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Drew Dowdell

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Everything posted by Drew Dowdell

  1. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "Lotus to go All Electric with New Supercar"
    Lotus, aiming to rejoin the ranks of the supercars again is introducing a new limited production halo vehicle. The Evija will be a fully electric hypercar costing $2.11 million each with only 130 copies made. The car is said to be capable of 1,973 horsepower from four electric motors and have a range of up to 250 miles. Electric vehicles aren't known for being lightweight with their heavy battery packs, so Lotus is offsetting the 70 kWh battery's weight with a fully carbon fiber monoque chassis. Lotus is confident that the car will reach the 3,704 lb. target weight. The 0-62mph time is said to be less than three seconds with a top speed of more than 200 mph. The car can run at full power for 7 minutes on a track before the battery derates the power output. With 350 kw chargers the Evija can be recharged from 0 to 100 percent in 18 minutes, however the battery is compatible with future 800 kw charger as they become available. The design of the Evija is meant to evoke a LeMans racer, and it includes two venturi tunnels to reduce air pressure and reduce drag. The rear of the tunnels are fitted with a ring of red ribbon LEDs to look like the afterburners of a jet. The interior is quite minimalist with a rectangular steering wheel and a single pod of honeycomb shaped buttons up the center stack. It lacks the traditional center screen and instead uses the driver information screen for all feedback. Chinese auto manufacturer Geely bought Lotus in 2017 and the Evija is the first model launched since the purchase. Lotus plans to build more models suited for the Chinese market, including an SUV.
  2. Drew Dowdell
    Lotus, aiming to rejoin the ranks of the supercars again is introducing a new limited production halo vehicle. The Evija will be a fully electric hypercar costing $2.11 million each with only 130 copies made. The car is said to be capable of 1,973 horsepower from four electric motors and have a range of up to 250 miles. Electric vehicles aren't known for being lightweight with their heavy battery packs, so Lotus is offsetting the 70 kWh battery's weight with a fully carbon fiber monoque chassis. Lotus is confident that the car will reach the 3,704 lb. target weight. The 0-62mph time is said to be less than three seconds with a top speed of more than 200 mph. The car can run at full power for 7 minutes on a track before the battery derates the power output. With 350 kw chargers the Evija can be recharged from 0 to 100 percent in 18 minutes, however the battery is compatible with future 800 kw charger as they become available. The design of the Evija is meant to evoke a LeMans racer, and it includes two venturi tunnels to reduce air pressure and reduce drag. The rear of the tunnels are fitted with a ring of red ribbon LEDs to look like the afterburners of a jet. The interior is quite minimalist with a rectangular steering wheel and a single pod of honeycomb shaped buttons up the center stack. It lacks the traditional center screen and instead uses the driver information screen for all feedback. Chinese auto manufacturer Geely bought Lotus in 2017 and the Evija is the first model launched since the purchase. Lotus plans to build more models suited for the Chinese market, including an SUV. View full article
  3. Drew Dowdell
    I think at least one, if not two of the Japanese makes that are still here today would not be had the domestics (not just GM) properly manufactured their first generation of sub-compacts. Datsun would never have gained a foothold, Mitsubishi would be unheard of, and possibly even VW would have pulled out before the first Rabbit was built. Honda and Toyota would probably have persevered, but Lexus and Acura would be a decade younger than they are.
  4. Drew Dowdell
    Again, they would have needed to follow these up with turbo versions in order to make the inroads that @ocnblu is looking for in his "what if?"
  5. Drew Dowdell
    Fine, but the Corvette weighs a lot less than a Custom Cruiser or Fleetwood.
  6. Drew Dowdell
    IF GM had gotten diesel right way back then, they would have also needed to follow up quickly with a turbocharged version. Even the best running, problem free, Olds 5.7 diesel only has about 110 horsepower and is slower than heck (this coming from a guy who drives a slow as heck 307). They would have also needed to do the same to the transverse V6 diesel to bring it into more mainstream cars like the Cutlass Cierra and the eventual H-Bodies. Even if the existing engine had worked perfectly, I think the actual performance was too bad for Americans.
  7. Drew Dowdell
    Plus, they never told anyone about it.
  8. Drew Dowdell
    The Euro brands should be split off from the American brands. Only the American brands make any sort of money these days.
  9. Drew Dowdell
    The 8-speed thing is new for this generation, up from 6-speeds before. But it's just programming to make people feel better about "shifting". To get the best performance, it's best to leave a CVT in CVT mode.
