balthazar

But; released in 1990. I was joking. Its really only very recently I've been very rarely listening to some stuff from the '80s - the forumalic approach is what has more often pushed me to free-form ambient stuff. Unfortunately, youtube sees it fit to insert multiple ads in a continuous flow music video.

#1 seller, and for years, is the FWD lexus RX, 108K sales last year. No one is remotely close to that. RDX : 63K (FWD / AWD) X3 : 61K (RWD / AWD) X5 : 45K (RWD / AWD) GLE : 46K (RWD / AWD) GLC : 69K (RWD / AWD) XT5 : 60K (FWD / AWD)

^ Right : they don't sell as well.

Apparently in some dealerships, it's a smart money-making move that provides an appealing car-like vehicle… but in other dealerships its just 'generic & cheap'. ?

Huh.

The idea that one Rivian can charge another Rivian out in the wild is, of course- interesting, but imagine how many decades it might take for 2 to find each other in the same place.

I looked all over the BMW I referenced above, could not find any 'E--' badge on it.

Cadillac MUST, in any forward-looking planning, MUST keep its recent volume in the forefront. There already isn’t enough volume to support both the CT5 & CT4. Add to that there’s not enough volume to support a full catalog that matches all tiers that brands selling double the volume struggle at, and the path is clear. Keep the mission tight & clear and stick to it. Volume low? Keep the upper tiers, cultivate your image, dump the low margin low priced stuff.

The problem for that vision is, however, that these MB shit boxes aren’t premium. In no way does Cadillac need an XT3. Big picture, Robert.

Last BMW I was in was probably a late ‘80s, as this would’ve been in 1989. Still the most uncomfortable seats I’ve ever sat in- that’s an incredibly long record.

442 is correct tho- those early 2002/first 3-series cars had terrible interiors. Just junk. 2nd gen Camaros were about 20" longer than a 2002, but still small cars at 188" overall length. They brought a ton of road racing experience to the table by '70; even tho the Trans Ams were a notch above, the early Z/28s were very good road / driving cars from what I've read.

So in other words, the German/japanese luxury brands continually benchmark and copy each other, right? Mercedes arguably has a 'tier above' reputation from the rest and they make plenty of money. They don't need a transverse, FWD subcompact 180-HP 4-bangers with linear yards of unpainted plastic trim- no matter who else (like Chevy, toyota, mazda, nissan, et al) does it. There's doing what other people are doing, and holding true to your image.

Internal Combustion's been here since day 1, still controlling 97% of the global market 140 years later, but it "can't be long term". That, folks, is salesmanship!

Not discounting 70's Z/28s, are you Robert? Stout handlers with much better power & nicer built than a 2002.

Ugh: acres of cladding, another anemic engine, FWD. WTH is mercedes doing down in this segment?

I strongly doubt it. Worst assembly mistake I ever saw (and really the only significant one) was a Buick Skylark X-Body car. This would have probably been in the late '80s. No one carried cameras back in those days, so I have no evidence, but can still picture it in my mind, burgundy color, a buddy & I circled the car & laughed at it. The defect? It had 2 doors on one side and 1 on the other, and damn if it didn't look totally factory. In hindsight, I would proclaim that to be impossible… but if the body side was stamped as a whole piece and the shell welded together- technically it might be possible…but even if welded up that way- how the hell did it get past the plant gate?

Honda Clarity- the Aztek of the 20-teens. Abysmal design.

It is usually fun to see non-production concept cars in commercials.'cause the only electric VW builds now is in the same body shape they've been producing since -IIRC- 1977. BUT VW really should 'batten down all it's hatches' before this sort of thing -if it became regular- mars the EV push : https://finance.yahoo.com/news/audi-recalls-first-electric-car-165340036.html

Pullman -despite the obvious cross-industry grab- is a good name, but ‘autobiography’ literally makes no sense as applied to an automobile. I don't mind Portfolio, but still prefer Fleetwood- one of the longest running names ever.

:feeling mildly depressed about the State of the Automotive Styling Union:

^ rims remind me of the 1990s BMWs with BBSs. It'd be nice (and shocking) to finally see something totally stirring & aspirational, design-wise, but that seems relegated to concepts only.

I like the CT6 a lot- it has very nice presence. Kia’s not even in the same parking lot. It’s very generic IMO.

Not seeing what you're seeing there, DD. - - - - - I don't know that I've ever seen one of these in person ~

'58 Bonneville Sport Coupe, Optional Fuel Injected 370 CI, claimed to have only 110 miles on it. Asking price was $65,000.