AD #1538 – Why Q1 Sales will Surge, Prodigious Patents, Lincoln’s Badge Engineering
January 20th, 2015 at 11:59am
Runtime: 6:57
- Q1 Sales: Gaze into the Crystal Ball
- Prodigious Propulsion Patents
- Hyundai Tests the Pickup Segment
- Subaru Shuns China
- Ford Throws Down the Gauntlet
- JLR Bike Sense
- Lincoln’s Badge Engineering
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On today’s show… why it’s easy to predict that sales will surge in the American market for the next two months, automakers go on a patenting binge, and how Lincoln adds a new dimension to badge engineering.
All that and more coming right up on Autoline Daily.
This is Autoline Daily for January 20th, 2015.
GAZE INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL
New car sales in the US market are going to post big gains in the first quarter. We can safely make that prediction because a year ago severe winter weather clobbered car sales. Ward’s forecasts that sales will be up 8% to 10%. And it warns that sales of full-size pickups could falter because of low inventory levels. Ford’s F-150 inventory is 1% below last year, Ram pickup inventory is 8% lower. It also predicts that sales of small passenger cars will be hurt by the introduction of the Jeep Renegade and the Chevrolet Trax, both CUVs.
PATENTLY OBVIOUS
Thomson Reuters just did a study of patent activity in the global automotive industry and it found “a massive commitment from carmakers to new propulsion technology, which jumped from fewer than 2,000 patents filed in 2009 to nearly 12,000 by July 2014.” The Top Ten patenting companies are: Toyota, Bosch, Hyundai, Honda, Denso, Daimler, General Motors, Seiko Epson, Mitsubishi and Continental. After patents for propulsion systems, meaning powertrains, other categories were pretty flat, except for autonomous technology. And GM is at the top of that patent list. Interestingly, Google just barely made the Top Ten.
HYUNDAI TESTS THE PICKUP SEGMENT
The Hyundai Santa Cruz was one of the most significant concepts at the Detroit auto show, not for what it is, but for the signal that it sends. Hyundai dealers have been begging the company for years to give them a pickup to sell. But it would have to be built in the United States to avoid the 25% import tax on pickups. And Hyundai isn’t ready just yet to start making pickups in the US. Or is it? Clearly the company is testing the waters with this concept. If they get great public feedback Hyundai is going to have a tough decision on its hands. It’s hard to compete with the Detroit Three, but truck profits are too big to ignore.
Still to come… we need your opinion: should Chevrolet build a mid-engine Corvette? Also, Subaru tells the Chinese to go pound sand, and JLR plans to put bicycle alerts in its cars.
SUBARU SHUNS CHINA
China is the biggest car market in the world and continues to grow at an impressive rate. But Subaru says, “So what?” It can’t get the Chinese government to allow it to form a join venture with a Chinese automaker, and now it says it doesn’t care. Bloomberg quotes Subaru’s Akira Mabuchi, executive vice president in charge of the company’s China project, as saying, “Since the profits are split with your partner, you would have to double the sales to maintain the profits you earn by exporting from Japan.” China says that because Toyota owns 16.5% of Subaru, and since Toyota already has a couple of joint ventures in China, it’s not going to grant another license to Subaru.
FORD THROWS DOWN THE GAUNTLET
We need your feedback. The Ford GT mid-engine sports car is definitely a threat to the Corvette Z06. But it’s going to be significantly more expensive than the ‘Vette. So how do you think that Chevrolet will respond?
Will it pull out its hanky and run crying home to mommy?
Will it build an uber lightweight Corvette and try to compete that way?
Will it finally act on a 50 year dream and build a mid-engine Corvette?
We’re not asking what you would do. We’re asking what you think they will do. Please vote on the form below and we’ll report the results later this week.
Coming up next, Lincoln has a different take on badge engineering, and Jaguar Land Rover hope to make the world a little bit safer for bicyclists.
