Drew Dowdell

Not much bigger than her Trax

Hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday.

Palisade I think. Palisade has a smoother ride, just as much power, and a better finished interior... plus a lot more tech for the price. I'm quickly used to the gear selector in the Palisade. I find it especially easier when doing a 5 point turn like I need to when getting the thing out of my driveway. The only reason to go to the Enclave over this is raw cubic feet. If you need the extra space, the GM twins or the Pilot are there. But as a luxury vehicle, this out-Enclaves the Enclave.

I think this and the Telluride are so darn close that it really comes down to aesthetics and how much you like the interior of one over the other. The interiors of both are very well done and show a lot of thoughtful small features. The V6 in this never feels out of breath and the 8-speed is more than happy to downshift as much as needed to give you the power you want. Would a Turbo V6 be faster? Sure, but I don't think anyone would really need it unless they were towing with it regularly. Should they make a bigger one? Yes, but they've probably reached the limits of size on this unibody platform. They'd probably have to move to BOF. The Genesis version will be RWD rather than the FWD this is. Totally different platform. Could they get away with a Genesis version of this? Probably.

The United Auto Workers and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles have reached a tentative labor agreement for a four-year contract the union and FCA said today. While details were not provided, the main framework of the deal is expected to mirror that of the deals made with Ford Motor Company and General Motors. Those deals include signing bonuses of at least $9,000, no changes for healthcare, and a clearer way forward for temporary employees to become permanent status. On December 4th, a council of the heads of UAW locals will meet and review the agreement and must approve it prior to sending it to members to ratify. Some media reports say that negotiators secured promises of another $4.5 billion in investments on top of the previous $4.5 billion to open a new assembly plant in Detroit. Other facilities in Southeast Michigan would receive upgrades. Further, the company has promised not to close any plants, and will allocate a new product to an Illinois assembly plant. View full article

Happy Thanksgiving all!

In the C&G garage for the week is the 2020 Hyundai Palisade Limited AWD with a sticker price of $47,605. This is Hyundai's newest SUV, at least until the diminutive Hyundai Venue takes its place at the other end of the size spectrum. The first impression I got from the Palisade was how big it is. Even though it is around 7 inches shorter than a Buick Enclave, it looks bigger and beefier. Being a Limited means that it is in top trim with only carpeted floor mats as an additional option. It's powered by a 3.8 liter naturally aspirated V6 producing 291 HP and 262 lb-ft of torque and equipped with start/stop. On my quick initial test drive I found the start/stop function to be unobtrusive and quick to restart the vehicle when I was ready to roll. Another immediate impression was with the sound quality of the Harmon Kardon sound system. I hooked my phone up via USB and Android Auto took over, playing my favorite Pandora station loud and clear. Another feature I like is the video display in the dash when using the turn signal. It helps clear any blind spots one might have in this big SUV. So while you're stuffing your faces with turkey this Thursday, think of questions you have about the 2020 Hyundai Palisade and post them below. View full article

Must have an extra large battery

Los Angeles - At the Los Angeles Auto Show, Lincoln introduced the Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring, a plug-in hybrid trim. Based on the standard Corsair, the Grand Touring's powertrain consists of a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder gas engine and a permanent magnet synchronous motor. The combined output based on Lincoln's calculations would be roughly 266 horsepower. Electric All-wheel drive powers the rear wheels. EV range is targeted at 25 miles EPA. Power is conveyed through a PowerSplit electric continuously variable transmission with two electric motors working together to provide very smooth acceleration. In addition to the five modes normally available to Corsair drivers, two additional modes are available on the Grand Touring; Preserve EV mode recharges and saves battery power for later, the engine and motor work continuously to deliver full power. The battery can be recharged up to 75 percent while in this mode. Pure EV mode is designed to keep the vehicle in all-electric mode as much as possible, only using the gasoline engine when the power demands exceed the electrical capabilities of the vehicle. The Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring will be built in Louisville Kentucky and will go on sale summer of 2020. View full article

The first product to come from Ford's investment into startup automaker Rivian will likely be a Lincoln SUV due to arrive sometime in 2022. The vehicle will be all-wheel drive and compete against Rivian's own R1S which is priced at $72,500. The models will share Rivian's skateboard platform, a design that combines the motors, batteries, controls and suspension into a single unit that the body can be built around. The Rivian R1S is a three-row EV crossover with a range of up to 410 miles and will be built in Normal Illinois at a former Mitsubishi plant. It is expected to go into production sometime in 2021. There will also be a compact Lincoln EV crossover coming for 2021 that could be built on the same platform that the Ford Mustang Mach-E rides on. EV sales have been tepid so far in the US, but Lincoln is banking on the EVs to be bigger sellers in the Chinese market. View full article

At least there's the 9-speed available.

and it sounds like you might actually fit in it.

I suppose I should go see it just to stay current on pop culture. Maybe over the weekend.

That's interesting because that's just under the spec of the old LT1 in the '96 Chevy Impala.

My uncle and cousin, who are both Mustang hard liners and have multiple classic mustangs are warming to the idea of this.

40s and sunny here. I need to go do some last minute T-day shopping.

Last year we hosted a small gathering for two people who didn't have a place to go for the holiday. This year we're hosting most of the family, I think the count is 12 or 13 plus a dog. I'm still sick, but getting by. We're doing most of the cooking. There's a 20 lbs turkey defrosting in the fridge. Friday I stay at home and shop online. Saturday and Sunday are just free days for me... might hang out with friends.

Aston Martin has unveiled their DBX SUV in Beijing China. This is the first SUV in the brand's 106-year history. It is being build at a new plant in Wales that is part of Aston Martin's second century rebirth plan. The DBX uses a bonded aluminum construction method to help keep weight down. At 4,949 lbs., it's relatively light weight for a full-size V8 powered luxury SUV. An adaptive triple chamber air springs allow the DBX to raise ride height by 45mm or lower by 50mm. This allows for versatility in terrain and handling, but also helps with getting into and out of the vehicle, or with vehicle loading. The air ride system also allows for variable spring stiffness, combined with an electric anti-roll control system and adaptive dampers helps the DBX handle more like a sports car than an SUV. Powered by an new version of Aston Martin's 4-liter, twin-turbo V8, that is also found in the DB11 and Vantage, the 542 horsepower and 516 lb.-ft of torque V8 can propel the DBX from 0 to 62mph in 4.5 second and achieve a top speed of 181 mph. The engine feature cylinder deactivation to increase fuel economy. All-wheel drive is standard and the power gets to all 4 wheels through a 9-speed automatic. An active center differential plus electronic rear limited slip differential allows torque to be transferred front to rear and side to side on the rear axle. The interior of the DBX, as expected, is a sumptuous place to spend your driving time. The cabin has been designed to accommodate the 99th percentile male and 5th percentile female provides class leading headroom and legroom. All of the seats are trimmed in full grain leather while the headliner and blind for the full panel sun room covered in Alcantara finish. Buyers can choose from wood, composite, and metal veneers to suit any taste. A 10.25 inch screen sits flush in the center console while a 12.3 inch. Apple Car Play is standard as well as a 360-degree camera system and ambient lighting with 64 colors. The starting MSRP for the DBX in the U.S. is $189,900 with deliveries expected to start in late spring 2020. View full article