Drew Dowdell

2 hours ago, smk4565 said:

I think the $30k Equinox never happens, but I think they can undercut the iD4, BZ4X and the Ioniq 5 in price.

It's no challenge to undercut the Ioniq 5. It should have been a Genesis Sport hatch instead.   I think they'll match it pretty close to the ID.4 if only because they'll be directly cross-shopped on size.

13 minutes ago, oldshurst442 said:

That does not mean that battery mining is getting cheaper.  But the cost of battery manufacturing is inching downward slowly slowly.  

Lithium Ion is likely not going to be the predominant chemistry of batteries in 10+ years. There are far too many promising alternative candidates that at least one of them is bound to take off.  So even then, the lithium question will eventually go away too.

On 9/1/2023 at 1:16 PM, smk4565 said:

GM at its height wasn’t nearly as dangerous to competitors as Tesla is now. 
 

Because GM didn’t also own the gas stations, own the taxi companies, own energy storage and production, own data and AI, etc.  Tesla can make billions on charging, solar, robo-taxi, Tesla Bot, and AI.  Tesla also doesn’t have to worry about the dealers in the middle taking profit or putting dealer markups on cars or offering poor service to customers.  
 

Most of these other EV’s aren’t competitive that is why a ton came on market and Tesla still is rising in sales and still has over 60% market share.  I think 30% of the global car volume is very doable because no one else is going to make a car that does everything the Tesla does with the charge network Tesla has.

New Model 3 just debuted, Mode Y next year.  The Model S/X are dated but they just dropped the price.  The 670 hp awd Model S has the same price as the 288 hp rear wheel drive EQE350 as one example.  The Mach-E is a sales dud compared to Tesla Model Y.  Legacy OEM better seriously step their game up if they want to be here in 10 years.

Think of this, the top 5 most valuable car companies in the world are:

1.  Tesla

2.  Toyota 

3.  VinFast

4.  Mercedes-Benz

5.  Volkswagen

The ones down lower need to step their game up because I think half of the rest go under and half survive.

Stock market valuation has little to do with the actual balance sheet these days.  Tesla was losing billions for years and they had crazy high valuations. Furthermore, ever since Reagan allowed companies to buy back stock, all of the companies have been manipulating their stock value.  When it comes to Assets minus Liabilities, do you really think VinFast or Tesla are above Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen?

Weather reports are far more accurate than stock valuations.

31 minutes ago, smk4565 said:

Hyundai/Kia make about $800 profit per car.  They are one of the worst car companies in the world in profit margin.  
 

Yes they make some good vehicles and are ahead of the Japanese on EV’s.  But there is a Hyundai dealer near me with several Ioniq 5/6’s on the lot with sticker prices of $58,000 that are just rotting there, I think between OEM and dealer discounts they have about $10k off sticker, but that is the only way to even try to sell those.  No one wants a $58,000 Hyundai midsize sedan.

When the $35,000 msrp Ioniq 6 arrives then game on, but GM is going to have a sub $40,000 Equinox EV that is larger than the Ioniq 5 and gets $7500 off.  I think buyers will take the Equinox at $32,500 after rebate vs $50,000 Ioniq 5.

I agree that the Ioniq 5s aren't priced appropriately, but the Ioniq 6 seems about right.  I think you'll see the price slide up significantly on the Equinox EV. The base Blazer EV has already been canceled, so much of your price guessing there is likely inaccurate.

Those are some pretty compelling ranges for an EV that size and price.  Bigger than a Model-X, more traditional SUV shape, $15k cheaper than a base Model-X with only a 48-mile difference in range. Plus access to all of the superchargers soon.

Food for thought: At $65k for the AWD model, it's exactly the same price as a Tahoe LT 4x4 with no options.

Fresh off Hilton's partnership announcement with Tesla to install 20,000 chargers, Marriott has announced a partnership with EV Connect to deploy, manage, and service EV chargers at Marriott locations across the U.S. and Canada.  Marriott brand hotel operators will have a turnkey solution from EV Connect to add and manage charging stations at their properties.

Rather than a one-size-fits-all solution, EV Connect offers various charger capacities, including DC Fast Charging, tailored to the individual property's needs. EV Connect's interface will allow hotel operators to offer incentives and discounts to customers as well as control access.

Over 6,000 Marriott-branded hotels qualify for the EV Connect package, however, each property will need to opt in.

