AD #2876 – VW Tiguan Impressions; Fisker Wants to Use VW MEB Platform; GM on Track with EV Development
July 17th, 2020 at 11:56am
Listen to “AD #2876 – VW Tiguan Impressions; Fisker Wants to Use VW MEB Platform; GM on Track with EV Development” on Spreaker.
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Runtime: 10:41
0:07 GM on Track with EV Development
1:03 Schmidt To Finish Prison Sentence in Germany
1:58 Fisker Wants to Use VW MEB Platform
3:37 Why Ford Is Reviving the Bronco
5:13 Goodyear To Remove Wrangler Name from Bronco Tires
5:42 VW Developing New Operating System For Its Vehicles
6:46 Lyft Provides Drivers with Partitions
7:15 Volkswagen Tiguan Impressions
9:14 Barn Find Revealed
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This is Autoline Daily, the show dedicated to enthusiasts of the global automotive industry.
GM ON TRACK WITH EV DEVELOPMENT
General Motors released its 10th annual Sustainability Report and here are some of the highlights. While the pandemic caused it to temporarily suspend operations, there’s been no delay in its electric vehicle development and the company is on track to introduce them as scheduled. GM will spend $20 billion over the next five years to develop electric and autonomous vehicles. It’s committed to sourcing 100% of its electricity from renewable sources in the U.S. by 2030 and globally by 2040, a full decade earlier than it previously announced. And it’s increasing its efforts to 100% recycle end-of-life EV batteries and it wants all of its vehicles to be made from at least 50% sustainable materials by 2030. GM says it’s also committed to being the most inclusive company in the world and building a culture that’s both safe and equitable.
SCHMIDT TO FINISH PRISON SENTENCE IN GERMANY
Oliver Schmidt, the Volkswagen executive who was arrested by the U.S. Justice Department for his role in the Dieselgate emissions scandal, is going to finish the final two years of his prison sentence in Germany. Schmidt was sentenced to 7 years in prison and has been incarcerated at a federal prison in Milan, Michigan. Oliver was a guest on Autoline After Hours several times before the scandal broke. And our own John McElroy, along with Brett Smith from the Center for Auto Research, have visited Oliver several times in prison. He’s going to have a lot to say about what happened inside Volkswagen once his prison term is over. Meanwhile, Axel Eiser, the former head of engineering at Audi, could be extradited to the U.S. to stand trial. American authorities are also interested in going after Martin Winterkorn, the former CEO of Volkswagen.
FISKER WANTS TO USE VW MEB PLATFORM
Henrik Fisker wants to build his electric cars using Volkswagen’s MEB platform and batteries. He’s already unveiled several concept models, including the EMotion, a 4-door luxury sedan with a target price of $130,000. And he’s shown the Ocean, which he calls a luxury SUV, but supposedly will start at under $30,000. Moreover, he’s doing a reverse merger, like Nikola did, so his company can be listed on a stock exchange where he hopes to raise $1 billion. Here’s our Autoline Insight. We think it’s going to be very difficult for Fisker to pull this off. Remember, three years ago he claimed to have a breakthrough with solid state batteries that would deliver a 500-mile range and could be recharged in just one minute. But now he’s going with VW. That means all he’s going to offer is a Volkswagen with his own body on it. As we’ve pointed out before, startups don’t survive unless they bring new technology or different processes to the auto industry. And from the looks of it, Fisker isn’t doing either.
WHY FORD IS REVIVING THE BRONCO
The Ford Bronco made its highly-anticipated return earlier this week. The company stopped producing the SUV back in 1996 and on Autoline This week, Mark Grueber, the Head of Marketing of the Ford Bronco, discussed why Ford decided to revive the Bronco.
