ccap41

Happy Birthday, @oldshurst442! Hopefully we don't make you have to go on some rant today! Hahaha

Ahhhh bummer, bud! Hopefully nothing actually tore and "just" physical therapy can get you moving again. Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery. I'd think you'd have MORE time sitting in front of a computer/phone now, haha.

Damn, I guess the subtlety of the Tesla's had me completely overlook it.

Two of those four have pretty large grill openings. They just aren't in the traditional "above bumper" location. The Olds are great examples. Personally, I think the styling of the 3 and S to be quite attractive (I do NOT like the Y & X). They're simple, clean and have RWD proportions. Yes, I believe they could do a little more up front to stand out but, I applaud them for not going the fake vent/grille route just to make "style". FWIW, the Beretta Z26 (my first car) also had a traditional grill=less design. There was obviously still a large opening for the radiator but it was below the bumper instead of above.

I think you may have shared this awhile ago or maybe I just came across it elsewhere awhile ago. Either way, it's pretty crazy to have an offramp to a stoplight in such a short distance. Any car shouldn't have an issue but larger SUVs, half-ton truck and larger, and box trucks will have to really know the area to be able to make this turn or potential stop.

I agree it's on the bland side but bland isn't always bad. Some cleaner/simpler/bland designs in an ocean of vehicles with non-functional vents and tailpipes can be a little refreshing.

I still think the Model 3 is a much cleaner, better looking vehicle. While I do like the awkward Ionic 6, the Model 3 looks better.

I'm sure this is a great little vehicle but I do not like the front end of this, at all. It looks super cheap and Chinese, probably because it is Chinese.

They are upping the 2.0T's output from 235hp/258tq to 269hp/273tq. I think it'll just have to work harder to move this big things.

Kind of random but I feel it's relevant here (and also a pretty spot on comparison). Did you ever get to drive the Explorer with the 2.0T and then when they ditched that for the 2.3T? If you did get to drive them both, how was the difference there?

Everything looks pretty dang good outside of dropping the V6. One of my best friends recently bought one of these and they originally went to drive the 4 cylinder and he said it just wasn't enough. For spending ~40k, the 4 cylinder didn't impress enough, especially because they anticipate towing small things eventually. I know this new 4 cylinder has more power and torque, but I'm not sure if it'll be enough for the asking price of these things.

Also, while I have zero issue with the route they took, why the hell would they show off that concept to just make a regular-@ss-lookin truck? I prefer the more conventional styling, it just seems weird.

I loved it. The way they took shots at EVs while also promoting their own, was pretty awesome and clever.

I mean, I do still understand why they'd outsource their power unit because teams are currently developing their 2026 power units and if Cadillac weren't starting yet, they would be behind the curve. I just don't really like it. I get it. I don't like it as a somebody who would want to see a Cadillac powered by a Cadillac. I also think it would be an easy sticker to add to the side, "Powered by UIltium" to advertise their electric vehicles.

But, if it's a 2026 entry, every single team is on a new learning curve. That's why 2026 is a target for a few new teams. They will be "merging" their new EV technology with raving technology and that's one way companies like Ford are justifying putting resources into F1. If Cadillac enters in 2026 with an Alpine power unit, it'll be an all-new unit, just like every other car in the field in 2026.

Hey! We're back up!

My honest opinion is that those big guns in Merc, Ferrari, and Red Bull are just scared. I'm sure Cadillac/GM/Andretti can justify how they'll bring more total revenue to the sport but I think they're more scared of a legitimate OEM coming into the sport and bringing with them a truly competitive car. I think it will take some time to get their feet under them so I wouldn't expect a podium-finishing car in the first year but I/we KNOW they have it in them to learn and engineer with the best. I don't really like Alpine supplying them their power unit the first two years but I guess if that's what they need to do to get into the sport, then that's what they'll have to do. I'd MUCH prefer a Cadillac car with a Cadillac power unit. A Nissan(Renault) power unit in a Cadillac.. just makes me cringe a little. They already have one race under their belts this season, Rolex 24hr of Daytona. They finished 3rd & 4th to the Acuras which were just waaaay faster cars.

