Drew Dowdell

I have some serious doubts that the new Escalade is going to go to the next level like the Navigator did in the most recent iteration. I just no longer have the confidence that GM will do the right thing. Dropping the Blackwing from the option sheet on the Escalade is what convinced me of that.

In 2018, when BMW launched it's 7.0 operating system for its in-car infotainment, it included Apple Car Play for free for the first 12 months. After that, the owner was asked to pay $80 for a 1 year subscription to Car Play or $300 for a 240 month subscription. This caused a stir among BMW owners because Apple Car Play is included at no charge in nearly every other brand out there and because Apple doesn't charge manufacturers to use Apple CarPlay in their models. Models as basic as the Chevrolet Sonic have CarPlay as standard and without any subscription fees. Now BMW has confirmed it is backing away from the subscription model in order to keep customers happy. All compatible 2019 and 2020 vehicles sold will be offered a free unlimited subscription once the initial 12 months are up. Older models that have CarPlay such as the i3, i8, 4-series, and older 2-series will have to pay for a lifetime subscription. For now, Android users are still stuck without a solution as BMW does not support Android Auto in its vehicles yet. View full article

Mary Barra's GM.... cut your way to prosperity.

The Cadillac CT6 will end production in January 2020 the company confirmed as part of a letter to 800 employees due to be laid off. This means that the 2020 CT6 will be the final model year for the car in the U.S.. Like the recently announced cancellation of the Buick Regal in the U.S., the CT6 will continue in production in China where sedan sales are still big. The news of the CT6's cancellation is not a surprise. GM's Detroit Hamtramck was originally slated for closure until the negotiations with the UAW brought some product back to the plant. GM is planning on building the next generation of EV trucks and SUVs at the plant including the possible return of the Hummer nameplate. Once the CT6 departs, the only sedans in Cadillac's lineup will be the new CT4 and CT5 that are just entering production now. View full article

Oh, one other thing I forgot to mention. There will also be a PHEV version eventually, but not at launch.

In this case, he's actually on topic for once. One of the big concerns for the UAW and the European unions is that EVs require fewer workers per car to build. Benz is shedding jobs as well ahead of them getting ramped up for their EV production.

.... into a tree... The suspensions aren't up to it.

Genesis has been having a hard time keeping the lid on the GV80 leaks lately. A day after someone leaked grainy pictures of the GV80 on Instagram, someone sent 4 pictures of the interior and exterior over to Car and Driver who published them for all the world to see. The GV80 is Genesis' first entry into the hot SUV market and enters the segment currently occupied by the Mercedes Benz GLE, the Audi Q7, BMW X5, and Lincoln Aviator. It rides on the same rear wheel drive platform as the next generation G80 sedan due out next year. The main powerplant will be a 3.3-liter turbocharged V6 which in the G80 currently makes 365 horsepower, but could go up in this application. There's also the possibility of a turbo 4-cylinder or a naturally aspirated V6 as a base engine. It's said to have driver assistance systems similar to Telsa autopilot which would be a first for Genesis. For now, most of this is rumor and speculation as we wait for the official reveal next month. The GV80 is expected to go on sale Summer of 2020. View full article

Yup, up and out of the way. Lift height is programmable too.

Details emerged Wednesday of the labor agreement between the United Auto Workers and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. The overall contract is similar to the one agreed to by Ford last month. The four year contract includes: Signing bonus of $9,000 for full-time employees, $3,500 for temporary workers. Full-time workers can now reach the top pay bracket in four years rather than the current eight. FCA will create 7,900 jobs through 2023 which includes the 6,500 jobs already announced for a new plant in Detroit. $9 Billion in U.S. manufacturing investments. Dissolution of the jointly-run National Training Center, the focal point of a federal corruption investigation. An increase in profit sharing from $800 per percent of N.A. profit margin to $900 per percent. "In-progression" employees will now get the same healthcare as senior hourly employees. FCA will also offer $60,000 retirement packages to eligable workers in Belvidere Assembly, Marysville Axle, Mount Elliot, and a parts-distribution center in Wisconsin. UAW leaders from the various plants are meeting in Detroit to review the deal and decide whether to send it to the rank-and-file membership as a whole for ratification. If approved for voting, it will likely start on Friday and take a week to complete. FCA is the final of the domestic auto manufacturers to complete their deal with the UAW. View full article