Mark Grueber, Head of Marketing, Ford Bronco
“There’s actually, I would say since probably the late 90’s, there’s been a lot of attempts inside of Ford to bring Bronco back. There’s been some actual programs that went fairly far during the development process and for different reasons they didn’t make it to market. So, there’s been a lot of effort over a couple decades to bring Bronco back and this effort started about five years ago. And I think the key enabler was when Ford decided to move Focus out of Michigan Assembly Plant and needed a couple of products to fill up the plant. We wanted to bring the Ranger back on the T6 platform and put that into Michigan and the request was ‘what else are we going to put in the Michigan Assembly plant?’ And it needs to be body on frame and that was kind of the moment that so many enthusiasts and people within Ford had been waiting for that. We had a plant, we had a platform, we had the capacity. And so at that point, we just had to put together the plan to bring Bronco back, that people have been literally begging for, for decades.”
If you’d like to learn more about the new Bronco, you can watch that show right now on our website or YouTube channel.
GOODYEAR TO REMOVE WRANGLER NAME FROM BRONCO TIRES
And speaking of the Bronco, while it’s obvious that the SUV is aimed directly at Jeep, Ford doesn’t want to be associated with its rival in any way. So it asked Goodyear to remove the Wrangler name from its popular off-road tires for the new Bronco. The Wrangler name will be on the inboard side of the tire instead of the outboard side. While it is a bit weird, it’s understandable Ford wouldn’t want its rivals name anywhere on the Bronco.
VW DEVELOPING NEW OPERATING SYSTEM FOR ITS VEHICLES
Traditional automakers have lagged behind in offering over-the-air update capabilities, but we’re starting to see more catch up, including GM, Ford and BMW. Volkswagen is following the same path with its new Car.Software organization, which will be tasked with developing a new automotive operating system for the Group. The system will combine a completely new electronics architecture with an automotive data cloud. The idea is to have common software for all of VW’s brands and the markets they’re offered in. It’s a huge task and VW says it’s going to invest 7 billion euros by 2025 to make it happen. The first vehicle to use the new system will be an EV from Audi “in a few years” and by 2025 all new models will use it.
LYFT PROVIDES DRIVERS WITH PARTITIONS
Fear of getting the coronavirus has caused ride-sharing rides to fall off a cliff. So, Lyft is going to give drivers partitions to put between them and passengers for better virus protection. But Lyft will only provide them to 60,000 of its most-active drivers. For $50 any other driver can purchase the partitions, which are made from a polycarbonate material, will fit a wide range of vehicles and can be installed by one person.
VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN IMPRESSIONS
We just had the pleasure of having a Volkswagen Tiguan in the Autoline Garage. And we were able to test drive the absolute top of the model range, the SEL Premium R-Line. Let me translate. That means that you get a Tiguan with every conceivable option that is available. And the price reflects it. The one we drove cost more than $40,400. Just to give you an idea of how much of a markup that represents, a base Tiguan starts at $25,000.
There isn’t anything that is particularly outstanding about the Tiguan, it’s just that the total package was very well executed. The styling is quite conservative, both inside and out. But it’s the kind of design that can age well. As with most of these mid-size CUVs it’s easy to get in and out of. There’s plenty of room inside for most people, and there’s a ton of luggage space in back, even with the rear seats up.
Personally, I’d like more power. It’s 2-liter turbo produces 184 horsepower and 221 pound feet of torque, which is sort of OK. But it has to propel over 3,800 pounds of mass. That translates to 21 pounds per horsepower, which generally makes a vehicle feel pretty pokey. And it helps explain why this all-wheel-drive model is rated at only 23 miles to the gallon. That is substantially below its competitors, such as the Toyota RAV-4, the Honda CR-V and Ford Escape. But thanks to good gearing, and max torque that comes on at only 1,600 rpm, the Tiguan feels reasonably responsive. It also has that feeling of solidity, firm ride and precise steering that attracts so many customers to the Volkswagen brand.
From that standpoint, Volkswagen really nailed it with the Tiguan. It’s the best-selling VW in the American market, easily outselling the Jetta, which used to be Volkswagen’s best seller.
BARN FIND REVEALED
And before we go, let’s reveal the Barn Find from yesterday. There were a lot of right answers, but Nick Thomas provided some great insight so we’re going to read his comment. He says “Okay this is actually tougher than it seems, Sean! It’s clearly a Chevy P30 Step-Van, but is it a 1968 or a 1986? This thing almost made no changes in its existence, but lets (try) and narrow it down. That said, I’m fairly confident it is a 1970s model, specifically a 1971 Chevy P30 Step-Van. The giveaway? About the only thing that changed in 30 some odd years, the badge design in front of the doors!” Love it! Thanks Nick.
