As we try to get back to normal following Covid, many of us want to hit the road in a new vehicle. There’s a lot out there for 2021, and buying or leasing something new is probably a better bet than buying used. Here are some interesting options:
2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E
Yes, the Mustang has gone electric. Hardcore fans of this Iconic Ford may not like it, but the future is electric and Ford knows it. Learn more about how the Mustang Mach-E fits into Ford’s history of electric cars here.
New division president Steve Carlisle said, “We lost our mojo for a long period of time. This time, it is different and we will show you.” Really?
They’ll be spending billions introducing new models, which is sorely needed as the market has shifted dramatically to SUVs. The new XT4 was recently introduced and is geared to younger buyers, starting at around $35,000. Of course, any intro Caddy is going to bring back nightmares with the 1983 Cadillac Cimarron, though I doubt they make the same mistakes this time.
The bigger issue seems to be pricing. The cars have been great, but Cadillac is trying too hard to match the Germans when it comes to premium pricing. The article linked above goes into other issues as well such as marketing.
We’ll see what happens next, but we’ve seen this movie before.
The Detroit Auto Show has had plenty of cars generating buzz, but the all-new 2015 Corvette ZO6 is getting plenty of well-deserved attention. The new Corvette Stingray is impressive on its own, particularly with the ZR1 package. But now track afficionados will have even more performance with the new ZO6. This is now a well-established tradition with Corvette and it’s a natural addition to the new C7 lineup. For the money, you won’t get better performance anywhere in comparison to the Corvette lineup of cars. The ZO6 starts to rival some of the supercars out there.
Many of the modifications might appear to be subtle but they help to create incremental improvements in performance. You’ll see some minor changes to the exterior of the Corvette, including a wider back side. But it looks very similar to the Stingray.
If you love sports cars, see this one in person and then set up an appointment to drive the ZO6 along with the Stingrays. You’ll come away impressed.
What a difference a couple of years makes. GM was left for dead by many after the 2008 economic meltdown. In our polarized political climate, it seemed that watching GM collapse was essential to validate their view of the world. The notion that the government would extend a lifeline and not let GM and Chrysler liquidate was heresy in many circles. Never mind that it would have decimated countless auto suppliers as well and destroyed hundreds of thousands of jobs.
The auto bailout, however, was much more than a government handout. It was an event that made it possible to make stryctural changes to GM that were necessary for the company’s survival and long term health. But even after the bailout, many were skeptical that GM could survive, let alone thrive. This is where the new management team found itself, and they deserve credit for moving the company forward. BusinessWeek noted the progress as GM made the hsitoric announcement that Mary Barra would take over as the new CEO:
As Barra takes charge, GM is looking stronger than it has in decades. It’s in its third straight profitable year and feasting on the fruits of bankruptcy, which in its case include lower labor costs, less debt, and the elimination of weak brands and redundant dealers. Brian Johnson, an analyst with Barclays (BCS), expects it to earn about $6 billion in 2013. As the automaker sees the benefits of all the products it’s launching and additional cost reductions, its profit could reach $10 billion in 2017, according to Johnson. In 2010, GM had the second-biggest initial public offering in U.S. history; shares are trading at a high; the company returned to the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index; and it won back an investment-grade credit rating for the first time in eight years from Moody’s (MCO). Warren Buffett has been buying the stock. China, where Buick is a status symbol—it was the ride of China’s last emperor—is now the company’s biggest market.
And GM is no longer “Government Motors.” On Dec. 9, the day before Akerson announced his retirement, the Department of the Treasury, which had been selling about 1 million GM shares a day as the year was ending, declared it had sold the last. The federal government will recoup about $39 billion of its $50 billion investment. Supporters of the Obama administration’s decision to take over GM, who now include Akerson, contend that the jobs saved at both the company and its huge network of suppliers more than repaid U.S. taxpayers. According to the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Mich., the takeover preserved 2.6 million jobs in 2009 at automakers and companies that depend on the industry. The center calculates that a collapse would have eliminated $284 billion in personal income in 2009 and 2010 and cost the federal government $105 billion in unemployment benefits and reduced Social Security contributions. GM says it has invested $8.8 billion in U.S. facilities since 2009 and created 25,500 jobs for new and existing workers.
Barra’s promotion is historic given her gender, but it also marks a new era in the history of GM. The bailout years are now behind the company, and Barra has an opportunity to continue the progress made over the past 5 years. Read the entire article, as she seems particularly qualified to lead this effort.
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The all new, 2014 Corvette Stingray has generated a ton of buzz with the new C7 body style, and now it’s making headlines for . . . gas mileage! That’s right. GM announced that the 2014 Corvette Stingray will deliver up to an EPA-estimated 17 miles per gallon in the city, and 29 mpg on the highway, when equipped with an all-new, seven-speed manual transmission. The estimate reflects an average of fuel economy in both the default “Tour” mode, which delivers 28 mpg highway, and driver-selectable “Eco” mode, which delivers 30 mpg highway.
So you’ll get some serious power with 455 horsepower, incredible new styling, and now some decent gas mileage as well. It looks like a hit.
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