J-150

So does gasoline

I don't think Pete said anything that hasn't been said here. Additionally, I dont think he's being hard on Ford at all. There's a large degree of truth in what he said.

How much are they losing? Did the margin on Fiesta and Focus even cover development and manufacture costs?

GT levels of secret skunkworks project here. No one saw this coming...

Or like Ford did with the Excursion...

To me, it was about taking the slow selling Freestyle/Taurus-X, and squaring it off to make is less wagon and more SUV.

I suppose being in California, you've never been on an unpaved, muddy road to the cottage.

In my experience, Kia's have a bouncier rear axle than Fords. The driver feels bumps being absorbed. Rear passengers just feel carsick. But just the rear. Front axles are stiff. Strange way to tune a suspension. So if that's their definition of a better ride... yeah there's some bias. As far as performance, any Kia 8ve driven has an extremely sensitive throttle. A light touch just launched the vehicle, for a false sense of power. Once you get the pedal down halfway, there is no more. But that's in my experience. I haven't tried a Telluride yet, but I'm sure it follows the same corporate formula.

100% or nothing. Got it. But given the level of tech available in the auto industry alone, not including tech available elsewhere, i dont believe for one minute it cant be done.

So the throttle is all-go or no-go? That's what you're suggesting. 100% torque all the time. That just isn't true. The throttle can be programmed with limits such as max 50% torque output in Eco mode. DC electric subway trains have have adjustable throttles since 19th century. It can be done.

I dont see why it can't be both. Many gasses have the "eco", "normal", and "sport" modes. You can do the same with electric. Eco for range and Sport for increased power output. Normal for a halfway point. Just like a 3 way light or a dimmer switch.

Dont even need wires. A contact on the door and a contact on the door frame

Marchionne's legacy lives on

Maybe their new partner Navistar can rework the 444 for them 😎

Hasn't that already been done to a degree with Lincoln variants? And to a degree of success?

Is the dual battery thing just 2 packs? Or is it an option of single or dual? If it's that latter is the dual battery pack for dual motors like Tesla? Regular Mach E single motor and HiPo Mach E with dual motors?

I do remember them. 2 door and pickups are what I remember most. I also remember Jeep Wagoneers. That said, I dont see how Navistar is equipped to sell and service. Their partner GM on the other hand...

If GM wanted to refresh their plans for a retro off roader, you just nailed it. I think an IH Scout sold through GM dealers would be a hit. More than a retro Blazer/Trailblazer. Especially since the Hummer brand has been tainted.

Let's be realistic. Wranglers and Land Rovers are pavement queens. If they go mud bogging, they are several years old. Very few buy a $40k+ vehicle to trash it.

You think this is payback from Barra? A contract she disapproved of was forced on her when she was head of HR. Not shes correcting it.

I have high hopes for the Baby Bronco. The compact Jeep offerings would be compelling, if not for the poor quality, poor driving dynamics, abysmal interiors and underpowered engines. All the things Ford can do better on.

Yes I know. It was an example to explain to our socialist friend how he got Wayne Gretzky's quote wrong.

Also part of the contract.

Depends on the KPI targets that are set.

Executive pay packets are a contract between them and the shareholders. They deliver their KPIs, they get the pay packet. They dont and they are fired. They dont get a predetermined wage for showing up like the hourly workforce does.