I believe the FIA made an announcement that they'll have final approval/denial for all new team proposals in April or something. I would LOVE for Cadillac to have their own factory team in F1! Andretti/Cadillac isn't the only new team proposal, just the loudest. The problem is the current team owners don't want to split the pie into smaller slices.. I really hope Cadillac/Andretti's proposal blows their tits off and they can justify another team. Red Bull has been a team for a couple decades already so it isn't a new team. They're just partnering with Ford on their new powertrains for 2026, when the regulations move to more battery electric power and less ICE power. Red Bull has been with Honda/Acura for the past few years but have been with all sorts of engine suppliers. 2005: Cosworth 2006: Ferrari 2007-2015: Renault 2016-2018: Tag Heuer-badged Renault engines 2019-2021: Honda/Acura 2022: Honda engines but they formed their own company and are branded Red Bull Powertrains(confusing situation) I believe the current power split is around 150hp electric power and 650-700hp ICE and the 2026 regulations move to a 350hp electric power and a 20% reduced fuel flow rate, so less ICE power.

To go with the above Red Bull/Ford announcement.. An SVT/performance Lightning would be pretty whoop-@ss! https://www.autoblog.com/2023/02/06/ford-high-performance-electric-pickup-truck-teaser-red-bull-announcement/ "What's the guaranteed follow-up to an automaker making a big fuss about entering a global motorsport series? Talk how about race technology is going to carom off the track and into the street cars in the parking lot. When done properly, the talk can be demonstrated with a street car that maximizes the transfer possibilities such as the Audi R8, Porsche 911 GT3 or the new Chevrolet Corvette Z06. It can also happen in a more general, widespread way that's equally beneficial, like when Volvo entered the World Touring Car Championship in 2016 and Polestar began to really bloom. Now we get Ford returning to Formula 1 in 2026 with Red Bull as Red Bull Ford. As part of the announcement, Motor Authority picked up on the Dearborn manufacturer showing an infographic about how its global motorsports programs exchange expertise from road to race and back. In the lower right of the image at top, the slide shows something wicked, new and electric this way comes. We're not sure precisely what the vehicle will be, but it will join the cadre of EV performance demonstrators Ford's been showing for the past two years. The pickup silhouette leads to the obvious guess that we're looking for an imperious F-150 Lightning. The other EV demonstrators are the seven-motor, 1,400-horsepower Mach-E 1400 Prototype, the Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 dragstrip special, the 1978 F-100 Eluminator pickup with two crate e-motors, and the 1,973-hp quad-motor SuperVan 4 that gets from zero to 62 miles per hour in less than two seconds. The silhouettes in the other slides are the Mustang GT3 in the upper left, the Ranger Raptor in the upper right, and the Red Bull Ford we imagine will be the RB22 assuming Red Bull's naming convention holds through 2026. The biggest issue we have with the EV demonstrators we've seen so far is that no one can buy them. The standard Lightning with 563 hp and 775 lb-ft is certainly quick in its own right, though it does contend with the weight of many batteries. Still, if there were ever a time for the return of a retail Lightning with electric performance as comparatively audacious as the original, now is it."

I'd really like to see one of these in real life. They seem to awkward and weird in pictures/videos but I have a feeling they may be one of those vehicles that still has a pretty good "presence" in person. Right now, they do absolutely nothing for me but I feel like they may be decent in person.

Yesterday and today would be perfect "winter testing" days with highs touching 60-62 degrees F. Obviously too chilly for a real ride but warm enough to test out winter modifications/repairs. What all is needed to make it up and running, at this point? I know you got it running and rode it a bit but anything else needed to feel safe on it?

Here's a pretty crazy idea that's apparently already in the works, too. https://www.motortrend.com/news/ford-red-bull-developing-strategically-important-ev/ "Earlier today, Ford announced a surprise return to Formula 1 racing in a new partnership with Red Bull Racing starting in 2026 to explore and develop vehicle dynamics, stability control, traction control, dynamic drive modes, software engineering and battery management, and of course, aerodynamics for future Ford production cars. In an interview with MotorTrend, Ford CEO Jim Farley hinted that they've already been hard at work on a "strategically important" EV we can get excited about." I know you're being sarcastic but the G Wagen was all-new in 2019. Okay, now that I think about it, that's already FOUR YEARS OLD! Dang, how time flies.

This is the first I've ever heard of an "upper oil pan" meeting a "lower oil pan". It all sounds complex and it's probably safe to say this is a diesel-only situation.

If you can't fit in a Lincoln Continental or a Mazda CX-90, there's no way you'll fit in a Corvette SUV.