JLR BIKE SENSE
Over the years cars became much better at protecting the people on the inside so now automakers are working to protect the people on the outside. JLR is the latest to show off technology that will keep cyclists safe. Its called Bike Sense, and will warn drivers that there is a bicyclist alongside with lights on the window sills, dashboard, and pillars. It will also give an audible bell or horn to indicate which side the biker is on and the back of the seat will extend on the left or right as if to tap the driver on the shoulder, so the they will look to that side. If need be the system can even vibrate the gas pedal or prevent the doors from being opened.
LINCOLN’S BADGE ENGINEERING
All the sensors and cameras on today’s cars can sometimes detract from the overall appearance. Jjust look at the grille on the Hyundai Sonata. But Lincoln has a clever way of hiding the front camera for its 360-degree monitor on the new MKX. When the system is activated the emblem on the front grille will slide up to reveal the camera. Lincoln did not have it activated when it unveiled the MKX at the Detroit Auto show, so we wanted to give you a look at how it works. If you want to learn more about the MKX or any of the vehicles that we checked out at the show, just click the link in today’s transcript.
Full Detroit Auto Show Coverage»
And that wraps up today’s report. Thanks for watching and please join us again tomorrow.
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Comments (85)
January 20th, 2015 at 12:08 pm
4. Ignore Ford
January 20th, 2015 at 12:16 pm
4. Ignore Ford
How many GTs are they really going to make?
And don’t fret about BOP(balance of performance) taking care of any track advantages. Which is the only thing holding back Corvette.
January 20th, 2015 at 12:17 pm
The GT is only a marketing exercise, anyway.
January 20th, 2015 at 12:17 pm
Mid-engine corvette: http://www.autoblog.com/2015/01/08/mid-engine-2017-corvette-c8-spy-shots/
January 20th, 2015 at 12:28 pm
I do hope Hyundai goes forward with a midsize or smaller pickup.The more the merrier,however,leave that styling exercise you showed at home.Too weird for most pu truck buyers,and most kids aren’t interested.On a side note,they do plan on a 2.0L turbo diesel.Their thinking=good,their styling,not so good.
January 20th, 2015 at 12:30 pm
How well does that Lincoln pop up camera work when it is covered in ice and snow?
January 20th, 2015 at 12:34 pm
As I watched all those vehicles crashing into each other during the “black ice” storm up north, it made me wonder how useless all those safety electronics are against nature and what would happen if and when the autonomous vehicles come online?
January 20th, 2015 at 12:37 pm
The Hyundai Santa Cruz is going to be competing solely against the Honda Ridgeline IMHO. The Santa Cruz nameplate would have been better suited on the seven passenger extended length Santa Fe.
January 20th, 2015 at 12:42 pm
Subaru once built the Baja. It was a small pickup truck and when was the last one built? The Santa Cruz and RidgeLine now need to compete against the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon. Good Luck Hyundai!
January 20th, 2015 at 12:49 pm
3 should read ” build a REAR mid engine corvette, the corvette is already mid engine. Anyhoo I think GM will cave to external and internal pressure and build the rear engine dream that many have had for a long time. Why I’m not sure as rear mid engine cars are almost all sunday drivers with barely enough room for your wife’s purse and that 99% of us can’t afford so what’s the point.
January 20th, 2015 at 12:50 pm
If they try to sell that Hyundai faux truck looking like that, they’re gonna be sitting at the dealer’s lots a long, long time.
January 20th, 2015 at 12:51 pm
I will be interested to see in10 or so years if all these driver aids actually help or if people start to rely on them to much, kind of like ABS.
January 20th, 2015 at 12:54 pm
I think they will do 3, finally. Reuss and the boys (including Ms Barra) want to show a clean break from the OLD GM, and what a better way to do it than by this halo car that folks have been clamoring for.
Plus it would be fun!
January 20th, 2015 at 12:54 pm
“ZORA” voted for a mid-engined SUPER VETTE !!!!!
January 20th, 2015 at 12:56 pm
ICE
Regressives like me that haven’t got the driver aids sat at home during the icing period. Too dangerous.
