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Drew Dowdell

Editor-in-Chief
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Everything posted by Drew Dowdell

  1. Drew Dowdell
    In this week for a review is a 2019 Mazda CX-5 Signature with the turbocharged 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G engine. This engine is shared with the Mazda CX-9 and Mazda 6 Turbo and produces 227 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft of torque on regular gasoline, but bumps up to 250 horsepower on 93 octane. All-wheel drive is standard. This is the most loaded of the CX-5 trims with only the paint ($300) and rear bumper guard ($125) as additional charges. That brings the MSRP to $38,360 after destination charges. What do you want to know about this Mazda while I have it for a week? Let me know in the comments below. View full article
  2. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "Ask Me Anything: 2019 Mazda CX-5 Signature Turbo"
    In this week for a review is a 2019 Mazda CX-5 Signature with the turbocharged 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G engine. This engine is shared with the Mazda CX-9 and Mazda 6 Turbo and produces 227 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft of torque on regular gasoline, but bumps up to 250 horsepower on 93 octane. All-wheel drive is standard. This is the most loaded of the CX-5 trims with only the paint ($300) and rear bumper guard ($125) as additional charges. That brings the MSRP to $38,360 after destination charges. What do you want to know about this Mazda while I have it for a week? Let me know in the comments below.
  3. Drew Dowdell
    Today Henrik Fisker announced the name for Fisker's upcoming EV SUV. Called the Ocean, it has been shown in a number of concept studies over the past year. The concept wears a solar roof to help with charging and retractable door handles. Looking mildly like a Range Rover Evoque, the vehicle is being produced with many recycled materials. Fisker claims this will make the SUV one of the most sustainable vehicle available. The starting price is claimed to be around $40,000 and have a range of over 300 miles through its 80 kWh enhanced lithium-ion batteries. Rear-motor, rear drive and dual-motor all wheel drive will be available. The SUV should hit the market in late 2021, about a year after Tesla's Model Y goes on sales. Fisker is offering a Tesla-like online-only sales model with "nationwide concierge service". Henrik also announced that there will be some big news on November 27th, the day before Thanksgiving, when online reservation become available. The production ready prototype will be revealed in January 2020. Fisker has been late in delivering on its promises before, so if you're waiting for one of these, you may be waiting a little longer than planned. Related: Fisker Shows First Look at New Electric SUV Fisker Teasing Us with Electric SUV Concept View full article
  4. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "Fisker Announces Name of First Vehicle, "Ocean""
    Today Henrik Fisker announced the name for Fisker's upcoming EV SUV. Called the Ocean, it has been shown in a number of concept studies over the past year. The concept wears a solar roof to help with charging and retractable door handles. Looking mildly like a Range Rover Evoque, the vehicle is being produced with many recycled materials. Fisker claims this will make the SUV one of the most sustainable vehicle available. The starting price is claimed to be around $40,000 and have a range of over 300 miles through its 80 kWh enhanced lithium-ion batteries. Rear-motor, rear drive and dual-motor all wheel drive will be available. The SUV should hit the market in late 2021, about a year after Tesla's Model Y goes on sales. Fisker is offering a Tesla-like online-only sales model with "nationwide concierge service". Henrik also announced that there will be some big news on November 27th, the day before Thanksgiving, when online reservation become available. The production ready prototype will be revealed in January 2020. Fisker has been late in delivering on its promises before, so if you're waiting for one of these, you may be waiting a little longer than planned. Related: Fisker Shows First Look at New Electric SUV Fisker Teasing Us with Electric SUV Concept
  5. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "Ford and United Auto Workers Reach Tentative Deal"
    Ford and the United Auto Workers (UAW) have reached a tentative labor contract deal in just days after the strike at General Motors ended. The details of the deal have not yet been released, but Ford did confirm the deal in a short statement. The talks began on Monday and the two sides quickly made progress on the smaller issues. Various UAW leaders from the U.S. plants will meet on Friday to approve the deal which then must be sent to Ford's 55,000 union members for ratification. Ford has a closer relationship with the UAW than the other Detroit manufacturers with Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford calling the UAW "Family" and that the UAW "helps to make Ford better and stronger". Once the deal with Ford is ratified, the UAW will move on to negotiate with FCA.
