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Drew Dowdell

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Everything posted by Drew Dowdell

  1. Drew Dowdell
    Chinese labor isn't as cheap anymore and there is the huge uncertainty of energy costs involved in shipping cars. If I had to guess.... Buick needed this car in the US three years ago, but with all of the other stuff coming, there isn't a place to build it, so they're just going to build it in China until they can find a place.
  2. Drew Dowdell
    yes, that would be troubling if that were the case, but it's not. Since the BK, and even before the latest round of UAW agreements, all three of the big three have re-expanded production in the US. The UAW agreements recently reached ensure that trend will continue. GM is doubling the size of Arlington and they made huge investments in their Michigan facilities. Hyundai/Kia have been expanding their manufacturing in the US. Subaru is increasing the capacity of the Indiana plant by something like 30% (don't quote me, but it's a good chunk) to build the Impreza and the new 3-row crossover. Mercedes just contracted with AM General to use the former Humvee plant to build R-Classes to sell in China. The R-Class isn't even sold in the U.S. The Volvo built in China will be a one-and-done. When the new platform arrives, production will swing to the new plant they are building in South Carolina where most US sold Volvos will thenceforth be built. American Auto Manufacturing is very much alive and growing again. Back when energy prices soared at the end of the last administration, all manufacturers got caught with their pants down... but auto manufacturers especially. Seemingly overnight, their shipping costs jumped 100% or more. After that, there formed an understood but unspoken policy of "If you have the capacity, build it on the continent where you're going to sell the most of them... if you don't have the capacity, build the capacity." And like the Volvo, if this Envision takes off in the US, I can see GM moving production to North America for North American bound units.
  3. Drew Dowdell
    We're exporting Enclaves from the US to China and have been for a few years now... so it's an even swap. And it makes sense... Buick will sell more Envisions in China than in the US and they sell more Enclaves in the US than they do in China. Build 'em where you're going to sell the most of them.
  4. Drew Dowdell
    Camaro In Name Only It has the name, but little of the prior characteristics.
  5. Drew Dowdell
    CINO?
  6. Drew Dowdell
    great way to look at it!
  7. Drew Dowdell
    Hyundai is a company on the move. Hyundai announced they were spinning off Genesis into a dedicated luxury brand just over a week ago. Then a couple of days ago, Genesis showed renderings of the Genesis G90, the brand's first car and the replacement for the Hyundai Equus. The G90 will have it's world debut next month in South Korea, so we'll likely see the car in the States in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. With all of that activity, it should be no surprise that a spy photographer already picked up the Genesis G90 undergoing testing. From the pictures of the interior, the G90 has a decidedly S-Class look to it, with a large embedded center screen and rows of horizontal metallic buttons. There is also indications of some powertrain changes coming with a new 3.3 liter turbo V6 in both two-wheel drive and all-wheel drive formats while the 5.0 liter V8 gets all-wheel drive. The Hyundai 3.3T specs leaked out last winter and indicated around 365hp with 379 lb-ft of torque along a very flat torque curve that runs at peak from 1500 rpm to 4500 rpm. The 5.0 V8 is rumored to get an upgrade in power as well. Source: Left Lane News, AutoGuide.com Photo: Hyundai Media View full article
  8. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "Genesis G90 Spied Already"
    Hyundai is a company on the move. Hyundai announced they were spinning off Genesis into a dedicated luxury brand just over a week ago. Then a couple of days ago, Genesis showed renderings of the Genesis G90, the brand's first car and the replacement for the Hyundai Equus. The G90 will have it's world debut next month in South Korea, so we'll likely see the car in the States in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. With all of that activity, it should be no surprise that a spy photographer already picked up the Genesis G90 undergoing testing. From the pictures of the interior, the G90 has a decidedly S-Class look to it, with a large embedded center screen and rows of horizontal metallic buttons. There is also indications of some powertrain changes coming with a new 3.3 liter turbo V6 in both two-wheel drive and all-wheel drive formats while the 5.0 liter V8 gets all-wheel drive. The Hyundai 3.3T specs leaked out last winter and indicated around 365hp with 379 lb-ft of torque along a very flat torque curve that runs at peak from 1500 rpm to 4500 rpm. The 5.0 V8 is rumored to get an upgrade in power as well. Source: Left Lane News, AutoGuide.com Photo: Hyundai Media
  9. Drew Dowdell
    There are no Tesla dealerships.
  10. Drew Dowdell
    Exactly! It's rare enough that there are only a handful listed on Autotrader across the entire U.S. Besides the tacky wheels, this one is incredibly clean, too. My only problem is that I told myself I wouldn't buy another unreasonable car after I sold the Firebird. The price, though, is pretty hard to resist at $3500... Oh, Firebird money, I'm not sure how long you'll be safe. Heck... and that price....