January 20th, 2015 at 1:01 pm
Oil layoffs
Low prices lead to layoffs for field service providers. These are the contractors and subs that make it all happen. No surprises here, really.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/20/us-baker-hughe-results-idUSKBN0KT13720150120
January 20th, 2015 at 1:02 pm
Let Jay Leno have the Ford GT. I’ll take one Corvette for track days and one CTS-V for high speed runs to DQ with the family.
January 20th, 2015 at 1:02 pm
But HtG sometimes you can’t help but to go out in such dangerous conditions.
January 20th, 2015 at 1:05 pm
That is what OPEC is trying to do, discourage US oil exploration and fracking so they can then start raising the price of crude all over again and back to reality.
January 20th, 2015 at 1:07 pm
Getting peanuts for the game doesn’t make my list. What
was so important on Sunday morning? People have unfounded confidence in themselves and ignore others’ aggressiveness. Ergo, boom
January 20th, 2015 at 1:28 pm
Everyone seems to think Chevy should make a rear-mid engine Corvette, but people continue to buy the front engine ‘Vettes, for what they are.
As far as I’m concerned, they should continue to make Corvettes as front engine machines with near-supercar performance, at a relatively bargain price. If Ford wants to build a handful of $250K mid engine GT’s, that’s fine. They will be a nice addition to the automotive landscape, but Chevy doesn’t need to make a car like that, whether called a Corvette, or something else.
January 20th, 2015 at 1:34 pm
8 If Hyundai builds something like the Santa Cruz, it had better be a whole lot less expensive than Ridgeline, or they won’t sell any at all. By the way, the Ridgeline has been discontinued.
January 20th, 2015 at 1:38 pm
21 One of the cool things about Corvettes is that you actually see them on the road. They’re used. They roll off an assembly line. The Ford GT is going to be a garage queen, beginning with Bill Ford, and I don’t see how it jibes with Mark Fields statements on how Ford technology is for everyone, at least when it’s vehicle autonomy.
January 20th, 2015 at 1:39 pm
My local dealer still has one if you’re interested, Kit. (I was checking something else
)
January 20th, 2015 at 1:45 pm
the world does`nt need anymore 1%er cars. chevy corvette is the car real people like you and i can aspire to own. chevy has it right. just like the world doesnt need anymore 1%er,s the jackass 1%ers need to start spreading some wealth.
January 20th, 2015 at 1:47 pm
The Subaru Baja failed because the bed was too small. You couldn’t fit skis, bikes or much anything else in it. The Santa Cruz bed looks awfully small, too. Bed extenders don’t work well with skis.
January 20th, 2015 at 1:52 pm
Naw, I think I’ll pass on the Ridgeline.
Corvettes, at least ones new enough to not be excessively “collectable” work pretty well to actually drive. They are hard to get in and out of, especially C4′s like mine, they ride kind of hard, and they are a little noisy, but they are fun, and generally pleasant to drive. Also, if something does go wrong, it is just a Chevy, and most things mechanical are priced as Chevy parts. That is especially true of C4′s, the last ‘Vettes with the transmission attached to the engine, rather than as a transaxle at the rear.
I’m hoping I won’t need any parts for mine, and there are no indications that I will need any significant repairs any time soon.
January 20th, 2015 at 2:03 pm
I voted for the uber-light Vette; if however, Chevrolet decides to build a mid-engined Vette it better be in addition to the Stingray (cause it will, like the Ford GT, be a low volume/high dollar affair). And that spy photo (response #4 from C&D) looks like it has a Cadillac emblem up front and Cadillac is itching for a two-seater again so maybe that’s the way the ‘General’ will roll.
January 20th, 2015 at 2:06 pm
When is the last time you saw a Ford GT driving down the street? Corvettes are driven not just looked at. Make them to expensive and it will kill sales.
January 20th, 2015 at 2:29 pm
The mid-engine vette is a done deal. It has been planned since before the GM bankruptcy. Mark Reuss did comment when looking at the Ford GT at NAIAS: “Ours will have a V8″.
