ccap41

But, if it's a 2026 entry, every single team is on a new learning curve. That's why 2026 is a target for a few new teams. They will be "merging" their new EV technology with raving technology and that's one way companies like Ford are justifying putting resources into F1. If Cadillac enters in 2026 with an Alpine power unit, it'll be an all-new unit, just like every other car in the field in 2026.

Hey! We're back up!

My honest opinion is that those big guns in Merc, Ferrari, and Red Bull are just scared. I'm sure Cadillac/GM/Andretti can justify how they'll bring more total revenue to the sport but I think they're more scared of a legitimate OEM coming into the sport and bringing with them a truly competitive car. I think it will take some time to get their feet under them so I wouldn't expect a podium-finishing car in the first year but I/we KNOW they have it in them to learn and engineer with the best. I don't really like Alpine supplying them their power unit the first two years but I guess if that's what they need to do to get into the sport, then that's what they'll have to do. I'd MUCH prefer a Cadillac car with a Cadillac power unit. A Nissan(Renault) power unit in a Cadillac.. just makes me cringe a little. They already have one race under their belts this season, Rolex 24hr of Daytona. They finished 3rd & 4th to the Acuras which were just waaaay faster cars.

I believe the FIA made an announcement that they'll have final approval/denial for all new team proposals in April or something. I would LOVE for Cadillac to have their own factory team in F1! Andretti/Cadillac isn't the only new team proposal, just the loudest. The problem is the current team owners don't want to split the pie into smaller slices.. I really hope Cadillac/Andretti's proposal blows their tits off and they can justify another team. Red Bull has been a team for a couple decades already so it isn't a new team. They're just partnering with Ford on their new powertrains for 2026, when the regulations move to more battery electric power and less ICE power. Red Bull has been with Honda/Acura for the past few years but have been with all sorts of engine suppliers. 2005: Cosworth 2006: Ferrari 2007-2015: Renault 2016-2018: Tag Heuer-badged Renault engines 2019-2021: Honda/Acura 2022: Honda engines but they formed their own company and are branded Red Bull Powertrains(confusing situation) I believe the current power split is around 150hp electric power and 650-700hp ICE and the 2026 regulations move to a 350hp electric power and a 20% reduced fuel flow rate, so less ICE power.

To go with the above Red Bull/Ford announcement.. An SVT/performance Lightning would be pretty whoop-@ss! https://www.autoblog.com/2023/02/06/ford-high-performance-electric-pickup-truck-teaser-red-bull-announcement/ "What's the guaranteed follow-up to an automaker making a big fuss about entering a global motorsport series? Talk how about race technology is going to carom off the track and into the street cars in the parking lot. When done properly, the talk can be demonstrated with a street car that maximizes the transfer possibilities such as the Audi R8, Porsche 911 GT3 or the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06. It can also happen in a more general, widespread way that's equally beneficial, like when Volvo entered the World Touring Car Championship in 2016 and Polestar began to really bloom. Now we get Ford returning to Formula 1 in 2026 with Red Bull as Red Bull Ford. As part of the announcement, Motor Authority picked up on the Dearborn manufacturer showing an infographic about how its global motorsports programs exchange expertise from road to race and back. In the lower right of the image at top, the slide shows something wicked, new and electric this way comes. We're not sure precisely what the vehicle will be, but it will join the cadre of EV performance demonstrators Ford's been showing for the past two years. The pickup silhouette leads to the obvious guess that we're looking for an imperious F-150 Lightning. The other EV demonstrators are the seven-motor, 1,400-horsepower Mach-E 1400 Prototype, the Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 dragstrip special, the 1978 F-100 Eluminator pickup with two crate e-motors, and the 1,973-hp quad-motor SuperVan 4 that gets from zero to 62 miles per hour in less than two seconds. The silhouettes in the other slides are the Mustang GT3 in the upper left, the Ranger Raptor in the upper right, and the Red Bull Ford we imagine will be the RB22 assuming Red Bull's naming convention holds through 2026. The biggest issue we have with the EV demonstrators we've seen so far is that no one can buy them. The standard Lightning with 563 hp and 775 lb-ft is certainly quick in its own right, though it does contend with the weight of many batteries. Still, if there were ever a time for the return of a retail Lightning with electric performance as comparatively audacious as the original, now is it."

I'd really like to see one of these in real life. They seem to awkward and weird in pictures/videos but I have a feeling they may be one of those vehicles that still has a pretty good "presence" in person. Right now, they do absolutely nothing for me but I feel like they may be decent in person.

Yesterday and today would be perfect "winter testing" days with highs touching 60-62 degrees F. Obviously too chilly for a real ride but warm enough to test out winter modifications/repairs. What all is needed to make it up and running, at this point? I know you got it running and rode it a bit but anything else needed to feel safe on it?

Here's a pretty crazy idea that's apparently already in the works, too. https://www.motortrend.com/news/ford-red-bull-developing-strategically-important-ev/ "Earlier today, Ford announced a surprise return to Formula 1 racing in a new partnership with Red Bull Racing starting in 2026 to explore and develop vehicle dynamics, stability control, traction control, dynamic drive modes, software engineering and battery management, and of course, aerodynamics for future Ford production cars. In an interview with MotorTrend, Ford CEO Jim Farley hinted that they've already been hard at work on a "strategically important" EV we can get excited about." I know you're being sarcastic but the G Wagen was all-new in 2019. Okay, now that I think about it, that's already FOUR YEARS OLD! Dang, how time flies.

