Drew Dowdell

That is an incredibly sharp car.

$29.9 Seems to be the base price for this class of vehicle regardless of the powertrain offered. At Ford, it is a 2.3T. If Chevy put the 2.0T in there as a base engine, I wouldn't have such an issue with it. The 2.5 is a lame engine and has been for years.

Yeah, the powertrains are a bit wanting unless you get the absolute top of the line PHEV. Even then, they're fastish, but "quirky".

uh... you can. It comes on all trims except the base model.

Neither... DS is the best of the PSA lineup... it's premium Citroën... kinda like a Denali. It really depends on what they bring over. If they bring over the lower end of the Peugeot line, I don't see them taking hold unless they price them like Volkswagens. Priced right, I think they could take on VW and Mazda just fine. There is also a report out today that PSA make a huge profit last year, including a profit on Opel.... something GM was never able to do, due to their crazy accounting habits.

Fiat-Chrysler announced a $4.5 billion investment today to build a new assembly plant in Detroit and add production at five existing facilities in Michigan. The move will increase capacity for Jeep, Ram, and Dodge Durango. $1.6 billion will go to the Mack Avenue Engine complex to convert the site into a manufacturing facility for the next-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee and an all-new three-row full-size Jeep SUV. This will create 3,850 new jobs. $900 million will go to Jefferson North for retooling and modernization for production of the Dodge Durango and next generation Jeep Grand Cherokee. This will create 1,100 jobs. The investment into Warren Truck increases to $1.5 Billion for the production of the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, plus continued production of the Ram 1500 Classic. This will create 1,400 new jobs. In addition to the plant investments, FCA has announced that future Jeep products will be electrified. All three facilities will be able to produce plug-in hybrid versions with fully electric model capability in the future. The project is contingent on land acquisition near the Mack Avenue plant. FCA plans to move quickly and start construction on the new facility in late Q2 2019. When complete, the facility will be the first new vehicle assembly plant built in the City of Detroit since 1991. The Mack Ave I plant currently builds the 3.0, 3.2, and 3.6 liter Pentastar V6. That production will move to the Dundee Engine Plant. The plan would bring around 6,500 total jobs to the region. FCA Press Release on Page 2 FCA to Expand Production Capacity in Michigan to Grow Core Brands, Electrify Jeep® Vehicles $4.5 Billion to Build New Assembly Plant in Detroit and Add Production at Five Existing Michigan Facilities, Creating Nearly 6,500 Jobs FCA total committed investments in the U.S. grow to nearly $14.5 billion since 2009, with nearly 30,000 jobs created to date Investment would be next step in Company’s U.S. industrialization plan, announced in 2016 to expand Jeep® and Ram brands Introduces two new Jeep-branded “white space” products in key market segments Enables electrification of new Jeep models $1.6 billion investment would convert Mack Avenue Engine Complex into manufacturing site for next-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee and an all-new three-row full-size Jeep SUV, creating 3,850 new jobs $900 million investment at Jefferson North to retool and modernize plant for continued production of Dodge Durango and next-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee with 1,100 new jobs expected Warren Truck 2017 investment increases to $1.5 billion for production of all-new Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, as well as continued assembly of Ram 1500 Classic with addition of 1,400 new jobs All three assembly sites would also produce plug-in hybrid versions of their respective Jeep models with flexibility to build fully battery-electric models in the future Sterling Stamping and Warren Stamping plants to receive more than $400 million total investment to support additional production, potentially creating about 80 new jobs at Sterling $119 million investment to relocate Pentastar engine production currently at Mack I to the Dundee Engine Plant; production at Mack would end by Q3 2019 Projects contingent on land acquisition and the negotiation of development incentives with the cities of Detroit, Sterling Heights, Warren, Dundee and state of Michigan City of Detroit has 60 days to deliver on commitments outlined in Memorandum of Understanding related to Mack and Jefferson North projects February 26, 2019 , London - Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (NYSE: FCAU / MTA: FCA) confirmed today plans to invest a total of $4.5 billion in five of its existing Michigan plants, and to work with the city of Detroit and state of Michigan on building a new assembly plant within city limits. The move would increase capacity to meet growing demand for its Jeep® and Ram brands, including production of two new Jeep-branded white space products, as well as electrified models. The proposed projects would create nearly 6,500 new jobs. The plant actions detailed in today’s announcement represent the next steps in a U.S. manufacturing realignment that FCA began in 2016. In response to a shift in consumer demand toward SUVs and trucks, the Company discontinued compact car production and retooled plants in Illinois, Ohio