Drew Dowdell

This isn't about squeezing the public again. This is about trying to address a disparity in the way the fees are levied. I'd agree with you how Indiana did it isn't the best way to go about it, but it is an issue that is going to have to be figured out. Our roads and infrastructure are in shambles... we aren't even keeping up with the maintenance on what we have today. Furthermore, the infrastructure is already being subsidized by the general tax base instead of solely on fuel taxes... to the tune of 57%.

Eventually they're going to have to address that too. There's even revenue being lost when Explorers and Durangos are getting 25mpg now verse the 18 mpg they got 15 years ago. The vehicles weigh the same or more yet are traveling further on the same gallon of gas, thus the tax per wear mile is lower today than it was 15 years ago.

I'm not sure that Indiana's solution is a good long term one, but it's probably the best they can do at the moment.

Why should a pot user who doesn't own a car pay for the roads? The gasoline tax was instituted because fuel use is a direct correlation with both distance traveled and weight of a vehicle. All 4+ wheel vehicles put wear on roads, but a million Ford Fiestas do a lot less wear and tear on the road over time than a million F-250s. So a Ford Fiesta should pay less tax for that wear... and it does so by using less fuel and being more efficient. Conversely, an F-250 that only travels 5,000 miles in a year uses the roads a lot less than a Fiesta doing 50,000 miles in a year, and pays less tax by using less fuel. Unless we went to a yearly tax based entirely on distance X weight, the fuel tax is the fairest way to apply the tax. EVs and Hybrids messed up that equation by not using as much fuel or not using fuel at all. A Chevy Volt can go 20,000 miles in a year and only fill up 4 times. I'm not against full review of spending projects at all, that could even mean a reduction in gasoline taxes..... But the tax paid should be levied fairly. Why should EV drivers get a free ride?

Bentley has always been known for torque.... so having an EV like torque curve fits that

Well all that does is push the vehicle way far out. I'm betting they wanted to make it big enough to make short and long versions to run the gamut all the way from base Tahoe up to Escalade ESV Platinum.

How else do you want the roads paid for? Toll everything?

Well that doesn't seem to be working so well. VW is up to about $19 billion in fines so far just in the US. I haven't kept track of what they're doing in the EU.How many engine programs is $19 billion? And if GM can engineer it right, why can't VW who was supposed to be the diesel king? If you can't do it... just don't release it.

The low hanging fruit for curbing pollution is really the shipping (as in the seas) industry. Even the railroads are getting on board with lowering diesel pollution.

I'm not sure what the new administration can even do. If the companies broke the law, they broke the law. If the administration tells the EPA or DOJ to back off without a significant and transparent explanation, there could be serious legal ramifications across the industry.

There was a story here a while back. GM participated in real world testing from the EPA rather than just the standard testing procedure and GM got a certificate of compliance for the 2.8 Duramax from the EPA. It would be more egg on the the EPA's face than GM's if they did an about-face on that one. Edit: I'm guessing by your comment that you're unaware of how a lot of this certification works. Most things with the NHTSA and EPA are self-certified by the manufacturers and those agencies take the manufacturer's word. Manufacturers' motivation to not falsify things is that if they do, they get giant scandals and fines like what we've been seeing with VW. So when the EPA or NHTSA "change their mind", it is more likely that they discovered something that wasn't disclosed by the manufacturer or wasn't tested for by the manufacturer. (think of the Grand Cherokee gas tank rupture recall as an example)

The first gen Cruze Diesel was a VM motor design also, though in that case was built by GM. Irony of ironies, the new GM 1.6 diesel is actually a product of GM's partnership with Fiat. It was developed in Turin Italy. However as part of the breakup between GM and FIAT, they do not get access to this engine. It is supposed to be very clean for a diesel and GM has a whole bunch of patents just on the emissions controls.

Also, I wonder how long it will take before FCA denies designing this engine.... it is actually designed and built by a 3rd party called VM Motori...so I wonder how long before Serg throws VM under a diesel powered bus.

Indeed. GM went through extra certification tests on the 2.8 Duramax before they even released it. To be clear, what VW did and what FCA did in this case are (so far) quite different. FCA didn't disclose the entire design of the emissions control system which is indeed a violation of the law, but that is not the same as VW taking direct actions to try and cheat the test.

