February 11:Still want that EV?

Want to save a bundle and no longer have to stand by your car pumping gas into it on a brutally cold winter's day? You know the answer, don't you? Of course, the answer is to get an electric vehicle, an EV. Like cannabis, the so-called miracle smoke, electric cars are being touted as the answer to everything involving transportation.

When someone says electric vehicle, what comes to mind? The majority of us would say Tesla, since they had the very first fully electric car. Well, didn't they? Not exactly, as EVs were among the first cars way, way back when.......

And if you know your car history, you'll know that nothing much happened with Baker or any other EV manufacturer from those many years ago. But EVs were always on the radar of those with better imagination than yours truly. For many years, my only experience with an EV was with those strange little one or two person city cars seen throughout Europe........

Practical for one person, as long as that person wasn't carrying a briefcase and their lunch. One or the other, you chose. But Tesla changed all that. Now every company lusts after your EV buying dollars and you better have plenty of them.

The issue..........

The problem? Unless you plug your EV into a supercharger every night, you stand the very real chance of not having enough capacity to get you home at the end of the day. And unless you have a supercharger, you'll need more than just overnight to fully charge up your eerily quiet new ride.

Brass monkey weather? Then throw your range calculations out the window, as the AAA recently found that cold weather, say around -5 Celcius, lowered your range by 41%. Get that, FORTY ONE percent! Now that's an eye opener, folks.

And what if you live in an apartment building? Think they'll install a supercharger just for you? Not likely.

Still considering an EV? Want to save the planet, etc? Not as easy as you might think, since at this point the tsunami of EVs is still a couple of years away. And governments are becoming less likely to pay you to take one off of Tesla's or anyone else's hands.

I've nothing against EV's, but they aren't for me. I've driven a Tesla and was impressed with the head snapping acceleration of this super quiet EV. But I love the sound of a fully engaged gas fueled power plant. That appeals to me, not some insanely quick, but library quiet Tesla or its like.

Heart still set on your quiet driving, no gas bills future? Then bring lots of cash. Even the bargain basement Kia Soul is around $42k Cdn, while the next least costly, the VW E-Golf is about $1500 more. Next up the ladder, the Nissan Leaf is closer to $45k CDN, with the equipment someone spending that kind of coin wants on their EV. The prices of a Chevy Bolt or Hyundai Kona stretch over $50,000.

In my book, any of these EVs require real money to put one in your name. You'll want to make your purchase out of principle, since the purchase price of any EV currently on the market negates any savings at the pump, unless you drive coast to coast every couple of weeks, but then that brings up another set of problems.

My head isn't in the sand. I know that our EV future will be quite different than what it is today. Still at this time EVs are not an easy purchase, so it will be awhile until we see this scene everyday........

What's a ship doing in this car blog? This week my wife and I will leave for three weeks, going to Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines (lots of unique car pictures). Two weeks of our trip will be on this beauty......

So a holiday for all of us. Me from writing, you from reading.

Until next time, Tuesday, March 12th........

February 8: A great tradition?

Nothing like a fine old tradition. Most people like some sort of tradition in their lives. Well, maybe Elon Musk is the exception, but Vlad Putin is a fine example of someone who likes tradition. Maybe in his case, the tradition isn't so fine, but I digress.

The picture above is an excellent example of an automotive tradition, in this case that Chinese car, the Hongqi and in this pic the CA72 model. The limo of choice for all of the commie hierarchy. But let's take a closer look........

Obviously a car design from the 1950's, with those high riding, single headlights, showing the way thru the adoring proletariat. The start of a tradition from that prestigious Chinese brand? Must be, as a look at the current dictator's latest Hongqi shows.........

Who would have thought that this nondescript front end would become iconic? Nothing classic like a Mercedes or a Rolls front end, but it works for Hongqi. Strange, since the rest of the car is very contemporary in a nicely, conservative way........

But is there more to the Hongqi brand than the chosen limo of their red rulers? And does that front end get carried over like a traditional BMW or Mercedes grille? I know you are fretting over the answer, but let me help you. The answer is no, as the other Hongqi products sport a completely different front end.

Take for example the recently shown electric E-HS3.........

This compact suv (of course, it's an suv, does anyone introduce anything else these days?) sports the signature front end of the rest of the Hongqi stable of fine ruling class and executive cars. Cars like the nondescript H7..........

........ but in case you don't understand its position in Chinese life or who is meant to have one, check out the back seat, which sure screams chauffeur driven to me .......

Or the very up to date H5........

......and of course, the very latest Hongqi, the large and attractive HS7, which also shows off the "lower class" grille..........

Not quite as unique as that throw back grille on the top of the line limo, but who would really want that traditional front end across the entire line? Who would actually want it on any Hongqi?

A couple of other design cues make the Hongqi line stand out from the Mercedes, Audi and Cadillac cars and suvs, that the rising entrepreneurial class prefer to drive. First off, an unusual interior treatment, as shown in this pic from the Hongqi website.......

What exactly is going on here is quite a bit beyond me. Is that some sort of wood or a depiction of the solar system?

