G. David Felt

Send more my way please! ?

Totally agree, I am just pointing out the changes that seem to have taken place and the industry seems to be willing to support the lack of clear rearward shoulder checking. In fact, most EVs seem to have terrible rearward visibility except for the R1S for SUVs. Trucks seem to still have decent vision out the back, but cars and SUVs seem to have gotten terrible. Yet the trend is to replace traditional shoulder check out the rear and rear corners with look at a screen now that you have cameras on all sides and corners to give you a 360 view.

Cold rain here in the greater Seattle Area, passes have all got a good foot or more of snow this weekend. No real fall, just summer and then a week ago, cold rain and now winter. Hopefully my fall allergies will end soon too. Friday night to Saturday night gave us this. Nothing Saturday to Sunday, but Sunday night to this morning.

I actually love the Wildcat and for younger generations, that blockage of not seeing out is no big deal due to all the cameras being used to show on screen on the dash. Perfect example is that my son's auto has all the cameras, and he uses them and the mirrors but has stopped looking over his shoulder to try and look out the back for backing up. Technology will CHANGE the way we do things that many of us older folks will have a hard time adjusting too. I for one love the style of Buick and the EVs. I hope we get the car someday as I do really love the style and layout. I for one can change to using big screen showing all the angles of view, but the biggest screen window is the camera in back showing you that view as you back up.

Just pointing out that Chinese are comfortable with the terrible German naming scheme and as such, I think that is why they went this way. I would have gone totally different, but that is me.

@smk4565 @ccap41 Considering that Buick sold 828,000 plus in China in 2021 and sold 182,000 plus in 2021, China has an 8 to 1 advantage over the US as to why they still have a full car and mini-van portfolio there compared to here. Germany started the terrible trend of terrible auto names, examples: A-Class, B-Class, C-Class, E-Class, G-Class, S-Class CLA, CLS EQA, EQB, EQC, EQE, EQS, EQV GLA, GLB, GLC, GLE, GLS AMG-GT, AMG SL, AMG One 1-Series, 2-Series, 3-Series, 4-Series, 5-Series, 6-Series, 7-Series, 8-Series X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7 Z3, Z4 i4, i7, iX1, iX3, iX and BMW has trademarked the whole ix1 to iX9 series. China started off and for the most part bought all the German so called luxury auto's even though Buick outsells them there and so it makes sense that the Buick Chinese design studio came up with Electra E1 to E9. Have to say this is a sharp Looking SUV.

Drew covered the Buick Wildcat LV Concept Car here: Has a full series of pictures inside and out. Check it out, you will like the car. I really do.

WHAT ? You would not want a V8 Corvair? ?

To me I see that the Chinese design studio took heavily from Ferrari and Lamborghini in their design style. I like it, but I also find it interesting to see it so clearly to me. If the GS performance version does well, it will be great.

Electric School buses are gaining traction as TBB just delivered their 200th EV Bus. Charged EVs | Thomas Built Buses delivers 200th Proterra Powered electric school bus - Charged EVs

Buicks biggest market is China and yet GM has clearly stated that starting in 2024, Buick will start the transition to all EV here in the U.S. as Buicks second biggest market. GM has been busy filling with the U.S. patent and trademark office as well as in Canada, China and across Europe to ensure no one else uses or has access to the Electra name. Here at the start of November, uncovered by GM Authority web site, nine new trademarks alone were filed on top of the traditional Electra, Electra GS we also see that Buick will have the Electra E1 to E9 for a full family of all sized EVs. Back in June 2022, Buick revealed their latest concept, the Wildcat LV Concept. Buick also released a press release at the same time as the Buick Wildcat LV Concept that starting in 2024, Buick would begine their transition to an all-EV SUV Portfolio. Sharon Gauci, executive director for Global Buick and GMC Design stated that the new EV lineup would be based on the new Global Design Language found here in the Wildcat. With the latest paten trademarks of Electra E1 to E9, and the lack of denial in questions asked of GM, it would appear that GM is going to make the EV portfolio a sub-brand of Buick allowing for sale of both ICE and EV on the same dealership lot. Kia, Hyundai and others have done this as well with the EV6, EV5, etc. naming scheme. It would appear that based on the trademark filings, we will have two tiers of EVs under Buick, the standard EVs following the Electra E# signature with the core trims of Preferred, Essence and Avenir and then one could expect a Sporty version with the Electra E# GS trim. Buick has committed to having these all built on their new Ultium platform. There is the ability as per GM's own press release to have FWD, RWD and AWD formats. Usually, sub-compact and compacts tend to follow an FWD/AWD packaging where mid-size and full-size usually have RWD/AWD. Buick has shown off their Concept X SUV which is supposed to be very close to the actual first EV SUV that they will release in China and here in the U.S. in 2024. https://motorsport.tv/embed/KomhEnsG With the Buick Wildcat LV Concept and now the Buick Electra-X concept SUV it would seem that Buick is polishing the look of their new global EV portfolio. View full article

I find these cars very nice looking. 1982 Mercury Capri RS 1970 Mercury Cyclone GT

A Funktastic EV is what you Need!

