Drew Dowdell

@balthazar you sir have a lot of projects not even counting the cars. Mini-barrels or... what? I can't imagine having room for lots of full sized barrels.

GM has announced total investments of $56M for capacity expansion to be spread over two of its existing manufacturing plants GM said in a press statement. $20M will be going to its Romulus Michigan propulsion plant to expand capacity of 10-speed transmission manufacturing. The investment will be used to purchase additional machining equipment. GM 10-speed is used in their full-size rear-wheel drive SUVs and trucks. The Romulus plant currently employs about 1,350 people and also builds V6 engines. Expansion of the Romulus plant implies GM is preparing to expand the transmission to more models. An additional $36M in investment will go into its Lansing Delta Township plant to expand production and get ready for the refreshed Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave crossovers. Built in 2006, Lansing Delta Township is GM's newest manufacturing facility. View full article

It was just too small. It should have been a Regal convertible instead of a Verano convertible.

Sadly, I've lost my taste for most alcohol. I do like skiing, but I rarely get to go. I've only been twice this year. The first time it was so cold that when I would breath, my breath would freeze my mask to my beard!

I always liked these from new. The original had very questionable reliability though. Then they got that gonzo nose for a few years. The Z3 was still a better looking car.

They should deploy this in Pittsburgh. We're one of the primary test cities for autonomous driving.

While its hard to tell, I think this is one of the times @smk4565 was joking.

I always rent "up" from what I currently own, so I'm usually the reverse.

The Omega platform is going away. GM is consolidating on a new platform soon called VSS. I've been told by a Cadillac rep that starting with the XT4, the shifter and other such switch gear will be shared up and down the lineup. That was a Johan thing though, so it may not hold by the time the Escalade gets here.

Back in June we reported that the Lincoln MKC would be changing its name to Corsair. While previously used as an Edsel name, Corsair fits in with Lincoln's nautical naming theme for some of their SUVs, Corsair being a small sailing vessel. Now, this week TTAC has uncovered a NHTSA document showing the engine lineup for the coming small crossover and it includes a plug-in hybrid variant. The plug-in hybrid will be a 2.5 liter 4-cylinder likely borrowed from the Fusion S. In that application it makes 175 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque. There is no word on driving range yet, but one thing that is for sure is that the PHEV version is only available in all-wheel drive. Two other powertrains will be available but they are the 2.0T and 2.3T carried over from the existing car. When will the Corsair arrive? That's anyone's guess, but our guess is that like its bigger brothers the Lincoln Nautilus, and Lincoln Aviator, it will be unveiled at the LA Auto Show this coming November. View full article

We're in a weird spot on the forum software. A new version of the software is currently in Beta, but the creator of this theme we use (a separate entity from the forum software manufacturer) appears to have gone out of business and is no longer offering support. I don't want to spend the $50 to upgrade to a new theme when it might not be compatible with the next version of the forum software whcihcomes out in a few weeks to a month. At the moment, it looks like @ccap41's suggestion might be the temporary solution. Otherwise, if you scroll to the bottom and select Theme, you should be able to pick CGDefaut2 which puts you back on the older theme.

I ran the support tool to clear out the server cache. Let me know if that helps.

