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Drew Dowdell

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Everything posted by Drew Dowdell

  1. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "Pepsi, Walmart, JB Hunt place orders for Tesla Semi"
    PepsiCo has placed a pre-order for 100 of Tesla's recently released Semi-Truck. Wal-Mart, J.B. Hunt, and Sysco have also placed orders. Reuters tallies the total so far at 285 units. Tesla was initially asking for a $5,000 reservation fee, but has since increased that to $20,000. Pepsico plans on using the trucks for lighter snack items and fixed routes between distribution centers. An order of 100 trucks represents about 1% of Pepsi's 10,000 strong fleet. Over 260,000 conventional semi-trucks are produced each year. The Tesla Semi has a promised range of 500 miles with 80,000 lbs at 65 mph. Promised performance increases over a conventional diesel include the ability to maintain 65 mph up a 5% grade versus 45 mph for the typical diesel, and an unladen 0-60 time of just 5 seconds and 20 seconds with an 80,000 lb. load. The Tesla Semi will go into production in 2019, but test mules have already been spotted in the wild.
  2. Drew Dowdell
    PepsiCo has placed a pre-order for 100 of Tesla's recently released Semi-Truck. Wal-Mart, J.B. Hunt, and Sysco have also placed orders. Reuters tallies the total so far at 285 units. Tesla was initially asking for a $5,000 reservation fee, but has since increased that to $20,000. Pepsico plans on using the trucks for lighter snack items and fixed routes between distribution centers. An order of 100 trucks represents about 1% of Pepsi's 10,000 strong fleet. Over 260,000 conventional semi-trucks are produced each year. The Tesla Semi has a promised range of 500 miles with 80,000 lbs at 65 mph. Promised performance increases over a conventional diesel include the ability to maintain 65 mph up a 5% grade versus 45 mph for the typical diesel, and an unladen 0-60 time of just 5 seconds and 20 seconds with an 80,000 lb. load. The Tesla Semi will go into production in 2019, but test mules have already been spotted in the wild. View full article
  3. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "EV Tax Credit Survives Tax Bill Reconciliation"
    As lawmakers continue to work on comprehensive tax reform, one item related to the automotive industry on the table was the tax credit for electric vehicles. The credit, which can be up to $7,500, was dropped in the House version of the bill but kept in the Senate version. The credit was started in 2009 as part of the economic stimulus package as a way to encourage investment by auto manufacturers in the development of electric powered or assisted vehicles. The the current version of the bill in reconciliation keeps the credit. Analysts estimate that scrapping the credit would save $200 million over the next 10 years. The credit is capped at 200,000 qualifying vehicle per manufacturer, which no automaker has yet reached. Most manufacturers have announced billions of dollars in investment for sweeping changes to their lineups with many models gaining plug-in hybrid variants over the next 5 to 7 years. Related: GM Launching 20 EVs by 2023
  4. Drew Dowdell
    As lawmakers continue to work on comprehensive tax reform, one item related to the automotive industry on the table was the tax credit for electric vehicles. The credit, which can be up to $7,500, was dropped in the House version of the bill but kept in the Senate version. The credit was started in 2009 as part of the economic stimulus package as a way to encourage investment by auto manufacturers in the development of electric powered or assisted vehicles. The the current version of the bill in reconciliation keeps the credit. Analysts estimate that scrapping the credit would save $200 million over the next 10 years. The credit is capped at 200,000 qualifying vehicle per manufacturer, which no automaker has yet reached. Most manufacturers have announced billions of dollars in investment for sweeping changes to their lineups with many models gaining plug-in hybrid variants over the next 5 to 7 years. Related: GM Launching 20 EVs by 2023 View full article
  5. Drew Dowdell
    that is a fantastic looking car!
  6. Drew Dowdell
    That is a prediction that quite a few analysts have made. It doesn't work as well in FWD applications, but for RWD and trucks, it could be the next big thing. If there was any time for GM to bring back the I6/I5/I4 Atlas engines, now is the time. They had great torque delivery for the day. They would be great turbocharged.
  7. Drew Dowdell
    Full-size family sedans have been on the ropes lately. The Hyundai Azera has been canceled. There is no planned replacement for the Ford Taurus. The Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 both have uncertain futures. Toyota however is about to put a pile of chips on the table with a fully redesigned 2019 Toyota Avalon. They released a teaser picture ahead of the January 15th release at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The picture, which only shows the front left corner of the car shows a very expressive look with a broad lower intake and a somewhat Lexus shaped grille. We expect the new Avalon to ride on a longer variant of the 2018 Toyota Camry platform that was released at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show. The new Camry platform shaved significant weight over the prior model and that will likely carry over to the new Avalon as well. That should make for some impressive performance numbers as the Avalon is already one of the lightest vehicles in the class. We will have more details and on-site reaction for you as we approach the full release of the 2019 Toyota Avalon at the Detroit Auto Show. View full article
  8. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "Detroit Preview: 2019 Toyota Avalon"
    Full-size family sedans have been on the ropes lately. The Hyundai Azera has been canceled. There is no planned replacement for the Ford Taurus. The Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 both have uncertain futures. Toyota however is about to put a pile of chips on the table with a fully redesigned 2019 Toyota Avalon. They released a teaser picture ahead of the January 15th release at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The picture, which only shows the front left corner of the car shows a very expressive look with a broad lower intake and a somewhat Lexus shaped grille. We expect the new Avalon to ride on a longer variant of the 2018 Toyota Camry platform that was released at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show. The new Camry platform shaved significant weight over the prior model and that will likely carry over to the new Avalon as well. That should make for some impressive performance numbers as the Avalon is already one of the lightest vehicles in the class. We will have more details and on-site reaction for you as we approach the full release of the 2019 Toyota Avalon at the Detroit Auto Show.
