G. David Felt

Seems BMW is now looking at a Luxury Truck. This concept is built on the BMW X7 converted to a truck. Then you have the custom house making their version off a X7 model. I would still hate the big ugly kidney grill, but this is way better than the badge engineering MB thought of doing with the Mitsubishi truck.

I will disagree with you that Manual is faster than automatics in racing. I also would challenge that all drivers enjoy the pleasure of manuals. I grew up driving manual from age of 12 till my mid 30's and when you live in a mountainous area, hills are not easy for many people with manuals. Eventually one moves to automatic over manual and even hard core enthusiasts will have some that prefer automatic over manual. I am one of those enthusiasts that have had more than enough manual and no desire to go back ever. I will admit that the 3 on the tree in my 69 camper special F250 was a blast to drive and a great leg workout. Is it me or does that S2000 have some BMW style to it? Seems to remind me of a BMW 2 door, but cannot think of the specific model right now.

Marriage

I am the One!, Love racing, Love aggressive driving, Enjoyed when I was younger the shifting thing for a while, but honestly, a dual clutch paddle shift or just total auto is fine as they are faster than manual and once focused on attacking the road/course, the shifting thing is not even a thought.

I think there is 1 gal in your life that would send you to hell faster than the fun 24 gals would take you to heaven!

Pride

So here just north of me off Highway 99 is the Lynnwood Benz dealership and I see far more vans out front than cars or SUVs. I agree that NOW is the time for Lincoln to step it up with their BEV roll out of Luxury auto's. While you and everyone knows I love my SUVs and Trucks, I am honestly EXCITED that they will have the Zephyr BEV for those that still want a car. Smart to still have an option so that they do not push away potential buyers.

I honestly think manual is overrated. Distraction from driving aggressively on curvy roads.

All

@balthazar Thanks for keeping up updated on your new awesome truck. The MPG to interior comfort spec is really awesome. GM I feel really hit a homerun for your Diesel truck!

BACK TO LINCOLN DISCUSSION Seems the Nautilus is a one and done as Ford has committed a long term deal to Oakville in Canada to build BEVs and the Nautilus built there in ICE form is to be replaced by a new BEV. Oakville to Build Electric Lincoln Corsair By 2026: Report - The News Wheel According to this story and interview with Lincoln Executives, beside multiple BEV SUVs, they will also have a BEV car based on the Lincoln Zephyr Reflection Concept. Lincoln’s first EV will arrive in 2022 with three more to follow | TechCrunch

According to their press release, interviews, there is NO SCHEDULE for MB EVs in the US yet. Mercedes-Benz's US rollout schedule for EVs still not announced - Electrek Latest interview to quote: Mercedes-Benz Production Manager Jörg Burzer told Automotive News Europe last week that the new S Class — and its electric sibling, the EQS — were “absolutely crucial for the future” of Daimler. He said it was a “top priority.” Seems even the EQS is not really a equal size S-Class but more of a CLS class car. The EQS is a “sibling” to the gas-powered S-Class, but its length will more likely match the Mercedes-Benz CLS. The electric powertrain can be more tightly packaged than a gas engine. That results in a size slotting between an E-Class and S-Class. Würth said: This speaks VOLUMES about MB FAILED ability to get EVs to the US market. Now consider that still more Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles are in the pipeline with not-yet-announced timing. Würth said: So no real luxury EVs, just compact mid cost BEVs sometime in the future. which makes the other news reports saying 3 BEVs by 2025 questionable as they are not committing to any release schedule for the US. This is even more proven when they say late debute of the EQS in 2021 at dealerships. Sign up for details in the future. This pretty much says they are not committing to anything in the near future and one would have to question the near years. 2022 EQS Sedan | Future Vehicles | Mercedes-Benz USA (mbusa.com) Even their detailed EQ web page for the US market does not commit to any EVs in the near term. Mercedes-EQ | Mercedes-Benz USA (mbusa.com) Even from this 2020 story, there are no updates, nothing to give any credible statement to when MB might actually start building let alone selling EVs in the US. Mercedes-Benz launches $1.65bn plan to expand electric vehicle battery production (thedriven.io) This news story even lends credibility to the fact that MB will not have BEVs till maybe 2023 in the US as 2022 is when they move into their new Battery and BEV parts buildings in Alabama. New $54M parts facility will boost Mercedes EV production in Alabama (madeinalabama.com) As such, that would imply time to setup production, run tests and get things worked out with the local work force before they can start building and shipping BEVs. At best, I would expect 3 BEVs by 2025.

How is that any different than MB with their Best of nothing statement? If they have to say they build the best, then it clearly IS NOT based on your line of thinking above. So the plastic over priced MB products are again as I stated, a Toyota equal product and questionable if they build some real luxury products as half the family and especially the vans are NOT LUXURY!