But that’s it for today’s show, thanks for watching and have a great weekend.
Thanks to our partner for embedding Autoline Daily on its website: WardsAuto.com
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Comments (43)
July 17th, 2020 at 12:25 pm
I attended the Detroit Auto Show in 2009 and wanted to see the Fisker about their ‘pedestrian safety sound.’ When I explained what I was after to the attractive, young lady with the French-Canadian accent, she answered with,”Oh the synthetic roar.” My Southern ears heard “whore” which considering this was to sound like a V8 engine, I might have been right.
My point is Fisker has a poor track record of making significant contributions to EV or hybrid technology. I would rather see a Corvette C8 shell on the skateboard because they at least make ‘value added engineering.’ Then our Teslas can shame them on the street, again.
July 17th, 2020 at 12:50 pm
My memory of Fisker is the crappy, underdeveloped Karma plug-in hybrid that had about 30 miles of electric range, and then a dismal 20 mpg on premium gas, accompanied by the roar of a poorly isolated turbo 4 running a generator for its series powertrain. How is Fisker still (sort of) in the car business?
July 17th, 2020 at 12:52 pm
Sorry Lift but I don’t think the majority of riders are so worried about the driver as they are sitting in a seat that you may have already transported a dozen other people in. The mask seems to resolve the proximity concern, its the contact. IMO
July 17th, 2020 at 12:55 pm
Wow! Sad to hear that Fords reasons for bringing back the Bronco sound like nothing more than cause they had capacity in a frame on body plant. How about because we designed and developed an exciting vehicle that people will certainly want.. Maybe figure out what your customers want and not what fits your build capacity..
July 17th, 2020 at 12:57 pm
The ’90s Broncos were just big, pickup truck based SUVs, and after 1996, Ford just added two doors, renamed the next generation, calling it Expedition. The new Bronco is more a modern reincarnation of earlier Broncos.
July 17th, 2020 at 1:23 pm
@5: Kit, Expedition, or Explorer?
July 17th, 2020 at 1:28 pm
Very Wisely, HONDA discontinues the poor selling FIT, just days after Toyota discontinued the Yaris in the US market. Even tho the Fit was far more attractive and a smarter design than its rivals, it failed in the MARKETS, which is the TEST.
You remember or not I had advised them to drop both models in this forum just DAYS ago, and several times before that.
Now necessity made them do it. They can still do well overseas, they were NOT Designed for the US market and needs.
July 17th, 2020 at 1:31 pm
6. From what I read, the ’92-’96 Bronco was based on the then-current F series platform, but it would have been closer in size to today’s Explorer. The first Explorers used the Ranger platform, and overlapped the last “old” Bronco by a few years.
July 17th, 2020 at 1:32 pm
Based on the AAH interviews, Oliver is a very smart man and will be interesting to hear what he says after his jail term; will he ever really speak freely about VW internals?
Perhaps he should write a book but perhaps VW wants the issue closed so would not encourage that
Also interesting that you visited him in jail and that he chose to face-the-music versus the rest of the gang.
July 17th, 2020 at 1:35 pm
@8: I see, thanks for the explanation
July 17th, 2020 at 1:36 pm
7 Con’d, of course I am pleased both successful companies did the right thing, many YEARS since i suggested they do it, and it had to take a major disturbance in the market for them to do it. Or a crisis, if you want to call it that.
Re why Ford resurrected this Bronco Carcass, because they are Desperate, and they gamble that they may get a fraction of Jeep’s success. BUT the Jeeps look far better.
July 17th, 2020 at 1:39 pm
Hey Sean it sounds like your impressions of the new Tiguan were less than top flight. VW has a real problem with producing a vehicle that looks good and offers good technology. All of the VW vehicles are less than exciting on any front.
July 17th, 2020 at 1:42 pm
7. Yeah, the U.S. market becomes increasingly a wasteland of little vehicle choice. Now, Honda has announced that they are also dropping the Civic Coupe and manual transmission Accords.
