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Drew Dowdell

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Everything posted by Drew Dowdell

  1. Drew Dowdell
    Juke is already dead in the US, but not overseas. I wouldn't be surprised to see Sentra go.
  2. Drew Dowdell
    Guys...
  3. Drew Dowdell
    There's one disadvantage to being partially owned by the French, they know how to cut things off when they need to. We reported last week that due to lagging sales and plunging profits, Nissan was readying to layoff 12,500 employees globally, or 9% of their global workforce. It seems that other cuts are on the way as well, though we may not see as much of it here in the U.S. Along with the 9% cut in jobs will be around 10% of its global lineup as well. First to go will be the low-end models in developing markets like India. Their overseas brand Datsun could see the bulk of the cuts, but the US will lose models as well. Expect coupes and hatchbacks to be the first to go, the Versa hatchback for example will not be returning for 2020, replaced by the more crossover-like Kicks. Which coupe might die? The Nissan 370Z, the Nissan GT-R, and the Infiniti Q60 are prime targets. Deliveries of the Infiniti Q60 are down 48.8% as of June. In Sedan-Land, the Maxima fell 30% and the Altima, which is all-new, is down 12.1%. But it isn't just cars that could get kicked to the curb. The Nissan Titan sales are down 22.6%, selling a mere 18,026 copies in the first half of this year. This trails even the slow selling Toyota Tundra by some 36,000 units. The Murano is down 33% year to date. So if you're wondering which models may have their head in the Guillotine, take a look at our Sales Figure Ticker for Nissan for June and put a big red question mark on them. View full article
  4. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "Nissan Readies the Guillotine for its Model Lineup"
    There's one disadvantage to being partially owned by the French, they know how to cut things off when they need to. We reported last week that due to lagging sales and plunging profits, Nissan was readying to layoff 12,500 employees globally, or 9% of their global workforce. It seems that other cuts are on the way as well, though we may not see as much of it here in the U.S. Along with the 9% cut in jobs will be around 10% of its global lineup as well. First to go will be the low-end models in developing markets like India. Their overseas brand Datsun could see the bulk of the cuts, but the US will lose models as well. Expect coupes and hatchbacks to be the first to go, the Versa hatchback for example will not be returning for 2020, replaced by the more crossover-like Kicks. Which coupe might die? The Nissan 370Z, the Nissan GT-R, and the Infiniti Q60 are prime targets. Deliveries of the Infiniti Q60 are down 48.8% as of June. In Sedan-Land, the Maxima fell 30% and the Altima, which is all-new, is down 12.1%. But it isn't just cars that could get kicked to the curb. The Nissan Titan sales are down 22.6%, selling a mere 18,026 copies in the first half of this year. This trails even the slow selling Toyota Tundra by some 36,000 units. The Murano is down 33% year to date. So if you're wondering which models may have their head in the Guillotine, take a look at our Sales Figure Ticker for Nissan for June and put a big red question mark on them.
  5. Drew Dowdell
    by the time the SUV/CUV fad fades, the market will have shifted more to EVs and autonomous vehicles... and who know what those will look like. Rolling toasters probably.
  6. Drew Dowdell
    I forget where I read it, but the C8 was built with electrification in mind.
  7. Drew Dowdell
    When the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette debuted a week and a half ago, there was some speculation that buyers might not go for it because of its mid-engine design or its outworldly styling. Well the nay-sayers might just have to start cooking up their crow. According to Michael Simcoe, GM's Design Chief, the orders have nearly hit the first year of production numbers. "It's nearly sold out. It's so close that it's bound to be sold out soon." Simcoe said. Now the caveat is that Simcoe has not revealed what the planned production numbers will be, so we have no idea if it will sell at a higher or lower rate than the C7 Corvette. The 2020 Corvette Stingray comes with a mid-mounted LT2 V8 making an SAE certified 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque when equipped with an optional exhaust. In Z51 form, the car can hit 60 mph in less than 3 seconds. Pricing will start under $60,000. View full article
  8. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "Corvette C8 Almost Sold Out Already"
    When the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette debuted a week and a half ago, there was some speculation that buyers might not go for it because of its mid-engine design or its outworldly styling. Well the nay-sayers might just have to start cooking up their crow. According to Michael Simcoe, GM's Design Chief, the orders have nearly hit the first year of production numbers. "It's nearly sold out. It's so close that it's bound to be sold out soon." Simcoe said. Now the caveat is that Simcoe has not revealed what the planned production numbers will be, so we have no idea if it will sell at a higher or lower rate than the C7 Corvette. The 2020 Corvette Stingray comes with a mid-mounted LT2 V8 making an SAE certified 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque when equipped with an optional exhaust. In Z51 form, the car can hit 60 mph in less than 3 seconds. Pricing will start under $60,000.
  9. Drew Dowdell
    Ford also priced their F-150 diesels too high for people to make the jump. I think GM did the right thing by keeping the diesel upgrade cost low.
  10. Drew Dowdell
    The Chevrolet Malibu will follow the likes to the Ford Fusion and Chrysler 200 by following them into that great nameplate junkyard in the sky after 2024 according to a report by Automotive News. There is a possibility of an electric successor to the Malibu, but nothing is certain at this point. An electric replacement would fit with GM's timeline to build 20 new EVs by 2023. Before the ax falls in 2024, the Malibu could get one last face lift for the 2022 model year to help it through the final stages before retirement. The Malibu is built in the Fairfax KS plant where the Cadillac XT4 is built. This follows on reports that the Chevrolet Camaro will also die in 2023. Other cars that are up for the chopping block are the Sonic after 2020 and the Spark after 2021. The Bolt and Equinox will get a freshening next year. With the Impala, Cruze, and Volt already dead, these changes will leave the Chevy brand without any sedans after 2024. With the Buick Regal also possibly canceled once the contract with PSA runs out, it may be that the only sedans available from General Motors will be from Cadillac. View full article
  11. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "Chevy Malibu to die after 2024"
    The Chevrolet Malibu will follow the likes to the Ford Fusion and Chrysler 200 by following them into that great nameplate junkyard in the sky after 2024 according to a report by Automotive News. There is a possibility of an electric successor to the Malibu, but nothing is certain at this point. An electric replacement would fit with GM's timeline to build 20 new EVs by 2023. Before the ax falls in 2024, the Malibu could get one last face lift for the 2022 model year to help it through the final stages before retirement. The Malibu is built in the Fairfax KS plant where the Cadillac XT4 is built. This follows on reports that the Chevrolet Camaro will also die in 2023. Other cars that are up for the chopping block are the Sonic after 2020 and the Spark after 2021. The Bolt and Equinox will get a freshening next year. With the Impala, Cruze, and Volt already dead, these changes will leave the Chevy brand without any sedans after 2024. With the Buick Regal also possibly canceled once the contract with PSA runs out, it may be that the only sedans available from General Motors will be from Cadillac.
  12. Drew Dowdell
    He'll do an SUV, but not if it looks too much like a wagon... so Flex but Explorer It doesn't make sense to me either...
  13. Drew Dowdell
    Some sort of Quill drive?
  14. Drew Dowdell
    I like the Sport.
  15. Drew Dowdell
    It'll still be there.
  16. Drew Dowdell
    The first Kia Stinger in the UK, a homologation test car, was saved from the crusher. As a pre-production car, it couldn't be sold to the public. As it sat in Kia's headquarters showroom, the Product and Press relations team were scheming up ways to keep the HiChroma Red GT S. After all, during its testing, it has racked up 10,000 miles, an unusually high amount for a test mule. Instead of being sent to the crusher, Kia brought in an engineering team from Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany. The team upgraded the Twin Turbo V6 from 365 hp to 422 hp and peak torque from 376 lb-ft to 413 lb-ft. They replaced the exhaust with a lightweight Milltek Sport exhaust with cats removed. An upgraded transmission cooler was added. and the transmission was recalibrated for quicker shifting in Sport and Sport+ mode. The team then "Added lightness" to the car by removal of all unneeded weight. Interior trim, airbags, engine cover, rear bumper beam were all removed. The rear windows were glued in place and lightweight door cards added. After the needed safety equipment and underbody stiffening were installed, the net weight reduction came to about 331 lbs off the stock car. Once the mechanical modifications were complete, the team added a Stillen front splitter and a rear spoiler, and a body wrap that advertises the racing specs and the GT420 name. There are no plans to build such a car from Kia, but it is an interesting study of what can be done with a car that is otherwise headed to the crusher. View full article
  17. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "Kia Builds One-Off Stinger GT420 Track Car"
    The first Kia Stinger in the UK, a homologation test car, was saved from the crusher. As a pre-production car, it couldn't be sold to the public. As it sat in Kia's headquarters showroom, the Product and Press relations team were scheming up ways to keep the HiChroma Red GT S. After all, during its testing, it has racked up 10,000 miles, an unusually high amount for a test mule. Instead of being sent to the crusher, Kia brought in an engineering team from Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany. The team upgraded the Twin Turbo V6 from 365 hp to 422 hp and peak torque from 376 lb-ft to 413 lb-ft. They replaced the exhaust with a lightweight Milltek Sport exhaust with cats removed. An upgraded transmission cooler was added. and the transmission was recalibrated for quicker shifting in Sport and Sport+ mode. The team then "Added lightness" to the car by removal of all unneeded weight. Interior trim, airbags, engine cover, rear bumper beam were all removed. The rear windows were glued in place and lightweight door cards added. After the needed safety equipment and underbody stiffening were installed, the net weight reduction came to about 331 lbs off the stock car. Once the mechanical modifications were complete, the team added a Stillen front splitter and a rear spoiler, and a body wrap that advertises the racing specs and the GT420 name. There are no plans to build such a car from Kia, but it is an interesting study of what can be done with a car that is otherwise headed to the crusher.
  18. Drew Dowdell
    12867-KiaStingerGT420-TrackDay.jpg

