Mazda Pickup Truck for the USA, Mustang GT vs WRX and TFL Home Videos? [Ask Nathan]

By

Nathan Adlen

-

March 29, 2020

This is the current Mazda pickup truck, the BT-50. (Image: Mazda)

In this week’s Ask Nathan:

Is the Mazda pickup truck coming to the USA?
Mustang GT vs Subaru WRX daily driver?
What’s going on with TFL at home videos?

The first question comes from a NathanAdlen@Twitter question, asking about the (overseas) Mazda pickup (BT-50) truck.

2019 Mazda BT-50 “Boss” pickup truck. (Image: Mazda)

Q: (Via NathanAdlen@Twitter) My brother sent me photos of a Mazda pickup truck when he was in New Zealand.

It looks like a Mazda inside and out. Why can’t we get one of these in the USA?

— A Mazda fan

A: I doubt we’ll see a new Mazda pickup truck in the United States.

The Mazda BT-50 your brother saw was an older model based on the Ford Ranger, the overseas version. Ford and Mazda had a partnership for decades building pickup trucks. This goes back to the early 1970s when Ford used Mazda B-Series pickup trucks as the basis for the Ford Courier.

Now, the partnership has changed and we’ll soon see a BT pickup truck based on the new Isuzu D-Max platform. You can read about the Isuzu here. From what we have gathered, just like the Ford partnership, Mazda will style the exterior and interior to line up with their image.

Does that mean a Kodo-designed pickup truck? Man, I hope so! Still, both Mazda and Isuzu have shown absolutely no interest in reentering the U.S. pickup truck market anytime soon.

I think it’s a shame.

N

The next question comes from a former Honda owner who is comparing a Mustang vs WRX.

2015 ford mustang gt burnout | tfl car — 2015 Ford Mustang GT

Q: How’s it going Nathan!? I’m a big TFLcar fan and I look forward to your videos every day!

I am about to get rid of my 2017 Honda Civic Si and I want something with more punch. This is going to be my daily driver and weekend fun car. I think it’s between the Mustang GT and WRX. The Honda is a lease return and I want to buy my next vehicle so I was looking at used models.

Which one would you get?

Duncan, TX

A: Hi there!

It’s a bit of a loaded question and there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First of all, if you look at used car pricing, the WRX STI is pretty close to the Mustang GT. The STI is a more powerful, serious driver’s car than the regular WRX.

If you’re based in Texas, then a Mustang makes a lot of sense. On the other hand, if you regularly travel to snowy or wet climates, having all-wheel drive (AWD) could be helpful.

Power wise, they are all very different. The WRX makes 268 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The old-school STI makes 310 horsepower and 290 lb-ft of torque while the Mustang makes 460 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque.

The Mustang and WRX are two completely different cars with completely different driving characteristics. The Subaru will give you real rear-seat space while the Mustang is cramped. The WRX is a little bit more forgiving for drivers who are not used to serious power. All three come with a six-speed manual (the WRX has a CVT option and the Mustang has a 10-speed automatic option).

It’s hook-up vs burn-outs.

I think the WRX and STI are great in my neck of the woods, but the Mustang with its beefy V8 fills the senses and is more rewarding for the sheer feel of the car. You need to drive both back-to-back and factor in what you truly need the car to do for you.

Cheers!

— N

The last question comes from a fan who wants to know what’s going on with our new batch of at home videos.

Q: Are ya’ll gonna shoot videos exclusively from home during the shutdown?

Hope ya boys are safe!

— Mel

A: Hi Mel!

We are doing lots of different types of videos. Some will be shot from home, but we still have lots of videos of reviews we’ve shot weeks and months back. On top of that, a few crew members will be in the studio running our new podcasts and editing new material.

We’re not slowing down, but some of our content will be different for a while.

Hope you’re safe and sane!

N

Speaking of videos shot from home…

Breaking: 2020 Detroit Auto Show CANCELLED — TCF Center Will Serve As Field Hospital In Coronavirus Battle Instead

By

Zach Butler

-

March 28, 2020

What Could the Detroit Auto Show's Transition to June 2020 Mean For Consumers? — This conceptual drawing shows what the 2020 Detroit Auto Show was supposed to be like when it opened this summer — the first time the auto show would be held in June, rather than January.

This was supposed to be a watershed year for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Instead, the Detroit Free Press reports today that the show has been cancelled. The show’s organizers broke the news through in a memo Saturday, according to the Freep‘s report, as the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) chose the TCF Center — formerly known as the Cobo Center — to become a field hospital for coronavirus cases for at least the next six months.

At this time, auto show officials have not commented on the memo itself, but the Free Press did say it obtained a copy showing the TCF center will not host the auto show as normal this year. Instead, the show will resume in June 2021.