Fisker debut the Fisker Ocean SUV at the Los Angeles Auto Show November 2021. At that time they had a tentative agreement with Magna that they entered into on Oct. 15,2020. As of June 17th 2021, a binding agreement was reached between Fisker and Magna for production to start November 17th 2022 for the first of Fisker BEVs, the OCEAN Suv. This binding agreement is a broad-based, comprehensive plan covering volumes, manufacturing costs and quality metrics over the program's lifecycle that runs to the end of 2029. This plan covers all critical planning, launch and manufacturing phases. This agreement underpins all facility investments, including bodyshop, a clear defined path to start-of-production in 2022 and the rapid ramp-up to full run-rate production. This contract covers the everything including opportunities to increase production volumes based on sales and adding other architecture variants. Fisker Ocean SUV will use a Magna-developed electric vehicle architecture modified by Fisker to create the FM29 platform. This platform is an aluminum-intensive platform projected to deliver class-leading range, interior space at a Bill of Meterials and Manufacturing cost that enables the Ocean to enter the market at a starting MSRP of $37,499 in the United States excluding EV-related subsidies and below the Euro 32,000 in Germany (including taxes and EV-related Subsidies) offering a compelling, high-value option packages to customers across the Ocean's entire price range. Magna is excited by this partnership where they see a future where everyone can live and move without limitations. Magna has been developing auto parts to complete auto's for various vendors for decades and has expanded from ICE to Hybrid and now full line of Electric power trains that will compliment Fisker's line of Battery Electric vehicles. Magna line of eDrives to eBeams move the world in todays products and in the future of Fisker BEVs. The latest product, eBeam is built for Offroad capable auto's to commercial grade auto's. Fisker as they get closer to production will clarify what all components made by Magna will be in the RWD/AWD Fisker Ocean SUV. The Fisker Ocean | Meet The Fisker Ocean. How It's Made Matters| Fisker, Inc. (fiskerinc.com) Home (magna.com) PFXwdbuYTJmxHqeWsQAY (fiskerinc.com) Company Information (magna.com) Powertrain Electrification (magna.com) View full article

LOL, No, I am not. I only added up the auto's they say would be out by 2025 and that was 327 BEVs out by 2025. The number is higher if I added in the other auto's they say they will have by 2030 or later. I also did not take the time to post the numbers for past 2025 as I focused on the BEVs that they are saying they will have out by 2025. Call me info overload if you want, but wanted to clearly state what each vendor I listed was saying about by 2025 which is the focus on BEVs right now and long term plans as I believe that those later dates for going pure EV as you have stated will get pushed out for some, pulled in for others. It was an interesting exercise in looking at all their websites for press releases about BEV releases and searching for it on the internet. A very interesting listing I believe.

Agree, I think the artist really did a nice job on a future S2000 car.

They are very popular around here especially in the road rally clubs.

Mercedes-Benz is VERY LAUGHABLE, they only plan to have 6, SIX BEV on the global market by 2025 compared to 30 by GM, 8 by Ford, 100 by Stellantis, hell will just copy and past from the Tesla thread. Even BMW will have more BEVs than Mercedes-Benz according to their press releases and various news sources talking to them. Benz will have maybe 3 models by 2025 in the US. According to the current released numbers, here is what each auto maker says they will have on the global market in BEVs by 2025 to 2030: Honda / Acura - Using GM Ultium batteries and powertrain - 2 in 2024, 8 by 2030 BMW / Mini / Rolls Royce - 12 models by 2025, full lineup electric for all brands by 2030 Ford / Lincoln - 8 models by 2025, all electric by 2035 gm - Chevrolet/GMC/Buick/Cadillac - 30 models by 2025, world wide fully electric on all brands by 2035 Volkswagen - 50 models by 2025, world wide fully electric by 2030 Audi - 5 models by 2025, pure electric by 2035 Bentley - 8 models by 2025, pure bev only by 2030 Nissan - 12 models by 2025, electric only by 2035 Toyota - 6 models by 2025, others as demand increases Subaru - 6 models by 2025, full hybrid in all product lines by 2035, possible all electric by 2050 Hyundai/Kia/Genesis - 23 models by 2025 Volvo - 8 models by 2025, all electric by 2030 Mazda - 3 models by 2025, all electric by 2050 Daimler/Mercedes-Benz/Smart - 6 models by 2025, electric only by 2040 Mitsubishi - 6 models by 2025, all hybrid by 2025, pure electric by 2050 Stellantis - 100 models by 2025, all electric by 2030 Maserati - 6 models by 2025, all electric by by 2030 Jaguar Land Rover - 12 models by 2025, electric only by 2035 Tesla - 6 models by 2025 not including commercial products. Company pure EV already Rivian - 3 by 2025, future products undefined at this time Lordstown - 1 model by 2022, undefined for the future, latest legal problems could imply the company might close Lucid - 2 models by 2022, 5 by 2025, undefined past 2025 at this time Bollinger - 1 model in 2022, 3 by 2025, undefined past 2025 Geely - New EV division of the parent company, to use their Sea EV Platform to produce 2 models by 2022, 6 models by 2025 with global sales. 100 pure electric start ups in China, what if any actually make it out of the country, but many choices across Asia.

