Last Sunday I watched a Motorweek show that touted the new Volt pih model. For those that don't know, Motorweek has always been pretty stodgy (old-fashion ice-heads). For that reason I do not watch their ice show unless they are yakking about a plugin. I also wanted to see if they had improved (became more up to date), and if so, by how much.
That Motorweek episode 3521 can be seen online at http://www.pbs.org/video/2365656441/ For those whose Internet blocks access to the video, I will give a brief overview of that 27 minute episode: 01:43min At the Detroit Auto Show Motorweek showed a white Leaf EV in the background, but they did not talk about it. Tesla did not attend that auto show because MI banned their sales [ref http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-shows/detroit-auto-show/news/a27917/tesla-skips-detroit-auto-show-naias-2016/ Tesla Skipped Detroit Auto Show Over Michigan's Ban on Direct Car Sales ] 02:00 talks about FCA's minivan, but Motorweek uses the inaccurate term of a full-hybrid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_vehicle_drivetrain#Full_hybrids when it really a plug-in-hybrid with a 30mi e-range. Terms are transposed and bantered about so, wording can get confusing for the public. [ref http://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/detroit-auto-show/2016/01/11/2017-chrysler-pacifica-minivan-monumental-leap/78336620/ The Pacifica will be a pih until the 30mi pack is depleted, and then it becomes a 'part-time electric vehicle, like a conventional hybrid' ... ] 03:13min Hardly mentioned Ford, except one truck. This seems odd to me because I repeatedly see Ford PR (newswires) touting how Electrified Ford is going (yadda yadda). 03:43min The Bolt EV was very briefly mentioned. 04:22min Mentioned was how a Buick ice model will be China-made in a speaking tone of "and the timing could not be better" that did not even bat an eye (Motorweek must like promoting China-made ice). [ref http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/GM-cn-made-plugins-to-be-sold-in-U-S-GM-Importing-China-made-CT6-pih-tp4680156.html ] 06:44min Winter tire performance tested on hockey rink ice. 13:10min Carfax has an app that will alert you off recalls https://www.mycarfax.com/carmaintenanceapp 18:53min A very brief mention of a VW ice, but nothing of the VW PR (newswire) bombardment I've seen of how VW is going Electric in the future. 19:43min Gives a glimpse of the new Smart FourTwo Cabriolet ice. No mention of their EV model, but at least you can see how the EV might look. 20.05min 2016 Volt pih e-r:53mi r:420mi, 18.4kWh li-ion pack that weighs 20lbs less, premium-fuel is no longer required. Dimensions are slightly higher except for height. Regen on-demand paddle on the steering was added. 0-60mph:8.4s Base price is down by $1000, $34k LT trim. Summarizing: IMO while is it good that this 35 year old Detroit-Auto-Industry mouthpiece is slightly improving by including some electrified vehicles, but like the U.S. automakers, Motorweek is mainly interested in ice (95+% of the series), and their fogie staff stumble over any new technology. They ought to let their young blood do all the reporting on the new auto tech (plugins), and only let the fogies yak about the ice and fcv (fuel burners) they so love. - [videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVeSVfWqNOE MotorWeek | Road Test: 2016 Tesla P90D MotorWeek Jan 15, 2016 Let's see if the Tesla P90D is really a silent sleeper. dated https://youtu.be/v-TK3X4kKRU MotorWeek | Road Test: 2015 BMW i3 MotorWeek May 15, 2015 We plug into BMW’s future with the funky and fun i3! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNCTwVGBTxM MotorWeek | Auto World: DOE MotorWeek Apr 24, 2015 Auto World plugs in for a look at the current state of electric vehicles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3znoKsPpfM MotorWeek | Road Test: 2015 Volkswagen E Golf MotorWeek Mar 4, 2015 We jump back to cutting edge in the Volkswagen e-Golf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB4T7ieY4ts MotorWeek | Road Test: 2015 Kia Soul EV MotorWeek Dec 11, 2014 Let’s plug-in to the funk with the Kia Soul EV. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhzByA1c84o Road Test: 2013 Smart Electric MotorWeek Apr 15, 2014 We'll see if the smart electric drive is the smartest move yet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcdfLEIWLfk First Look: 2013 Nissan Leaf MotorWeek Apr 29, 2013 Nissan claims the 2013 Nissan Leaf will see a 15% increase in travel range. Patrick Lucas was in Smyrna, Tennessee where the Leaf is now being manufactured. He's got MotorWeek's First Look. ] ... http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1127&pid=8141 Have you ever heard the expression "Get a horse"? Feb 27, 2012 txlibdem It came from the unreliability of early gasoline powered vehicles. Now they dominate. The same will happen with electric vehicles. It is inevitable. For EVLN EV-newswire posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/Motorweek-2016-Volt-pih-Get-a-horse-tp4680225.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Read EVAngel's EV News at http://evdl.org/evln/ Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
