Drew Dowdell

Isn't that the case with all modern trucks?

I expect it would be since they just made Apple CarPlay free.

Comparing the Tahoe's 2020 numbers is irrelevant. The new 5.3 and 6.2 have new cylinder deactivation tech that allows the engine to run on as little as 2 cylinders and start/stop. The numbers will change.

One of the safety issues surrounding electric vehicles is that they are nearly silent at low speeds with only limited tire noise emanating from them. This is a hazardous situation for pedestrians who may not hear an EV creeping up being them. Volkswagen is working on a solution to the issue by hiring composer and music producer Leslie Mandoki to produce a sound for the upcoming ID series of cars to make when operating at low speeds. One advantage of this is that brands, including Volkswagen, can craft their own voice for their cars to have. The Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System operates both inside and outside of the car and fades away when the car reaches cruising speeds where wind and road noise are sufficient. “An electric vehicle’s sound defines its identity. The sound should be confident and likable. It may well sound futuristic and must also impress with its unique character”, Dr. Frank Welsch explains as the Chief Development Officer of Volkswagen Passenger Cars. To hear the sound of the upcoming Volkswagen ID series, click below. AVAS_EU_VW-ID3_Start_Fahrt_ueber30kmh_Bremsen.wav View full article

The EV startup Fisker will be officially debuting their Ocean EV on January 4th at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Fisker has been teasing images of the Ocean for months. Fisker has also announced that they will be partnering with Electrify America, the charging network born from the Volkswagen Dieselgate scandal. Electrify America is building out a network of 350 kW rapid chargers to be coming online in 45 states by December 2021. Fisker says that when using those 350 kW rapid chargers, the Ocean will be able to gain 200 miles of range in at little as 30 minutes. The Electrify America network will automatically recognize the Ocean and be set up for automatic payments. Fisker will also be offering a complimentary charging scheme to go with the vehicle. The Ocean is a direct competitor to the forthcoming Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E. Range is expected to be around 300 miles under ideal conditions from its 80 kWh battery. On the roof is a full-size solar panel that is said to be able to add 1,000 miles of range to the vehicle per year. Fisker is said to be working on solid state battery technology that would increase range to 500 miles and allow for charges in minutes. Fisker claims the Ocean will be the most sustainable vehicle built with many recycled and vegan materials inside. The Fisker Ocean will be offered primarily through leasing rather than purchasing. Pricing for a lease is expected to start around $379 per month after a deposit of $2,999. The Ocean is expected to go into production at the end of 2021 with full production commencing in early 2022. View full article

This probably happened because Android Auto was coming.

Just a day after the 2021 Suburban and Tahoe debuted the Cadillac Escalade has also leaked out online. As expected, the side profile still looks like the Tahoe/Suburban, however it apparently does still sport the vertical tail lights of the current generation vehicle. Inside is a decidedly upgraded interior. The gauge cluster is dual screen and flows into the infotainment system. Like the Chevy twins, the column shifter is gone, in this case replaced by Cadillac's Precision Control Shift. A dial to control the infotainment system similar to that on the XT6 is visible as well. The Escalade will be powered by the same 6.2 liter V8 offered as an upgrade in the Suburban and Tahoe, but a supercharged version could make its way into the engine room at a later date as well finally giving the Escalade a V version. Expect the same wheelbase and space increases gained on the Chevies. The Escalade will be debuting officially soon, so keep it tuned here for more updates as they come out. View full article

I don't think either of us get BMWs to test. But anyway, we'd have to wait until June/July to test Android Auto anyway.

You have to press the brake to shift into Park or Reverse on the Fusion and Chrysler 300s.

BMW has announced that beginning in Mid-2020, Android Auto with wireless connection will be available to customers in 20 countries for all vehicles with BMW Operating System 7.0 (which is most of their current lineup). Android Auto functions will be viewable in the instrument cluster and heads up display as well as the main infotainment screen. Google Assistant can be activated with the touch of a button on the steering wheel. No word yet on how the upgrade will be applied, but most likely you will need to take your compatible BMW to a dealership to have the software updated. The list of Android phone compatible with the wireless Android Auto connection are below: Phone Make and Model Android Version Pixel or Pixel XL Android 8.0 or higher Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL Android 8.0 or higher Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL Android 8.0 or higher Nexus 5X or 6P Android 8.0 or higher Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8+ Android 9.0 or higher Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9+ Android 9.0 or higher Samsung Galaxy S10 or S10+ Android 9.0 or higher Samsung Note 8, Note 9 and Note 10 Android 9.0 or higher View full article

