Extra, Extra....Read All About It!

[THil08]

Worst news to hit Volkswagen workers since WWII and extremely sad. Here's an image from last week when CEO Oliver Blume rolled into the Zwickau plant to tell them it's over. If the grim reaper was a car, that black Transporter is it.
View attachment 18022

On a personal note, my first car was a Passat built in Emden, our VW Bus was built in Hanover, and my Audi A6 was built in Neckarsulm. Meanwhile the factory in Osnabrück where my 356's body was made (Karmann) is being closed down next year.

When you look at it Oliver is the reason for most of these shut downs.

Scout better launch that IPO quickly. I’ll throw all my money in full gamble.

Because this isn’t going to end well by the end VW will be gone.

 

[speedrye]

When you look at it Oliver is the reason for most of these shut downs.

Scout better launch that IPO quickly. I’ll throw all my money in full gamble.

Because this isn’t going to end well by the end VW will be gone.

Hard to compete when you go all-in on EV without any critical thinking skills, as most of the major auto makers have found out in recent years. They all had delusions of grandeur watching the stock prices of over-valued juggernaut Tesla.

I can't blame Blume for all of this though. The Dieselgate thing seemed to start the downfall, then they pivoted way too hard to EV before Blume was CEO, but he definitely hasn't helped things.

 

[weavahVBC]

Is this where the license plate is going??

View attachment 17912

I know this was posted a few days ago, but it popped into my head last night - and I also know Jamie said the drawings are estimates/ideas only: but if you have that big plug for the tire to hang on, how does that affect the backpack? My assumption has always been the carrier would be swappable...backpack around town, tire for a weekend adventure.

 

[cyure]

I know this was posted a few days ago, but it popped into my head last night - and I also know Jamie said the drawings are estimates/ideas only: but if you have that big plug for the tire to hang on, how does that affect the backpack? My assumption has always been the carrier would be swappable...backpack around town, tire for a weekend adventure.

Good question. My husband and I have been having a discussion about it. Having seen both in person, backpack and tire in the carrier, the carrier looks exactly the same from the outside. But what happens inside? Do you have to remove the mount the tire is on to put the backpack in? I know a 35” tire is heavy, but will there be a weight limit to the backpack. I mean I suppose you could fill it up with rocks and it would be really heavy. Could it handle weight like that?

Oh and if you order 33” tires with a tire carrier is the tire carrier smaller? Or would it also hold a 35” so you could run either size tire and they still fit in the carrier? I would prefer the latter.

 

[speedrye]

I know this was posted a few days ago, but it popped into my head last night - and I also know Jamie said the drawings are estimates/ideas only: but if you have that big plug for the tire to hang on, how does that affect the backpack? My assumption has always been the carrier would be swappable...backpack around town, tire for a weekend adventure.

On my Toyota, there are just four bolts and the whole plug pops off, and it's not even designed for easy removal, despite only taking a literal minute to remove. I'm assuming the plug will be easily removable, but with that said, I noticed a new addition on the bottom of the tire carrier where that plug extends down to a latch/pin which I'm assuming is needed for supporting the weight of a 100-lb tire/wheel bouncing down the road.

Edit: Also note the reverse camera location below the license plate. Should be incredible for backing up and connecting to a trailer.

 

[weavahVBC]

On my Toyota, there are just four bolts and the whole plug pops off, and it's not even designed for easy removal, despite only taking a literal minute to remove. I'm assuming the plug will be easily removable, but with that said, I noticed a new addition on the bottom of the tire carrier where that plug extends down to a latch/pin which I'm assuming is needed for supporting the weight of a 100-lb tire/wheel bouncing down the road.

Edit: Also note the reverse camera location below the license plate. Should be incredible for backing up and connecting to a trailer.

View attachment 18040

I almost wonder if that piece (102) is meant to slide on & off? With the extension (142) for support like you mentioned, connecting to the hitch somehow? Then even the backpack could have some rails on the back to slide in for extra support?

Definitely curious how it might all work out.

 

[speedrye]

I almost wonder if that piece (102) is meant to slide on & off? With the extension (142) for support like you mentioned, connecting to the hitch somehow? Then even the backpack could have some rails on the back to slide in for extra support?

Definitely curious how it might all work out.

I like the slide-on/off idea, though that lower connection point is to the frame, higher up than the trailer hitch. A couple of rails and a simple latch or release to pop off the spare mount or backpack would be a practical solution.

 

[Chuckles]

Jeep and Ram’s Extended-Range EVs Delayed by Several Months

The Arrival of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer and Ram 1500 Extended-Range EVs Has Been Delayed by Several Months

The plug-in hybrid Jeep SUV’s production will now start in November, with Ram’s PHEV delayed until next spring.

www.caranddriver.com

 

[cyure]

Jeep and Ram’s Extended-Range EVs Delayed by Several Months

The Arrival of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer and Ram 1500 Extended-Range EVs Has Been Delayed by Several Months

The plug-in hybrid Jeep SUV’s production will now start in November, with Ram’s PHEV delayed until next spring.

www.caranddriver.com

Of course they are.

 

[chucchinchilla]

When you look at it Oliver is the reason for most of these shut downs.

Scout better launch that IPO quickly. I’ll throw all my money in full gamble.

Because this isn’t going to end well by the end VW will be gone.

