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Look, there's still demand for it!

2025 Chevy Equinox gets a big redesign, adds Activ trim - Autoblog

Well it’s pretty darn good looking for a little crossover. I like the squareness to it. I could see it appealing to both potential Escape and Bronco Sport buyers. Standard equipment includes heated steering and seats and adaptive cruise control. Impressive.

That's actually a really funny coincidence. "Oh what do you do for work?" "I'm a Ford engineer" "No way! I'm a GM engineer" Kia engineer walks up "Guys, you're not gonna believe this".

another case of the "better way of doing things" failing miserably?

Do you really think Ford is that stupid? There was no reason to even consider a 3rd shift without expected demand. Parts shortages have been the holdup otherwise this would have been done 2 years ago. Stop spreading lies. They can be charged in cold weather it just requires an extra step to warm the battery and it’s slower. And demand for EVs did not go away it just didn’t ramp up as expected. It’s holding very steady.

2025 Cadillac CT5-V and CT5-V Blackwing get refreshed styling, massive screen - Autoblog

Stellantis reveals STLA Large platform with EV and ICE support - Autoblog

Ford Gives 2024 Lincoln Nautilus a Windshield-Wide Instrument Panel - It's Like Nothing You've Ever Seen https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/mark-phelan/2024/01/22/fords-new-48-inch-dashboard-will-debut-in-2024-lincoln-nautilus/72285554007/ Ford is about to change what drivers will see when they get behind the wheel of some of its vehicles. A new electronic system and instrument panel — in one vehicle it will stretch the width of the windshield — is aimed at reinventing how drivers get information. It will include the speedometer and other critical gauges, navigation and apps like Spotify, streaming video and auto-racing games. There also will be a traditional touch screen. It's just mounted lower in the dash, between the front seats. Ford engineers developed the new electronic system and instrument panel. It debuts early this year in the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus luxury SUV. Among other priorities to win customer acceptance, the new displays will play nicely with Apple CarPlay, contrary to the direction General Motors chose for its upcoming electric vehicles. The system will be called the Ford or Lincoln Digital Experience, depending on the brand of the vehicle it is in. "The new Digital Experience represents a massive step forward in Ford's ongoing software developments and promises significant improvements over its current Sync systems," Autopacific analyst Paul Waatti said. "It's much faster, intuitive, more customizable, and presents the most critical information to drivers in their line of sight in an easily digestible manner."

https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/ford/2024/01/22/ford-etransit-vans-usps/72311823007/

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/ford-adds-third-crew-at-michigan-assembly-plant-to-meet-demand-for-bronco-and-ranger.87497/ @fuzzymoomoo What is your take?

I'd bet that if you could take a survey of sales representatives, other than the real die-hard enthusiasts that view particular Ford related media sites and/or message boards, that few would know what a Puma is. They might know what the Kuga is because of the Escape relation, but not the Puma. Sales representatives are too consumed with the immediate need to sell and deliver vehicles from stock, or retail customer ordered vehicles and complying with dealership practices and policies plus Ford mandated training and other requirements, etc. As for customers having a hard time keeping up... the same applies to dealership staff.

Guys , this is basically what the maverick is. Sure, some people need an enclosed cargo area, but that's what camper shells are for.

Ford needs something like the new Chevy Trax, a C-segment crossover that starts under $22,000 (including Destination). It literally fills the spot the C-segment Chevy Cruze sedan and hatchback left. The 2024 Ford Escape Active FWD starts at $31,635 (including Destination) The 2024 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend starts at $33,470 (including Destination) In 2019, these were the starting prices of the Flex and Explorer.

Not really because you have the Equinox at the higher end (Escape sized) and the Trailblazer (Bronco Sport sized) above it.

The new Equinox actually looks good.