The market for supercars is world-wide now with China being the largest on the planet and if done right these cars can be highly profitable. Just ask Ferrari.
January 20th, 2015 at 2:32 pm
@ #9,Lex: And before the baja they,(subaru) built the Brat.That ended production back in 84.I don’t know when they started building the Baja,but all the auto mags pretty much trashed it,both literally and figuratively due to low ground clearance,and a bed that wasn’t really useful.
@ Kit: I don’t think the Ridgeline has been discontinued at all.It’s going through a complete redesign and due out in 16,or 17.
January 20th, 2015 at 2:36 pm
Ridgeline: http://allabouthonda.com/2016-honda-ridgeline/
January 20th, 2015 at 2:38 pm
31 The Ridgeline is not on the Honda USA web site, and a 2015 is not listed on the EPA gas mileage site. That, along with reading multiple times that it was discontinued, is why I thought it had been discontinued. Maybe it is taking one year hiatus, like Corvette did in 1993.
January 20th, 2015 at 2:41 pm
32 Thanks. Yep, no 2015, but there will be a different 2016.
January 20th, 2015 at 2:45 pm
I’m sure it was just a typo (Kit) on your response # 33 as the Vette’s hiatus was in ’83, and actually, they ran the ’82′s long and brought out the ’84′s early (so really no break in the Corvette production cycle); just no production ’83′s (though they made 3, I believe, actual 83′s held within the corporation).
January 20th, 2015 at 2:50 pm
35, Yeah, I just meant that there were no ’83 model year
‘Vettes. I remember seeing a car at the Bowling Green museum a few years ago that carried a 1983 VIN, but no ’83′s were sold.
January 20th, 2015 at 2:52 pm
Due to the price difference, they are not in the same class, so I see the gt having no direct impact on the z06. Other exotics will be challenged by the gt.
January 20th, 2015 at 2:54 pm
1984 model year was a very long one for Corvettes, with over 50,000 sold.
January 20th, 2015 at 2:55 pm
On the GM response to the GT, is it really necessary to do a mid-engine version of the Corvette when the weight distribution is already 50/50 balanced (or slightly rear heavy)? Likewise, with electronic limited slip differential and other electronic stability tricks, it would seem that any advantage a mid-engine configuration might have had in the past is much decreased. I’m sure GM is not losing any sleep and enjoying a nice profit from the C7, while Ford will not be able to ever sell enough GTs to break even. Nice halo car, but that is about it.
January 20th, 2015 at 3:01 pm
I’ve read that Honda is gonna bring a re-styled Ridgeline to market in 2017 and my reaction was: WHY? I have yet to see ANY Ford GT around these parts and believe me I see a lot of exotics around the glitzy So Beach area and other rich areas of So Fl.
January 20th, 2015 at 3:05 pm
I think GM should expand the corvette lineup and add the mid engine model. GM has not explotied the Corvette name. I also think that they should add an SUV similar to the Hummer with Corvette branding.
January 20th, 2015 at 3:08 pm
I should have stated that GM should keep the rear drive model.
January 20th, 2015 at 3:16 pm
Keep the ‘Vette the way it has always been, don’t try to emulate this Ford Toy Thing!
January 20th, 2015 at 3:20 pm
39 Even for collectors of priceless violins, to maintain them they must be played. These GTs are sitting in warm garages lest they put on value killing miles. Cigar loving dudes learned their lessons with those limited edition Ferrari race cars. Please excuse me if I’m not moved by the GT, plenty of other people will get excited.
January 20th, 2015 at 3:26 pm
Good question on the Corvette mid engine but another point of interest from the show today is will the JLR bicycle technology recognize those two wheeled motorized vehicles that some like me like to use for pleasure and transportation?
January 20th, 2015 at 3:28 pm
The last Ford GT that I seen being driven was on a dirt road !! No lie.Where I used to live was mostly ranchers,well healed ranchers,and I seen a blue/white stripes Ford GT being driven on a dirt road and being wheeled by a woman.The ‘last ford gt’,that was the ONLY ford gt I have ever seen outside of a dealers lot.Those are the ultimate American snotbag mobiles,imho.As for the Vette,keep it like it is.Ya know,if it ain’t broken…..
