 years but like GM diesel conversion V8's of the 70's they were a disaster?

It is much more minimalist than it's sister Nissan truck. Then Nissan if you get the Luxury package looks better than MB.

I agree it is not much better but then they are not charging a luxury price or presenting a luxury persona as MB is.

I drop a few Oats in your bucket my friend along with a new wood chisel! Thinking on this more, this is where electric powertrains or a modern ICE powertrain can keep these babies on the road if the OEM is not longer working.

Very true, there are composite plastic that is stronger than steel equals. I just hope that for an AWD CUV, there is some sort of protection shield underneath. Much like how tesla needed to add a shield to protect better their plastic battery case on the Tesla S. Just make sure the lite material choices are protected as there is no history of plastic oil pans before. I hope the heat does not warp it and make them leak.

You see nothing wrong with the Fisher price black plastic garbage interior and cheap ass add in screen glued to the dash. If MB is trying to say yes we can rebadge a cheap truck and charge stupid crazy prices, then they succeeded.

WOW, What a Plastic Puke box of garbage. That coming here will only be bought by badge snobs that do not understand a real truck or the quality of a truck they have here but the stupid 3 point badge on the grill and all the cheap ass black plastic interior. The dash is pathetic. This is anything but Luxury, Cheap ass Chinese garbage if I did not know who supplied the truck. Pathetic.

Totally agree with you as they do look very similar and I think unless you have them side by side to see the size difference, many will confuse if it is an XT4 or XT5. Even with the subtle differences in the plastic lower valance in the front they are allot alike. True family resemblance.

@ocnblu @Cubical-aka-Moltar I admit I am only Human. I grabbed the picture from the media section where they had XT4 and did not look close enough. Now the pic is from the XT4 section on the cadillac web site. Happy?