smk4565
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Everything posted by smk4565
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The base price is very competitive, it starts below Avalon, Maxima, Cadenza, and Azera, and I think it is probably better than those 4 cars, at least judging by interior photos and you get the 300 hp V6 standard with 8 speed. I would bet that every GM product except the Corvette is capable of all wheel drive, they just choose not to put it on every product. They could make a all wheel drive Chevy Sonic, but they want you to pay $5,000 more on a Chevy Trax to get an all wheel drive Sonic. This may change with the 2025 CAFE number, car makers may start selling all wheel drive Corollas and Civics to pull people out of crossovers back to cars.
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I hope the Model 3 is a success. Tesla can transform the business and the way people travel. I think it would be great if solar and wind power and battery tech got good enough that we didn't need gasoline in the United States. That is a huge shift in the way things have been done for 100+ years. And it gives us cleaner air, and says screw you to the Middle East and their oil. One interesting point, GM has a market cap. of $47 billion, Tesla has a market cap of $28 billion. Tesla isn't some little guy that can just be bought up.
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If the truck is designed for Latin America, Europe and Middle East, it probably isn't being designed to be a luxury truck. Which makes me think they would go after the commercial market in the US. Which is a small market. But I don't think there is a big market for luxury mid-size trucks either.
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M-B has average transaction prices that far exceed others in the luxury segment. The way the E-class and S-class dominate their segments, would suggest that there is no problem with their image. I think MB-USA would rather wait for the final product, and see how it is received elsewhere, and see if there is any demand for it in the USA. This probably isn't going to be a luxury truck, but a pickup with a Sprinter dash board.
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Engine downsizing isn't going away, I think you'll see a turbo 4 in the Silverado in the early 2020s. The 2.0T could easily be the base engine. I would bet in 2025 only Silverado HD 2500 and 3500s have a V8, by then even the Ford Super Duty might be ecoboost V6 as the big engine.
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I think they have forgotten how to build a performance car. Even when you look at Lexus, the F-sport cars are mostly just trim packages with wheels and body moldings. Their big gun engine in the GS F and RC F is a V 8 with 387 lb-ft of torque. A 5 liter liter V8 with 460 or 470 hp whatever it makes is pretty awesome for a smaller car, or mid-level product, but that is their range topper. When Cadillac and the Germans have near 600 hp and torque in cars. It is a mystery to me why Lexus hasn't put turbos on the 3.5 V6 or the 5.0 V8 yet. Even Fusions, Malibus and Sontas are turbocharged now, this isn't some exclusive high dollar technology. A 1990s Toyota Supra turbo could do 0-60 in 4.6 seconds with a 13.1 second 1/4 mile. 20 years later a GS-F is 0-60 in 4.4 seconds with a 12.9 second 1/4 mile. They aren't much further ahead now than they were in the 90s. And when you look at Toyota brand itself, they have nothing that could hold a candle to the 90s Supra in terms of performance. Toyota is more bean counter driven than GM is. Every product they make is bland, boring, reliable transportation, their 2.4 liter and 3.5 liter engine have been around over a decade with little change. They just want to milk basic powertrains in basic sedans and crossovers for as long as possible.
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I don't know if FCA needs both Chrysler and Dodge. They need Ram and Jeep. But the Pacifica could be a Dodge, if the 300 were FWD, why not make it a Dodge if the Charger continues as RWD. If the LX platform is dead, and the Dart is dead, then the Journey can become a Chrysler, Pacifica and 300 stay at Chrysler. There just doesn't seem to be enough product to feed two brands. And neither brand will be luxury or performance, because Sergio thinks Alfa Romeo is luxury and performance, and Maserati super luxury and performance. All FCA needs is one middle of the road brand, with a minivan, a crossover and a couple sedans.
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What Would Buy Instead- Jeep Grand Cherokee Edition
smk4565 replied to Frisky Dingo's topic in The Lounge
I also dislike SUVs and wouldn't want to drive any of them. If I had to pick one I would go with the Jaguar F-Pace. It is probably the most car like and with 340 hp it should move pretty well. I'd consider a GLC43 also but that isn't priced yet. -
I would drive the GNX over the M3. But if it was any car from 1987, it would be a 560SL, even though I think the 190E still looks good now.