  10. Drew Dowdell
    What brand would you put it under? Jeep?
  11. Drew Dowdell
    This x 1000
  12. Drew Dowdell
    They looked cool, but they should have really pushed it harder against the Outback.
  13. Drew Dowdell
    Subaru has announced pricing for the 2020 Subaru Legacy and 2020 Subaru Outback. Both get modest price increases, but also increases in base equipment. The Legacy starting price is $200 more than last year at $24,995, and the Outback is $300 more at $26,645. Some of the biggest equipment upgrades is that Subaru's Eyesight now features Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering, a heads up monitoring system, LED headlights for low and high beam, and high beam assist. Both cars are built on Subaru's new global platform that offers increased safety, and reductions in noise, vibration, and harshness. The base engine is a revised 2.5 liter boxer-four that produces 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque. An upgraded 2.4T boxer engine is standard in Limited XT models and produces 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm. Both engines come with start-stop to improve fuel efficiency. Fuel economy figures are as follows: Legacy 2.5 - 35 MPG highway Legacy XT - 32 MPG highway Outback 2.5 - 33 MPG highway Outback XT - 30 MPG highway The only transmission available is Subaru's Lineartronic CVT that now has an 8-speed manual shift mode via paddles on the steering wheel. Six different trims are available on the Legacy and seven different trims available on the Outback. Inside, the infotainment system features dual 7.0 inch touch screens. The upper screen controls the audio with Apple Car Play and Android Auto, while the lower screen controls climate control, controls for Eyesight, and other vehicle systems. Both the Legacy and Outback are built in Lafayette, IN, and will go on sale this fall. View full article
  14. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "Subaru Announces Legacy and Outback Pricing"
    Subaru has announced pricing for the 2020 Subaru Legacy and 2020 Subaru Outback. Both get modest price increases, but also increases in base equipment. The Legacy starting price is $200 more than last year at $24,995, and the Outback is $300 more at $26,645. Some of the biggest equipment upgrades is that Subaru's Eyesight now features Advanced Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering, a heads up monitoring system, LED headlights for low and high beam, and high beam assist. Both cars are built on Subaru's new global platform that offers increased safety, and reductions in noise, vibration, and harshness. The base engine is a revised 2.5 liter boxer-four that produces 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque. An upgraded 2.4T boxer engine is standard in Limited XT models and produces 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm. Both engines come with start-stop to improve fuel efficiency. Fuel economy figures are as follows: Legacy 2.5 - 35 MPG highway Legacy XT - 32 MPG highway Outback 2.5 - 33 MPG highway Outback XT - 30 MPG highway The only transmission available is Subaru's Lineartronic CVT that now has an 8-speed manual shift mode via paddles on the steering wheel. Six different trims are available on the Legacy and seven different trims available on the Outback. Inside, the infotainment system features dual 7.0 inch touch screens. The upper screen controls the audio with Apple Car Play and Android Auto, while the lower screen controls climate control, controls for Eyesight, and other vehicle systems. Both the Legacy and Outback are built in Lafayette, IN, and will go on sale this fall.
  15. Drew Dowdell
    The march towards majority SUVs continues on and the two newest casualties are the Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen and the Golf Alltrack. As we predicted a month ago, Volkswagen will end production of the two vehicles in the 2019 model year, though in the case of the Alltrack, production will be extended to December. Volkswagen says that with 50 percent of their sales being SUVs, consumer tastes have shifted strongly to SUVs, and VW is responding by releasing three new SUVs over the next 2 years. First up, will be a 5-seater Atlas Cross Sport being unveiled later this year, then the ID.CROZZ electric SUV early next year, and a just announced SUV to slot below the Tiguan is planned for 2021. While Volkswagen says their new ID EV platform can be used for bodystyles of the past, apparently the station wagon is not one planned. View full article
  16. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen and Golf AllTrack To End Production"
    The march towards majority SUVs continues on and the two newest casualties are the Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen and the Golf Alltrack. As we predicted a month ago, Volkswagen will end production of the two vehicles in the 2019 model year, though in the case of the Alltrack, production will be extended to December. Volkswagen says that with 50 percent of their sales being SUVs, consumer tastes have shifted strongly to SUVs, and VW is responding by releasing three new SUVs over the next 2 years. First up, will be a 5-seater Atlas Cross Sport being unveiled later this year, then the ID.CROZZ electric SUV early next year, and a just announced SUV to slot below the Tiguan is planned for 2021. While Volkswagen says their new ID EV platform can be used for bodystyles of the past, apparently the station wagon is not one planned.
