pow

The GCI shots look better than the in-person photos of the prototype, which looks, well, unfinished like a prototype. There's something about the finishing of the sheetmetal and panel gaps that make it look like a work in progress. I expect the actual car to look better...

http://www.automobilemag.com/news/tesla-model-3-ev-finally-revealed/

http://leasehackr.com/blog/2015/11/25/epic-leftovers-part-2-lease-the-chevy-cruze-for-37month-0-down

FYI, if you do a bit of Googling, you'll see that folks are getting all sorts of amazing lease deals on Cruze. Best I saw on the GM-Volt forum was $28.24/month with $0 drive-off + $700 Costco cash card... so the net cost of the 24 month lease was actually -$22.24.

You can follow Leasehackr on Facebook and Twitter for updates on deals. 

Super comfy! The rear seat headrests are like pillows, and the rear mats are made of sheepskin. The car at the show had actual pillows, too, but I thought they were sort of tacky. 

I checked it out today at the show. Lots of clever design details; the dash has a spacious-feeling horizontal theme, and the air vents are nicely thought out. Much more interesting to look at than HR-V, but nowhere near as spacious or practical inside.

Surprisingly, HR-V has a plusher interior than the new CR-V, which has rather cheap feeling a dashboard and door panels, even on the Touring model. Lots of choices in the subcompact crossover segment now: HR-V, CX-3, Renegade, 500X, Encore, Trax, and Soul, as well as smallish premium compacts like GLA, Q3, and Countryman.

Both the C7 Stingray and Chevy SS I drove--and really, any GM pushrod V8--idle roughly. You can feel the engine shaking around after start up. That's okay for a Corvette or a muscle car, but something like a Cadillac sports sedan should have better refinement. 

The naturally-aspirated SS also has fairly awful fuel economy: 14 mpg in the city. The C7 gets good numbers on the highway because of its tall gearing and aerodynamics; good luck accelerating in seventh gear. A heavily reworked 3.6 TT is more appropriate for a vehicle like ATS-V.

That's an unusual price... my area is $10k more than that.

I guess my area is very competitive. There are 17 Cadillac dealers within 60 miles of here. 

^ Trucar doesn't, seemingly, include the cost of options.

How they 'calculate' a new 'actual transaction price' MSRP without such, I've yet to learn.

You configure a vehicle with the options you want, and they give you a quote for that vehicle as-equipped. Click on "Options."

TrueCar provides a useful baseline price for car shopping. I configure cars on TrueCar to match what the dealer has in stock, then email the internet sales department to beat the TrueCar price. On every occasion, it's worked. Makes sense, as TrueCar charges dealers $299 per transaction.

JUST DO IT CADILLAC.  COuld be part of renaming it from ATS to CT3 or CT4.  It looks better too.

 

There's a bit of awkwardness at the top of the window of the rear door, the curve was flattened a bit too much, but otherwise this would benefit Caddy huge.

 

 

 

 

ATS-L looks good. Its front fascia and grill are different, too, and I like it more than the SWB ATS's front end.

But why get an ATS-L when you can get a CTS for 320i money? The deals on CTS are amazing, and I'm surprised it's not selling any better. I'd seriously consider one if I were in the market for a 5-series sized car:

 

That map is a nice pipe dream, most of those dots still do not exist. I can find more CNG filling stations than these vaporware tesla charging stations.

They do exist. Two weeks ago, Tesla hit the 200 mark, and they're growing at the rate of one new location per day.

http://insideevs.com/tesla-opens-supercharger-200/

To be honest, a CNG range extender is a horrible idea. Probably the worst idea in the world, no offense. I tried searching for CNG filling stations, and they're located at bus depots, dump truck yards, gas company lots, taxi co-ops, and ports. None of these locations are convenient to the public. Talk about range anxiety! 

The CNBC story is a joke, 13,000 is a small pool and clearly it is the rich buying the car regardless of age. Also 16.2% of the buyers are age 65. That ups the average age that Balthazar states. Once these boomers die off, it will be interesting to see if he can still keep sales or if they dip. Also with Supercharger stations in only select areas, he also still has limited appeal due to price and long charge times.

 

Nice cars, but limited appeal. Add a CNG generator to allow longer road trips and you have a winner winner Kobe Beef dinner!

By next year, I wouldn't be surprised if it's easier to find a Supercharger than a public CNG station:

Watch the numbers on the speedometer fly!

