G. David Felt

Indiana Jones Series of Movies

Aboriginal

Studebaker is BACK, BIGGER AND BADDER than Ever! I did not know that in 2003 a man actually tried to revive this auto name plate and ended up much like Delorean in prison for a Ponzi scam. Interesting Read and more pics on this SUV here: https://www.thedrive.com/news/33717/the-2003-studebaker-xuv-attempted-to-revive-a-classic-name-with-an-illegal-hummer-clone

Music for the Masses Saw this concert in Japan. Was amazing.

I loved this station wagon, one of the last true full size made form the 90's.

Depeche Mode

Yet I think GM gets this with doing a Hummer by GMC EV Truck and SUV full size. I could care less and if they went away and into the history books, I still could care less about Porsche cars. Their CUVs are cool. Hummer by GMC EV's are even Cooler.

Seems Ford has a Solution for killing 99.9% of Covid-19 in Police Explorers. There is a new setting that will boost the interior temperature to 133 degrees for 15 min to kill 99.9$ of all virus / bacteria in the auto. https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/05/here-comes-the-heat/ In additional auto news, seems Acura has decided to ditch as the story says the McPherson Struts. Quote: We’re of course talking about double wishbones, which Acura confirmed will be found up front in the 2021 TLX. If you were worried the TLX would end up as a flashy retread of your basic Honda Accord or the like, breathe easy — the new car rides atop a dedicated platform, with the eradication of the current-generation model’s MacPherson strut setup lending credence to Acura’s promise of the “quickest, best-handling, and most well-appointed sport sedan in Acura history.” https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/05/back-to-the-future-acura-tlx-ditches-the-macphersons/#more-1722464

Seems Renault and Nissan have ruled out a merger of the companies but have decided to close plants and build both Companies auto's in the same plant in regions where it makes sense to save money and become more efficient. Renault and Nissan are going with a global EV platform that both companies will use to build and sell global EVs to be more efficient at lower costs than the competition. Interesting read on their direction and future. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-autos-nissan-renault-alliance-costs/renault-and-nissan-rule-out-merger-as-they-unveil-survival-plan-idUSKBN2330T6 23 states have sued the Potus45 administration over the rollback of efficiency standards for auto's. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-autos-emissions/u-s-states-sue-trump-administration-over-fuel-efficiency-rollback-idUSKBN2332UT To quote the story: Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel called the rule a “gift to the fossil fuel industry” that would harm the state, home to Detroit’s Big Three automakers, because it would reduce automotive-related employment by 4%. She said automakers were afraid of a “mean tweet” from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Tesla Y AWD as no RWD or FWD version available starts at $48,690.

Interesting editorial on the Pandemic and how it will kill the Sports car. https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/33474/will-the-pandemic-kill-the-sports-car-as-we-know-it Yup, they predict the death of the Mustang and Camaro as we know it with manual transmission being history. Very interesting read. This one is also interesting as FCA has shared access to the potential Dodge version of the 1993 Grand Cherokee. https://www.thedrive.com/news/33690/rare-photo-shows-never-made-dodge-version-of-the-1993-jeep-grand-cherokee Final bit for those that love off road auto's is this Semi Truck custom ride with 1,100 HP. https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/33699/this-1100-hp-off-road-semi-truck-is-perfect-for-minor-errands

Satisfaction

Cadillac is going to get killed on this by auto reviewers and by @smk4565. The first review I have read of the 2020 CT4-V and while the reviewer likes the auto, he clearly points out it is not the ATS-V, but that is OK as a Blackwing is on it's way. Yet he then points out that this is using a Turbo 4 from the Chevrolet Silverado 1500. Honestly, I understand why Cadillac is doing this, but they are going to get hit for it in the press until the Blackwing arrives and it better kill the old ATS-V. https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/reviews/2020-cadillac-ct4-4dr-sdn-v-series-preview/ Diesel Gate is alive and well as the German Courts have ruled VW MUST BUY BACK 60,000 Diesel auto's in Germany giving current value of the auto based on Mileage and then crush them. This will add on billions more the the $33 billion VW has paid out worldwide to date. Diesel is dead. https://www.autoblog.com/2020/05/26/vw-diesel-buy-back-germany/

Retailer

Once a focused Aerospace powertrain company, IRP Systems has totally during this Pandemic changed into a EV powertrain provider company. Clearly there is money in the business as they raised $17 million in Series B funding to support their change from an Aerospace company to an auto powertrain supplier. https://chargedevs.com/newswire/electric-powertrain-provider-irp-systems-raises-17-million-in-series-b-funding/ Seems Tesla has cut prices across the board as a base Tesla 3 now starts at $37,990. https://electrek.co/2020/05/27/tesla-cuts-prices-lineup/

Seems France is doing a second round of Auto Company bailouts. After the first initial $5 billion secure loans to keep Renault and other french auto companies alive, France is now moving forward with an $8.8 billion Euro auto industry bailout which not only give additional life to Renault but also many EV auto startups. Here to keep the auto industry going with production is $3 to $5 thousand dollar incentives to buy an auto. If you go EV you get $6 to $7 thousand dollars towards the purchase of an auto. https://chargedevs.com/newswire/frances-8-billion-euro-auto-industry-bailout-includes-support-for-evs/