January 20th, 2015 at 3:31 pm
39 I agree on the Ridgeline. The old one worked well for how most people actually use pickups, except for being too thirsty, but it didn’t appeal to the people who buy pickups. I wouldn’t expect that to change much with the new one.
I’m occasionally in south Florida, and have been to the South Beach area a couple times. Yeah, I see a lot of exotics there, including Ferraris and Lamborghinis, and a lot of Bentleys. I don’t remember seeing any Ford GT’s, though.
January 20th, 2015 at 3:40 pm
One change I wouldn’t mind seeing for Corvettes, is going to a steel or aluminum body. They could make the car stiffer and more refined, but with current production volume, it might cost more than using the plastic body panels. Also, the Corvette “purists” wouldn’t like it.
January 20th, 2015 at 3:42 pm
If GM announced a mid-engine Vette I would not think it was in response to anything Ford has done. As you even stated, its been 50 years of rumors. I think it would make the Vette seem even more exotic and with HP numbers now reaching the 700 mark. I think an all-wheel drive version would be best suited for that amount of power.
January 20th, 2015 at 4:05 pm
#45 – Yes. In the press release it says the system can discern between a bicycle and a motorcycle. The warning for a bicycle is a bell and a horn for a motorcycle.
January 20th, 2015 at 4:29 pm
They had that Corvette way back in the Camel GT days. It was a Lotus chassis (GM owned them then) and it was powered by a 4.3 turbo Vortec V/6. Hendrick fronted the car for a season. It was quite competitive as long as the turbo was working. Would work today, and they have already done it!
January 20th, 2015 at 4:57 pm
Chevy has been talking mid-engine since the 70s . I remember seeing the Wankel Vette as a kid in magazines. I don’t think it will happen. They will piss off too many purists if they do so. Example , Vette freaks are still unhappy with the removal of hideaway headlights and round tail lights. Plus it would move the car out of the range of it current buyers. I doubt they would do it for under 100K . The Vette enjoys the popularity it has for being a affordable sports/supercar.
January 20th, 2015 at 4:58 pm
If Hyundai would build what they have shown I would definitely consider it. Even with the 1/2 doors.
January 20th, 2015 at 4:59 pm
4. Ignore Ford.
Chevy will do absolutely nothing about the Ford GT. It is not a competitor to the Corvette and in no way poses any threat.
January 20th, 2015 at 5:11 pm
I don’t believe Chevy will invest the resources to a mid engine corvette. I believe resources will be spent on small, medium and large cuvs for the various brands for massive profits.
On a side note …. I’m a corvette owner and enthusiast and a mid engine corvette is not needed. Jmo
January 20th, 2015 at 5:12 pm
WOW ! LeMans 2016 Ford GT – Chevy “Zora” – McLaren – Ferrari- ??????? Start Saving
- GO RED WHITE and BLUE !!!!!!!!
January 20th, 2015 at 5:18 pm
Got back from Detroit yesterday. Went there checking out the Hyundai concept. Looks way better in pictures than in person. Bed waaaaay to short- Front end waaaay to polarizing ( grille not proportional) – 5 people interior, BS unless you are REALLY tiny dancers. Disappointed
January 20th, 2015 at 5:18 pm
52 I hope you are right, and they don’t do the mid engine thing, at least as a replacement for the Corvette. I hope they continue the current formula because, while not cheap, Corvettes are real bargains compared to the similarly performing competition. If they replaced the Corvette with something like the Ford GT, the price would triple.
Corvette freaks have gotten over the exposed headlights. I don’t know about the lack of round tail lights. My ’96 has square tail lights with rounded corners. As far as headlights, I’d rather them exposed than my hideaway lights, so there wouldn’t be those motors that could fail.