and Michigan to make full use of available capacity to expand the Jeep and Ram brands. Those actions have resulted in the recent launches of the award-winning all-new Jeep Wrangler and all-new Ram 1500, and the introduction of the newest member of the Jeep family, the all-new Jeep Gladiator, at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show. “Three years ago, FCA set a course to grow our profitability based on the strength of the Jeep and Ram brands by realigning our U.S. manufacturing operations,” said Mike Manley, Chief Executive Officer, FCA N.V. “Today’s announcement represents the next step in that strategy. It allows Jeep to enter two white space segments that offer significant margin opportunities and will enable new electrified Jeep products, including at least four plug-in hybrid vehicles and the flexibility to produce fully battery-electric vehicles.” The city of Detroit has 60 days to meet the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding, which requires the acquisition of property critical to the execution of the Mack project. The additional investments are subject to the successful negotiation and final approval of development packages with the state and other local governments. Plant Investment Details FCA would invest $1.6 billion to convert the two plants that comprise the Mack Avenue Engine Complex into the future assembly site for the next-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee, as well as an all-new three-row full-size Jeep SUV and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models, adding 3,850 new jobs to support production. The Company intends to start construction of the new Detroit facility by the end of Q2 2019 with the first three-row vehicles expected to roll off the line by the end of 2020, followed by the all-new Grand Cherokee in the first half of 2021. Also as part of this announcement, the Jefferson North Assembly Plant would receive an investment of $900 million to retool and modernize the facility to build the Dodge Durango and next-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee. FCA expects to create 1,100 new jobs at Jefferson North. The reborn Mack facility would be the first new assembly plant to be built in the city of Detroit in nearly three decades. In 1991, Jefferson North was the last new assembly plant built in the city. When complete, Mack would join Jefferson North as the only automotive assembly plants to be located completely within the city limits of Detroit. The Pentastar engines – the 3.6-, 3.2- and 3.0-liter – currently built at Mack I would be relocated to the Dundee Engine Plant as part of a $119 million investment. Pentastar production at Mack I would end by Q3 2019. Mack II has been idle since it ceased production of the 3.7-liter V-6 in September 2012. FCA also confirms the investment at Warren Truck to retool for production of the all-new Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, announced in 2017, along with their electrified counterparts, would increase to $1.5 billion. Production is expected to launch in early 2021. In addition to the new Jeep models, the plant would continue building the Ram 1500 Classic, which is being extended to meet market demand. It is expected that 1,400 new jobs would be added. As a result of this investment announcement, production of the all-new Ram Heavy Duty will continue at its current location in Saltillo, Mexico. To support the additional production, the Company’s Warren Stamping (Warren, Michigan) and Sterling Stamping (Sterling Heights, Michigan) plants would receive investments of $245 million and $160 million, respectively, with Sterling Stamping expected to add more than 80 new jobs. This investment is part of the Company's capital spending plan presented in June 2018. Realignment of FCA U.S. Manufacturing Operations Over the past two years, FCA has realigned production at four plants in Illinois, Ohio and Michigan to increase capacity for the Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler and Ram 1500 light-duty truck, and created additional manufacturing capacity for the Jeep Gladiator in Ohio. The investments included: $350 million in the Belvidere Assembly Plant (Illinois) to produce the Jeep Cherokee, which moved from Toledo, Ohio, in 2017. More than 300 new jobs were added to support production, which launched in June 2017. $700 million in the Toledo Assembly Complex (Ohio) to retool the North plant to produce the next-generation Jeep Wrangler. Approximately 700 new jobs were added to support production, which began in December 2017. $1.48 billion in the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant (Michigan) to build the next-generation Ram 1500 truck, adding more than 700 new jobs. Production of the new truck began in March 2018. Production of the Ram 1500 Classic continues at Warren Truck (Michigan). $273 million in the south plant of the Toledo Assembly Complex to prepare the facility to produce the all-new Jeep Gladiator. The new truck is scheduled to launch in the first half of 2019. In total, FCA has committed to invest nearly $14.5 billion in its U.S. manufacturing operations, creating nearly 30,000 new jobs since June 2009. View full article

The Pilot and Passport come standard with V6 engines and for little extra money, adaptive cruise and other safety features not found on the Chevy until you plunk down 50g. Up against a Passport, the Blazer is uncompetitive even at the lower price range.