  6. Drew Dowdell
    Ford and the United Auto Workers (UAW) have reached a tentative labor contract deal in just days after the strike at General Motors ended. The details of the deal have not yet been released, but Ford did confirm the deal in a short statement. The talks began on Monday and the two sides quickly made progress on the smaller issues. Various UAW leaders from the U.S. plants will meet on Friday to approve the deal which then must be sent to Ford's 55,000 union members for ratification. Ford has a closer relationship with the UAW than the other Detroit manufacturers with Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford calling the UAW "Family" and that the UAW "helps to make Ford better and stronger". Once the deal with Ford is ratified, the UAW will move on to negotiate with FCA. View full article
  7. Drew Dowdell
    Fiat Chrysler posted a record $2.3 billion in operating profit in North America for third quarter 2019. Must of that was attributed to maintaining a firm hold on costs and customers opting for higher-trim level vehicles. Margin for the quarter in North America climbed to 10.6 percent, an all time high. Overall, North American revenue was flat at $21.3 billion and shipments down 11 percent. Globally, adjusted earnings rose 5 percent while revenue declined 1 percent. Global shipments were also down 9 percent. Even with all of that good news, one time charges added up to a $200 million loss, including $795 million for a settlement over the diesel scandal, and a $1.5 billion impairment charge from its European small-car lineup and the Alfa Romeo brand. FCA announced earlier today their intention to merge with European manufacturer PSA. The combined companies would form the fourth largest automobile company in the world. View full article
  8. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "Fiat Chrysler Posts Record Earning for Q3 2019"
    Fiat Chrysler posted a record $2.3 billion in operating profit in North America for third quarter 2019. Must of that was attributed to maintaining a firm hold on costs and customers opting for higher-trim level vehicles. Margin for the quarter in North America climbed to 10.6 percent, an all time high. Overall, North American revenue was flat at $21.3 billion and shipments down 11 percent. Globally, adjusted earnings rose 5 percent while revenue declined 1 percent. Global shipments were also down 9 percent. Even with all of that good news, one time charges added up to a $200 million loss, including $795 million for a settlement over the diesel scandal, and a $1.5 billion impairment charge from its European small-car lineup and the Alfa Romeo brand. FCA announced earlier today their intention to merge with European manufacturer PSA. The combined companies would form the fourth largest automobile company in the world.
  9. Drew Dowdell
    Oooh. and it's the Turbo too.
  10. Drew Dowdell
    I'm a National guy myself. Been Executive Elite with them for years... I can pick almost anything on the lot.
  11. Drew Dowdell
    Large car is Full size. I'm not saying it is as big as a CT6, but the CT6 is just a larger full size car.
  12. Drew Dowdell
    Right, but they aren't going to spend that money on a car that retails for $29,995 base. In order to get the CT6 tech, it's gotta be priced high. Not even the CT4 and CT5 have the weight saving tech.
  13. Drew Dowdell
    What are you talking about? Both the CT6 and 300 are RWD. If you look under the specs tab on this page, you'll see the EPA classifies the 300 as a "Large Car". It's not mid-size. https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=40610 The CT6 uses exceptionally expensive lightweight tech in order to achieve that weight. It weighs less than an AWD 3-series... are you saying the 3-series is out of date too? The CT6 (like the Avalon) is an anomaly on the weight scale, you can't really judge the whole class based on the CT6 alone. Most of the 300's direct competition is right around the same weight give or take 100 lbs.
  14. Drew Dowdell
    That front end just looks weird. I'll be getting my first test car in a number of years tomorrow. It's a Mazda CX-5 Signature. Get your questions ready. Palisade will be coming later next month.