I checked CR’s test results of Tiguan and some competitors, and the VW is seriously slow. At 10.3 seconds, it’s about 2 seconds slower 0-60 than the 1.5t and hybrid CR-V, the base and hybrid versions of the RAV4, and the hybrid Escape. It’s more than a second slower than even the 1.5t 3 cylinder Escape. Mainly, the VW has a weight problem. It’s 350-400 pounds heavier than all of the competitors I mentioned. It did well in CR’s “comfort” categories, though.
July 17th, 2020 at 1:45 pm
5 No doubt the new Bronco is a Ode to the first gen 65-77 Bronco and not so much the 2nd gen.
However the reto-style that was the craze back in 2005 has run its course. The Challenger is the lone survivor of those designs and people are surprised its still holding on.
So the big question will be is there interest in the Bronco cause its similar capabilities to Wrangler, because of its retro style or because it fits a niche that other Ford products don’t fill? Probably all three to some extent. Will that translate to sales that last or will it be a flash in the pan? If people love it for the style then sales will drop after just 2 or three years. If its because it offers a choice over a Wrangler sales will stay steady but probably not be huge. Does it fit a niche Ford doesn’t already have? Well I think there are plenty of SUVs to choose from and that wont sustain sales either.. Best hope for Ford is this thing performs well and continues to pull buyers from Jeep.
July 17th, 2020 at 1:55 pm
14. The Challenger has done impressively well to keep selling after all of these years. It has been helped a lot by all of the “special editions” and, by far, the most powertrain choice of any current cars in the U.S. market.
I expect Bronco will compete well with Wrangler in performance, but will it become “cool” in the way Wrangler has over the years? I’m sure hard core Ford fans will buy one to go along with their F-150 and Mustang, but beyond that? For the use today’s zillions of lifted wagons typically see, there will be far better choices than Bronco, but that doesn’t stop Wrangler from selling over 200K a year.
July 17th, 2020 at 2:24 pm
15 I believe Challenger has lasted so long because of its size. For a sportscar it actually is a large vehicle. Not that it has a huge backseat but its more useful than Mustang or Camaro and a decent size trunk. The special editions, RT,Hellcat, Scat pack, Redeye, Demon, yellow-jacket etc have also kept it fresh even when there has been minimal changes to the body. Its a comfortable large car that’s responsive even in its V6 versions. Its been 10 years though, and its days have to be numbered.
I’m just not sure that Ford going retro was a good idea. The retro thing really started in the late 90s with the Prowler, PT cruiser, GMs SS truck that failed, HHR and then the Mustang and Camaro all that have since abandoned the retro theme. Consumers might feel its a day late and dollar short. Plus any new car design is only cool the first couple years its out. Is the design enough to draw in buyers? For the few that it does those folks get it the first year or two and then what?
Just saying the Bronco had better do better than compete with the Wrangler it better be a superior choice at a lower price to really put the hurt on Jeep. Cant just sneak in they need to kick the door in.
July 17th, 2020 at 2:46 pm
15. The only “new” Challenger I have driven is an R/T, 6 speed manual. It was quick, with the 5.7 engine, but feels big, much more than sporty. Well, it is big, almost 200 inches long.
The New Beetle is the only one of these fairly recent retro vehicles I can think of that had two generations, but it didn’t see a 3rd. I know a guy who has an SSR truck, who takes it to shows. He bought it used, in perfect condition, for a very good price. Those cost way too much new, so no wonder they didn’t sell. PT Cruiser and HHR were both practical, well priced little wagons, and sold well early on, but as you say, retro has most run its course.
I suspect Bronco will perform better than Wrangler is some ways. Acceleration with the 2.7 turbo should be better than the quickest Wrangler, but that isn’t what people buy Wranglers for. A few buy them for hard core off roading, and most buy them to look cool while cruising, or going to Walmart. It surprises me a little, though, how many people drive Wranglers on the interstate, given how crude and noisy they are compared to most of today’s vehicles. I saw a number of them during my recent trip from Florida to Indiana.
