G. David Felt

 

Love the write up and I would have to say it is Spot on True.

 

I will also say that while Dictators can destroy a country, business, etc. Some aspects of a Dictator is what a CEO has to be. In regards to the body fit, GM should have long ago stated what the quality was to be, give a set time line for reaching that milestone and if it failed, PIP the Mgmt. to either succeed or move on with a new mgr. The CEO should be setting the expectation but not bullying the people, ask for input on how to achieve the desired result, they probably could have avoided much of this is the Leader had a more flexible open mind than total dictatorship.

 

That part about GM and production fit, you have to understand that prior to the NUMMI venture with Toyota, GM (and the majority of D3 manufacturing plants) were using old production methods. A tightly manufactured, state of the art automobile was not really possible. The entire production process was incredibly counter intuitive.

 

There's an outstanding podcast about the history of NUMMI and GM being taught Japanese manufacturing methods. If anyone is interested, I'll dig it up.

 

It is a Shame that we had to learn from Japan what was already known and had been tried to be taught to the US by Deming and Drucker on leadership and TQM (Total Quality Management). The US could have avoided the whole mess of the 80's, 90's and early 2000's.

Great Read:

https://thecanthocurmudgeon.wordpress.com/2011/09/14/peter-drucker-on-leadership-w-edwards-deming-total-quality-management-091211/

Love the write up and I would have to say it is Spot on True.

I will also say that while Dictators can destroy a country, business, etc. Some aspects of a Dictator is what a CEO has to be. In regards to the body fit, GM should have long ago stated what the quality was to be, give a set time line for reaching that milestone and if it failed, PIP the Mgmt. to either succeed or move on with a new mgr. The CEO should be setting the expectation but not bullying the people, ask for input on how to achieve the desired result, they probably could have avoided much of this is the Leader had a more flexible open mind than total dictatorship.

I would certainly rock this Buick.

 

Did BUICK just rebadge a VW? This looks like your Tag Viper but with a buick Grill and better headlights.

 

Yes I see value in having a Large, medium and compact CUV, I question if they really need to have a subcompact CUV at Cadillac. This is the overlap where I think leave the subcompact market to Buick.

 

If they can get people to pay $30k for a Cadillac subcompact CUV the size of the Encore, more power to them.  the Encore starts at $24k and tops out at around $34k.  That leaves some room for a Cadillac to start at $29,995 + destination.

 

I see the point you are making and as Suaviloquent has stated, if they use Delta and only have it as an AWD version so it truly is a nicer product than the Encore than more power to them to have it and sell. Just do not use the current Encore or a Chevy product rebadged. I still think the market is small for a Full Blown Luxury SubCompact but I have been wrong before.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

Yes I see value in having a Large, medium and compact CUV, I question if they really need to have a subcompact CUV at Cadillac. This is the overlap where I think leave the subcompact market to Buick.

You could argue that top to bottom, Mazda has the best car line up of any manufacturer.  There isn't a bad or dated product in their entire line up.  It is too bad more people don't buy their cars, because the 3 is probably the best in the compact segment, the 6 probably the best mid-sizer.  And this CX-9 looks well done also.

Mazda makes nice auto's, but for overweight Americans or tall big Americans like me, their auto's are dead on delivery. I suspect the new CX9 will be nice but like the current CX9 have limited room inside that will keep me from fitting. Mazda is made for little people which is what you find in the Asian rim.

Nothing really big to see here and what is it about the headlights that they think it looks like Thors Hammer? Too me they just look like normal every day headlights with led day time running markers.

Shame seeing this after Buick showed us this.

 

 

 

And I don't really see any styling elements from it.

Such a shame.

More Auto Companies need to go back to having true design style that does not copy the competition in being mass production blah.

This is an interesting story but also puts the spot light on the biggest problem in Europe, the Socialist Union workers and how you would keep a money loosing product going and the jobs that are not justified.

Kill the Phaeton and let the 500 go as well as close the plant. I doubt they can justify the cost or the jobs. This makes no sense to just close the plant but enlarge elsewhere and move the people and money loosing product there.

Yes People I am making an assumption but I do not see how 4000 Phaetons covers the cost of the 500 people, plus engineering, support, mgmt., support, etc.

VW better set aside another 6 billion dollars. This is getting uglier. 

