In this episode/podcast, we hit-on a few topics in automotive news this week: Apparently NASCAR is considering an electric version of the Gen-7 chassis. This could come as early as 2023 to the Busch Lights Clash? As far as S3’s concerned, this is great! NASCAR fans have long needed a break in the action to take a leak, refill their beers, and call their wives. This will give then the opportunity to do just that! Plus – such a bold & progressive move from NASCAR will undoubtedly lure in millennials who’ve never changed a tire or driven a manual transmission… and who currently have to hold their fingers in their ears to tolerate the noise of the present day earth-killing machines. It’s also been rumored that instead of the National Anthem, NASCAR will play Madonna’s ‘Like a Virgin’ prior to every e-race. The series would start as an exhibition to get NASCAR fans interested, and then full-swing by 2025.
The 2023 HONDA CIVIC TYPE-R has been revealed.
You can love it, hate it, or be indifferent… but here’s what we know so far. This will be the most powerful Honda that’s ever been sold in the states. We also know that it set a FWD production car lap record at Suzuka Circuit in Japan. And… it looks like it has bold red carpet to go with the bright red seats – heck yeah lol! Both Mike & I (the two owners of S3) have owned the same FK8 Type-R, and it’s truly an exceptional car. The way the FK8 Type-R connects with the driver… man… it’s just the best of what Honda does best. Light, agile, responsive, forgiving, invigorating… MORE than the sum of its parts. And seemingly by all accounts, the 2023 CTR is better. It’s lower, longer, and wider. It will have more power, and an improved transmission.
The FORD RAPTOR R:
Daaaaang Ford’s balls dropped for a minute this week & somebody over there slipped this one in amongst all the Mach Es & EVs & recalls. Or maybe they just remembered what it is to be American AF! The 2023 Ford Raptor R comes with a supercharged 5.2-liter V8 making 700hp. Here’s to hoping we can actually buy it in 2023 without 2-year delays and/or 100% dealer markups!
TESLA IS ASKING their vehicle owners in Texas to limit their charging due to a heat wave.
No literally… ‘the Teslas’ are asking their owners. When you get to your Texas-located Tesla & ‘turn it on’… a notification comes up on your screen that asks you to please not charge your car during peak hours if possible (3-8pm) Not to overstate the obvious, but… 1) Can we imagine what this would look like if more than 5% of cars on the road were EVs? What would the situation in TX be if it was 25%, or 50% EV? Or more?? What would it cost you to charge your EV? …As they ultimately attempted to regulate charging via cost. What’s happening in Texas right now is a very factual foreshadowing of what’s to come with a rushed-to-market EV future.
Tesla is very successful at 5% of the market.
But what happens when 100% of the automotive industry tries to be just like Tesla? (which is what’s happening now) 2) Secondly – can you imagine buying a vehicle that uses it’s screen to make requests of the owner… NOT TO USE IT?? What if they took it a step further & took it upon themselves to limit how much you could charge your car? In other words, when and/or how much you were allowed to use the vehicle that you bought/leased? Picture coming out to your EV in the garage, thinking it’s charged because it had been plugged in. And then you get a notification on the screen that says: due to heavy/peak usage, we have limited charging to an intermittent trickle. You thought you would have 100% range… turns out you have 35%.
REMEMBER – Every time you make a purchase, you’re casting a vote on how you want the world to be. Cast your vote wisely. Every time we let yourselves get all smitten with some fancy glitzy gizmo/tech… we have to think… how could this sort of technology eventually be used to make our lives more controlled than free? And is it worth it?