  11. Drew Dowdell
    In my experience, the Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel does beat it the highway EPA, but not by the drastic numbers the VWs do. JGC ED is good for about 33 - 34 highway.... but that is still a fantastic number when you think about what that vehicle is.
  12. Drew Dowdell
    3 pedals in that one! It's basically a luxury Supra! I don't even like Lexus all that much and I'd be tempted.
  13. Drew Dowdell
    It's not all the time, but I do use my CUV cargo areas enough (in the CR-V at least) to warrant having at least one out of our two cars be a crossover. The Encore less so, but it has come in handy in a pinch. That said, I can haul an impressive number of bags of mulch in the Toronado with the spare tire removed. It has automatic leveling suspension too, so I'm not dragging my tailpipe in that like I did when I loaded up the Honda. But they don't make trunks like that anymore.
  14. Drew Dowdell
    That is a very good point. I may throw up another article on it.
  15. Drew Dowdell
    I'm not German, I'm of English ancestry. I do speak just a little german. I have close friends in Germany and try to visit there at least once a year. I almost moved there a few years back because I really like the culture there. Edit: Bash away at VW over this. I think this is the entirety of Piech's ego blowing up the company.
  16. Drew Dowdell
    Wirtshafts - Economy woche - Week
  17. Drew Dowdell
    The JGC has the 8-speed auto. That said, my limited drive in the Colorado Duramax 4x4 showed that it is indeed capable of over 30mpg highway. I think it is another case of the EPA MPG test not being kind to diesels. Pretty much every diesel available that isn't in a heavy duty truck soundly beats its EPA highway estimate.
  18. Drew Dowdell
    There is no new anymore.
  19. Drew Dowdell
    Note to car companies.... don't count your Chinese sales before they're hatched.
  20. Drew Dowdell
    Subaru tried to get into the crossover game in 2006 with the B9 Tribeca, but odd styling, poor fuel economy for a crossover, and an ill-fated partnership with Saab via GM to build a 9-6x version for them doomed the Tribeca to obscurity. By 2013, Subaru was selling just 120 Tribecas per month on average, and in 2014 Subaru finally pulled the plug. Now, Subaru is announcing it is getting back into the larger crossover game with a new 3-row crossover, larger than the Tribeca, due out in 2018. The as yet unnamed vehicle will be built at Subaru's plant in Lafayette, Indiana. As for what it may look like, we can get some hints on the styling direction Subaru might take via the Subaru Viziv Concept shown at the Tokyo Auto Show last month. While the Viziv is smaller than the coming production Crossover, expect some of the styling elements to carry forward. Source and Photo: Subaru Media View full article
  21. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "US Built 3-Row Subaru Crossover Coming in 2018"
    Subaru tried to get into the crossover game in 2006 with the B9 Tribeca, but odd styling, poor fuel economy for a crossover, and an ill-fated partnership with Saab via GM to build a 9-6x version for them doomed the Tribeca to obscurity. By 2013, Subaru was selling just 120 Tribecas per month on average, and in 2014 Subaru finally pulled the plug. Now, Subaru is announcing it is getting back into the larger crossover game with a new 3-row crossover, larger than the Tribeca, due out in 2018. The as yet unnamed vehicle will be built at Subaru's plant in Lafayette, Indiana. As for what it may look like, we can get some hints on the styling direction Subaru might take via the Subaru Viziv Concept shown at the Tokyo Auto Show last month. While the Viziv is smaller than the coming production Crossover, expect some of the styling elements to carry forward. Source and Photo: Subaru Media
  22. Drew Dowdell
    Current Impreza sedan profile for comparison
  23. Drew Dowdell
    Subaru sent out a teaser picture of the Subaru Impreza Sedan concept due to be shown at the LA Auto Show next week. The Impreza Concept shows a far more rakish silhouette in the rear with more elegant wheel arches than the current Impreza sedan. From the B-pillar forward, expect the concept to be identical to the Impreza 5-Door Concept shown at the Tokyo Motor Show last month. Subaru will show the Impreza Sedan Concept at 2:35 PST on November 18th. Stay Tuned to CheersandGears.com for coverage of the LA Auto Show, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. Subaru Impreza 5-Door Concept Gallery: Source and Photos: Subaru Media View full article
  24. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "LA Auto Show Preview: Subaru Impreza Sedan Concept"
    Subaru sent out a teaser picture of the Subaru Impreza Sedan concept due to be shown at the LA Auto Show next week. The Impreza Concept shows a far more rakish silhouette in the rear with more elegant wheel arches than the current Impreza sedan. From the B-pillar forward, expect the concept to be identical to the Impreza 5-Door Concept shown at the Tokyo Motor Show last month. Subaru will show the Impreza Sedan Concept at 2:35 PST on November 18th. Stay Tuned to CheersandGears.com for coverage of the LA Auto Show, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. Subaru Impreza 5-Door Concept Gallery: Source and Photos: Subaru Media
  25. Drew Dowdell
    It should be under warranty, why not get the hatch looked at?
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