And of course, since Hongqi means red flag, how appropriate is it that every single Hongqi vehicle, either has this symbol perched on the hood or is on the front fender........

A great tradition and brand identification rolled into one bright red flag. Brilliant!

Until next time........

February 5: Requiem for a heavyweight

A sign of our times, but a heart breaker never the less. For all sorts of reasons, the big General Motors plant in Oshawa, Ontario will be closing in the near future. For many years this behemoth had been a powerhouse of production, at one time sending 25,000 sparkling new vehicles a year to happy customers across the US, Canada and a few foreign lands (remember the Iraqi Malibu? Google it).

But that was then and unfortunately this is now (profound?). When this historic old plant shortly closes its doors, so does it close the saga of one of GM's most illustrious and successful nameplates. Want to take a guess?

Those of you who said the Chevy Silverado, can leave the room and spend a few hours in detention checking out how wrong you are. Shame on you. No folks, the name going into the dumpster of automotive history will be the Chevy Impala. Cast aside and rendered irrelevant by today's consumers' lust after anything suv. Even the very attractive lines of the latest Impala couldn't push it up the sales charts to a point where it would still be viable. Sad.

2019 Impala

Just over sixty years ago (60!), in 1958 the Impala was introduced to an adoring public looking for a chrome laden sport(?) machine........

Featuring a unique to it body style, this first Impala rocked the late '50's with panache. Available as a coupe or a convertible, this Impala started the nameplate on a very illustrious career.

Next year the Impala became a winged wonder (it was the '50's after all), and the nameplate was also put on a couple of four doors following that old marketing adage, if one is good then two is better, or in this case four........

The early '60's had success after success for Impala until it reached its zenith in 1965........

This completely new Chevy was a wild sales success, with the Impala line alone selling well over one million cars. Get that, over a million! Hard to imagine, but this was a time when American cars ruled North America and the Empire of the Rising Sun hadn't yet inundated our shores with a wide variety of quality products. Talk about steamrolling the competition.

And so Impala continued on into the '70's, 80's, 90's and the 2000's. Those '65 sales would never be topped, but hey, the landscape changed completely with hundreds of new models becoming thousands. One place the Impala did hold its own and was in a position of power was the obvious.......

.....becoming one of the best police cars ever, to be topped only by the Chevrolet Caprice in the early 1990's. And eventually GM had those fleet sales (police, daily rentals) to thank for keeping this old and revered nameplate alive and relevant.

One final opportunity to harken back to it's reputation from days gone by, was introduced in 1994.........

Take one Corvette motored, police package Caprice, add four big wheels and tires......voila', the Impala SS. Finally another Impala to lust after. And to collect.

But now the Impala's glory days are well behind it. No matter how attractive, how well reviewed or how well priced, the Impala is a sedan, the latest kiss of death in the North American auto industry. So what for years had looked like this.......

......is shortly going to look like this......

The once heavyweight sales champ of the North American auto industry is taking its last ragged breaths. So let's take a moment to remember when having an Impala meant more than driving a snoozer on wheels. Think back to a time when having an Impala meant your neighbours would want to look under its hood. Another time, folks. And another famous nameplate is saying good-bye.

Maybe they should put the name on an suv?

Until next time......

February 1: Another season begins

The very wet Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona was run last weekend. Do you know what that represents? Sure, it's a chance for the sportscar drivers to race in front of the near empty grandstands of Daytona International. Or put a little rubber on a small section of the big oval before the Daytona 500. But what it really represents is the start of the 2019 racing season. Quickly followed up by the opening races of the NHRA, NASCAR, Indy Car and finally F1.

Dust off all the the cars and equipment that has lay dormant for the past few months. Well, not actually, dormant, just not involved in a race. All those race cars have to get to the track, so what a great time to segue into a quick look at how getting those cars to the track has changed over the years.

Can you imagine an Indy Car these days being taken to the speedway by a station wagon (ok, an suv) pulling a single axle, two wheeled trailer? Boggles the mind to think that everything needed to run a 500 mile race might fit into that big ol' wagon..........

Or a top fueler being pulled by a luxury car with a few spare parts packed into the car's trunk. Better not blow that nitro fueled power plant. A gold star if you can identify this famous driver, who raced for many years after this picture was taken in 1963 or '64.

After these inauspicious beginnings, the racers started going with trucks and a variety of these were used.....

..........with some fancier and definitely more unusual than others...........

 Although a big change from those plain Jane little trailers, those ramp trucks were still somewhat limited in what they could carry. A few tires, some extra motor parts and if they were really lucky a full spare motor. Ah, such luxury.

Then some bright soul got the idea of picking up a used tractor trailer rig. Wow! Now not only could the car be trailered to the races, protected from vandals and the elements, but there was plenty of room for parts and maybe even a small lounge. This was high style and function with the car stored over the work areas......

Whoever that person was, they should be enshrined in the team hauler hall of fame, if they ever decide to build one.

Of course, the teams now use shiny brand new equipment and often have more than a single unit for their team.......

These graphics laden new team haulers are showpieces in their own right.......

 You think these racers might have liked what was coming down the pike in the future?

