Drew Dowdell
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Everything posted by Drew Dowdell
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The latest generation of vehicles from Korea, in the upper tiers, may be the first to really deserve that kind of praise. The K900, the Telluride, the Palisade, the G70/80/90 are all substantially better than prior attempts. I'm betting the Genesis GV80 SUV will deservedly get accolades as well. Like I said earlier, could they get away with a Genesis version of the Palisade? Probably, but they're doing a whole different platform for it.
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It's very well done. Very little of the surfaces I would consider cheap plastic. The buttons and other switchgear all have a nice weighted feel to them. It really is well done inside.
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It'll be trusty and reliable and she'll eventually hate it, but it won't die.
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Chrysler News: FCA and UAW Reach Tentative Agreement
Drew Dowdell replied to Drew Dowdell's topic in Chrysler
I"m surprised the UAW was so successful this time around. They basically got everything they wanted. -
What "rotary"? The Rotary dial is not the shifter, it's the drive mode selector. Set it to comfort or snow, but otherwise leave it alone.
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Mazda has an internal debate going on as to whether to electrify or not the next generation MX-5 Miata. One of the major concerns is keeping the car light weight. The current car in base form tips the scales at just 2,345 lbs. and is incredibly well balanced, so adding batteries and electric motors could upset that balance. Electric motors can be compact and powerful though, adding torque in places where gasoline motors are weak. In order to provide that power, they require dense and heavy battery packs. Still, if power can be added to the 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 181 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque, it might make up for the weight increase in a straight line. Why do this? It's not like the MX-5 is a huge seller. It doesn't contribute to Mazda's overall volume in such a way that it should require efficiency tuning to meet fuel economy standards. Just 8,971 Miatas passed through Mazda dealerships in 2019. The answer is in image. Mazda wants to maintain the appearance of being eco-friendly. They feel that the preference of people who enjoy driving sports cars could be changing, so Mazda needs to think about the direction society is going. The next Mazda MX-5 isn't due until 2022 or so, so Mazda still has some time to decide. Mazda is committed to the original formula that made the Miata an icon though, and any electrification will have to happen with the thought of maintaining lightness as a priority. -
Mazda has an internal debate going on as to whether to electrify or not the next generation MX-5 Miata. One of the major concerns is keeping the car light weight. The current car in base form tips the scales at just 2,345 lbs. and is incredibly well balanced, so adding batteries and electric motors could upset that balance. Electric motors can be compact and powerful though, adding torque in places where gasoline motors are weak. In order to provide that power, they require dense and heavy battery packs. Still, if power can be added to the 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 181 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque, it might make up for the weight increase in a straight line. Why do this? It's not like the MX-5 is a huge seller. It doesn't contribute to Mazda's overall volume in such a way that it should require efficiency tuning to meet fuel economy standards. Just 8,971 Miatas passed through Mazda dealerships in 2019. The answer is in image. Mazda wants to maintain the appearance of being eco-friendly. They feel that the preference of people who enjoy driving sports cars could be changing, so Mazda needs to think about the direction society is going. The next Mazda MX-5 isn't due until 2022 or so, so Mazda still has some time to decide. Mazda is committed to the original formula that made the Miata an icon though, and any electrification will have to happen with the thought of maintaining lightness as a priority. View full article
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A lot of that stuff is coming standard now.
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I've cleaned up this topic of the trolling posts. The rules here are simple... talk about cars, not about each other. Further breaking of that rule will lead to warning points being issued and possible suspensions.
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Cross traffic monitor definitely beeps and it buzzes the steering wheel. I haven't had the chance to check the blind spot monitoring for you.
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I took this out on the battlefield of Black Friday shopping. It has a surprisingly tight turning radius for such a big vehicle which makes it easy to park. The automatic cruise control and lane centering make highway driving a breeze, I just set the cruise to 65 mph and the Palisade tracked whatever the car in front of me was doing. I only needed to use the brakes on the final pull into the mall parking lot. Getting up and into the Palisade is a bit of a jump. It could use running boards. Lowering the third row happens electronically at the touch of a button and the seat lay flat. The digital dash is awesome, and I find myself using the turn signal even more than I normally would just to get a view of what is beside me. And yes, I do think the light pipes both back and front riff on the Cadillac vertical light scheme. I wasn't saying that tongue in cheek. The interior riff somewhat off of Benz with the wide dual displays. The Koreans are trying to develop their own styling, but some of it still is a homage to other brands.
