I currently have a VW Arteon as a loaner and think its also quite stunning.

“using untraceable money seized in drug raids and other criminal investigations”

5th Gear: I wonder how much light rail you could get for $2.8 billion?

First Gear: May 11, 2021. Toyota in horrible shape, doesn’t have EVs.
First Gear: May 12, 2021. Toyota in great shape making money like mad.

I know it has been kind of strange (so far) that Toyota hasn’t been a bigger player in electric cars, specially because the Prius was such a hot item for them. My guess has always been that they didn’t want to go first.

I don’t know. Do you think they’re ready? Maybe we should hook them up with some average looking cars first to help build up their confidence before going for the really attractive ones.

Probably a combination of “Americans don’t buy wagons” (roll-eyes) and CAFE - the fuel economy rules for cars are harsher than for SUV/Trucks, so makes more sense to sell a SUV version.

Perhaps BMW could pursue an attractive vehicle.

I’m not even sure it’s a regulation thing. It might just not be cost effective to bring them over since they’re built overseas and wagons don’t sell well here.

I live in PA and commute to NoVA, the shortage is caused by people being dramatic about needing to fill every fuel container and milk jug they have because someone on facebook said so. It’s frustrating for the people that are more level headed.

Yeah, that statement is akin to saying there is no drought in XX, because there is plenty of rain in YY.

Genesis over here trying to emulate BMW and call shit whatever they want to try and wedge in that “sporty” descriptor that marketing foisted upon them and avoid the dreaded “station wagon” name that people stopped disliking twenty years ago now.

Shooting brake - Two doors, long roof
Station wagon - Four doors (or more),…

There is no gas shortage. There is only panic.

You might have to wait as long as, GASP, this weekend when service is expected to return to normal.

Rural town. Middle of nowhere Virginia.

“Sporty” doesn’t mean fast or good handling. It means it has aesthetic qualities that suggest it would. Think: Celicas, base model Civic coupes, Mazda3s, that sort of thing.

Per the article, the Tiguan is the best-selling model since 2018. Sounds like they “get” the US-market just fine.

The styling definitely makes it seem more expensive than it is. Look at the mess of creases and fakery on something like a CR-V for long enough, and a Tiguan takes on the crispness of a mid-90s Audi in comparison.

I think a quick ballpark is to look at lbs/hp. I have a van that is 15 lbs/hp. It’s a bit quicker than it needs to be, but very drivable. I have a car that is 18 lbs/hp. It feels a bit underpowered on occasion, but is good enough most of the time.

300 is the correct number of horsepower for something with a footprint and weight the size of the Tiguan.