Just figured I'd share this. My small northern Michigan town is located off I-75 and has both Tesla Supercharger and Electrify America charging stations at a local market. We were shopping this afternoon and saw several EV's clustered around the charger. Of course I wandered over. There were test vehicles from Ford, Toyota, Kia, and GM waiting for their turn at the charger. None of these guys knew each other, it was strictly coincidental that they showed up at the same time. Only three out of the four chargers were working, hence the backlog. I talked to the engineer driving the Mach-E Rally. Nice guy (are they all so young today?). Mainly we talked about how unreliable Electrify America chargers are, and battery performance in cold weather (it was 24 degrees). I asked him about future Ford EVs. He wouldn't tell me much, but is very excited about the future. Being about 225 miles from SE Michigan does pay off.

Beautiful!

Hope you feel better soon, Covid can be a real pain. A while back I mentioned same issue that a lower-cost Tesla Model 2 “could” compete with Models 3 and Y and cannibalize some of their volume, but depending on Model 2 and how it’s priced, it may not be all that bad. If new Model 2 ends up being significantly smaller and lower-price than 3/Y, then it may not compete as directly. I don’t see it much different than Corolla versus Camry, or Civic versus Accord. I think that when Model 3 first came out it competed much more directly with Model S because they are fairly close in size (by my definition), it had plenty of range to meet most needs anyway, even with smaller battery, and was priced almost 50% lower. No wonder Models S and X have very little volume left (one report I saw had them at 3% though I don’t know accuracy). If entry-level Model 2 is small enough and (energy) efficient enough to allow price below $30k with about same margin as a $40K RWD Model 3, then losing a few 3/Y buyers to Model 2 would not hurt Tesla bottom line that much. The question is whether they can reduce costs (to build it) by that much and still deliver a car with enough function and range that buyers will pay up to $30k? I think they can if they keep it small, aero, and utilitarian as Musk implied or has stated. I think it needs to be no larger than a Civic or Corolla.

Couldn’t find a bigger one? ??

So I finally picked it up yesterday afternoon after the long wait from 2022. Got the Retrax and spray-in liner done. Had the new wheels and tires put on this morning. Benefit of the LWB.......all 4 of my OEM takeoffs are laying inside the bed with the cover closed! Here's a quick shot as it has been pouring down rain this week.......

Their stated goals indicate they are the good guys, whether you like Musk or not or even agree with how he thinks he's helping, the "master plan" lays out the goal to convert the world to sustainable auto and they've met or exceeded every goal they stated. Whether you believe it's for the good of humanity or a money grab is on the person watching or reading, I've watched enough of Musk to believe him but I understand if you don't.. and even if you don't Tesla has laid out the blueprint on how to do it and make money for "legacy auto". Either way, I personally believe they are the good guys, but even if they aren't they're still doing it better than Ford on the BEV design and manufacturing end. Model 2 I'm skeptical about after waiting 4 years for the cybertruck to cost twice as much and have half the range promised with 3k lbs less towing. Holding a reservation for cybertruck, but been looking at the lightning lately and it seems like a better truck right now.

Here are a couple of more articles out today on the new infotainment system in the Nautilus. So far, they are pretty positive. Note that you can play movies, games, surf the internet, etc. on the main screen when the car is parked. Obviously, Ford/Lincoln did some kind of show and tell on the new system for the media. Still waiting on when they authorize first drive reviews! https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/22/24045932/ford-android-screen-display-size-os-apps-gaming-lincoln?fbclid=IwAR0Sa7_INHOoT0cEeBd3nl-gOXCgFXZL7v0cGGv6jUJ520uh1W-Hc_TA7kY https://www.motortrend.com/news/ford-nautilus-lincoln-digital-experience-infotainment-system-review/?sm_id=organic%3Asm_id%3Afb%3AAMAG%3Atrueanthem&fbclid=IwAR2X4R69zEBuwKi62ClZ_kBFb_9SOvg1bmtjkhroCAPAPXjtvcu5WB54PHs

I guess they’re going to straddle the fence as long as possible. We’ll see how it works out.