July 17th, 2020 at 2:46 pm
GM is getting ready to put Tesla in deep trouble with it slew of EV’s coming out before too long. There’s nothing that Tesla has that GM does not have, GM has a much larger infrastructure, better battery, OTA, skateboard design which Tesla copied from GM, an honest CEO, and the list goes on and on. Many people are not aware of these facts, but none the less, they are facts. Facts that Wall Street does not like to divulge, but sooner or later they will have to.
Larry D, the Tesla lover, what’s your response?
July 17th, 2020 at 4:00 pm
I like the retro Bronco look, but fail to see why Ford is making an off road vehicle which such a sliver of the market.
I think there would be more buyers if there was a model designed for street use, ie… lower the frame, add street tires and leave off all the safety crap like lane change or the many more unneeded devices
July 17th, 2020 at 4:08 pm
18) I tend to agree. The only advantage that TESLA will really have is the supercharger network. However, GM is also to release fast charging capability as well that can be translated through a standard interface rather than the TESLA proprietary interface. That will open their vehicles up to an array of charging options without the need to carry a bunch of adaptors with you. That is a benefit to most people that are not tech geeks.
July 17th, 2020 at 4:15 pm
I think it is sad sedans if any size will become a thing if the past and suvs will be an only choice until everything come with a battery. Shops are destroying collectible cars by adding battery packs. I am willing to accept change, but for the rest of my life an EV will only be a second or third car.
July 17th, 2020 at 4:27 pm
EV’s only make up 2% of the US market aa the gov’t continues to drive them into the future. So obtaining dominance will be a real struggle. Add all the chargers you want and you still won’t obtain the desired market share. Manufacturing costs may lower to the point subsidies will evaporate, but after that, cost will rise again and the buyer will pay for it.
There is no free lunch!
July 17th, 2020 at 5:32 pm
Larry, if we don’t listen to you, do you really relieve any manufacturer cares about what the limited expertise you have?
You have an ego like another +*%$# I know.
July 17th, 2020 at 5:39 pm
23 You are so right.
I tried to engage him on line 18, but he’d rather not.
July 17th, 2020 at 6:15 pm
It’s OK Joe. Just remember the differences we all have and share is what equilibrium is based upon. Differences are good and results in a balanced dialog. Unfortunately, this has gone out the window with this presidency. But change is good also and not far away if we are lucky
July 18th, 2020 at 7:40 am
19, cwolf, don’t you think that’s what Ford did with the Bronco Sport (a street version that is light off-road capable like some of the rest of the SUV/CUV’s out there). Ford is going for some heritage sales with styling, which to me doesn’t measure up, but others might and probably prefer; but I see your point of a more simpler version getting back more to basics.
July 18th, 2020 at 8:50 am
26. It looks like the Bronco Sport is, basically, an Escape with more macho styling, and mandatory 4wd. It will share the 1.5l turbo 3 cyl and 2.0l turbo 4 cyl with Escape.
July 18th, 2020 at 9:33 am
13 This is 100% WRONG. Check the FACTS, there are FOUR times the models today that there were in 1988.
It is the OPPOSITE, somebody should tell Merc and BMW to cut 2/3rds of their RIDICULOUS number of slow selling niche models,few of which make them any money.
The CONSUMER will decide which models live and which die.
July 18th, 2020 at 9:34 am
18n HAHAHAHA!!!!
Does GM pay you to write this clueless DRIVEL, OR are you just delusional?
July 18th, 2020 at 9:42 am
28. Yeah, there are four times as many, and they are all alike. Your numbers include the 4 or 5 trim levels of many of the CUVs, and 8 trim levels of the pickup trucks as “models,” never mind that there are no wagons, no mainstream two door cars, except the specialty Mustang, Camaro, Challenger, etc.
I agree that M-B and BMW have too many pointless models, like expensive, lifted 4wd hatchbacks. Meanwhile, both refuse to sell a normal version of their wagons in the U.S.
July 18th, 2020 at 2:06 pm
Ι don’t expect rational thought in this forum, with clueless types like Cqwolf and Joe bashing on a daily basis the ONLY succesful BEV maker, who just HAPPENS to be 100% AMERICAN, AND the ONLY American Automaker who is REVERED and not RIDICULED overseas all over the world.