This is the first I've ever heard of an "upper oil pan" meeting a "lower oil pan". It all sounds complex and it's probably safe to say this is a diesel-only situation.

If you can't fit in a Lincoln Continental or a Mazda CX-90, there's no way you'll fit in a Corvette SUV.

I also think Ford could use something a little more conventional to add to their 2-vehicle EV lineup. A sporty "SUV" and a truck are nice and all but I'd think a more conventional style SUV would benefit them quite a bit. Make it comparable to either the Blazer EV or Equinox EV, size-wise. I don't know when those GM EVs are supposed to start production but I think those categories are fantastic starting points, along with their Silverado EV. See, I don't think it's quite as soapy as the Merc siblings. It isn't too far off, but it isn't as extremely soapy. The EQS Sedan does look better in person. It still isn't great but its size is what makes it actually stand out.

The Ionic 6 is one of those cars that's pretty ugly...but I kind of like it a lot. Of course Tesla should worry but I don't exactly think they're sitting on their hands just hoping for sales. They're improving their vehicles but I think a 5th all-new vehicle to the lineup would be much welcomed or at least all-new versions of their current lineup. I mean, the Model S is like 10-15 years old at this point? I know it's been completely updated by now but it's just getting long in the tooth.

That interior is definitely one I'll need to see actual pictures of because it looks so close to a grey in the CGI images. I bet it looks fantastic in real life but the CGI images don't so it justice, imo.

I think their current V-B's look soooo much better than that concept. Personally, I don't think any mainstream luxury line, including Cadillac, has any gaudy vehicles.

The Buick is quite gorgeous but the Caddy is about as gaudy as it gets.

This is so awesome. No exaggeration, there's a house around here that looks VERY similar to that. I'll see if googlemaps has a street view of it. Okay, definitely not the same at all but certainly more garage than home.

I think it's a great idea and also looks NOTHING like that rendering. Basically make a Maverick that's full electric and I think it would do just fine in the market.

I'm not a fan of that either. It does nothing for me. My friends' Indians sound slightly better but still not great.

My one buddy, who has a pretty well built cholo-style Harley, put true dual exhaust, because that's the style, and the left pipe basically goes right where your left leg goes. It's absurd. He's waaaay more into the look than the function of this bike. He's pretty much chromed everything that can be chromed, has the pipes that stick out like 12-14', has an air bag for the rear suspension, I think 16" bars, and put a larger front wheel on it. It's definitely not my style, but I can respect the work done to it. This isn't his bike but this exhaust looks exactly how his does. Look at that location of the left pipe... This actually looks very similar to his build but all of the body color is Tequila Sunrise orange on my friend's.

Seeing them and actually being around them is two different things. Do you know the age of all of those bikes at your neighbor's? I also have a weird feeling that they're not actually breaking out the tool box and fixing things before going out for a ride every time. That just doesn't sound realistic, unless these bikes are from before the 90's or 00's. I mean, their styling hasn't changed in 100 years so everything clean will look similar from 100ft away.

Well, you're wrong here. GM is STARTING with the work truck and adding the other trims later this fall. "First out of the gate will be the Silverado EV Work Truck (WT), in the spring of 2023. Chevrolet says that, actually, only the version of the WT with the larger battery affording 400 miles of driving range will go on sale then. Later, a sub-400-mile Silverado EV WT that is promised to be the price leader of the lineup—ringing in at $41,595, per Chevy—will arrive. It isn't yet clear whether the cheapest Silverado EV WT will land before or after the Silverado EV RST models arrive in by fall 2023." https://www.motortrend.com/news/2024-chevrolet-silverado-ev-pickup-truck-availability-timing/

Nothing from Yamaha touches what Harley makes in their respective classes. I'm no Harley fan, I don't like their styling and really don't like the culture, but their build quality and attention to detail is second to none in the V-twin cruiser category. Obviously they aren't as reliable as the Japanese (has anything American built ever been? Hahaha) but you'll never be left on the side of the road on any bike these days. I take it David isn't around them very often. Half of my friend group has Harleys and a couple friends have Indians. There is zero fit and finish issues with either bike brand but Harley seems to make something that "feels" higher quality. More metal, less plastic, they do a better job of hiding cables/wires than their competition. The feel of using the hand controls and foot controls just has a more solid feel to it. Those trucks look pretty awesome and I love the wheels, even though they're about 2 inches too big.

Sounds like you haven't been around Harleys in about 20 years. They're long gone from the times of needing everything tightened and tuned up after a long ride.

Correct, you can get a less equipped car with less performance for less money. That is how things work.

Also, with what people are willing to pay for Corvettes right now and with demand exceeding production, there's no reason to make it cheaper, even if they could. They may be able to price this at 90k but know they can't produce enough as it is so they'll create less demand and still profit as much as possible. There will always be early adaptors and people that want the newest thing. I'll be more curious how this sells in it's 3rd model year. I think it'll do just fine but it is an interesting change for the Vette.