Mercedes-Benz went the unconventional route and debuted their new GLA SUV completely online this morning. The new GLA comes on a new platform and changes up the dimensions a bit to improve interior space. Overall length is down 0.6 inches, but height has increased 4.1 inches, and wheelbase is up 1.1 inches while width is up 1.2 inches. This translates to some minor improvements in most, but not all, interior dimensions. (Dimensions chart on Page 2) The GLA initially will come in three forms, the GLA 250, GLA 250 4Matic, and AMG GLA 35. The 250 and 250 4matic some with the same powertrain, a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder producing 221 horsepower at 5,500 RPM and 258 lb-ft of torque at 1,620 - 4,000 RPM. Power is sent to the wheels via an 8-speed DCT. The AMG GLA 35 comes with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with 302 horsepower at 5,800 RPM and 295 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 - 4,000 RPM. And uses a modified version of the 8-speed DCT. Zero to 60 is estimated at 5.0 seconds. GLA 250 models equipped with 4Matic come with an Off-Road Engineering Package as standard. It is an extra drive mode that adapts the characteristics of the 4Matic system and changes power delivery and ABS intervention. The gauge cluster will present an animation of gradient, inclination angle, and technical settings to help the driver through the situation. 4Matic has been updated from being hydraulically activated to electro-mechanically activated. In normal mode, the system splits torque 80:20 front:rear. Sport mode changes that ratio to 70:30, while off-road mode moves it to 50:50. Being electro-mechanically operated allows the 4Matic system to be more efficient by not having to drive hydraulic pumps. The GLA 250 is available with a host of driver assistance packages. They include: Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC with the functions: braking for stationary vehicles, extended automatic restarting in traffic jams in conjunction with Active Parking Assist and navigation, activation of "Gliding" in the ECO drive mode, Active Steering Assist with the functions: Active Emergency Braking Assist – with automatic unlocking and placement of an SOS call to the Mercedes-Benz emergency call center after the vehicle has come to a stop (depending on country) Active Lane Change Assist in conjunction with navigation, Emergency lane function: in freeway traffic jams at speeds below approx. 37 mph. Active Speed Limit Assist with reaction to changes in speed limits in conjunction with Traffic Sign Assist, Route-based speed adjustment when approaching bends, roundabouts, toll stations, T-junctions and before leaving highways – reduction of vehicle speed when encountering the end of a traffic jam, in conjunction with navigation, Evasive Steering Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function, PRE-SAFE PLUS: can detect a potential rear impact. If the danger of a collision persists, the system can also firmly apply the brakes of the stationary vehicle, minimizing the risk of whiplash injuries by reducing the forward jolt caused by an impact from the rear. The interior of the GLA is quite similar to the A-Class sedan. Mercedes MBUX is there and can be activated by voice simply by saying "Hey Mercedes". AMG 35 The GLA AMG 35 gets an AMG tuned suspension, including an optional ride control system that allows the driver to select between three different drive modes. A high performance braking system with 13.8 inch disks up front and 13.0 inch disks in the rear is included. There is a speed-sensitive variable ratio steering that changes the amount of assistance offered at different speeds. The AMG also gets a special exhaust system with a gas flap to change the sound dynamics of the car depending on mode, engine speed, and engine load. The exterior of the AMG GLA 35 gets a different front fascia from the regular GLA 250, fitting in with the rest of the AMG lineup. The GLA 250 goes on sale Summer of 2020 with the AMG following after that. New GLA Predecessor Diff. Exterior dimensions Length in 173.6 174.2 -0.6 Width in 72.2 71.0 +1.2 Width incl. exterior mirrors in 79.5 79.6 -0.1 Height in 63.4 59.3 +4.1 Wheelbase in 107.4 106.3 +1.1 Track, front in 63.2 61.4 +1.8 Track, rear in 63.2 61.4 +1.8 Interior dimensions* Max. front headroom in 40.8 40.0 +0.8 Headroom, rear in 38.1 38.4 -0.3 Legroom, front in 41.1 41.9 -0.8 Legroom, rear in 38.4 33.9 +4.5 Elbow room, front in 57.3 56.0 +1.3 Elbow room, rear in 57.3 55.5 +1.8 Shoulder room, front in 55.9 54.8 +1.1 Shoulder room, rear in 54.8 53.1 +1.7 Load compartment width, max. in 50.1 46.7 +3.4 Load compartment depth, max. in 56.0 54.9 +1.1 Eff. width trunk opening in 41.3 41.1 +0.2 Trunk capacity (VDA) cu-ft 15.4 14.9 +0.5 View full article