  15. Drew Dowdell
    They'll keep Ram and Jeep. Peugeot may come over along with Opel. They'll kill the rest of the non-premium brands. I would have liked to see Citroen here.
  16. Drew Dowdell
    The 8-speed is substantially better. If you haven't driven one since 2009, that's probably why you feel the way you do about it. A 2019 300S is a great car.
  17. Drew Dowdell
    That's just it.... a new car built on an older car platform is still a new car... it doesn't need to be all new just for the sake of being new. The LX platform already can do things like lane monitoring and automatic cruise control... what else should it have that it doesn't have now? It gets competitive fuel economy, has competitive horsepower, they just need an interior refresh and they'd be good. They're my favorite long distance cruiser when I'm renting a car.
  18. Drew Dowdell
    All it needs is a visual and interior refresh and it would be fine to run another 4 or 5 years. The powertrain and performance are plenty competitive.
  19. Drew Dowdell
    Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group have agreed to the terms of a merger just after it was announced they were talking just yesterday. PSA's board has already agreed to the deal and is awaiting approval from FCA's board which is meeting later tonight. The merger, if approved, would create the 4th largest automotive company in the world with nearly $50 billion in value. FCA Chairman John Elkann would retain his chairmanship of the new company while Peugeot CEO Carlos Tavares would stay on as CEO. The board would be comprised of six appointees from Peugeot while FCA would get five. Both companies would pay dividends to their shareholders, €3 billion from Peugeot and €5 billion from FCA plus an additional €250 million from the sale of its Comau unit. Peugeot will sell its stake in auto parts make Faurecia. Where the new company would be based has not yet been decided. Both the French and U.S. governments have been briefed on the deal. View full article
  20. Drew Dowdell
    More information about "Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot Agree to Merge"
    Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group have agreed to the terms of a merger just after it was announced they were talking just yesterday. PSA's board has already agreed to the deal and is awaiting approval from FCA's board which is meeting later tonight. The merger, if approved, would create the 4th largest automotive company in the world with nearly $50 billion in value. FCA Chairman John Elkann would retain his chairmanship of the new company while Peugeot CEO Carlos Tavares would stay on as CEO. The board would be comprised of six appointees from Peugeot while FCA would get five. Both companies would pay dividends to their shareholders, €3 billion from Peugeot and €5 billion from FCA plus an additional €250 million from the sale of its Comau unit. Peugeot will sell its stake in auto parts make Faurecia. Where the new company would be based has not yet been decided. Both the French and U.S. governments have been briefed on the deal.
  21. Drew Dowdell
    The LX platform is not an old E-class platform. They used the rear suspension, the transmission, and some of the switch gear from the E-Class and that was it, and that was only in the first generation. By the time the second generation rolled around, there was no Benz left except for the 5-speed automatic in the V8 models.
  22. Drew Dowdell
    I think GM has already culled back the Buicks they weren't making a profit on in the US, with the exception of the Regal which they are contractually obliged to sell for a certain amount of time. Buick will end up being an all crossover brand in the US and it will make money that way. It can easily stand on its own in that segment.
  23. Drew Dowdell
    Lancia is just a Chrysler 300 with a Thema badge on it. They only have the one model. Edit: I told a lie. The Ypsilon is still in production.
  24. Drew Dowdell
    That's not just any second gen Aurora. That's a Final 500 Aurora. Mildly collectible. You can tell from the special purple paint that all of the final 500s got, the wheels, and the badge on the front fender.
  25. Drew Dowdell
    Because of dieselgate, diesel is now seen as a lot dirtier than gasoline, even if it has since cleaned up its act. Environmentally conscious Euros, of which there are a lot more of per capita than there are here, are switching to hybrids, EVs, and even just regular gasoline cars to avoid the dirt stigma. Diesel has fallen to 30% of sales in the EU when it was over 50% a few years ago. Add to it that gasoline cars have gotten more efficient and diesel engines still cost more to buy up front and the cost advantage on diesel has diminished significantly.
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