EV's, EV's, EV's Everywhere

 All I seem to read about these days is EV's. That would be electric vehicles for those of you stuck in the early 2000's. Yes, folks, it seems like there are big or even bigger changes coming for us, than we might have thought a few months ago. 

VW has just unveiled their newest EV.........

.......which should arrive here sometime over the next year. Great looking and a good reason to stay away from your local gas station, unless, of course, they have a car wash. And like most EV's this one is bargain priced. Sure, if you compare it to a Tesla Model X, otherwise this new VW is luxury car pricey in around the $60-$70k range CDN.

Have you read about the latest news from California? All new car sales by 2035 have to be EV's. I don't understand this, as most articles I read say a country's target might be 50% at the high end. Those EV prices had better plummet, as I know they will, but don't expect to get a Tesla Model S for Hyundai prices.

And the EV's keep on coming, as these concept cars from Peugeot and Honda show......

Will they ever see the light of day? A very good question, but they might. At the very least, they keep those company's names in the news until they can market a "real" and realistic EV.

But the new designs and companies, just keep on coming, with this silver Polestar from Volvo and the Lucid, from the USA.........

Both of these cars have a good chance of being produced, but for serious coin, so serious, that they won't help California hit its goal of no gas cars in fifteen years.

How about Europe? Read this morning, that Porsche's best selling car in Europe for the first six months of this year has been the 100% EV Taycan. It's blowing all their other cars/suvs out of the water. Again big bucks, but oh, such a gorgeous car.

EV's, EV's, EV's everywhere. 

Even new trucks, every time you pick up the paper, all with miraculous claims. An example is the proposed Neuron modular pick-up, that can be transformed into other things, like a camper van or a dump truck. .........

That is one amazing truck, folks. Will it ever see the light of day? It might, but how would we know, especially if it transformed itself into something else before it was unveiled. Time will answer all your questions.

Here's the Lordstown Endurance........

Yet another entry into the rapidly filling up hope we make it to production category.

All these EV's. All those rather high prices. All those predictions of huge sales numbers within a very few years. All (or at least many) pipe dreams and we all know what is in some of those pipes.

Until next time........

Those were the days

Hey, let's get this straight right away, I DON'T PINE FOR THE OLD DAYS! Sure I have memories, but what right minded soul doesn't? Whew! Glad that we got that out of the way.

Check out your calendar. September, right? Way back when, this was a time of great excitement in a car dealership, since the new models for the next year, all completely new, whether they were or not, were being unveiled to the public. Those folks standing with their noses pressed against the showroom windows. Funny, but I still see the odd new car ad with that heading, even though the only change is the stitching on the seats. Will people believe anything?

Back in the day, the dealership staff eagerly anticipated the new cars and shared in the excitement as the first transporter rolled up to the dealership.......

But back in the day, the new cars probably were all new. Back in the day they changed substantially each and every year. Back in the day, two years was a long design cycle. But, back in the day, there wasn't the competition there is today. Companies sold hundreds of thousands or maybe over a million of a model, so they could afford to make wholesale changes every twelve months.

But, it's fun to look back........

The excitement built with teaser adds. The dealership covered their showroom windows the day before the grand unveiling, so that no one would get a peak. Remember, no web spy photos back then and the car mags didn't show the new stuff until John Q. Public saw it locally.

Imagine having bought a brand new car a couple of months before and now in September it's design is outdated and old looking by Thanksgiving (this is Canada, so that is October)? I used to love the changes when I was a kid, but I much prefer the longer design cycles these days and the evolutionary changes, so that my new ride will still look new years from now.

Opening night and the citizens would flock to their local (not the pub) to view the latest and the greatest, also pondering how old their kind of new car looked, now that the next year's models were rolled out.....

Maybe even line the cars up outside and shoot a picture for the local rag?

Bring your friends and tell them that you were considering a revolutionary new Cadillac to replace that ancient two year old Buick........

Isn't envy a wonderful thing?

And for a little car guy like me, the best was this........

Does your local Honda, Hyundai or BMW dealer offer this these days? No way, but for a substantial sum, they'll happily sell you a small replica from their in-showroom store.

Pine for the old days? Not a chance. Like to look back? Absolutely! 

Got time to kill? Check out the signs in the nearest dealership. Count yourself lucky, if you see anything announcing the new for 2021 cars (suvs?). How things have changed.

Until next time......