Simply the best or best or be simple? Doubt whether either phrase applies here, but wouldn't they have loved to have one of those big new haulers to start their season with? All the spare parts and amenities needed to make a weekend at the races the best of times.

What does the future hold? Well, friends, it just might be here already........

Until next time......

January 29: Moving on up

I've said this before........who would ever have figured from its so, so humble and trouble plagued beginnings, way back in 1985, that Hyundai would rise to the much respected level it is these days? Your Pony was falling apart back in the day and some bright soul says just wait, one day, a Hyundai will be North American Car of the Year. It is to laugh, bucko. It just ain't happening. Oh to be a fortune teller, since Hyundai, through their upscale Genesis brand has just won that prestigious award with their BMW 3 Series competitor, the G70 sedan.

Initially wanting to be known for more than a cheap entry level hatchback, Hyundai first tried moving up with the not so Stellar.....

Like the Pony, it had lots of issues, just in a bigger size. But at least they were trying. Doesn't everyone strive for greatness?

In Korea they even had a very luxurious model, the Equus (that name sound familiar?). The pride of South Korea, available in regular and extra long, limousine size......

Eventually, they bought the Equus name to North America. Gutsy, in that who would spend that much money in a Hyundai dealership? Ever seen this car, shown here in its non North American limo version.........

In my hometown of Toronto, I think I have seen more Lambo Urus's in the past couple of weeks, than I ever saw an Equus in the five or six years it was with us. But these guys learn quickly and they realized that if Hyundai was to sell really upscale models, then they better figure out a better way, than to place a high end sedan next to an economical Elantra and expect it to sell. An interesting aside......the Equus didn't come with a typical owner's manual, but with a tablet. And still it sat.

Moving right along, it finally dawned on the head honchos, that Genesis should be a separate brand, like Lexus or Infiniti. Hard to kick start a new high end brand, but after only a couple of years, they garnered the Car of the Year award. Impressive stuff.

Apart from winning that award at the recent Detroit show, they also unveiled the revised top of the line G90 (imaginative name).......

If you remember seeing the last one (you saw one? amazing!), you can see that no longer does it look like a Bentley or Mercedes clone, now it has its own unique design cues. Beautiful car, but one has to be very confident to pay $90k large for a Genesis (read Hyundai), when for a few bucks more you can put yourself into a brand with cache', like Mercedes or Lexus. Now, to its credit, the G90 has reviewers considering it to be one of, if not the best, big luxury sedan on the market.

Picture yourself in this G90 interior..........

Look like any Elantra you've ever seen? No, nothing like a typical Hyundai, more like an atypical Hyundai.

Did you count Hyundai out back in the day? Silly you. Now thirty plus years later, you shouldn't count them out either in their march to establish Genesis as a bona fide choice in the luxury car field. Give them time folks and you'll see those S Class and 7 Series buyers dropping into a Genesis showroom at the end of their current leases. And that you can take to the bank.

Until next time......

January 25: What will small look like?

Did you hear the announcement this past week that Ford is planning a new small pick-up to slot below the upcoming midsized Ranger? This strikes me as funny, since only a short while ago, most of the manufacturers backed away from the compact(?) pick-ups and only recently have they jumped back on board with new introductions. Is the market so strong for these trucks, that they will go the way of the suv, with a size for every wallet and use? As always time will tell.

How small? Like this?

Or more like this?

Or maybe somewhere in between or different all together. Ford plans to introduce their new junior trucklette within two or three years, so let the forecasting begin. May I go first?

In South America Ford has the small car based Courier........

Can't see this working up north, but a car based pup could be what Ford is considering. So, if they updated it to the current Focus and made it sort of like the original Honda Ridgeline, it might look like this......

Does anyone remember the Subaru Baja? I'm sure Ford does, so they might want to tread lightly on this design direction.

If the idea of a really junior pick-up takes hold, who else might join the party? Again, let's look at South America and see what Chevy sells in Brazil as the Montana (you can't keep a good name down).....

I've seen these in Mexico, so if needed and with a little help, they might make it over President Chump's ludicrous wall.

Haven't heard that Ram plans a midsized version, but the way things are going, how can they avoid it? If the even smaller pups take hold, they'll have to follow suit. Fiat has a pick-up in Italy called the Toro, that Ram is renaming the Ram 1000 with plans to sell it in Columbia.......

Why just Columbia? Who knows, but this Ridgeline type could easily be made to fit into Ram's North American product line.

And that perennial favour of North Americans, VW, has a pick-up in Europe, the Amarok, that I bet our dealers are just begging for, but so far to no avail. That model is a compact, but VW also has a junior model, the Saveiro, that could be sold here.......

Note that all of these little guys are or seem to be car based, with some sort of tough looking black mouldings around the bed. I guess they add a touch of macho flare to these offering. They must, since I can't see what other function they might serve.

Who can see into the future? Not I, but by looking at other offerings in other markets, maybe I might have hit on something that is headed our way. After all the new Ford Ranger was sold everywhere else in the world for a couple of years before it made its appearance in our marketplace for 2019. Mark this date on your calendar, as what Barry saw. Let's touch base again in 2022.

Until next time........