I also do not have much hope for the likes of people who just cannot understand that this INDUSTRY cannot perpetually be making losses, by satisfying their whims and producing all the LOSER models who sell 3 units a year AND cost, each one of them, BILLIONS to their makers.
They just do not understand that THEY, not I, are paying the bill for the failed Yaris and the failed Fit, the people who buy the SUCCESSFUL models like the CAMRY COROLLA RAV4 or the Accord CIVIC and CRV.
They STUBBORNLY ignore that each continent and nation have DIFFERENT market conditions, gas prices, geography, AND NEEDS in terms of VEHICLES. WE DO NOT ALL WANT TO DRIVE A GOD DAMNED FORD ESCORT or Yaris or FIT. Those vehicles are SUITED for OTHER nations, where they buy them OF NECESSITY, NOT because they like them. Go parallel park an Escalade or a F 150 in any W European Capital and you will GET IT.
July 18th, 2020 at 3:18 pm
31. M-B and BMW sell tens, or hundreds of thousands of C- and E-Class, and 3 and 5 series wagons around the world, most of them RWD. It wouldn’t cost much to sell them in the U.S. There is little difference in regulations between Europe and the U.S., and the powertrains are already used in other vehicles sold in the U.S.
As far as Fit and Yaris, those too are sold in fairly large numbers around the world. It’s not like they spent billions of dollars to tool them, to sell a few thousand in North America.
July 18th, 2020 at 3:30 pm
29
Instead of throwing insults whenever you don’t like what someone writes, why don’t you engage with them with an intelligent debate–or are you too scared someone might know more than you do? Isn’t that part of blogging? If you did this, we might all learn something.
July 18th, 2020 at 4:31 pm
# 18 – wrote “GM is getting ready to put Tesla in deep trouble with it slew of EV’s coming out before too long.” Well Tesla is selling four EV models in 2-4 trims today, on the Web. In contrast, GM is caught in a trap: (1) keeping existing ICE model profits while (2) not cannibalizing ICE sales.
The web link to a 30 minute YouTube is an EV analysis of how today’s ICE sales can be hurt, possibly fatally. By touting future GM Tesla killers, the future promise can hurt current ICE sales.
The GM EV, a Bolt, is not even close to the Model 3. It is 97F outside but I’ll hop in my 75F air conditioned Tesla, plugged in, and run errands for half the cost per mile of our former Prius Prime. In ‘chill mode,’ my Tesla beats the ICE cars across the intersection with a 200 yard head start to the speed limit for lane choice.
If GM pre-sells their EVs too hard, some of their ICE owners will defer buying a new one waiting for the EV. Only a Tesla is already available. GM is in a CATCH-22 or as the video shows, the applied “Osborne” effect.
#18 also posted,”There’s nothing that Tesla has that GM does not have” except competitive EVs. Bob Lutz recently pointed out the original EVs were (are) terrible. Cheap, small, compliance vehicles. There was nothing that would appeal to a true enthusiast. Sandy Munro tear down of the Model Y has shown that day has passed. IMHO, it started with the 2014 BMW i3-REx.
July 18th, 2020 at 6:24 pm
34 The video was interesting. I hadn’t heard of the “Osborne effect,” but it makes sense. They guy seemed to be obsessed with saying that EVs are “better” than ICE cars, without ever mentioning that “it depends.” If you don’t have a place to charge it, or if you don’t want a 17 hour road trip to become a 23 hour trip, ICE cars are better.
As far as i3s, a Bolt is better, if you just use it as an electric car. The Bolt is quicker, roomier, more efficient, and has a lot more electric range. The REx, of course, has the advantage in being able to “keep going,” without charging, but with frequent stops.
Regarding GM, and other legacy car companies making the transition to EVs, time will tell. VW will probably be the first real test of that, as they seem to be getting serious about it earlier than most.
July 19th, 2020 at 7:44 am
34 thanks for you input
Yes, today Tesla is selling lots of EV’s, but today is today. I stated GM is getting ready to come out with many EV’s and you seem to ignore that. GM has a much larger infrastructure than Tesla and if it wants, it’s capable of selling a lot more EV’s than Tesla. The key here is who can sell their products for less. GM can do that with their 100 years of experience of know how.