The news follows a tumultuous string of other headlining cancellations, as COVID-19 cases continue to rack up throughout the United States. As of Saturday, there are more than 103,000 confirmed cases in all 50 states. This was the first year the Detroit Auto Show was set to happen outside a January time frame. The organizers settled on moving the show to accommodate more outdoor events during the summer along the riverfront.

This is a developing story — stay tuned for more updates, as we’ll update this post as new information is available.

Rivian Wins The Direct Sales Fight In Colorado Thanks To A New Law, But There’s A Catch

By

Zach Butler

-

March 28, 2020

Electric automakers like Rivian (and indeed Tesla) aim to shake up the status quo. Not just by building a whole range of pure-electric vehicles, but by changing the atmosphere of the car buying experience itself. The Plymouth, Michigan-based electric startup hopes to begin production by the end of this year, but it faces a challenge its legacy rivals like Ford, GM and Toyota don’t have to face. It currently has no franchise dealer network to distribute its vehicles to customers. Now, though, thanks to the signing of a new direct sales bill into law in Colorado, Rivian can now handle its own transactions without having to set up a system similar to other automakers.

In some states, Tesla has managed to get around that limitation by selling vehicles directly to customers through its own in-house store network. Rivian wants to do the same, but many state laws prohibit direct sales to consumers. Dealer associations, including here in Colorado, promote the current business model, and one of the biggest arguments for it is the layer of support in part offered by a franchise dealer’s degree of separation from the manufacturer. By acting as the retail point of contact, consumers are better able to get sales support and parts because they aren’t having to go directly to the manufacturer. On the other hand, proponents for direct sales argue that franchise dealers can sour the buying experience, and it presents a middle-man that can actually inhibit customers getting a direct response from the automaker when it comes to sales or any kind of after-sale support.

Changing the current law

In 2010, Colorado banned direct sales to consumers. By that point, Tesla already had a store in the state, so it was grandfathered into the law. That meant that no automaker besides Tesla could actually sell directly to consumers, but this bill, signed into law by governor Jared Polis earlier this week, changes the landscape a bit. Here’s the current bill summary:

“Current law states that, with certain exceptions, a motor vehicle manufacturer may not own, operate, or control any motor vehicle dealer or used motor vehicle dealer in Colorado. The bill creates a new exception that allows the ownership, operation, or control of a motor vehicle dealer if the manufacturer makes only electric motor vehicles and has no franchised dealers.”

That last part was meant to exclude current “legacy” automakers, like Ford, GM or Nissan, which have or are developing pure electric vehicles. Even if they changed their entire lineup to EVs, they would still have to go through the current franchise dealer system. Originally, the bill was written to allow any automaker who produced an EV to sell directly to customers. However, the Colorado Automobile Dealer’s Association cried foul, saying it would allow automakers to side-step their dealer network with their EVs. CADA has also fought against EV mandates within the state, saying it would force EVs onto dealers that may not be able to sell them within the state, resulting in unwanted inventory.

Rivian’s plan?

Now, the question shifts from whether Rivian will sell directly to customers in Colorado at all to how they’ll work out their own infrastructure to do so. Tesla is still building out its sales and support network within the state, and Rivian will have to do the same to compete. It still also faces franchise dealers, who account for the vast majority of new vehicle sales in the state. Nevertheless, we’ll see more about how Rivian will build out its sales network in the coming months and years. More to the point, those in Colorado who are looking to buy a Rivian R1S or R1T in the state can now do so, thanks to this new law.

Buddy Review: The AWD 2020 Dodge Charger Looks Great, Rides Great, But Is It Really Worth The Money?

By

Zach Butler

-

March 27, 2020

You wouldn’t think it, but the 2020 Dodge Charger — one of the oldest sedans (at least based on platform) in current production — actually outlived its full-size sedan rivals. But that’s exactly what we have here with this 2020 Dodge Charger GT, complete with all-wheel drive. With no more Ford Taurus or Chevrolet Impala to worry about, the Charger’s only true all-wheel drive competition comes from luxury brands. For its parts, the Charger starts off at an economical price, but is it worth the money once you start piling on options? In this buddy review, Tommy and Roman take the Charger out to see what it’s like.

2020 Dodge Charger GT: By the numbers

The 2020 Dodge Charger GT is the only trim of the sedan you can get with all-wheel drive. At $34,995 to start, it’s really not badly priced, especially when you stack it against the mid-sized competition like the Toyota Camry or Nissan Altima and the full-sized luxury models. You get a lot of car for the money, including the ubiquitous 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6. The engine manages to send 300 horsepower and 264 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy isn’t great in the city at just 19 mpg (it is a big heavy car, remember), but it does manage a decent 30 mpg on the highway.