Mercedes is saying goodbye to one of its icons. The 2020 SLC marks the final year for the compact roadster. In celebration, Mercedes-Benz is making a special Final Edition version of the model for 2020 and debuting it at the Geneva Auto Show next month. The Final Edition SLC will be available in both SLC300 and SLC43 AMG variants. The SLC300 will come in Selenite Gray with gloss black door handles and mirrors. Based on the AMG Line trim, it will have a lowered ride height, bigger brakes, and more sporty bumpers. The SLC43 AMG comes in Sun Yellow, a homage to the Sunburst Yellow the original 1996 SLK debuted with. The engines carry over with a 2.0 liter turbo 4 in the 300 putting out 241 hp and a twin-turbo 3.0 V6 making 386 hp in the 43. The 2020 SLC will reach dealerships in late 2019. Mercedes-Benz press release on page 2 The SLC Final Edition Let the sun shine in: special edition of an iconic roadster When the SLK first appeared as a production model in 1996, it caused a sensation and founded a new generation of roadsters. For the first time, Mercedes-Benz had produced a roadster whose vario-roof redefined the roadster segment by combining open-air driving pleasure with uncompromised comfort in poor weather that had never been available before. Furthermore, the SLK started its career in the launch color Yellowstone, an unusual choice for Mercedes-Benz. In honor of this world premiere, the Final Edition of the AMG SLC 43 is available in the exclusive paint finish Sun Yellow. Boasting an extensive range of equipment and unique interior details, the special edition of the SLC marks the pinnacle of the current model generation. The 2020 Mercedes- Benz and Mercedes-AMG SLC Final Edition will arrive in U.S. dealerships in 2020. Painted in Selenite Grey, the SLC 300 Final Edition boasts a distinctive look with an AMG Styling front bumper with trim strips sporting a silver chrome finish on the lower section. The door handles, mirrors and rear brace feature a high-gloss black finish with exclusive "SLC Final Edition" badges on the front fenders, below the chromed fin. Also eye-catching are the standard-fit 5-spoke AMG light-alloy 18-inch wheels with high-gloss black finish. The special model is based on the AMG Line, which includes AMG Styling bumpers at the front and rear, a sport suspension with 10 mm lowering as well as a larger braking system with perforated brake discs and front calipers sporting "Mercedes-Benz" lettering as standard equipment. A striking combination of two-tone Nappa leather in Black/Silver Pearl with Grey topstitching characterizes the interior and can be found on the standard- fit sport seats, the door trim and the door center panels, among other areas. The Grey seat belts echo the color of the topstitching. Carbon-fiber look leather inserts in the head restraints and the upper section of the seatbacks round off the exquisite interior design of the SLC Final Edition. The head restraints and the selector lever of the automatic transmission are covered with carbon leather and bear silver SLC lettering. The trim elements on the instrument panel and the center console sport a bright aluminum finish. The standard-fit multifunction sport steering wheel combines carbon leather in the upper and lower segment with smooth nappa leather in the grip area. Sporty details of the steering wheel are the flat bottom, the 3-spoke design, the black paddle shifters and the spoke faceplate with "Mercedes-Benz" lettering. Other standard appointments of the Final Edition include black floor mats with an embroidered logo, AIRSCARF neck-level heating, seat heating, and the Memory package for the seats, steering column and exterior mirrors. Furthermore, the package includes 4-way lumbar support for the driver and front passenger. Mercedes-AMG SLC43 Final Edition The Final Edition of the AMG SLC 43 emphasizes the racy appearance of the performance roadster with the exclusive Sun Yellow paint finish and a host of high-gloss black elements, among other features. These include: the front splitter, the fins of the air intakes and the fenders, the base of the centrally positioned star, trim elements in the rear fascia, the side mirror caps and door handles. Matte black 5-spoke AMG light-alloy 18-inch wheels with yellow rim flange and tires of size 235/40 R 18 at the front and 255/35 R 18 at the rear further underscore the sporty character of the roadster. The two-tone leather appointments in Black/Silver Pearl with Grey topstitching and seatbelts, as well as carbon-fiber look leather applications, provide visual highlights in the interior. The AMG Performance steering wheel with carbon- embossed leather in the upper and lower segment, as well as Nappa leather in the grip area, features a crystal grey 12-o'clock marker and an additional "AMG EDITION" badge on the steering-wheel trim. The AMG Final Edition of the SLC 43 has numerous comfort features from series production, including AIRSCARF neck-level heating, seat heating for the driver and front passenger as well as the Memory package for the exterior mirror, seat and steering column settings. Here are the Final Edition models at a glance: SLC 300 Mercedes-AMG SLC 43 Number of cylinders/arrangement 4/in-line 6/V Displacement (cc) 1,991 2,996 Rated output (hp) 241 385 Rated torque (lb-ft) 273 384 Acceleration 0-60 mph (s) 5.8 4.6 Top speed (mph) (electronically limited) 155 155 A success story for over 20 years: Mercedes-Benz SLK and SLC After its launch in 1996, the SLK marked the start of a new era for the traditional Mercedes-Benz brand, and its roof design served as a model for many other open-top vehicles. In January 2011, Mercedes-Benz presented the third model generation, currently still in production, which bears the in-house model code R 172. This series combines light-footed sportiness with stylish comfort, and striking sports car design with absolute day-to-day suitability. From April 2016, the SLC appeared as a technically and visually optimized further evolution. The name change acknowledges the close relationship with the C-Class, with which the roadster shares many of its technical features. A resounding success: the model series has a worldwide community of fans, with sales of over 710,000 units since 1996. The model history at a glance: 1994: Design studies in Turin and Paris 1996: World premiere of the SLK (R 170) at the Turin Motor Show 2000: Comprehensive model update for the SLK 2004: World premiere of the second-generation SLK (R 171) at the Geneva Motor Show 2008: Model update for the second-generation SLK 2011: Third generation of the SLK (R 172) 2016: Model update for the third-generation model, renamed SLC generation 2019: Premiere of the Final Edition special models of the third generation View full article