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Aston Martin News:Aston Martin Launches its First SUV
Drew Dowdell replied to Drew Dowdell's topic in Aston Martin
ehhem.- 64 replies
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Need to buy a small tech-y gadget - help, please
Drew Dowdell replied to trinacriabob's topic in Tech Section
1. They only work "okay", sound quality isn't the greatest.... and you have to find a blank station in your area so you can transmit at that frequency. You're not going to be able to override your local NPR broadcast for example. 2. Depends entirely on the app you are using to play music. If you are playing music that is stored on your phone, no data usage. If you are using Pandora or Spotify, you'll have data usage. 3. The FM transmitter devices will not control your phone playlist. All they do is transmit the music. Unfortunately, you'll have to control all the music playback from your phone's app. -
The Chevy Trailblazer Thinks You Don't Want a Cruze: Comments
Drew Dowdell replied to Drew Dowdell's topic in LA Auto Show
Not much bigger than her Trax -
Hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday.
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Palisade I think. Palisade has a smoother ride, just as much power, and a better finished interior... plus a lot more tech for the price. I'm quickly used to the gear selector in the Palisade. I find it especially easier when doing a 5 point turn like I need to when getting the thing out of my driveway. The only reason to go to the Enclave over this is raw cubic feet. If you need the extra space, the GM twins or the Pilot are there. But as a luxury vehicle, this out-Enclaves the Enclave.
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I think this and the Telluride are so darn close that it really comes down to aesthetics and how much you like the interior of one over the other. The interiors of both are very well done and show a lot of thoughtful small features. The V6 in this never feels out of breath and the 8-speed is more than happy to downshift as much as needed to give you the power you want. Would a Turbo V6 be faster? Sure, but I don't think anyone would really need it unless they were towing with it regularly. Should they make a bigger one? Yes, but they've probably reached the limits of size on this unibody platform. They'd probably have to move to BOF. The Genesis version will be RWD rather than the FWD this is. Totally different platform. Could they get away with a Genesis version of this? Probably.
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The United Auto Workers and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles have reached a tentative labor agreement for a four-year contract the union and FCA said today. While details were not provided, the main framework of the deal is expected to mirror that of the deals made with Ford Motor Company and General Motors. Those deals include signing bonuses of at least $9,000, no changes for healthcare, and a clearer way forward for temporary employees to become permanent status. On December 4th, a council of the heads of UAW locals will meet and review the agreement and must approve it prior to sending it to members to ratify. Some media reports say that negotiators secured promises of another $4.5 billion in investments on top of the previous $4.5 billion to open a new assembly plant in Detroit. Other facilities in Southeast Michigan would receive upgrades. Further, the company has promised not to close any plants, and will allocate a new product to an Illinois assembly plant. View full article
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The United Auto Workers and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles have reached a tentative labor agreement for a four-year contract the union and FCA said today. While details were not provided, the main framework of the deal is expected to mirror that of the deals made with Ford Motor Company and General Motors. Those deals include signing bonuses of at least $9,000, no changes for healthcare, and a clearer way forward for temporary employees to become permanent status. On December 4th, a council of the heads of UAW locals will meet and review the agreement and must approve it prior to sending it to members to ratify. Some media reports say that negotiators secured promises of another $4.5 billion in investments on top of the previous $4.5 billion to open a new assembly plant in Detroit. Other facilities in Southeast Michigan would receive upgrades. Further, the company has promised not to close any plants, and will allocate a new product to an Illinois assembly plant. -
Happy Thanksgiving all!