I think that brands have become too big.... with only a few exceptions, not every brand needs to be a full range brand. I think we don't have enough brands, but the brands each have too many models. Peugeot will likely just bring a few crossovers here to start. This is at least a 2 product cycle commitment for them to make it.

Last Tuesday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted that the company would produce "around 500,00" cars in 2019, a large increase over the goal of 400k vehicles the company previously forecast in January. Musk later corrected himself and said that is meant "annualized production rate at the end of 2019 probably around 500k". The problem with this tweet is that back in October, Tesla and Musk had entered into a settlement with the SEC that Musk's public statements regarding Tesla production, finances, and other such matters would be reviewed by the company's board of directors before they were posted. The settlement stems from a fraud case where Musk tweeted that "funding has been secured" to take Tesla private, a tweet that later turned out not to be true. Tesla's lawyers acknowledged to the SEC on Friday that the posts in question had not been reviewed. Yesterday, the SEC filed a motion with the Federal District Court in Manhattan that claims Musk had "violated the court’s final judgment by engaging in the very conduct that the preapproval provision of the final judgment was designed to prevent.". Further, the tweet had gone out to 24 million followers. Musk argues that the substance of his tweets had already been vetted, approved, and publicly disseminated. The defense comes from Telsa's earning report which had a forecast production of between 350,000 to 500,000 cars. The federal judge has a range of options from imposing a fine, impose restrictions on Musk's use of Twitter, or even set up for a later removal of Musk as CEO. Tesla stock dropped about 3% in the hour directly after the motion was filed. Related: Tesla Model 3 "Recommended" Rating Rescinded by Consumer Reports Tesla Laying Off 7% of Workforce Tesla Dials Backs Production Hours on Model S and X View full article

Because the Ford doesn't come with a lame 2.5 liter base engine. The ST has real performance chops, and the Lincoln Nautilus still costs more when you equip them the same way.

Yeah, but the Blazer is a base 4-cylinder. The point was that when you put the same equipment in the vehicles, they cost the same money. That shouldn't be... Cadillac still has a nicer interior (even if I don't personally care for the design) and more prestige. It should cost more and the Chevy should cost less.

Why? At least it's better than the Chinese cars. Peugeot has been building cars for a long time.

PSA has been mulling a return to the United states since at least 2014. We reported in March of 2016 that DS was the most likely brand to mark the return of the French automaker to these shores. Now, PSA has made the announcement that Peugeot has been the brand selected, beating out Citroën, DS, and the recently acquired Opel brand. Peugeot left the U.S. market in 1991 after selling only 4,292 vehicles the year prior. PSA will start in 15 U.S. states and 4 Canadian provinces that have a higher rate of import vehicle sales. The vehicles would be sourced from both Europe and China. No firm time frame has been announced for the arrival of Peugeot in the U.S., the company only states that it wants to have its vehicles here by 2026. View full article

Not really. It still looks like someone melted a 1999 Taurus in the microwave.

That's to die for!

Yeah, the Ranger is the anomaly now, but in a good way.

omg how silly of me... I was shopping for a $23k basic single cab small pickup.... I should have considered a $93k sedan instead.

That's the base engine.

Mercedes was the first car? Lol no. 1803

Chevy isn't supposed to be competing directly with Cadillac on the same class of model for the same price.

The problem back then was that the domestics didn't hide the platforms that much. A Cavalier was too close to a Skyhawk was too close to a Cimarron. Chrysler probably did the best job with differentiation on the K-Car. But you're right... it was not a foreign idea to build modular platforms like this.

yeah, it is a bit of a head scratcher on the battery pack. Maybe there isn't enough room in the car in these platforms that weren't designed from the start to be hybrid. MLB was designed for first release to the public way back in 2007, so maybe there needs to be an MLB update to support hybrids better.