Read More:
Hilton Adding EV Charging to Over 2,000 Hotels in North America
Choice Hotels Signs Agreement with Tesla to Install Chargers

View full article

4 hours ago, David said:

Yup, never understood having rims equal to the sidewall of a tire getting all scuffed up, but then most people seem to have no sense of their auto size, corners, etc.  

Sadly, my daughter is one that parallel parking is a hardship for her. So, I taught her in her 4x4 Durango to put the front tire up on the curb, then slowly drop it off so she is close. Never had a problem since then driving in the city and having to parallel park. She also has not scuffed the rims yet either.

Ah, the parking by braille method!

1 hour ago, trinacriabob said:

Random thought:

Things you don't see anymore ... curb feelers.

They're integrated into the tires these days if the sidewalls of most cars is any indication.

18 minutes ago, David said:

Plastic wheel well with reflectors I am just not feeling as I think it looks awkward

Those are AT4 only

1 minute ago, Robert Hall said:

Ok, I see that.  I tried it.  I get a menu with 3 options.  Save as link, pdf, or web archive.  No ‘add to homescreen’ or anything like that.  

Scroll to the very bottom of that list, select Edit Options, and scroll down to Other Action and then add Add to Home Screen.

2 hours ago, Robert Hall said:

I've tried the instructions a couple of times, and can't find it.   There is no 'share icon' at the bottom of the screen as referred to in the instructions.   One thing I have noticed lately on my iPhone in Safari that even when I'm logged into the site it's covered in ads... 

That's the share button.  It only pops up when you scroll up.

6 hours ago, regfootball said:

If this

https://burlappcar.com/2023/06/2024-buick-enclave.html

is accurate to what the new Enclave will be, it can just get in my belly right now

perfect step up for me from the TourX but I might as well dream because can’t likely afford anything anymore 

 

 

The hood proportions and height are probably wrong on that. The new platform is taller and has a stubby nose because it's built for a 4-cylinder.

20 hours ago, regfootball said:

Finally making amends for their big mistake. 
 

yet, ^^^the gap you mention could be filled by rebadging the current Acadia. The smaller size did work better for some and that is a worthwhile market segment on its own. Just not the same sales volume. 
 

even Toyota has the Highlander and the Grand Highlander now. 

I need to look it up, but I think the Traverse and Acadia are back to being the same size again. It looks like the Traverse shrank.  This leads me to wonder what will happen to Enclave and XT6.  Enclave always had the larger body while XT6 is on a very slightly lengthened Acadia wheelbase, but longer overall length.

Jeep is understandably reluctant to mess with success, and the Jeep Gladiator has been one of the brand's greatest success stories in the last decade.  So when it came time to give the Gladiator a nip-tuck, Jeep went in with the gentlest of hands.

The biggest visual update is a refresh of Jeep's iconic 7-slot grille, windshield-integrated trail-ready stealth antenna, and seven all-new wheel designs. Inside is a redefined interior with more technology and amenities, including available 12-way power-adjustable front seats and all-new instrument panel featuring Uconnect 5 system with a best-in-class standard 12.3-inch touchscreen and standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with improved speech intelligibility.

Two new trims are available; Mojave X and Rubicon X, which expand Gladiator’s portfolio with an integrated off-road camera, steel bumpers, and Nappa leather-trimmed 12-way power-adjustable front seats.

New safety features for Gladiator are standard first- and second-row side-curtain airbags, standard forward collision warning (Sport S and above), and standard advanced cruise control with stop (Sport S and above).

The 2024 Jeep Gladiator is available for ordering now.

View full article

GMC caused a stir in 2016 when it downsized the Acadia in 2017 from its previous near-Yukon length. That downsize brought the Acadia down to be inline in size with the contemporary Jeep Grand Cherokee.  In the years since, the Grand Cherokee has grown and GMC is matching that with the 2024 GMC Acadia.

Inches matter in this class and in that the Acadia gains (back) 10.6 inches in length and 3.2 inches in height. That equates to 80% more space behind the third row and 36% more space behind the second row.

The biggest news is with the powertrain. The naturally aspirated V6 is gone from the lineup and now all Acadias are powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged 4. This engine is new to GM's lineup and in the Acadia produces 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque.  All models get an 8-speed automatic with all-wheel drive available. The Acadia AT4 gets and exclusive off-road-capable Active Torque Control AWD system.