Ralph Nader pretty much made the Chevy Corvair the Devil as a terrible, dangerous auto that eventually led to it being killed off. Now in the 21st century, a group of French men have found total desire in the Chevy Corvair that originally was their focus for customization of existing Corvairs. In 2020 during the global Pandemic, NewRide out of France, started their desire to build new Chevy Corvairs (NewRide - Covering - Body protection - Design) This custom Corvair is based on a Camaro SS 6th generation, and they are finally showing it off at SEMA in Las Vegas 2022 and then at the European Tuning Showdown competition in Bodensee, Germany. Video is all in French, but you can see what all they did. Check out their website for the pictures of the original Corvair they found and customized to only then use it to build a mold for an updated Modern 21st Century Corvair. The build pictures are amazing as to all the work that went into building this ride. End result is a modern looking car based on an old model that I think looks great. You can also find more on this here at their Facebook page. Corvair 2020 NewRide | Dijon | Facebook Even More photos here on this ride. Corvair 2020 NewRide | Facebook View full article

Outstanding Read, I have to agree that GM needs to benchmark this R1S for the upcoming Escalade EV. Rivian R1S Review: A Brilliant Example of What an EV Can Be (roadandtrack.com)

So what does folks think of Wraps? Here is a wrap put on a new Mustang to make it look old.

Very interesting video, another reason that Tesla is going to have nothing but hardship as the other auto companies release EVs. Tesla needs a new CEO

Interesting read on how Ford is taking on Tesla in China, head on with price cuts to win market share. Ford Hits Back at Tesla (msn.com)

This is why Toyota, Tesla and others that are not on top of their EV game NOW like Kia, Hyundai, GM, Ford and VW. May 2022 - Hyundai and Kia Are Currently Second Only to Tesla in EV Sales in the U.S. (autoevolution.com) July 2022 - In the last quarter, Hyundai and Kia achieved the same sales as Tesla in 10 years of work: although they still do not exceed it, Elon Musk is impressed - La Opinión (laopinion.com) August 2022 - Hyundai and Kia Are (Still) Coming for Tesla (jalopnik.com) Read any of the reviews and plenty of auto journalists have stated that it is clear that Kia and Hyundai used Tesla as the standard and yet now they have surpassed Tesla and are the standard. This leapfrog game is why companies that are not competing now, are going to be way behind and could fail to stay on top where they might have been in the ICE world. Other Legacy companies are going for replacing Tesla and the distractions that Tesla CEO is doing with Twitter and his lies are going to cost Tesla.

Dodge showed off at the SEMA 2022 a Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept in a new Stryker Red Exterior Color, lightweight carvon-fiber wheels and drag radials sporting one of the new powertrain levels, the BANSHEE! Dodge is hosting a consumer clinic as it conducts Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust sounds for the EVs to emit. Follow Dodge SEMA 2022 here Dodge has released the official layout of the new EV Dodges that are coming. Dodge is illustrating a stair-step approach to its electrified performance, with 400-volt system output levels of 340 kilowatts (456 hp) and 440 kilowatts (590 hp) and an as-yet-unannounced, factory-delivered, power-level 800-volt SRT Banshee powertrain package. 400-volt Output Levels 340 kilowatt (kW) – base trim (455 hp) eStage 1 – 370 kW (495 hp) eStage 2 – 400 kW (535 hp) 440 (kW) – base trim (590 hp) eStage 1 – 470 kW (630 hp) eStage 2 – 500 kW (670 hp) Direct Connection Stage 1 and Stage 2 performance upgrades use a “crystal” key that plugs into the dash. Base output and Direct Connection upgrade levels for the 800-volt Banshee will be announced at a future date. The power levels are matched to a full slate of nine unique paint colors and nine different wheel combinations, and displayed via videos, illustrating the nine different performance and Direct Connection upgrade levels envisioned for the Dodge concept car. Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept’s new tri-coat Stryker Red exterior hue. The new exterior paint color was chosen as a way to celebrate the Stage 2 Banshee performance upgrade. In addition, the concept features “Stage 2” fender badging and new 18-inch Direct Connection lightweight carbon-fiber concept wheels with 305mm drag radials. Dodge is bringing EXCITEMENT to the Road with their new EV product line! View full article

Ford Numbers are out. Secure at the #2 selling EV brand in the U.S. Ford U.S. October 2022 Sales GM Also had a pretty stellar quarter too. GM Reports Third-Quarter 2022 Results | General Motors Company 2022 Guidance Full-year net income of between $9.6 billion and $11.2 billion, and EBIT-adjusted of between $13.0 billion and $15.0 billion Full-year EPS-diluted of between $5.76 and $6.76, and EPS-diluted-adjusted of between $6.50 and $7.50 Full-year net automotive cash provided by operating activities guidance range of between $16.0 billion and $19.0 billion, and adjusted automotive free cash flow guidance range of between $7.0 billion and $9.0 billion GM Q3 2022 Financial Highlights

Seems GM has decided to NOT show up at SEMA 2022 this year, so nothing there to cover, but I would like to know about GM accessories and how it compares to Ford. SEMA SHOW 2022 | semashow.com Seems Accessories and services are the big area for future money making.