According to the current released numbers, here is what each auto maker says they will have on the global market in BEVs by 2025 to 2030: Honda / Acura - Using GM Ultium batteries and powertrain - 2 in 2024, 8 by 2030 BMW / Mini / Rolls Royce - 12 models by 2025, full lineup electric for all brands by 2030 Ford / Lincoln - 8 models by 2025, all electric by 2035 gm - Chevrolet/GMC/Buick/Cadillac - 30 models by 2025, world wide fully electric on all brands by 2035 Volkswagen - 50 models by 2025, world wide fully electric by 2030 Audi - 5 models by 2025, pure electric by 2035 Bentley - 8 models by 2025, pure bev only by 2030 Nissan - 12 models by 2025, electric only by 2035 Toyota - 6 models by 2025, others as demand increases Subaru - 6 models by 2025, full hybrid in all product lines by 2035, possible all electric by 2050 Hyundai/Kia/Genesis - 23 models by 2025 Volvo - 8 models by 2025, all electric by 2030 Mazda - 3 models by 2025, all electric by 2050 Daimler/Mercedes-Benz/Smart - 6 models by 2025, electric only by 2040 Mitsubishi - 6 models by 2025, all hybrid by 2025, pure electric by 2050 Stellantis - 100 models by 2025, all electric by 2030 Maserati - 6 models by 2025, all electric by by 2030 Jaguar Land Rover - 12 models by 2025, electric only by 2035 Tesla - 6 models by 2025 not including commercial products. Company pure EV already Rivian - 3 by 2025, future products undefined at this time Lordstown - 1 model by 2022, undefined for the future, latest legal problems could imply the company might close Lucid - 2 models by 2022, 5 by 2025, undefined past 2025 at this time Bollinger - 1 model in 2022, 3 by 2025, undefined past 2025 Geely - New EV division of the parent company, to use their Sea EV Platform to produce 2 models by 2022, 6 models by 2025 with global sales. 100 pure electric start ups in China, what if any actually make it out of the country, but many choices across Asia. These Automakers Now Plan an All-Electric Future - The Detroit Bureau Stellantis reveals key details of electrification plans - electrive.com Volvo Confirms All EV Plan by 2030 with Internet Only Sales | MotorWeek Here Are Automakers' Plans for Adding More Electric Vehicles to Their Lineups - Consumer Reports Plus got the numbers from the various auto companies press releases on their web site. This list which I know is not complete, implies that 327 models of BEVs will be on sale globally by 2025 with more un-identified brands / startups. I think Tesla will have a challenge on their hands from the largest OEMs, not to mention smaller startups especially in China. Tesla will not be gone, but I question if they will be the company they are today, especially independent.

Honda S2000 is right up there as a rally car that people love much like the Mazda Miata. Recent prices for the used S2000 market have the prices on the rise for the High Revving 4 cylinder 2 door sports car. Rain Prisk, an designer decided it was time to envision what a Modern Honda S2000 would look like on the gm Ultium platform. What are your thoughts on this design for an AWD BEV sports car? Would the auto market embrace RWD/AWD sports cars? Facebook https://www.facebook.com/rainprisk/photos/a.690277364396394/4008193479271416/?type=3

We will see as 2025 is not that far off when clearly 100's of BEVs are going to be on the market and we will know then if Tesla can survive on it's own or not. I am thinking not!

Yes Space X is it's own company run by the same CEO as Tesla, so Yes it does matter as he is distracted on how to live on Mars and send people there. His focus is NOT on Tesla only, just like the solar panels or wall power. He is a distracted CEO that is hurting IMHO not helping Tesla as much as he should be.

Why is it laughable? If you believe in the product, you believe that those around you want the same quality of world class product, that is all it takes to start a move that way. No one would hire a president that only believes they build mediocre products. While you believe that MB builds the best, plenty of people think otherwise and you know I see MB as just another competitor to GM from Chevrolet to Cadillac. MB is an entry level to mid to luxury level auto maker, They are the Toyota of German auto's on par with some models but better than VW, equal to BMW which is also another Chevrolet to Cadillac auto builder under a single name plate but with other problem step siblings.

If MB is so great and reliable, then why do they not post their actual testing and certification of the process? Why is there no details of what 99.65% of what particles? What size Hepa filter is this? So many unanswered questions with a fictional certification. Tesla at least posts their testing and Hepa Filter size. Putting the Tesla HEPA Filter and Bioweapon Defense Mode to the Test | Tesla