Drew Dowdell

The march towards majority SUVs continues on and the two newest casualties are the Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen and the Golf Alltrack. As we predicted a month ago, Volkswagen will end production of the two vehicles in the 2019 model year, though in the case of the Alltrack, production will be extended to December. Volkswagen says that with 50 percent of their sales being SUVs, consumer tastes have shifted strongly to SUVs, and VW is responding by releasing three new SUVs over the next 2 years. First up, will be a 5-seater Atlas Cross Sport being unveiled later this year, then the ID.CROZZ electric SUV early next year, and a just announced SUV to slot below the Tiguan is planned for 2021. While Volkswagen says their new ID EV platform can be used for bodystyles of the past, apparently the station wagon is not one planned. View full article

They don't even market the Sprinter as a Freightliner anymore. They're not going to bring that back. No, they're all about putting it under the 3 pointed star. The money is just being cut. They're trying for $8b in savings. More cuts are coming. I wouldn't be surprised if the Crossover Coupes get the ax next. They sell in miserable numbers.

I know... I was just backing you up.

They're in the same contraction of the industry that everyone else is. They're trying to save over $8 billion and shaving off 10,000 jobs.

The Best or Nothing.... Or A Nissan. Almost exactly two years ago we showed you pictures and a report of the forthcoming Mercedes-Benz X-Class. Now unnamed sources have told Germany's Automobilwoche (Automobile Week) that Mercedes' recent profit warning and a board review of the portfolio have caused the company to put the X-Class on the chopping block. The X-Class is based in the Nissan Navara with some upgrades to the suspension and a Mercedes-esque interior. Much of the interior bits are straight from the Mercedes parts bin. The X-Class starts at about $41,000 in base trim and goes up to about $66,000 in top trim, quite a lot of coin for a small pickup. Pricing wasn't the only factor limiting sales. The X-Class was never offered in the biggest truck market, the U.S., instead it was only sold in Europe, Australia, and South Africa. In those three markets, the company moved only 16,700 units last year. The X-Class is built at Nissan's plant in Barcelona, Spain where the Nissan Navara and Renault Alaskan are built. Mercedes backed out of plans to build the X-Class for South American markets in Argentina back in February, perhaps signaling then the truck's fate. Further, Daimler may end their partnership with Nissan - Renault as part of a cost saving measure. This would largely be achieved by ending shared projects like the X-Class and the Smart For Two which shares platforms with the Renault Twingo. The Infiniti QX30 which shares with the Mercedes-Benz GLA has already been canceled. Daimler is trying to save $6.75 billion by 2021 with another $2.25 billion from the Daimler trucks division. In doing so, 10,000 jobs could be cut. View full article

It may not do in volume what the current Fusion does, but it will likely do it at a higher ATP. A Ford Focus and Ford Escape cost about the same to engineer and build, but the Ford Escape can cost $10k more for the same level of features and still sell.

Lincoln sales are up, best in 18 years. That means new customers are coming in.

I have a book full of his photography. The Last Steam Railroad in America - O. Winston Link

Ford has stated that "the car silhouette is changing", it may very well be that they just make a bunch of tall wagons and hatches to replace their current car lineup. A Fusion in the vein of an Outback would probably do well.

Lincoln is improving over its old self far better than Ford is.

Sure, and they all have horrid enough depreciation to make it a feasible purchase. The E-Class could probably make it without a height adjustable suspension though, the 300C and CTS do.

Check out the C&G Instagram for a whole bunch more from the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Walnut Street Invitational.

The driveway is so steep and the wheelbase of the car is so long that it will bottom out at the top of the driveway where it goes from angled to horizontal. I've tried with a loaner from Cadillac last year.

Then my Encore is getting truly abysmal mileage for such an underpowered vehicle. 25.4 mpg yesterday coming home from NJ.

That's not how it works. That's not how any of this works. Lincoln could have a 100% retention rate and Navigator could still only have a 34% retention rate if there is a huge influx of new to the brand buyers. An MKC buyer who gets a Corsair doesn't count towards Navigator retention.

With an all new Escalade.