My parents actually had an early 2013 Model S. It was one of the rare 40-kWh, sub-$60,000 cars that Tesla later cancelled. Interesting fact: the car was actually a 60-kWh car but electronically limited to 160 miles of range. No actual 40-kWh cars were made; they were all 60s that could be "unlocked" if you paid Tesla another ten grand.

My parents kept the car for a year and ended up selling it for a bit more than they paid new. They're now leasing a Volt as they wait for the Model III. As cool as the Volt is, it's not quite as nice to drive as a Model S.

I test drove the A3 and found it was excellent. Reminded me of the B5 A4s from the late-90s: compact, fun-to-drive, with a feeling of quality and solidity. Very well-equipped for the money, too, with standard leather, panoramic sunroof, and xenon headlights for $30K. That said, I'd rather have the hatchback versatility of the GTI. 

Electric motors are very efficient (80-90%). The very best heat engines (i.e., ICE) are only 30-40% efficient. Even if these plug-in hybrids weigh in over 5,000 lbs, there should still be a substantial increase in fuel efficiency compared to the standard car.

It's okay. They've made an ad with Robyn! Filmed in LA:

Looking forward to what the next generation of EVs will bring. The second-generation Volt and LEAF will be MY 2016, as will the $35,000 Tesla rumored to be named Model E. My guess is that Volt will come down another $5,000 in price, and LEAF will have an optional 150-mile range. Tesla should have no problems with demand for Model E; my guess is 100,000 units for the first full year of production. This year, they are on track to deliver 40,000 units of a car that costs twice as much. In the US, Model S is actually the best-selling car with a base MSRP of $60,000 or higher, outselling competitors like A7, CLS, 6 Series Gran Coupe, as well as exec limos like S-Class, 7-series, and A8, and not to mention, all of Jaguar.

I sat in a Fusion the other day and found the front seats couch-like in their softness. I like supportive seats, and this would be a deal breaker for me. Perhaps the sports seats in the Titanium cars are firmer.

I just priced a Fusion Titanium with no options on TrueCar and got $25,503, or 19% off MSRP of $31,425. There are a ton of incentives on this car; too bad most of them are retail-only and cannot be applied towards a lease.

Lol Malibu Maxx.

Sometimes GM just makes you go, "Hmmm..."

I drove a Volt a few days ago, and as I reached for the Drive Mode button to switch from Normal to Sport mode, I turned off the car instead. The power button is right next to the Drive Mode button, which is right next to the entertainment/HVAC capacitive buttons. Luckily I was in a parking lot and the vehicle behind me was patient, but still it's a boneheaded design fault.

The electric SLS AMG has 737 HP, so if they use that set up they would have the speed but the range would be lousy and the car would be crazy expensive. It isn't a good idea now but in the 2020-2025 time frame if batteries improve I can see them doing it.

Have you priced an S65 AMG recently? The previous-gen car started at $212,000. You could buy an S550 and two Model S's for the same price.

According to the EPA, the S65 AMG has a 333-mile range combined. A hypothetical S74 AMG Electric Drive with a 120 kWh battery would have at least a 400-mile range.

Really, Electric? I doubt any Rich person who can truly afford the S class cares about the pure electric version. If they do care that much, they have already gone with a Priuse.

Then sell it on its performance merits. It can be the quietest, smoothest, and quickest S-class ever. Put a Model S P85 motor in each of the axles and call it a day.

Not pretty by any means, but there's certainly some innovation going on.

The ideal truck would be an F-150 with the Ram 1500's powertrain (EcoDiesel and eight-speed) and the Sierra's exterior and interior.

White male privilege means no one questions why you got that really great job; it’s assumed you were just highly qualified.

Many of the cab companies around here use these as taxis, and I can see why. There isn't another vehicle I can think of that provides a better balance of fuel economy and interior space. Add to that its strong reliability track record and low running costs, and it's probably the best taxi out there from a functional standpoint.

Specs for ELR have been released...

In electric mode:

• 157 horsepower
• 0-60: 8.8 seconds
• 37 mile range
• 82 MPGe
• 5 hour charge time (240V)

In gasoline mode:

• 181 horsepower
• 0-60: 7.8 seconds
• 308 mile range
• 33 MPG

http://insideevs.com/cadillac-elr-0-60-in-7-8-seconds-37-mile-range-plus-spec/

I went to the show this year. Here are some impressions.

1.) Most manufacturers are trying to make appealing cars. Gone are the days when blatantly shoddy automobiles were allowed to make it to production. With the exception of maybe the Mitsubishi Mirage, you will be hard pressed to find G6 or Avenger-grade crap anymore. Manufacturers are putting in effort to make every one of their offerings at least somewhat innovative and appealing.