The 2020 Dodge Charger GT also offers some loud colors like Go Mango orange and Hellraisin purple. That’s a point in the car’s favor against its more sedate competition, but where this all-wheel drive sedan starts getting scary is when you get into the options.

A shade under $35,000 isn’t bad to start, but if you want pretty much any modern technology you’d come to expect, you’ll have to pay extra. Heated seats, blind spot monitoring and LED interior lights? That will be $2,695 as part of the Plus Group (although you do get several other options as well). The $1,895 Technology Group adds advanced brake assist, adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning. The Navigation & Travel Group adds the 8.4-inch Uconnect 4C NAV system to the mix with SiriusXM Travel Link.

The 2020 Dodge Charger GT, despite its age, has a comfortable and smooth ride, as well as a good amount of tech once you check some options. But when you do that, the price creeps up toward the $45,000 mark. If you could still buy the R/T AWD with a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 that wouldn’t be a terrible deal, but with the V6…we’re not so sure. At the moment, only police offers can get AWD with V8 power in the Charger Pursuit. If you are looking for one, though, you can probably get a good deal as dealers tend to incentivize Chargers regularly.

What do you think of the Charger? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more buddy reviews coming soon!

Report: GM Will Cut Employee Salaries To Preserve Cash, But Promises To Pay It Back With Interest By Early 2021

By

Zach Butler

-

March 26, 2020

GM Begins 4,000 White-Collar Job Cuts As Part Of $6 Billion Restructuring Plan — *[Photos: General Motors]*

General Motors announced Thursday it would cut wages in order to preserve cash-on-hand through the growing economic crisis. Jalopnik reports that an e-mail tip gave employees details on the upcoming pay reduction scheme through an internal website.

According to the information on hand, GM plans to cut salaried employees’ pay by 20 percent effective April 1. Executives will take a bigger pay cut of between 25 and 30 percent depending on their seniority, including the company’s board of directors. “Compensation statements will be made available. The process varies by country, and acknowledgement may be required,” the site says. While the pay cut will affect employees pretty much immediately, GM insists it is a temporary measure, and that the deferred wages “will be re-paid in a lump sum, with interest, between the 4th quarter 2020 and no later than 1st quarter 2021.”

The news comes as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, N.V. laid off 2,000 contract workers earlier this week as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. All Big Three automakers have currently halted production through at least mid-April, as the virus continues to infect more people in the United States.

GM production lines are currently halted for producing cars, as the coronavirus forces workers to stay home.

A more detailed statement says those employees who are currently working from home will receive a lump-sum payment no later than March 15, 2021.

For those who cannot work from home, the Jalopnik report points out another policy, referred to as “Salaried Downtime Paid Absence”. The company mentions some 6,500 employees who can’t work remotely — and those workers will get a flat 25 percent salary reduction. “In the U.S., the majority of these employees are in salaried manufacturing or engineering roles.” Per GM’s official statement, the pay cut comes in lieu of employees needing to seek unemployment benefits.

A company spokesperson said that, “We need to preserve cash during the crisis because we have so little production around the world, but we also want to keep the team together.” The company said healthcare benefits would not be affected, and said it would result in “significant” cash savings, but did not mention a specific amount.

Thanks to Jalopnik for providing this information.

The 2021 Mini Cooper S Sidewalk Edition Adds Cosmetic Package To The Convertible, But Pushes The Price Past $40,000

By

Zach Butler

-

March 26, 2020

Take it or leave it, the Mini Convertible has long been a quirky option for those looking to stand out a little bit and have some top-down fun. The “Sidewalk Edition” last debuted in 2007 with the first convertible, and now it’s back. The 2021 Mini Cooper S Sidewalk Edition offers a unique aesthetic package on the top-end model here in the U.S., and will arrive on dealer lots in April. It’s not cheap, though, with prices starting at $39,250. And that’s before some options, meaning it’s totally possible to push this Mini over $40,000.

Mini isn’t known for being a cheap, small car, but European customers do get some more options. We only get the Sidewalk Edition on the Cooper S, which pairs up to a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine. With that, you get 189 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque. Manual enthusiasts rejoice, this actually comes standard with a six-speed transmission. However, for an additional $1,500 (there’s your shove past $40K), you can get it with a seven-speed dual-clutch unit instead.

As for what makes the 2021 Mini Cooper S Sidewalk Edition unique, you get the bespoke Deep Laguna Metallic blue or the “Mini Yours Enigmatic Black Metallic”, along with the soft-top roof. You also get 17-inch scissor spoke two-tone wheels, as well as Sidewalk badging throughout the car, a custom steering wheel and special floor mats.

The 2021 Mini Cooper S Sidewalk Edition doesn’t skimp on equipment, either. LED headlights and fog lights come standard, as you’d expect. A head-up display comes in the package, as does power-folding mirrors and a Harman/Kardon premium sound system. An 8.8-inch touchscreen, heated front seats and automatic climate control round out the Sidewalk Edition package.