The interior is focused around a portrait-oriented 15-inch-diagonal premium GMC infotainment. The system has Google Assistant built in and can display up to 9 camera positions around the vehicle.

The long safety features list includes:

• Forward Collision Alert
• Following Distance Indicator
• Front Pedestrian and Bicycle Braking
• IntelliBeam High Beam Assist
• HD Rear Vision Camera
• Rear Park Assist
• Safety Alert Seat
• Rear Cross Traffic Braking
• Blind Zone Steering Assist
• Buckle to Drive
• Rear Seat Reminder⁷
• Intersection Automatic Emergency Braking
• and more.

AT4 exclusive features include:

• A 1-inch taller ride height and a wider track, coupled with 18-inch AT tires enhancing stability, handling and capability when driving off road
• Off-road-tuned suspension with hydraulic rebound control
• AT4-exclusive Active Torque Control all-wheel-drive system with twin-clutch rear differentials for optimal traction and control in demanding scenarios
• Front fascia accented with signature AT4 red tow hooks and integrated skid plates
• Selectable drive modes including Terrain mode and Hill Descent Control
• Exclusive AT4 interior elements featuring Forest Storm interior with Mahogany stitching and additional chrome-metallic trim

Acadia Denali returns to redefine the premium mid-size SUV, with new, stylish enhancements, elevated design cues and a bolder roster of luxurious features including:

• Standard one-touch folding second-row seats and power-folding third row
• Distinctive exterior trim and design features, including unique trim accents, a signature Denali grille and available, all-new, 22-inch machined aluminum wheels — the largest ever on Acadia
• Elevated interior featuring an available panoramic, pillar-to-pillar sunroof, authentic laser-etched wood décor with Galvano chrome accents, and perforated leather-appointed heated and ventilated front seats and available second-row outboard heated seats
• Active noise cancelling technology and a Bose premium sound system with 12 standard speakers— and up to 16 available on Denali

The 2024 GMC Acadia will be produced at GM’s Lansing Delta Township Assembly in Michigan and should go on sale early next year.

View full article

Today at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Cadillac unveiled the refreshed Cadillac CT5 sedan.  CT5 retail sales have been on an upswing of late, increasing over 35%.  In a time when sedan sales are stagnating or disappearing entirely, Cadillac's positive numbers have given hope that the luxury sedan market isn't quite dead yet.

The refresh of the CT5 begins with the exterior. A new larger, bolder grille is flanked by new vertically stacked headlamps and Cadillac's signature fangs.  The LED light clusters feature an animated startup sequence that "celebrates" you as you approach the car.  Two new exterior colors are available; Deep Space Metallic and Typhoon Metallic.  The Sport model grill features a mesh insert while standard models feature the Cadillac chevron.

The cockpit gets a major upgrade with a customizable 33-inch diagonal 9k digital information cluster and infotainment system.  The 9k resolution enables extremely crisp graphics and brings depth to the look. The infotainment system features Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Play built in. Updated HVAC controls complete the upgrade.

Cadillac SuperCruise is available, now upgraded with new Driver Attention Assist. A new safety feature is standard Intersection Automatic Emergency Braking.

The familiar 237 hp / 258 lb-ft 2-liter turbo 4 and the 335 hp / 405 lb-ft 3-liter turbo V6 carry over along with the 10-speed automatic.

The 2025 CT5 goes on sale in the spring of 2024 and will be built in GM's Lansing Grand River Assembly in Michigan.

View full article

View full article

3 hours ago, riviera74 said:

That's nice.  Call me when their EVs are priced below $25K fully equipped. 

If Henry Ford can make an affordable car into a world beater a century ago, then his namesake company can do the same now.

Best I can do under $25k and fully equipped is a Kia Rio or a Hyundai Venue. Even the Sentra clocks in at $27k and the Mirage is dead.

8 minutes ago, David said:

I can see your points you make, but the Sales increase is still a small number of actual units sold here.

Yes, the EVs built here will be a win for Buick for sure.

Agree that they should have been doing the building of the Envision along with the XT4 here all along.

Yet with that said, is the small number of units sold really making a decent profit for GM that would justify them keeping the product line being built and sold here?

I have to wonder about that considering how GM has in the past stretched themselves thin over too many name plates.

It costs them literally nothing extra to stick some Envisions they're already building on a boat. The shipping is built into the MSRP and destination charge.  They've gotta keep building them for China, so there's no harm in sending a few over here, plus it gives GMC dealers a few vehicles to cover price points below the Terrain, which is now $29,900.

