Competition already doing it...

I livlovee the 3.0L T V6 in my MKZ... Just sad it's on a FWD based architecture.  Even as an AWD it's still FWD-ish.  Like some Meth-Ho, just goes out of control for a split second before conforming herself.  Wont be doing anything FWD based ever again, urrggg.... But as an engine, it's smooth, doesnt need a dramatic downshift to extract power, just smooth.

This latest batch of Audi SUVs do not capture the essence of Audi whatsoever. The original Q7 nailed it with its sporty, athletic stance.    

The 2.7 is a damn good engine....except for the belt driven oil pump. Change it back to a chain and gear drive and you have a perfect engine that will go a LONG way without an expensive oil drive belt replacement. Not an issue for people that do not keep a vehicle but for those of us that do its a design to be avoided.   (The front of the engine basically needs to come off to change it)   Luckily my daughter purchased a new Bronco and it has the 2.3 / oil pump mechanically driven , no belt.

Both, the teachers are slightly more at fault because they're meant to be a guiding influence, but it's both. There's a movie called Whiplash, the environment is a lot like that. 

I was thinking they would just downsize F150 to save money but I guess if it's starting with T6 it won't matter much.

But is it really the students or the people teaching the curriculum that are the problem?       

Honestly not that much per se. About as much as the current F-150 and Ranger do. Remember the TTP truck is T6 based, not T3.

Yep. So as someone who's toured Art Center in Pasadena looking into going there, that's arguably the central school for car design in the US. The culture isn't great.    Students are essentially taught to be different and weird above all else. I understand the importance of having students develop and strenghten their creative muscles. But the issue is it leads to a lot of designers who just wanna be different for the sake of being different. Rather than being different, but striving to be different in a way that's better.    Pair that with the mental disconnect from reality. Art center is super expensive, as in you're well into the six figures for 8 semesters of tuition alone. Factor in all your expenses, and you're probably gonna be on the hook for well over 200k or even 300k by the time it's all said and done. That was one of the main reasons I didn't go there.    Taking on 300k in student loan debt for a career with a starting salary that was around 60-70 grand at the time, it felt like the kinda loan you'd never get out from under. But because it's so expensive, that means most of the students who attend are daddies money trust fund types.    The kind of people who've never known struggle, and who frankly can't relate to the tastes, needs, or desires of common buyers very well because they haven't lived it, and can't understand it.    So the people who are creating your cars are a bunch of elites who can't relate to you who are taught to be weird and funky above all else. With that sort of education, it starts to make all these weird and strange car designs and features make no sense and seem to lack appeal and use to most of the people buying them. 

Yes, I’ve been reading all about it. I just need @jpd80to design/engineer/deliver an F-100 hybrid for me first. JP, I not getting any younger.