Here is a bit of Irony, seems the oil industry is backing moving to pure EV oil tankers. Have to say this is funny as heck as a consortium of Japanese companies are working to change all shipping to Electric vessels and their first target is the oil industry that is supporting this change. Now this is NOT the Super Oil Transport tankers, but what would be coastal delivery ships. Much like in Europe where you have electric ferries moving people and auto's around. https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1128265_electric-oil-tankers-a-slick-use-of-renewable-energy

Smoothness of the V6 over the Turbo 4 is very noticeable even though you have a bit less torque, the V6 just drives so much better I think on the Cadillac CUVs which is my experience as having them as loaners for maintenance at the dealer.

That is where the gov needs to rebuild the damn roads. Stop trying to save every little thing built eon's ago.

Distributor

I do not see a problem with the Turbo engines as long as you follow their scheduled maintenance in the owners book. This is the biggest problem in that many owners ignore basic maintenance with a Turbo engine that can easily eat through the protective elements of the synthetic oil and then with bad habits of stomping on the engine it burns rings or other problems. Turbo motors have higher maintenance than non turbo motors. I remember my brother inlaw who bought a buick Regal GX with the supercharged motor and he had it blown at 75 or 80 thousand miles and complained that Americans cannot build auto's to last. I asked him if he did the required maintenance on the car as the supercharged motor has specific needs to be done according to the scheduled owner manual and he said no, you just drive the auto and occasionally get the oil changed. This is the attitude that many have and why they went with Asian auto's who had basic do nothing NA motors. Yet this same man bought Acura's and thinks they were the world till just recently. He traded his wife's car and his in for a pair of RDX's with Turbo motors. Her RDX has had water leaks and electrical glitches. His has had nothing but problems with the Turbo motor. Less than 15,000 miles and two Turbo's later still having issues. I told him to use the lemon law and have ACURA take them back. His response was maybe, I will look at Honda as I hear they are good auto's. I cracked up laughing and told him same company, different name. He did not believe me till I proved it to him. Now he is looking at Toyota. Go Figure, Lemmings wanting no responsibility. Pathetic. Here is some good info for you. Pro's and Con's of buying a turbo auto. https://www.samarins.com/check/turbo-car.html Another review between turbo 4 or NA V6 https://www.autobytel.com/car-ownership/advice/v6-engine-vs-4-cylinder-turbo-engine-which-is-best-133466/ I personally would go NA V6 even though you loose a bit of Torque. I think it is smoother.

Electric

Seems an AMG version of the New G-Wagon is coming. Interesting that they have gone independent suspension coping what you get on the Hummer H1 as the suspension on the new AMG G-Wagon. No more solid axles for G-Wagon. https://www.autoblog.com/2020/05/26/mercedes-amg-g-class-wagen-4x4-squared-spied/#slide-2235479 Another round of German auto's coping what was created in America and only now is the best luxury SUV? ? In other sad lay off news, McLaren is laying of 1,200 employees as the future is not so bright for the super car maker with the Virus going crazy around the world. https://www.autoblog.com/2020/05/26/mclaren-lays-off-1200-employees-coronavirus/ RIP the almost 350,000 deaths from Covid-19. https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

Give birth in your old Minivan and maybe FCA will give ya a new Plugin Hybrid minivan. https://www.autoblog.com/2018/09/12/woman-gives-birth-moving-car-video-jimmy-kimmel-chrysler-pacifica/?icid=autoblog|trend|woman-who-gives-birth-on-video-in-moving-car-gets-another-surprise Amazing that the dad video recorded the birth while driving to the hospital. Scary. Have to say that this next story is very cool. I like Lulu. Total Aluminum car, very cool build, so many more photo's on the web site. 1,530 lbs of dry weight, 4 banger crate motor from GM for 275 HP / 295 lb-ft of torque. Total cost of build was $35,000. He has Lulu 2 in the works with a new 1,000 lb dry weight powered by a BMW inline 6 motorcycle motor. https://www.autoblog.com/2020/05/18/lulu-home-built-car-mickey-thompson-indy-harvey-aluminum-special/?icid=autoblog|trend|meet-lulu,-an-all-aluminum,-home-built,-indy-inspired-masterpiece The last story that has me cracking up is the top 3 luxury auto's that consistently carry the biggest discounts off MSRP pricing. #1 for years has been the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and it has now been replaced by the 2020 Aston Martin DB11, course #2 is still the S-class followed in 3rd place by the Audi A8 sedan. Seems the Germans build luxury auto's with a Heavy discount built in. LOL https://www.autoblog.com/2020/05/06/biggest-discount-aston-martin-db11-may-2020/?icid=autoblog|trend|2020-aston-martin-db11-tops-this-month's-list-of-discounts

Torque The greatly misunderstood requirement for moving an auto. More important than HP.