6 minutes ago, David said:

R&D is still R&D if it can make a stronger brand even stronger, then why not kill off Buick. GM, Ford, Etc. so many have killed off cars due to not selling 100,000 or more units, so why keep Buick when it sells so little. Put the money into Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC.

Because that isn't the case.  They are selling over a million a year in China. Tossing a couple thousand on a boat twice a week doesn't cost anything.

Ford killed off the Fusion for dumb reasons, but one of those was that there were far too many product option. The Fusion had 4 different engines, 2 hybrids, FWD or AWD.  And they weren't getting volume advantages by building them all in one plant. The Euro Fusions were built in Europe. The US Fusions in North America. The China Fusions in China.

The Buicks have one or two engine options each and each model is built in one plant for the whole globe.

12 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

Isn't hers the only Chinese built Buick? Why'd she buy it in the first place if she is opposed to a Chinese built vehicle? 

There's like $15.00 allocated to Buick R&D. They're reskinned Chevys BUT, they probably have much better margins because they play up in the entry luxury field. 

Only the Enclave is US build. Envision, Encore GX, and Envista are China built.  OG Encore is out of production but was S. Korea built.

But also @David: There are 4+ Buicks sold in China for every one Buick sold in the US.  They do that by being an American brand and having that image.  They get to sell a million + Buicks in China because of the image. So losing that image by closing in the US would cost more than any expense in keeping Buick alive here for 150k cars a year.

That, and I think the Envista is going to sell like gangbusters. It will appeal to economy car / kia soul drivers who want something a little nicer.

How can you look at at 47% quarter increase and a 68% YTD increase and come out with the idea that Buick needs to close?

1. They won't close Buick because it being a US brand makes it a status symbol in China.

2. The R&D for Buick is cheap. Take a Chevy they're already building, give it curvier sheet metal which is easy to do with computers these days, nicer leather, laminate the windows, and add active noise cancellation, and they can mark it up $5k.

3. It's likely that any of the EV Buicks will end up being built in the US due to the way the tax incentives for EVs works, so for EVs at least, the China question becomes moot.

The only point I'd cede on this is that the Envision should probably be built in the US. It is a platform mate to the US-built Cadillac XT4 and they share engines and transmissions. Since the XT4 isn't exactly lighting up the sales charts, they could probably use the spare capacity to Kansas City to build Envisions, even if the sheetmetal gets stamped in China and shipped over.

I just wanted to let you know that @Anthony Fongaro has joined the team and will be starting to contribute news to the site starting this week.

Anthony and I have known each other for a number of years, and like me, he is a member of several automotive media press guilds such as Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA), Automotive Press Association (APA), and International Motor Press Association (IMPA).  Anthony hails from the Greater Chicagoland area and also writes for The Gentleman Racer and his own social media Anthony on Autos.

If you recognize him, it is because he has written a few articles for us back in late 2019.  I've posted some of his prior articles below.

Please welcome Anthony and be nice.

Hilton has announced that they will install up to 20,000 Tesla Universal Wall Connectors at 2,000 hotels across North America, creating the largest EV charging network in the hotel industry.  The project will start in early 2024 and include at least six chargers at each selected hotel. Hilton says that customers are increasingly searching for EV charging at their hotels, with the charging availability filter being the second highest attribute that converts a search to a booking. For Hilton, allowing EV owners to charge where they park means no unnecessary stops along their journey and that adds value to Hilton's product.

The Tesla Universal Wall Connector natively supports both NACS and J1772 type plugs, covering the vast majority of the new EV market, however, owners of older EVs with CHAdeMO or the Nissan Leaf will not be able to use these chargers. Using a standard 220-volt / 48-amp circuit, the 11.5 kW Tesla Universal Wall Connector can charge a Tesla Model-3 up to a rate of 44 miles of range per hour.

When set up in groups of six, the Tesla Universal Wall Connector is capable of managing access, allowing locations to monitor when and who is using the charging stations.

Our take: Building a charging network at locations where people naturally spend a significant time parked brings in additional customers who might otherwise go elsewhere.

Cheers and Gears is reader-supported. If you purchase through the links provided, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

Read More:
Choice Hotels Signs Agreement with Tesla to Install Chargers
Marriott and EV Connect Partner to Install EV Chargers in North America

View full article