    From the album: Kia Stinger GT420 Concept

  19. Drew Dowdell

    Kia Stinger GT420 Concept

    Images added to a gallery album owned by Drew Dowdell in Media Gallery

  20. Drew Dowdell
    12817-StingerGT420.jpg

    From the album: Kia Stinger GT420 Concept

  21. Drew Dowdell
    12811-StingerGT420.jpg

    From the album: Kia Stinger GT420 Concept

  22. Drew Dowdell
    12798-StingerGT420.jpg

    From the album: Kia Stinger GT420 Concept

  23. Drew Dowdell
    12790-StingerGT420.jpg

    From the album: Kia Stinger GT420 Concept

  24. Drew Dowdell
    That's what Kia and Hyundai are for.
  25. Drew Dowdell
    We first saw a rendering of the forthcoming Fisker SUV back in March of this year. Now Fisker is releasing some photos of the concept and a few more details. The front end of the Fisker SUV looks mildly like a Land Rover if you stare at the headlights long enough. Along the side are retracting door handles and an interesting D-Pillar turn-signal repeater. Fisker has previously shown the SUV with a solar roof to help with charging. Fisker says the SUV will start under $40,000 and have a range over 300 miles per charge. They are also claiming that the vehicle will be the most sustainable vehicle available with many of the parts being made from recycled materials. For now, the look of the interior is a secret until its official unveiling later this year. Fisker hopes to have the SUV on the road in 2021. View full article
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