January 20th, 2015 at 5:38 pm
I seriously doubt the Vette will be replaced by the mid-engine, but only offered with one. Even if for the 1%er’s,I think it is a worthwhile venture. Are you aware the GT’s have doubled their value in 6-8 years?; And they were driven!
January 20th, 2015 at 5:44 pm
If I am not mistaken,bicyclers have to follow the same laws as a car. When one of these guys pass along side when all cars are stopped, I just want to open my car door into them. After they have this experience, I don’t think sensors would be needed.
January 20th, 2015 at 5:48 pm
56 Are you talking about the ,05-,06 Ford GT? That would have been a good investment, for a car.
January 20th, 2015 at 6:00 pm
57 As a cyclist, that hurts me to hear, cwolf. Mostly I agree that riders are whining jerks, but man, you don’t even like it if someone rides past a line of stopped cars? I didn’t know that was irritating; but it’s better than stopping with the cars and looking down into a ladies’ lap, I guess(I’ve heard that happens). But seriously, one thing I always did was not to cross against red if there was a cop around. Respecting the badge.
January 20th, 2015 at 6:01 pm
57 Cyclists are also supposed to ride on the right side of the street. Around here, most of them don’t know that, and I need to watch for bicycles going the wrong way when I,m turning right at a stop sign. I don’t want a nasty dent in my car.
January 20th, 2015 at 6:03 pm
Protect the Vette
January 20th, 2015 at 6:07 pm
59 I don’t mind cyclists riding past stopped cars, I’ve been known to do that, but it does bother me when they ride on the wrong side of the road. It also bothers me when they run stop signs and almost hit me when I’m on foot. That happened recently.
January 20th, 2015 at 6:10 pm
Bikers around here ride anywhere, any direction, between cars, challenge pedestrians on sidewalks, in other words, total mayhem and anarchy, did anyone see what happened yesterday around here, when a bunch of dirt bike and ATV maniacs just took over I 95 and other major streets, breaking all kinds of traffic laws and putting themselves and others in danger?
January 20th, 2015 at 6:13 pm
It’ll be a fine thing if car drivers get some warning that there’s a cyclist passing as they open their door. Just an app on a cellphone can manage this. It’s the kind of thing that makes me pro autonomy and connectivity; injury and property loss reduction. (now, torque vectoring, that makes me sad)
Last week at CES, Nvidia described their new chips and software running on graphical processors that can detect objects like riders even if they are partially obscured. Give it a few more years.
January 20th, 2015 at 6:18 pm
63 My approach as a rider is to assume that nobody sees me, whether they’re in a car or walking. I can’t assume any accommodation. That’s why I ride with front and rear lights, and bright clothing. I’m playing the odds, even as I’ve eyeballed people looking right through me. I can’t abide riders that don’t make themselves very visible and bright.
January 20th, 2015 at 6:20 pm
Also, a bell for coming up on walkers on paths.
Ding Ding
January 20th, 2015 at 6:28 pm
61 Protect the Vette, and Prius and MINI.
No, I wouldn’t want to be responsible for hurting anyone, and would be looking for the wrong way cyclists, even if I were driving the ultimate beater that I didn’t care about at all.
The sad thing is, most of these riders aren’t flaunting the law. They just don’t know they are supposed to ride on the right side of the street. I think we all know that it’s not a good idea to drive while drunk, but we continue to see/hear “public service” announcements about it. I have yet to hear such announcements telling us that a bicycle is a vehicle.
January 20th, 2015 at 6:33 pm
67 What I’m seeing around here is a more general case, where I spot people doing crazy dangerous things on the roads which I’ve never seen before. It’s like there are people out there that aren’t acculturated to traffic or think they are the only people on earth. It’s very frustrating and it’s a big reason I don’t go buy a nice roadster.