  9. Drew Dowdell
    True, going inline is a huge plus. It has my interest for that alone. I think it is great that MB is moving back in that direction. Most of my posting is in response to SMK getting kool-aid spittle all over the place about how wonderful the performance of this new engine is going to be.
  10. Drew Dowdell
    The talk in the 2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Class thread got me thinking about SUVs for me. I want something big and comfortable with lots of torque. Prefer CPO to have a warranty and not deal with severe depreciation. Should have a 6,000lb minimum tow rating (Not that I tow, but that rating requires a tongue weight rating of 600lbs which is needed for a Mototote) I like cushy rides. Thoughts are: Jeep Grand Cherokee with air suspension Escalade/Yukon/Tahoe SWB XC90 doesn't have a high enough rating, but I do like it. What else am I forgetting?
  11. Drew Dowdell
    Bad man... you have me looking at new Grand Cherokee Hemi Overlands on Jeep.com
  12. Drew Dowdell
    Yeah, efficiency and lag reduction are the primary improvements here. It just seems a rather expensive way to go about it. I'm not at all saying that this is a poor performing engine, just that for something this new with this much tech thrown at it, I expected it to blow the competition out of the water. It doesn't. The GM 3.6 in the ATS-V has cylinder deactivation and gets shockingly good fuel economy at a tame highway cruise. It was running 34 mpg across the flatland of Wisconsin for me. The CT6 AWD 3.0TT will do 30 mpg highway, that's pretty fantastic for a full size AWD vehicle with 400hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. So, I really wonder how much better this MB I-6 will do.
  13. Drew Dowdell
    This had me thinking while I was out at lunch.... what new SUV would I want today. I wouldn't get a G-Class, but a GLS? Maybe. I want something with great torque and a floaty suspension for all the highway driving I do.
  14. Drew Dowdell
    A similarly unimpressive (for a brand new Wow! Bang! Amazing! design) 369 lb-ft of torque. The same as the original front-wheel drive based Cadillac XTS V-Sport (369 lb-ft starting @ 1,900 rpm) from however many years ago that was. It's also less than the 375 lb-ft the Ford 2.7 liter makes. Neither of them are relying on 48 volt eAssist or electric turbochargers to get there. Both are just plain-ol direct injected turbocharged V6es.
  15. Drew Dowdell
    The old one was so outdated and rudimentary, I would have been surprised if it didn't increase in price with the new model.
  16. Drew Dowdell
    I don't... but I have to speak in his language to make a point.
  17. Drew Dowdell
    It's a rock / hard place problem. Not only do auto makers need to watch their NOX emissions from diesels, they also need to manage their carbon emissions per mile which diesels are much better at than gasoline. So diesel can be helpful to the carbon reduction goal, but they have to clean up their NOX. Coming from any other manufacturer, this observation on diesel subsidies may hold water, but from VW it sound like sour grapes due to the situation they put themselves in.
  18. Drew Dowdell
    A great preservation that I would look at in a museum, but not really my type of Olds.
  19. Drew Dowdell
    It's going to have to make more than that since everyone else already does. Volvo is putting that kind of horsepower out with a 4-cylinder. The GM 3.6 twin-turbo already has substantially more power. It has cylinder deactivation. Adding eAssist would be trivial if it was even needed. This new 6 isn't going to be Benz's standard engine though... they'll still be putting out 4-cylinders in the price range where you can get 6es from other companies. This non-performance 6 from Benz will probably be priced like a V-Sport from Cadillac.
  20. Drew Dowdell
    Sure, but I wouldn't want to take it racing and risk getting it dinged up because I wouldn't want to damage something I spend that much money on in the first place. I realize that people who have the money to buy these things new may not care... but even if I hit the powerball tomorrow, I doubt I would change my frugal ways.
  21. Drew Dowdell
    I would take anything from the RR lineup over the Lexus lineup any day. The lease deals that RR is having on the Discovery lately have me
  22. Drew Dowdell
    Forrester, but basically yes. Subaru is playing it safe, but they'll sell the crap out of them. That said, they did a fantastic job on the interior. As long as getting the most cubic feet for your dollar isn't a concern, these will be very popular.
  23. Drew Dowdell
    I don't care about off-roading much... and if I did go off-road, I wouldn't take a $125k vehicle. I'd rather have a Navigator and a new Wrangler.... I'd probably spend less money in the process.
  24. Drew Dowdell
    I, myself, would love a Metris 63 AMG 4matic E-Hybrid Blutec...... coupe.
  25. Drew Dowdell
    A 3.0 liter 6 that also has eAssist and only has 400hp.... doesn't sound that impressive to me. Infiniti, GM, Ford, FCA, all have V6 engines that meet, straddle, or beat that kind of performance without eAssist. Volvo does it with a 4-cylinder and a usable EV-only range (it's also a fantastic powertrain, the only credible V8 replacement currently). GM's 4-cylinder hybrid has just as much torque and can also operate in EV-only mode for 30+ miles, a lot longer than the Benz can. So... tell me where I should be impressed again?
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