What took them so long, part 2

 

Recognize this vehicle? I know, it looks familiar with that well known grille, but the rest of it seems, well, different. For those Jeep-o-philes or Jeep-aholics among you, you've no doubt counted the slots in the front grille, got seven and know then, that this is a Jeep of some sort. For those not so avid car folks, a Jeep has to have those seven slots, no more, no less. Jeep has even taken companies to court, if their design comes too close to Jeep's iconic front end.

So much for grille trivia. What that first pic shows is the hot off the press 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer concept. No production timeline, but bet your breakfast, lunch or dinner, that it will arrive sometime over the next year.

Remember my last blog, where I wondered why it took another company so long to come up with a Jeep Wrangler competitor? Now the shoe is on the other foot, and I wonder what took Jeep so long to come up with a full size suv, when all the other companies are chowing down on this market.

A bit of history.........

Way back in 1962, Jeep introduced their new large wagon, appropriately called the Wagoneer, a big suv, before that term become known..........

Eventually the Wagoneer became the Grand Wagoneer, as Jeep realized there was money to be made by slathering their wagon with all the amenities expected in a luxury vehicle......

What a run this Jeep had, from the 1963 model year to 1991. Twenty eight years!!! Dropped as the world was just beginning to change the spelling of "car" to "suv". Ok, I understand, the suv tsunami still hadn't hit us, but within ten years it had and the bigger and more luxurious the better. But Jeep waited and waited and waited. Now it's finally going to happen.

Why let all those other pretenders rake in the upscale coin. Bring back the Grand Wagoneer moniker and beat them at what was Jeep's own game. Luxury? Jeep does it well. Check out this interior.....

Do you see enough touch screens? A couple for the the driver and one for the passenger. My gawd, what have we been missing?

What took Jeep so long? The original Grand Wagoneer is in the rearview and will remain there as the new Grand Wagoneer takes its rightful spot as the head honcho at Jeep.

 But, once again, what took them so long?

Until next time..........

What took them so long?

Today's story starts way back in the Second World War, when the go anywhere, do anything Jeep became the US army's pack horse. Thinking that a rugged little vehicle like this might have civilian uses after the war, Willys started advertising it to farmers, construction companies, service stations and anyone else who could use a cheap and utilitarian, but oh so practical vehicle in their business. Somewhere along the line and this took a few years, the Jeep became a lifestyle vehicle and in some cases a status symbol. Name recognition is now up there with brands like Coca-Cola.

Jeep now sells hundreds of thousands of vehicles in many different models and sizes, but the one that carries this brand's reputation for toughness on its back, is the good old Wrangler, now available as a two door, a four door and the relatively new pick-up. Add a few options and a price tag of over $70k is not a rarity.

Big money maker for Fiat-Chrysler Group who own the brand. The big question? What is the competition? Where is the competition? The answer, none and no where. Until now.

Way back in the '60's Ford thought a model similar to the Jeep might have a chance......

Just like the Jeep, the little Bronco (Ford loved horse names......Mustang, Pinto, Bronco) had the variety of packages to give the up and coming Jeep a bit of a run. But this is Detroit, so what started as a Jeep-like competitor followed another of the Big Three and made the little Bronco, the BIG Bronco......

Big enough to accommodate some hefty ex NFL stars running from the law back in the 1990's. Then what had become a large, but small niche vehicle was dropped. 

Since that time, the good ol' Jeep was cranking right along, adding models and cache' until it could no longer be ignored. Rumours started that Ford might possibly bring back an original size Bronco to take on the runaway success of the Jeep. Now recently announced and quickly filling the order banks is the new for 2021 Bronco........

And like Jeep, Ford is not shy about covering every area of this market exactly like its main competitor has done. One exception, no pick-up, but again rumours say wait and see.

Want your neighbours to think you go serious off roading or are simply looking for an accomplished ride for around town, the new Bronco covers all bases. Price? Well, you saw the Jeep numbers, so what do you think?

Then there's that nagging question......what took Ford so long? What about GM? Like Tesla, like Toyota's Prius, the first to market will always have the edge, but Ford looks like it's loaded the Bronco with all the right stuff. What do I think? I believe it will make a dent in the Jeep's sales, but a Jeep is a Jeep, not a Bronco. Will it sell well? The early orders look like a sure winner. Those Ford fans who would never buy a Jeep are ready and waiting.

But once again, what took them so long?

Until next time........