This is about the most idiotic thing I’ve ever heard. I don’t see how having a 5 speed cranking at 3000 RPM at 65 MPH vs a six speed cranking 2500 RPM at 65 is a huge pain in the ass. You use the 6th gear for cruising. 6th is always an overdrive gear unless you have more gears than 6th.

Some of it is EPA fuel economy regulations. You used to be able to get better fuel economy with a manual. Now they can precisely time shifts for maximum fuel economy, especially in city driving.

It’s mainly that one type of transmission for a model, means a smoother production line and higher cost efficiencies of…

Yeah, you just row through the gears until you get into 6th and keep it there.

People who spend 99% of their time in traffic, don’t have the option to take good driving roads to their destination as an alternative.

I think this every time I’m stuck in B2B LA traffic for dozens of miles. But then I remember how bored I’d be if I wasn’t shifting all the time.

I had a six speed manual 95 Trans Am I bought brand new. I had to go to every dealer in the LA area to find one with an MT. Even then, they said they stopped carrying the manuals, because no one would buy them.

The one I bought, had about two months of dust on it before they cleaned it up for me. Also, if you didn’t…

Now we know the truth of why New Top Gear sucks in comparison to Old Top Gear.

The Grand Tour took all of the good writers and producers.

Most of the Caddy concepts I’ve seen in the last 15 years went into production.

Yeah, but companies are having a hard time selling those in Buick numbers. A lot of investment for a small market.

Cadillac has a habit of building almost exactly what they show as concepts. Though typically they change the interiors.

Sometimes they shouldn’t. The ELR was sweet when they first started showing it. By the time they made it, it was two years too late. And they cheaped out on developing a more Cadillac worthy…

I don’t know that it’s evil. Of course if it handles like a Chrysler Pacifica, it’s an abomination. But if it’s a CUV that handles well (for a CUV) and is fun to drive, that’s bringing a part of the Alfa legacy to a new market.

I think this is just what cars look like now. And this is what people actually buy, instead…

Also fair point. Although it’ll sell well enough in Texas cities for a niche car, and that’ll be good enough. When I was in Dallas two years ago, I saw a fair number of Cayennes.

I don’t think they’re going to price this for high volume. It certainly won’t unseat Subaru in the pacific northwest either.

I think we’re in violent agreement in principle. Modding/hot-rodding is going to be done with a tablet, motors that suck up more electricity, wires that can transfer power more efficiently, motor cooling systems, cable cooling systems, battery/supercapacitor cooling systems, and replacing stock batteries with higher…

2nd Gear...Fuel cells were always a stopgap technology until battery power and charging speeds got close to gasoline. It would still require a whole new infrastructure. The idea was largely promoted by the fossil fuel industry which disposes of excess hydrogen in the refining process, while hippies promoted getting…

1st Gear...At least the Focus ST and Focus RS are NOT available in automatic at all. I can’t remember if that’s still true for the Subie WRX and STi as well.

Thumbs up, Ford.

Jeez, the future is here. You don’t even have to go to your tuner to upgrade your torque and horsepower, or increase traction more precisely. Now it’s done automatically, through the waves of the air.

They may never cross a stream. But in Texas and the South, there’s a real good chance you have to cross a flooded road.

Well, only if all of the other brands aren’t doing exactly the same thing.

It’s really interesting to me that people have a hard time with car salesmen when they’re just looking.

If you’re looking for a car in the near future, sure an auto show is like going to every dealer in town. And if the promoters of these shows are happy with just the “going to buy in the next year” crowd, they won’t…

As tall as that thing is, the COG has to be really low with those batteries lining the floor. Also, it actually makes a CUV look sexy.