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In the C&G garage for the week is the 2020 Hyundai Palisade Limited AWD with a sticker price of $47,605. This is Hyundai's newest SUV, at least until the diminutive Hyundai Venue takes its place at the other end of the size spectrum. The first impression I got from the Palisade was how big it is. Even though it is around 7 inches shorter than a Buick Enclave, it looks bigger and beefier. Being a Limited means that it is in top trim with only carpeted floor mats as an additional option. It's powered by a 3.8 liter naturally aspirated V6 producing 291 HP and 262 lb-ft of torque and equipped with start/stop. On my quick initial test drive I found the start/stop function to be unobtrusive and quick to restart the vehicle when I was ready to roll. Another immediate impression was with the sound quality of the Harmon Kardon sound system. I hooked my phone up via USB and Android Auto took over, playing my favorite Pandora station loud and clear. Another feature I like is the video display in the dash when using the turn signal. It helps clear any blind spots one might have in this big SUV. So while you're stuffing your faces with turkey this Thursday, think of questions you have about the 2020 Hyundai Palisade and post them below. View full article
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In the C&G garage for the week is the 2020 Hyundai Palisade Limited AWD with a sticker price of $47,605. This is Hyundai's newest SUV, at least until the diminutive Hyundai Venue takes its place at the other end of the size spectrum. The first impression I got from the Palisade was how big it is. Even though it is around 7 inches shorter than a Buick Enclave, it looks bigger and beefier. Being a Limited means that it is in top trim with only carpeted floor mats as an additional option. It's powered by a 3.8 liter naturally aspirated V6 producing 291 HP and 262 lb-ft of torque and equipped with start/stop. On my quick initial test drive I found the start/stop function to be unobtrusive and quick to restart the vehicle when I was ready to roll. Another immediate impression was with the sound quality of the Harmon Kardon sound system. I hooked my phone up via USB and Android Auto took over, playing my favorite Pandora station loud and clear. Another feature I like is the video display in the dash when using the turn signal. It helps clear any blind spots one might have in this big SUV. So while you're stuffing your faces with turkey this Thursday, think of questions you have about the 2020 Hyundai Palisade and post them below. -
Lincoln News: Lincoln EV Getting Rivian Platform
Drew Dowdell replied to Drew Dowdell's topic in Lincoln
Must have an extra large battery -
Los Angeles - At the Los Angeles Auto Show, Lincoln introduced the Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring, a plug-in hybrid trim. Based on the standard Corsair, the Grand Touring's powertrain consists of a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder gas engine and a permanent magnet synchronous motor. The combined output based on Lincoln's calculations would be roughly 266 horsepower. Electric All-wheel drive powers the rear wheels. EV range is targeted at 25 miles EPA. Power is conveyed through a PowerSplit electric continuously variable transmission with two electric motors working together to provide very smooth acceleration. In addition to the five modes normally available to Corsair drivers, two additional modes are available on the Grand Touring; Preserve EV mode recharges and saves battery power for later, the engine and motor work continuously to deliver full power. The battery can be recharged up to 75 percent while in this mode. Pure EV mode is designed to keep the vehicle in all-electric mode as much as possible, only using the gasoline engine when the power demands exceed the electrical capabilities of the vehicle. The Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring will be built in Louisville Kentucky and will go on sale summer of 2020. View full article
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Lincoln Introduces the Corsair Grand Touring
Drew Dowdell posted an article in Los Angeles Auto Show
Los Angeles - At the Los Angeles Auto Show, Lincoln introduced the Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring, a plug-in hybrid trim. Based on the standard Corsair, the Grand Touring's powertrain consists of a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder gas engine and a permanent magnet synchronous motor. The combined output based on Lincoln's calculations would be roughly 266 horsepower. Electric All-wheel drive powers the rear wheels. EV range is targeted at 25 miles EPA. Power is conveyed through a PowerSplit electric continuously variable transmission with two electric motors working together to provide very smooth acceleration. In addition to the five modes normally available to Corsair drivers, two additional modes are available on the Grand Touring; Preserve EV mode recharges and saves battery power for later, the engine and motor work continuously to deliver full power. The battery can be recharged up to 75 percent while in this mode. Pure EV mode is designed to keep the vehicle in all-electric mode as much as possible, only using the gasoline engine when the power demands exceed the electrical capabilities of the vehicle. The Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring will be built in Louisville Kentucky and will go on sale summer of 2020.
