Drew Dowdell

I'm not saying make the Passat bigger. It is already one of the roomiest feeling midsize sedans on the market. In spite of the numbers, it feels cavernous inside compared to Accord, Camry, and Malibu. It feels on par with Avalon and Impala. So, that said, I can see VW moving the Jetta up to Malibu/Camry size and leaving the Golf where it's at. That would give VW a small, medium, large car lineup with the Arteon being the specialty car.

Well VW thinks differently apparently.

And we all know that exterior length is the only measure of a car.

That could be sufficient, but there is still too big a space between Jetta and Passat while Golf and Jetta are probably too close for the same showroom in 2019

Well no, we use "released" when writing most new vehicle announcements.

I've adjusted the permissions so that members can delete their own pictures in albums now

Gallery or Garage?

VW may be trying to sell on size. There is a big gap between Jetta and Passat thought now. Moving Jetta up and something else to slot below it could make sense.

I can confirm it is a former member of this website.

LOL *Right click* *Report spam*

It's better than the current one... But I think I'll wait for the GMC.

Chevrolet unveiled the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado today at an event in Ft. Worth, Texas. The new Silverado features new, more aerodynamic styling, and will offer a broader range of powertrain options. While details have not yet been released, expect the 10-Speed automatic co-developed with Ford to be available. GM will increase its use of mixed materials combining steel and aluminum "in the right place" according to GM. This is a subtle dig at crosstown rival Ford's all-aluminum body F-150. Chevrolet and GMC are also expected to begin offering a carbon-fiber bed option, for additional strength and "added lightness". One of the eight new Silverado models will be the TrailBoss (pictured), a trimline first featured on the Chevrolet Colorado Trailboss. The Silverado TrailBoss combines the standard Z71 off-road package with a 2" factory lift kit, fully warrantied and backed by Chevrolet. The surprise release was originally expected to happen during the 2018 Detroit Auto Show next month, however with Ram poised to release their new 1500, perhaps Chevy was trying to steal some thunder. We expect more powertrain details and other information to be released as we get closer to the Detroit Show. View full article

That's a win for me.... cheaper to buy a CPO.

NO. THEY. ARE. NOT. They aren't even the first! 48 volt is not some magical number that is super special. ALL of the mild hybrids that have EVER been built are some large increment over 12 volts. The original GM BAS was 32 volts, the current one is 115 volts. Honda IMA is 114 volts. There are Impalas on the road today with a higher voltage system than what Benz is offering on this. You didn't say they were revolutionary, but SMK seems to think they are. And no I don't think that the combination of technologies is a negative... you're reading me entirely wrong. I'm saying that this combination of technologies is nothing special. This particular combination, again not including the electric turbo which is interesting, isn't particularly special. No I'm not butt-hurt over the combination... I actually think having the BAS and the crank motor adds too much complexity... there really is no need for both unless there is some technical issue that Mercedes can't engineer around that Honda and GM managed to 10+ years ago. Yes you are correct about a supercharger taking power to spin. But again, Volvo is producing the same power figures out of a 4-cylinder in a vehicle released 2 years ago. I'd expect more from a newer Mercedes. This is about expectations. Yes some of the comparisons I'm making are full hybrids... because by the time you've added a crank mounted motor, a belt alternator-starter, an electric turbo, batteries to run it all, plus the programing to make it work properly, why not just go with a full hybrid anyway? What possible cost savings are you getting by not going full-hybrid? At least with a full hybrid, you could also run in EV mode part of the time. So, to set the record straight. The Audi and Benz are NOT the first higher voltage cars out there. I am NOT negative about this engine. I simply expected more than 2 year old Volvo or 6 year old Cadillac specs from something with this much tech thrown at it. It takes a lot of work to smooth out a rough engine. If Buick is using expensive active engine mounts and noise cancelation (they are), then I'm sure Mercedes is too. If they no longer need to spend as much time / money / effort / weight to smooth and silence the engine, they can divert that effort elsewhere.

I would say the S90 is pretty darn close in that regard

70 cents over 10 years

I'll probably publish an auto show predictions article on Monday and again at the beginning of January. @William Maley and I have been filling in our spreadsheet. Looks like I need to start a Chicago spreadsheet too

I get the weirdest random music stuck in my head sometimes. Today it's the underworld theme from Super Mario Bros 2.

I toggled some other things off on your account. Let me know if it stops.

Still a month away, but already getting ready for Detroit auto show.... and the paperwork for Chicago Auto Show in February came yesterday.

Yeah, the diesel option came to mind. A quick local search showed a bunch of PHEVs available in the area too which also intrigues me. My driving is strange, I don't do a lot of driving around town, but then I'll go on long distance trips driving to DC for family or NYC for work. I'll also often do PIT-DC-NYC-PIT. So on a month I don't travel, I could put less than 500 miles on the car, but a month that I do travel could be 2,000+. I would like to drive to Florida more often to visit my parents and take a motorcycle with me, hence the need for the tongue weight rating.

The X5 is an interesting idea... I'll have to look up the tongue weight rating. It should be minimum of 595 which could just squeak me in.

It may have the worst fuel economy numbers, but it is also the only one I can think of that comes with a V6 and not a blasted 4-cylinder lagger turbo. The only other V6 option I can think of is the Journey with its 3.6, but we just won't go there.

It's a 127k... and if it wasn't so damn expensive ($900) to replace the starter on it, it would be making its 3rd flatbed trip this year. But I can't see sinking $900 into a car that I might only get $4500 from in full working order. So I'm ordering the parts, I've had help pushing it into the garage, and I'll start to dig this weekend. It's a 4-cylinder with the starter under the f-ing intake manifold like it's a Northstar or something. $200 part, $700 labor.