January 20th, 2015 at 6:43 pm
Maybe cyclists are slightly less likely to get hit if riding on the wrong side of the street, but I wouldn’t be too sure. If I am in a car coming up to a red light, and sometimes with oncoming traffic, I will follow bikes until I can pass safely. I’m not going to back up for cyclists going the wrong way. Then, consider a worst case situation where a cyclist gets hit by a car. If the bike is going with traffic at a moderate 12 mph, and is hit from behind by a vehicle going 25, that’s a 13 mph collision. If the bike is going the wrong way and hits hit head on, it’s a 37 mph collision. I’d rather take my chances with the 13.
January 20th, 2015 at 6:50 pm
I really don’t want to hit anything. Falling down leads to broken collarbones and road rash that takes weeks to heal. A friend of mine was a regular red light runner; the odds caught up to him and he went over the hood of a left turning car. He wasn’t hurt, but it’s an attitude thing.
What I’m seeing now is more people that don’t quite get traffic.
January 20th, 2015 at 6:56 pm
70 I agree. I’ve never had serious road rash from either bicycling or motorcycling, and I don’t want to. I hear that it is not fun, and you probably heal more slowly when in your 60′s, than in your 20′s.
January 20th, 2015 at 6:59 pm
I would never intentionally hurt a biker, but often they are careless. Scratches due to handle bars are not that uncommon. My biggest gripe is that they all too often ride away from the shoulder thus making it hazardous to pass them.
January 20th, 2015 at 7:06 pm
The Mid Engined ‘Zora’ Corvette is coming..
January 20th, 2015 at 7:07 pm
The flip side, cwolf, is that if I ride on the shoulder, then cars will come way too close to me. I ride away from the shoulder to force cars to give me a safe margin, but it’s still safe to pass. It’s a battle and I’m the more vulnerable.
January 20th, 2015 at 7:09 pm
Actually, with my lights on, I worry cars give me too much room, driving into the opposing lane for no reason. I haven’t solved this one yet.
January 20th, 2015 at 7:14 pm
4. Ignore Ford is exactly right. I would love a mid-engined Corvette but Chevy will ignore Ford.
January 20th, 2015 at 8:45 pm
It seems that the worst vehicles to share the road with, except bicycles going the wrong way, are the 25-30 mph 50cc scooters. They almost keep up with city traffic, but not quite, so people don’t want to follow them and are inclined to pass them very close.
January 20th, 2015 at 9:04 pm
A mid-engine Cadillac sports car (CT7?) to compete with Ferrari and Lamborghini makes sense to me.
Just because Ford is losing money on this exercise, the GT, it does not mean GM needs to lose money too.
January 21st, 2015 at 2:07 am
The “Badge Engineering” Lincoln is doing has been used for years by Volkswagen in the form of backup cameras. While at CES, I noticed how much quicker they are on the E-Golf compared to VW’s original versions from years ago.
January 21st, 2015 at 9:13 am
#72
Bicycles belong in the traffic lane. You’d change lanes to pass a slow truck or tractor in your lane. Do the same for the cyclist.
I do agree that there are just as many, if not more cyclists that are ignorant of the law as there are motorists ignorant of the laws regarding cyclists.
So many cyclists seem to have learned everything they need to know riding on a playground as a child. Riding the wrong way. Riding on sidewalks. Ignoring traffic signals and signs.
There is plenty that needs to be done on both sides of the debate to improve understanding of laws, rights, and responsibilities.
I’m an avid cyclist, btw. I just finally rode to work on Dec. 26th and aim to again, regularly, once I shake this cold and finish getting my teeth fixed.
January 21st, 2015 at 10:55 pm
I think GM will respond exactly the same way as they did last time the GT came out… Nothing! If GM comes out with a mid engine Vette it’s because they want to, irregardless of the GT. The GT will be at such an astronomical price point compared to the Vette, the Vette will STILL be the best bang for the buck! Even though the GT is impressive. But then again so are Ferrari’s and Lambo’s…
January 22nd, 2015 at 9:26 am
I agree with Chuck (#28) and C-Tech (#81), leave the Vette as is and give Caddy a halo sports car with the rear mid engine. They could charge a premium that way, and if they want to later rebadge it as a Zora Corvette and charge a little less, they could tap that market too.