Pretty car, almost an egg but they put enough creases in the right places to give it style. I like how it end up over the rear wheels from this picture. Masculine, but sleek.

Burn the radical Greenies and pass a Global Emission and crash standard so you build an auto that can sell everywhere.

Spot on, nice report card.

This is very cool and I am excited by this. Look forward to see how much of the concept is kept in the production version.

The days of gas guzzling V8, V10 or even V12 are limited. The mass sales will be the TTV6 or in MB case TTI6. Hybrid will get a bigger push as they focus on meeting the new emission and MPG requirements.

I expect both the Hybrid and TTV6 to do very well. The V series in this car will be like the AMG a halo auto with limited sales.

Very cool, nice to see just how great this car will become.

Very interesting, the photo's from Frankfurt just did nothing for me. Yet these photos are much better and make it look very stylish indeed.

Very nice for an entry level CUV.

I completely forgot to add that it leaks water inside.. we don't know where from though. My dad was driving it once while it was raining but couldn't find a drip or line of water or anthing but it will puddle up on the passenger side only.

I actually drove it last year to class a couple of days and ended up having to buy my book because I got in when it was below freezing so the water was frozen(and I forgot about it because it isn't like it is super deep or anything) and put my backpack behind the passenger seat and when I went to return my school books(my school is rental and it's thrown in to the tuition) the bottom of the book had water damage and I had to buy the damn thing.

 

I always forget about that part of it... With water comes mold evenutally..

And that is easy to address as there is a service bullet about just such a thing,

Beretta WATER LEAK DIAGNOSTIC GUIDE.pdf

or the web site

http://beretta.net/how_to/waterleak.htm

Also, many people have inspected and found the following which causes the leak also, got this off the Chevrolet forum on Beretta's.

Check the case & cover for the heater core. If they are cracked they will cause a leak into your vehicle. Not very expensive parts either about $20/ea.

Then replace the carpet and pad new for a fresh new experience and no mold smell.

 

The current Silverado's nose really is a jig-saw puzzle of pieces, isn't it? For some reason, I can't stop looking at the seams.

 

That's the only thing about the refresh that I don't like. It looks tacked on or aftermarket at close inspection. I'd like to see one in person to be sure though.

 

On the right side you can see clearly they they beveled the strip down to match the headlight size, but since it is all white or any color for that matter it easily blends in looking more like a mismatch. Over all I think it was poorly executed. They could have done that grill better to match.

 

 

AAAND... there's a Volkswagen on the label...

Full of win, right there

 

 

 

That was a good scene in Planet of the Apes. A fitting example of VW.

The current Silverado's nose really is a jig-saw puzzle of pieces, isn't it? For some reason, I can't stop looking at the seams.

Agree, I have to say this is one of the ugliest versions of the Truck. GMC wins this round for having a superior looking nose.

^^^ I agree with his assessment of white space fillers of niche auto's that can be global in sales and profit at lower quantity.

 

So... Mazda is proving that its the master of design. Each model it introduces with its Kodo design instantly becomes the best looking vehicle in its respective class. The engineering ain't too shabby, either. Imagine, all Mazda needed was to be on its own without a blue-oval hovering above, sucking the life out of it. Now they simply need to get that diesel here and maybe put that turbo-charged 2.5L into the 6 and the 3 for some extra scrumptious spice. 

 

And the best part is that they can sell their niche market engineering work to others who can't spare the resources to do so. Mazda's just on a roll. 

 

That diesel probably won't be here in time for any current product. They're having a lot of trouble meeting regulations and also justifying the certification of the engines. Also, I think I read somewhere that it was Mazda and then Honda that first commented on how they were baffled by how VW (before dieselgate) was able to certify its diesels that didn't have exhaust after treatment.

 

So Mazda is also trying to go the route of a NoX trap instead of exhaust after treatment and it's exceedingly difficult.

 

This is the rub, I understand there are Royalties to pay, but when there is demand for a diesel version, why not just go with the Exhaust Pee Treatment for now while continuing to work on the Nox Trap solution that as far as I know no one has got to work yet.

WOW, I have to complement Mazda, that is a sharp looking CUV and the interior is sharp as well. Probably the best looking CUV from Japan at this time.

Should do them well as Mitsu has been hurting for product that can sell and the Andriod/Apple Auto system will attract the youth.

Over all very nice looking car, interior is excellent. The look does have a bit of Jag to it.