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Audi President Says Chevy Volt is a Car for Idiots; We Think It Sounds Like a Perfect Fit For Him
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Re: Audi President Says Chevy Volt is a Car for Idiots; We Think It Sounds Like a Perfect Fit For Hi
Sorry, but the arrogant Mr. Audi is probably right. The Volt will "short out."
Although diesel power has yet to catch on here (beyond its stranglehold in trucks larger than "half-ton" models), it dominates in Europe -- commanding a whopping one-third of the new car market.
The Volt will appeal to some early adopters looking for the "next thing," but average folks -- the ones who don't lie awake at night fretting over "climate change" -- simply won't pay the premium for a plug-in. Nor will they hassle with actually plugging in a car every day.
If anything is true, most Americans want a dead reliable vehicle that requires virtually no effort to maintain or drive. (They are NOT Bangshifters)
And clearly plug-in electrics can be added to diesel-powered hybrids almost as easily as to Atkinson-cycle powered whips, should Mr. Audi America have spilled his "shaken, not stirred" martini on his designer polo shirt when he dogged the GM's "Reddy Kilowatt" Kruiser.
I predict the real action in America won't be Diesel OR plug-in.
It will be mild hybrid combined with improvements in internal combustion engine efficiency (Miller cycle and HCCI, turbocharging (i.e. EcoBoost), cylinder deactivation, enhanced variable valve timing and phasing (perhaps even solenoid activation), variable geometry induction, direct alcohol injection with ultra high compression).
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Re: Audi President Says Chevy Volt is a Car for Idiots; We Think It Sounds Like a Perfect Fit For Hi
Something as radical as the Volt, will require genious marketing to get high volume sales with Americans.
Ultimately, success or failure will have to do with engineering, quality, price and demographic audience at the very least.
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Re: Audi President Says Chevy Volt is a Car for Idiots; We Think It Sounds Like a Perfect Fit For Hi
No, he isn't. We Americans know that diesel engines are used in trucks, and we have a lot of trucks with diesels in them. Probably more than there are little diesel eco cars in europe. At least ours use up more diesel fuel....which probably is why diesel costs more than gasoline now here.
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"If it don't go, chrome it!" --Stroker McGurk
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Re: Audi President Says Chevy Volt is a Car for Idiots; We Think It Sounds Like a Perfect Fit For Hi
Originally posted by squirrel... ours use up more diesel fuel....which probably is why diesel costs more than gasoline now here.
I wonder what happened in the manuafacturing process to cause such an increase in cost of production ?
Nothing, it's supply and demand ...
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Re: Audi President Says Chevy Volt is a Car for Idiots; We Think It Sounds Like a Perfect Fit For Hi
Originally posted by Speedzzter.blogspotThe Volt will appeal to some early adopters looking for the "next thing," but average folks -- the ones who don't lie awake at night fretting over "climate change" -- simply won't pay the premium for a plug-in. Nor will they hassle with actually plugging in a car every day.
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Re: Audi President Says Chevy Volt is a Car for Idiots; We Think It Sounds Like a Perfect Fit For Hi
Originally posted by White MonsterI remember when diesel was significantly less expensive than gasoline.
I wonder what happened in the manuafacturing process to cause such an increase in cost of production ?
Nothing, it's supply and demand ...
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Re: Audi President Says Chevy Volt is a Car for Idiots; We Think It Sounds Like a Perfect Fit For Hi
Originally posted by Matt CramerI'd say that is the whole point of the Volt - it's not supposed to be mainstream, but rather an expensive proof of concept / production exercise that would be used to study how plug in hybrids work and hopefully bring down the cost of building future versions. It doesn't have to be in every garage to be a success.
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Re: Audi President Says Chevy Volt is a Car for Idiots; We Think It Sounds Like a Perfect Fit For Hi
Originally posted by White MonsterOriginally posted by squirrel... ours use up more diesel fuel....which probably is why diesel costs more than gasoline now here.
I wonder what happened in the manuafacturing process to cause such an increase in cost of production ?
Nothing, it's supply and demand ...
http://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/CA6289163.html (explanation of the 2006 price increases)
http://www.eia.doe.gov/bookshelf/bro...sel/index.html (Government explanation of the components in diesel fuel pricing)
http://www.nafa.org/Content/Navigati...actSheet2a.pdf (information on the ultra-low diesel fuel standard)
Originally posted by squirrelNo, he isn't. We Americans know that diesel engines are used in trucks,
Diesels have lagged in the U.S. for several interrelated reasons:
First, the early U.S. passenger car diesels were grossly underengineered and lacked reliability -- this failure "innoculated" millions of American consumers against diesels.
Second, U.S. fuel prices have historically been so low that diesel cost-of-ownership hasn't been advantageous enough to off-set the higher initial purchase price and increased maintenence costs.
Third, after the early '80s, none of the Detroit 3 or the Japanese have developed a modern light turbo-diesel for passenger car/SUV/minivan use in the U.S.A. (even though all the major manufacturers offer a wide variety of diesel-powered models in Europe and elsewhere).
Fourth, diesel fuel tends to be a bit oily, messy and smelly, which, in the absence of a large cost-of-ownership advantage, remains a turn-off.
Fifth, many opinion-leading "gearheads" (who recommend lots of vehicle purchases) are afraid of the complexity of diesel.
Sixth, U.S. emission and fuel regulations have lagged behind Europe, which has delayed diesel market penetration (CARB's myopic view of diesels has been a significant problem until recently)
The 2012-2016 increases in CAFE may offset some of these traditional "barriers" to the adoption of turbo-diesels for passenger vehicles in the U.S. However, fuel prices are probably still the big variable. Sustained high gasoline prices (whether from market demands or taxes) will cause the U.S. to track closer to Europe.
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Re: Audi President Says Chevy Volt is a Car for Idiots; We Think It Sounds Like a Perfect Fit For Hi
Originally posted by Swepty[The folks who feel guilty driving a Prius because of it's gas engine will be in love with the Volt (nevermind all the coal that's burned at the power plant to send that electricity to their garage...)
Aren't most of the greeniacs who would sign up for a Volt already paying extra on their electric bills for "renewable power?"
BTW, Falcon67's new photo of the "windshield shot" of that awesome Thunderbolt scoop is electrifyingly great!
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Re: Audi President Says Chevy Volt is a Car for Idiots; We Think It Sounds Like a Perfect Fit For Hi
another awesome thread here!
I think Diesel is where we should be focusing our efforts. I know for sure, one of the big reasons so many OEMs have pulled back in the USA is because we have what many consider to be "bogus" emissions legislation.
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Re: Audi President Says Chevy Volt is a Car for Idiots; We Think It Sounds Like a Perfect Fit For Hi
anyone who likes audis is automatically a douche, that goes without saying
(I'm sure some audi lover will pop up now and defend the marque)
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"If it don't go, chrome it!" --Stroker McGurk
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