The Europeans usually do very well in this regard, and this year, it's no exception. You can tell that GM and Kia are trying particularly hard by sweating the details. Perhaps most disappointing in innovation are Toyota, Honda, Acura, and Subaru, brands that seem to be resting on their laurels and sticking with what they know.

2.) Fancy cars feel special. Perhaps this is obvious, but the more expensive the car, the nicer I found it to be. Luxury cars are supposed to represent the pinnacle of what's possible in engineering, design, and quality, and this was certainly the case. Auto shows are a chance to sit in cars that you'll never be able to afford, so I did just that and enjoyed the following vehicles very much:

- 911 50th Anniversary, Cayman, Macan, Panamera: Never thought of myself as a Porsche person but was very impressed by the quality and ergonomics of their vehicles. They all fit me like a glove and seemed extraordinarily well-made.

- 918 Spyder: Wow, that's why they call 'em hypercars. This is probably one of the most embarrassing cars to drive on a public road, and I nearly tripped climbing out--the egress is quite poor--but there's no denying the amount of engineering and design that went to this supercar. It's stunning to behold.

- BMW i8: This car looks spectacular in person; I thought the proportions were a bit tame in pictures, but I was wrong, it looks just right. Nobody told me it had gull-wing doors! Interior is equally stunning and well thought-out. Shame it's $135,000. Fun fact: it's actually a four-seater. I tried the back seat, and it's literally two pillows with seat belts.

- Jag F-Type: I don't do roadsters, but I'll concede the roadster is prettier than the coupe. Both have lovely, stylish interiors.

- Maserati Ghibli: Although rumored to ride on a modified Chrysler 300 platform, the Ghibli feels Italian through and through. It's supposedly E-Class money, but it feels far more special than those Germans. The Italian does sacrifice a little quality for style, though; the lightweight trunklid doesn't slam with a Teutonic thud and some of the switchgear seem a bit iffy.

- Range Rovers: The new LWB model is hopelessly decadent. There's so much legroom, and it has the most over-engineered floor mats I've ever seen.

3.) Lincoln and Acura are hopeless. The two most underwhelming cars at the show were the MKC and RLX Sport Hybrid Super Handling-All-Wheel Drive (or ARLXSHSHAWD for short). Sure, these brands sell decently and are profitable given that they're glorified Fords and Hondas. But they feel like glorified Fords and Hondas. Both the MKC and ARLXSHSHAWD have the worst interiors in their respective classes. The MKC's seats are tiny and unsupportive, and the interior trim is dull and cheap. ARLXSHSHAWD simply feels like a nice Accord; there's no surprise or delight anywhere. How about at least a different typeface on the buttons, Acura?

Random car-specific impressions:

- BMW i3: Looks like a concept car. Feels airy and surprisingly large inside. Polarizing, but I like it.

- Mercedes GLA: Do not like. The normal A-Class is fine. Why did they have to make an Outback version?

- Cadillac ELR: Looks a bit stubby from the side but otherwise fine. Attractive, but not $76K attractive.

- Tahoe/Suburban/Yukon: What are these called now, GMT-1000? Overall, solid offerings. The SWB models still have a cramped third row and not much cargo space.

- Chevrolet SS: Weird mishmash of Holden, Opel, GM Korea, and GM North America. Way too much chrome. Looks like a bad facelift.

- Corvette Stingray: Doesn't look cohesive with random slashes and angles throughout the body. Wheel designs do no favors. Interior quality is finally acceptable, but nothing special. Seats dig into my shoulders if I sit upright. Probably drives really well.

- Mazda 3: Not bad.

- New MINI: More of the same kitsch.

- Kia K900: I walked up to a Cadenza, thinking it was the K900. Once you get inside, the K900 is quite nice, if derivative.

- Cadillac CTS: There were a bunch of Germans in suits inspecting it. Cadillac has caught the attention of the Germans. You can tell the designers were trying really hard with the CTS interior, and the material choices are interesting, but it doesn't have the feeling of solidity you get from the Germans. Back seat is cramped for the class, and the seat bottom easily came loose. I'm sure it drives real nice though.

- Audi A3/S3: Cool little car. Same Audi attributes in a more sprightly shell.

- Colorado: They were unfortunately all locked and had tinted windows. But I can tell you that the extended cab version offers headrests for the jump seats, which the Thai version does not offer.

Photostream here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/109439275@N05/