July 19th, 2020 at 4:42 pm
I guess I hadn’t kept much track of F1 during the long off-season. I learned today, that Ferrari apparently got caught cheating with their powertrains last year, and in making them legal, they have been truly underwhelming this year. Even Force India is kicking their butts, with a driver who has his job mainly because his daddy’s rich.
Anyway, the Red Bull mechanics were pretty impressive, getting Verstappen’s car good to go in less than a half hour after a crash. I expected him to retire within a few laps, because of some unknown, unfixed problem from the crash, but he impressively held on to finish second, splitting the Mercedes.
July 20th, 2020 at 7:45 am
Interesting F1 season for sure and for many reasons including Covid, Ferrari, other teams exceeding expectation and drivers rising and some falling in expectation. The racing has been better this year so far, and except for one exception M/B, it would be a real ‘horse race’. No engine changes will be allowed in 2020 so Ferrari won’t likely get much better but maybe rise to best of the rest but that also is doubtful. Much excitement in mid pack racing is the big plus this year.
July 20th, 2020 at 8:45 am
33 There is no intelligent debate or respectful back and fourth. Typical instructor that knows everything and we are his students in his eyes. We should be hanging on his every word.
I don’t always agree with Kit but he never responds condescending and offers more evidence to support his position. May still not agree but I can respect his position.
As for the Osborne affect, I will have to watch the video. But just from what was explained here I agree that any conventional manufacturer will face the struggle of selling ICE and EVs. I actually expect GM to make the Hummer brand a whole division of EVs. They need to keep the separation from their core business to the new EV business. I believe consumers opinions of EVs is changing and a lot of that is attributed to Tesla. All the original EVs were crappy econobox designs that supported a high mileage green theme. Since Tesla, that opinion has shifted to an EV can be anything and if I’m spending 50 to 80K on it then it better be more than some sub-compact runaround.
Still EVs don’t work for everyone and I think its in GMs best interest to keep them separate from everything else they sell. People who want an EV will go to the Hummer dealership and they will be expensive so its best to not have them sitting on the same showroom floor with an ICE equivalent at half the price.
If they insist on keeping them all together I still feel it would be best for GM to design a vehicle from the ground up that can be offered with either powertrain. Start your designs with ICE, Hybrid and full EV in mind and then let the market decide which powertrain they want in the same exact vehicle.
Then it would be like it currently is with diesel. Your base truck is $XXX Diesel is a $4000 option. Your car is this with ICE $2000 for hybrid and $5000 more for full EV.
July 20th, 2020 at 9:17 am
To me, if GM creates an EV “brand” to use for all EVs, including Tesla Y-like hatches, etc., they need to use a name other than Hummer. The original Hummers were so disgusting to me, with their 3 foot high “bumpers,” etc., that I wouldn’t buy a vehicle with the Hummer name, no matter how well I liked it otherwise. Reviving the name for a macho, fast, off-road capable truck makes a certain amount of sense, but as an all encompassing EV name, no way. If they want to revive a name for EVs, maybe Geo would be good. Well, probably not. Geo carries baggage with a lot of people. Actually, I’d be ok with a Chevy EV, at the right price for what it is. I just checked the GM employee/retiree site, and you can buy a zero option Bolt for about $27K. I’d consider that, if I had a place to charge it at my condo.
July 20th, 2020 at 9:51 am
Hummer just seems like it might fit for EVs as that’s kind of the sound of an electric motor. More of a hum apposed to anything else. Yeah it does conger up images of some oversized over the top SUV but they may be able to change perception.
July 20th, 2020 at 10:09 am
Interesting take on the new Bronco.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/enthusiasts/the-bronco-ii-did-not-work-out-for-anyone/ar-BB16WbeJ?ocid=ientp
July 20th, 2020 at 10:50 am
42. I’ve personally one person who has rolled a vehicle, and it was a Bronco II. He was an 18-19 year old recent high school grad, and luckily, was not hurt badly. Bronco IIs just looked too narrow for their height, and probably were.