Or, if a gas-powered Mini isn’t your thing, there’s always the electric option:

Major Pain Ahead For Auto Sales: Analysts Predict Steep Drop In COVID-19’s Wake

By

Nathan Adlen

-

March 26, 2020

Dealers are feeling the strain.

Automotive sales show significant drops in the wake of the ongoing global pandemic. So far, we’ve seen a drop of 22 percent nationwide through the week of March 22nd as reported by J.D. Power. In addition, the report states that cities on the West Coast may have dropped as much as 40 percent this month alone.

Tyson Jominy, J.D. Power’s vice president of data analytics, said of the situation, “We expect to see a much broader and wider impact from these restrictions next week with sales declining 80% or more.” Reuters notes the larger wave of shelter-in-place orders that are taking effect across the country, compelling people to stay home rather than go to dealerships or conduct any non-essential travel.

Several automotive companies are set to furlough their staff for 30 to 60 days as the virus continues to spread. This includes sales, marketing and research staff across the industry. As coronavirus wreaks havoc on the economy, smaller independent dealers are ultimately shutting their doors altogether.

Production grinds to a halt

FCA just announced that they, like many automakers, will close facilities in the US and Canada through April 14th. Automotive suppliers from tire makers to high-tech components have seen significant drops in revenue as production shuts down across the globe. In many cases, workers have been sent home until cleared to return to work.

While the news isn’t good, there are many experts who see light a the end of the tunnel. Some companies are refusing to lay off workers. “Nobody will be laid off – if need be, I’ll waive my salary” Managing Director of oil producer Liqui Moly Ernst Prost. Once the worst passes, analysts are also confident sales will bounce back. Only time will tell.

As we’re coming up on the end of March, automakers are poised to release their first round of quarterly sales results. From here, we’ll be able to see the effect as coronavirus restrictions came into play in March, but our eyes are also looking ahead to the second quarter sales in July. That will show more long-term effects on car sales, especially if the stay-at-home orders drag on any longer than mid-April.

UPDATE: FCA, Ford Plan To Reopen Their Plants On April 14 — GM Also Plans To Extend Shutdown Into Next Month

By

Zach Butler

-

March 26, 2020

Update 3/26/2020: Fiat Chrysler announced that it intends to keep its plants and headquarters closed through April 14. Ford plans to reboot production at the Hermosillo, Mexico plant on April 6 and keep its U.S. plants closed until April 14.

All of Detroit’s Big Three automakers announced last week they would suspend production at their North American assembly plants through March 30. However, Reuters reports that as current coronavirus pandemic continues, all three plan will extend the shutdown into April.

For its part, Ford issued a statement saying it was “not planning to restart our plants in the U.S., Canada and Mexico on Monday, March 30 as originally hoped.” According to sources brief on the matter, neither General Motors or Fiat Chrysler would not resume production on that date either. At the moment, Ford reportedly plans to restart production a week later — on April 6 — but nothing is certain at this point. In their original statement, General Motors said it would reevaluate the situation week-to-week.

As workers contract COVID-19 in increasing numbers, it’s not clear exactly where and how quickly the three automakers would resume production, even if the situation improves in the coming weeks. The state of Michigan also issued an order shutting down all “non-essential” businesses through April 13. Dealers are included in that order, though they can operate their facilities to make repairs, just not sell vehicles.

Right now, auto industry analysts are currently expecting March 2020 sales to suffer by as much as 40 percent compared to this time last year. Since dealers in some states are barred from selling any vehicles in the wake of the ongoing pandemic, actual sales numbers could look worse than that prediction. Most American manufacturing plants — including all Ford, GM and FCA plants — have shut down at this point, which will exacerbate vehicle sales in the coming months as well.

The United Auto Workers (UAW) union is calling on all automakers to put the health and safety of its members first. That includes not only proactive measures, but adhering to stay-at-home orders as issued by state and local governments.

In this week’s Ask Nathan:

Q: (Via NathanAdlen@Twitter) My brother sent me photos of a Mazda pickup truck when he was in New Zealand.

It looks like a Mazda inside and out. Why can’t we get one of these in the USA?

A: I doubt we’ll see a new Mazda pickup truck in the United States.

Q: How’s it going Nathan!? I’m a big TFLcar fan and I look forward to your videos every day!

A: Hi there!

Q: Are ya’ll gonna shoot videos exclusively from home during the shutdown?

A: Hi Mel!

Changing the current law

Rivian’s plan?

2020 Dodge Charger GT: By the numbers

Dealers are feeling the strain.

Production grinds to a halt

Latest Videos

Latest Reviews

Latest News

Latest Views