No matter what you think of EVs, you have to admit they’ve been a net positive for the industry – and I don’t mean in terms of emissions-slashing. EVs have made a real dent in the fundamentals of how the car world functions, sending ripples throughout every level of the design, development, production, and sales processes.
My colleague Matt Hardigree asked everyone at the end of today’s Morning Dump about an unexpected piece of good news that came out of the G8 ST truck amid the 2008 financial crisis. As Drive By Commuter points out, EVs were able to deliver some damn impressive metrics when it comes to ride comfort, acceleration, and smoothness, forcing other automakers to pay attention:
Best thing to happen is electric vehicles going mainstream. It’s made all cars step up their game for power, efficiency and features.
When you see a giant screen on your next car’s dashboard, always remember: The Tesla Model S started that trend all the way back in 2012. That was one of many trends that electric cars pioneered.
Also from The Morning Dump, Mrbrown89 reminded me of a brand that would be perfect to lead the tiny car revolution in the U.S.:
I hope Suzuki can come back to the US if regulations allow it, they are the experts on “tiny” cars that are fun and look good. Maybe they can partnership with Mitsubishi and use their footprint.
The moment a modern Suzuki Jimny becomes legal for import and purchase in America, I’m picking one up (so long as it has a manual transmission).
My colleague Thomas Hundal wrote about the strange state of affairs with regard to the manual second-generation Porsche Cayenne market. Remember when one sold for $125,000 earlier this year? Well, another one sold for $70,000 earlier today. And I really don’t know why people are paying this much for these cars. For the money, you can get something so much better, as Spikedlemon points out:
What’s resale of a CTS-V wagon with a manual these days?
I have to admit that I would 100,000%-absolutely-no-joke RUN out the door and buy a stick-shift Jimny. Literally. Not even a “maybe”. I drove the latest model in Costa Rica and HAD A BLAST. Faster and smoother and cuter than my Sidekick. THAT BEING SAID. Ain’t nothing coming of Trump’s latest bloviating. NO manufacturer in the world could set up shop in the US, completely in-house manufacture and assemble everything (to avoid tariffs) and still make a profit on small vehicle that aces safety testing (Insurers would punish low-rated small cars) and passes emissions standards (even if the emission standards are temporarily reduced).
That makes two of us. Surely that’s enough to make it worthwhile to Mitsubishi, at least.
Just think how much better if would be if Trump hadn’t actively meddled in free enterprise.
Just think how much better it would be if Trump hadn’t been on “The Apprentice”
Thank you all for the unexpected COTD! I couldn’t have done it without all of you. Truly, I’m standing on the shoulders of giants. The view is electric!
Glad you got a charge from that.
You could say he was shocked by the nod