Gas 350 (3-speed automatic) would be the only combo. '81 V8-6-4 (disabling the solenoids can cause transmission issues). I'd rather find a working 8-6-4 and keep it clean with frequent oil changes.

Well the inevitable finally happened, Buick has confirmed that the Regal will not be returning to the U.S. after the 2020 model year. After that, Buick will be an all-SUV brand. The move comes as light-truck sales take 70% of the U.S. market and 90% of all Buick sales. While the Regal retreats from these shores, it will still continue to be sold in China where demand remains strong. As of the end of Q3 this year, Buick moved only 8,849 units of Regal year to date. That's down 19.6% from the year prior. Regal's demise was hinted at during the Los Angeles Auto Show where no Regals were on display. The Buick Lacrosse sedan and Buick Cascada convertible were canceled earlier this year. Starting next year, the Buick Encore GX will join the lineup, a slightly larger iteration of the Buick Encore, but on a new platform and using a new 3-cylinder engine. View full article

One of the best. Less road noise and better ride than the Pilot. Nicer interior than Enclave or Traverse. Bigger and more up to date than the Durango. Highlander is new and I haven't driven the new one yet. The one downside I've found to this one is fuel economy. In my mostly suburban driving I'm getting in the high teens and I'm pretty gentle on the throttle. It doesn't have the trick cylinder shutoff that the GM twins and Pilot have.

Well, it's going back today. Get your final questions in.

Updated with MB numbers.

Mercedes-Benz Passenger Vehicles Nov-19 Nov-18 Monthly % YTD 2019 YTD 2018 Yearly % A-CLASS 1,544 - - 16,475 - - B-CLASS* 0 0 0.0% 9 134 -93.3% CLA 1,641 1,832 -10.4% 11,056 20,848 -47.0% C-CLASS 4,469 5,777 -22.6% 45,740 53,610 -14.7% E-CLASS/CLS 3,689 5,181 -28.8% 36,770 41,380 -11.1% S-CLASS 1,452 1,672 -13.2% 11,441 13,492 -15.2% SLC 62 149 -58.4% 1,693 1,841 -8.0% SL 100 181 -44.8% 1,550 1,968 -21.2% AMG GT 534 103 418.4% 3,763 1,389 170.9% GLA 2,461 2,411 2.1% 20,041 21,739 -7.8% GLC 7,515 6,199 21.2% 67,214 62,433 7.7% GLE 6,052 3,988 51.8% 44,193 42,276 4.5% GLS 2,893 2,761 4.8% 19,323 19,308 0.1% G-CLASS 1,309 768 70.4% 6,532 3,525 85.3% TOTAL 33,721 31,022 8.7% 285,800 283,943 0.7% Vans1 3,542 1,857 90.7% 36,650 34,062 7.6% MBUSA Combined Total Nov-19 Nov-18 Monthly % YTD 2019 YTD 2018 Yearly % GRAND TOTAL 37,263 32,879 13.3% 322,450 318,005 1.4% *Model has been discontinued in the U.S. market. 1 Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner Sprinter and Metris Vans are sold and marketed in the U.S. by Mercedes-Benz USA and Daimler Vans USA, respectively.

I used to play in highschool. It's more an ornament now than anything.

I like this era Eldorado too.. but the engines scare me. Put my 307 in an Eldorado and I'd be there all day. I like all three and think they all did well representing their various brands, though the Riv is my least favorite of the three as I feel it looks very feminine. I always consider the Seville to be the 4th brother of this trio since it is so closely related, and count it among my favorites too.