  17. Drew Dowdell
    They don't even market the Sprinter as a Freightliner anymore. They're not going to bring that back. No, they're all about putting it under the 3 pointed star. The money is just being cut. They're trying for $8b in savings. More cuts are coming. I wouldn't be surprised if the Crossover Coupes get the ax next. They sell in miserable numbers.
  18. Drew Dowdell
    I know... I was just backing you up.
  19. Drew Dowdell
    They're in the same contraction of the industry that everyone else is. They're trying to save over $8 billion and shaving off 10,000 jobs.
  20. Drew Dowdell
    The Best or Nothing.... Or A Nissan. Almost exactly two years ago we showed you pictures and a report of the forthcoming Mercedes-Benz X-Class. Now unnamed sources have told Germany's Automobilwoche (Automobile Week) that Mercedes' recent profit warning and a board review of the portfolio have caused the company to put the X-Class on the chopping block. The X-Class is based in the Nissan Navara with some upgrades to the suspension and a Mercedes-esque interior. Much of the interior bits are straight from the Mercedes parts bin. The X-Class starts at about $41,000 in base trim and goes up to about $66,000 in top trim, quite a lot of coin for a small pickup. Pricing wasn't the only factor limiting sales. The X-Class was never offered in the biggest truck market, the U.S., instead it was only sold in Europe, Australia, and South Africa. In those three markets, the company moved only 16,700 units last year. The X-Class is built at Nissan's plant in Barcelona, Spain where the Nissan Navara and Renault Alaskan are built. Mercedes backed out of plans to build the X-Class for South American markets in Argentina back in February, perhaps signaling then the truck's fate. Further, Daimler may end their partnership with Nissan - Renault as part of a cost saving measure. This would largely be achieved by ending shared projects like the X-Class and the Smart For Two which shares platforms with the Renault Twingo. The Infiniti QX30 which shares with the Mercedes-Benz GLA has already been canceled. Daimler is trying to save $6.75 billion by 2021 with another $2.25 billion from the Daimler trucks division. In doing so, 10,000 jobs could be cut. View full article
  21. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "Mercedes X-Class to be Xed Out"
    The Best or Nothing.... Or A Nissan. Almost exactly two years ago we showed you pictures and a report of the forthcoming Mercedes-Benz X-Class. Now unnamed sources have told Germany's Automobilwoche (Automobile Week) that Mercedes' recent profit warning and a board review of the portfolio have caused the company to put the X-Class on the chopping block. The X-Class is based in the Nissan Navara with some upgrades to the suspension and a Mercedes-esque interior. Much of the interior bits are straight from the Mercedes parts bin. The X-Class starts at about $41,000 in base trim and goes up to about $66,000 in top trim, quite a lot of coin for a small pickup. Pricing wasn't the only factor limiting sales. The X-Class was never offered in the biggest truck market, the U.S., instead it was only sold in Europe, Australia, and South Africa. In those three markets, the company moved only 16,700 units last year. The X-Class is built at Nissan's plant in Barcelona, Spain where the Nissan Navara and Renault Alaskan are built. Mercedes backed out of plans to build the X-Class for South American markets in Argentina back in February, perhaps signaling then the truck's fate. Further, Daimler may end their partnership with Nissan - Renault as part of a cost saving measure. This would largely be achieved by ending shared projects like the X-Class and the Smart For Two which shares platforms with the Renault Twingo. The Infiniti QX30 which shares with the Mercedes-Benz GLA has already been canceled. Daimler is trying to save $6.75 billion by 2021 with another $2.25 billion from the Daimler trucks division. In doing so, 10,000 jobs could be cut.
  22. Drew Dowdell
    It may not do in volume what the current Fusion does, but it will likely do it at a higher ATP. A Ford Focus and Ford Escape cost about the same to engineer and build, but the Ford Escape can cost $10k more for the same level of features and still sell.
  23. Drew Dowdell
    Lincoln sales are up, best in 18 years. That means new customers are coming in.
  24. Drew Dowdell
    I have a book full of his photography. The Last Steam Railroad in America - O. Winston Link
  25. Drew Dowdell
    Ford has stated that "the car silhouette is changing", it may very well be that they just make a bunch of tall wagons and hatches to replace their current car lineup. A Fusion in the vein of an Outback would probably do well.
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