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Looks like a Mustang
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Their CAFE numbers have to be horrible too. Fiat has no sales, Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200 are about to die, they just doesn't have much of anything to get to 50 mpg target. Wouldn't surprise me at all if the next Chrsyler 300 is front wheel drive with a 4 cyldiner engine, maybe that Hurricane turbo 4.
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When will Cadillac "Make America Great Again" and do so much winning that they get bored with winning
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I am not so sure the CT6 is as nice as a Genesis G90. This is the competition and it has a 425 hp v8.
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Another from Autocar
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CT6 also has no answer to this:
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Except of course by my '94 Oldsmobile which also had wiper blades that dispensed washer fluid... Not from 20 holes inside the blade.
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Game over on the luxury interiors.
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I am in agreement with Sauviloquent. The CT6 is just a big sized CTS (with less powerful twin turbo V6 and no V8). It is no S-class, it isn't even on the A8's level when it comes to interior or performance. And Drew has a good point about the metal switchgear and buttons in the Mercedes. Top notch. Also remember the S-class has laser drilled windshield wiper blades that dispense washer fluid. The level of technology is unmatched. The 11th commandment: "Thou shalt never forget that the S-class is the standard bearer and flagship of the entire automotive industry."
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Will the Charger go FWD or does this mean the Charger and 300 are no longer twins? So they kill the FWD 200, to make the 300 FWD baed on that Pacifica platform? I get why they want to platform share to save money, and the LX platform is old. But FCA has a rear drive platform for Alfa Romeo, they could build Charger and 300 on that. FCA is so screwed up though, Sergio is just making a mess. If the 300 goes to the Pacifica platform, I hope it has Stow and Go seats.
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BMW News: Next BMW X5 to Use Underpinnings from 7-Series
smk4565 replied to William Maley's topic in BMW
Well yes, Cadillac could and probably should do it with a V8, the cost to develop a V12 would be a lot for what they'll sell. But they also have to realize that Rolls, Bentley, BMW, Mercedes and Audi have or will have V12 (or W12) SUVs. Audi has a V12 Q7 that isn't sold in the USA. -
Hah! No they didn't. Again Benz trying to take credit for inventing something they didn't (Like saying they invented the car, or Airbags, or ABS) Try 2002 from Saturn or 1999 if you count the 3-door SC. And 1978 from Oldsmobile Good point on the Saturn coupe, always liked those suicide doors. The Mazda RX-8 had a similar set up. The CLS was still the trend setter that the rest followed. But if you ask Google who invented the car, the response is Karl Benz.
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My car has the Ash Maple wood, but it does have the black dash and sand color seats. On the E550, the leather on the door panels is real, all the wood is real, the metal trim is real metal.
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I don't think the Maxima, LaCrosse, Avalon or Cadenza are luxury cars. But I can see why people would chose one of those over a 328i, CLA, ATS, IS250 etc. If you want full size, V6, some niceties, those first 4 cars fit the bill. Likewise with the Chrysler 300. Where that gray area is, is that the features, horsepower, performace of those cars is what luxury cars had 10 years ago. At the same time the luxury car makers have made smaller cars to get into that low $30s segment. When I was shopping to replace my Aurora, I wanted to be $20-25k with tax, fees and everything. I considered a 09 Jaguar XF, 08-10 CTS, 09-10 Hyundai Genesis 4.6, even drove a 2 year old MKZ, and I had driven the STS V8 before, but those were getting older at the time. So I wasnt' dead set on a Mercedes, the Genesis was my front runner for a while, but I wanted more midsize, and the Genesis was pretty bland. I drove a Mercedes, liked it the most. My car is a 2008 with premium 1 and premium 2 package, AMG sport package, the Designo paint and leather package, panoramic roof and power trunk closer. Since it is a V8 it has Airmatic. My car makes 391 lb-ft at 2,800 rpm, which I think is quite good for a naturally aspirated engine.
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Jeep News: Rumorpile: Details On the Hurricane 2.0L Turbo for Wrangler
smk4565 replied to William Maley's topic in Jeep
I am pretty sure MacGyver's Jeep wasn't nearly as big as todays or needed that much power. I just looked up a late 80s Wrangler, they were 153 inches long and 2,850 to 3,241 lbs. Base 4 cylinder and the straight six optional. Today's Wrangler is 3,700-4,400 lbs. It gained like 1,000 lbs, meaning you have to put a V6 in, up the cost. But it is more popular than ever so maybe people want bigger.