Previous Page Next Page Coming for Spring 2017, Audi took the covers off the updated SQ5 for the 2018 model year. The primary changes are a more powerful 3.0T engine producing 354 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, enabling the SQ5 to get to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds. Further enhancing the driving feel is a new lighter weight suspension featuring a 5-link setup in the front. Available for the first time is a height adjustable air suspension allowing the driver to select a lower mode for sporty driving or a raised mode when additional ground clearance is needed. 2018 SQ5 models will also get an available dynamic steering setup that varies steering ratio depending on speed and driver setting. Audi Press Release on Page 2 The perfect balance of performance and functionality, all-new 2018 Audi SQ5 makes world debut at NAIAS · The all-new SQ5 with 3.0-liter TFSI® engine produces 354 hp and sprints from 0-60 mph in 5.1 seconds · Available for the first time with an adaptive air suspension, which allows for ride height and firmness adjustability, enabling a more dynamic drive · The high-performance, sporty variant rounds out the Q5 family and will be available Spring 2017 HERNDON, Virginia, January 9, 2017 – With increased power, a new turbocharged V6 engine and a more progressive, sporty design, the all-new Audi SQ5 makes its global debut at the North American International Auto Show. New for 2018, the second-generation SQ5 offers a full suite of available driver assistance systems and advanced infotainment features, combined with a dynamic driving experience, to set a new standard in the luxury performance crossover segment. 2018 Audi SQ5 Featuring an all-new 3.0-liter TFSI® V6 engine, the Audi SQ5 produces 354 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, between a broad 1370 – 4500 rpm range. The eight-speed tiptronic® transmission is well suited for the low-end torque of the turbocharged V6 and its eight gears provide quick, smooth shifts. Every Audi SQ5 is standard-equipped with quattro® all-wheel drive, offering high-precision and dynamic handling through active torque distribution to both axles. As part of the available S sport package, the SQ5 with quattro® sport rear differential can offer an even more dynamic driving experience by actively splitting torque between the wheels of the rear axle, with the ability to direct nearly all torque to one wheel, helping maximize driving dynamics. CHASSIS AND SUSPENSION For 2018, a newly developed front and rear suspension allows for both a sporty driving experience and more comfortable ride for long distances. The new front five-link suspension with lightweight construction offers greater steering precision and excellent handling through optimized steering-rack placement direct at wheel centers. The available S sport package also includes, for the first time on the SQ5, a sport adaptive air suspension, which lowers vehicle height by 30 mm (when in auto mode) compared to the standard adaptive suspension. The air suspension system allows for adjustment of both the ride height and the firmness of the dampers, and is controllable via the standard Audi drive select. Along with the standard four drive select modes – comfort, auto, dynamic and individual – the available sport adaptive air suspension also adds both an allroad and a lift/offroad mode, which raise the air suspension for increased ground clearance when needed. Also available on 2018 SQ5 models is dynamic steering, which offers a variable steering ratio that adjusts based on vehicle speed and the Audi drive select setting. At higher driving speeds, dynamic steering helps to improve straight-line stability, and at lower driving speeds, a more direct steering ratio is utilized to help increase steering response for easy maneuvering. DESIGN The 2018 SQ5 mirrors the Q5’s distinctive Audi “Q” SUV design language, with a flat, coupe-like roof line coupled with a strong, wave-design shoulder line and pronounced wheel arches which emphasize the standard quattro® all-wheel drive. The SQ5 is characteristically recognized by its sporty design differentiators including a platinum gray Singleframe® grille with aluminum optic double horizontal blade bars, aluminum optic exterior side mirrors, and S model rear roof spoiler. Sculpted, three-dimensional LED headlights flow in harmony with the clamshell hood to the wider horizontal rear of the vehicle and LED taillights with dynamic turn signals. The interior offers improved space compared to the previous generation, with more rear legroom and shoulder room, as well as increased cargo capacity with the second row seats folded down. The SQ5 is also standard equipped with a three-spoke multifunction flat-bottom sport steering wheel, sport front seats with available diamond stitching, standard matte brushed aluminum inlays or available carbon atlas inlays and standard stainless steel door sill inlays with S badging. The asymmetrical center console of the interior creates a driver-focused cockpit while a small number of controls with expanded functionality helps bring a greater ease of operation into the SQ5. INFOTAINMENT & DRIVER ASSISTANCE The new SQ5 also offers advanced infotainment options including MMI® touch® with handwriting-recognition technology, Bang & Olufsen® sound system with 3D sound and standard Audi smartphone interface, which provides Apple CarPlay™ and Google™ Android Auto integration. Also available is the Audi virtual cockpit, which helps make viewing and navigating via the large Google Earth™ images supported with 4G LTE (where available) easier on the driver’s eyes. Unique to SQ5, the virtual cockpit features a “sport” display mode, which brings the tachometer and speedometer to the front and center of the display and adds a boost gauge and lap timer. Also available is a full-color head-up display which projects relevant driving information directly in the driver’s field of vision. In addition to infotainment and connectivity features, the SQ5’s advanced driver assistance systems are designed to help drivers navigate the road and traffic with increased confidence. Standard Audi pre sense® city, an automatic emergency braking system, can help detect stationary vehicles and pedestrians, and if necessary, initiate full braking at speeds of up to 52 mph when a potential collision is detected. Standard Audi side assist provides blind spot monitoring via LED indicators on the exterior mirror housing and includes rear cross traffic assist, which supports the driver when reversing out of perpendicular space, and pre sense rear which helps monitor the traffic following the vehicle. Also available is adaptive cruise control with stop & go automatically maintains distance from the vehicle in front, including braking and accelerating. Between 0-40 mph, traffic jam assist combines acceleration, braking and steering guidance, which can help decrease the stress of driving in congested traffic. Always pay careful attention to the road, and do not drive while distracted. Driver assistance system availability and some available options may differ at launch. Driver assistance features are not substitutes for attentive driving. See Owner’s Manual for further details, and important limitations. Audi connect should only be used when it is safe and appropriate. Audi connect services and features are optional, provided with the support of authorized affiliated and third party service providers, and may require additional subscriptions with separate terms and conditions. Services are subject to change, and Google Earth and Street view services may not be available after December 2017. Certain services collect location information, see Terms of Service for information about how to disable and for other details. 2018 EPA estimates not available at time of publication. See www.fueleconomy.gov for updated information. Your mileage will vary and depends on several factors including your driving habits and vehicle condition. Previous Page Next Page View full article