Automotive moves at a very slow pace. The consequences facing Volkswagen today are the results of decisions made over the last 15 years. If I could post one picture that sums up who I blame it would be this..

Winterkorn: 2007-2015
Diess: 2018-2022

Winterkorn for Dieselgate. Diess for turning the product line into Tesla chasers, the failures of CARIAD, the over-rotation on electrification assuming everyone would switch overnight, and ignoring what was happening in their largest market of China. Blume came in with a massive mess on his hands and a future product lineup already set in stone and already obsolete to market tastes. He's made some good moves since taking over but like I said his tenure has so far been haunted by decisions that predate him.

Edit: I would also throw the board of directors in there as well for some of these things.

 

[maynard]

Automotive moves at a very slow pace. The consequences facing Volkswagen today are the results of decisions made over the last 15 years. If I could post one picture that sums up who I blame it would be this..
View attachment 18049
Winterkorn: 2007-2015
Diess: 2018-2022

Winterkorn for Dieselgate. Diess for turning the product line into Tesla chasers, the failures of CARIAD, the over-rotation on electrification assuming everyone would switch overnight, and ignoring what was happening in their largest market of China. Blume came in with a massive mess on his hands and a future product lineup already set in stone and already obsolete to market tastes. He's made some good moves since taking over but like I said his tenure has so far been haunted by decisions that predate him.

Edit: I would also throw the board of directors in there as well for some of these things.

I thought I read somewhere that Dieselgate was more of a Bosch issue than vehicle manufacturers issue but somehow VW was the manufacturer that got hung out to dry...

 

[chucchinchilla]

I thought I read somewhere that Dieselgate was more of a Bosch issue than vehicle manufacturers issue but somehow VW was the manufacturer that got hung out to dry...

Ferdinand Piëch and Martin Winterkorn pressured engineering teams to make a diesel engine that could pass US emissions tests without using DEF. They put so much pressure on those teams to achieve this goal the engineering team felt they had no choice but to cheat. To do this they asked Bosch to create software that could cheat the emissions tests and after some objections they ultimately did to keep VW happy.

So Winterkorn didn't personally cheat, but he and Piëch set the company up for failure. The bigger question that was asked in his trial two years ago was when did Winterkorn learn about the cheat software and what did he do about it? The answer was May 2014 and he did nothing, in fact he later authorized a cover up plan which failed when an employee became a whistleblower.

 

[maynard]

Ferdinand Piëch and Martin Winterkorn pressured engineering teams to make a diesel engine that could pass US emissions tests without using DEF fluid. They put so much pressure on those teams to achieve this goal the engineering team felt they had no choice but to cheat. To do this they asked Bosch to create software that could do this and after some objections they ultimately did to keep VW happy.

So Winterkorn didn't personally cheat, but he and Piëch set the company up for failure. The bigger question that was asked in his trial two years ago was when did Winterkorn learn about the cheat software and what did he do about it? The answer was May 2014 and he did nothing, in fact he later authorized a cover up plan which failed when an employee became a whistleblower.

Wow - thanks for educating me! I was misinformed...

 

[J Alynn]

Good question. My husband and I have been having a discussion about it. Having seen both in person, backpack and tire in the carrier, the carrier looks exactly the same from the outside. But what happens inside? Do you have to remove the mount the tire is on to put the backpack in? I know a 35” tire is heavy, but will there be a weight limit to the backpack. I mean I suppose you could fill it up with rocks and it would be really heavy. Could it handle weight like that?

Oh and if you order 33” tires with a tire carrier is the tire carrier smaller? Or would it also hold a 35” so you could run either size tire and they still fit in the carrier? I would prefer the latter.

View attachment 18038View attachment 18039

I presumed the through bolt for tire is somehow used in a shorter scenario to lock in the box???

 

[J Alynn]

Jeep and Ram’s Extended-Range EVs Delayed by Several Months

The Arrival of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer and Ram 1500 Extended-Range EVs Has Been Delayed by Several Months

The plug-in hybrid Jeep SUV’s production will now start in November, with Ram’s PHEV delayed until next spring.

www.caranddriver.com

Again!!!!! No way!

 

[J Alynn]

Ferdinand Piëch and Martin Winterkorn pressured engineering teams to make a diesel engine that could pass US emissions tests without using DEF fluid. They put so much pressure on those teams to achieve this goal the engineering team felt they had no choice but to cheat. To do this they asked Bosch to create software that could do this and after some objections they ultimately did to keep VW happy.

So Winterkorn didn't personally cheat, but he and Piëch set the company up for failure. The bigger question that was asked in his trial two years ago was when did Winterkorn learn about the cheat software and what did he do about it? The answer was May 2014 and he did nothing, in fact he later authorized a cover up plan which failed when an employee became a whistleblower.

Never knew the backstory. Just knew about the issue. Interesting

 

[J Alynn]

Road and track new article

Scout’s Mountainside, ‘Trail-Ready’ Concepts Show 2 Different Sides of the Traveler SUV

One goes big on luxury, while the other is meant to get dirty.

www.roadandtrack.com

 

[cyure]

It’s behind a paywall so I could only get the beginning of the article. How is this allowed on the road?!

 

[6-ScoutFamily]

Another story. This is odd because they opted to AI the two scouts together into one which I don’t understand

https://www.autoblog.com/news/scout-traveler-concepts-channel-range-rover-luxury-and-defender-grit

Wankers!

 

[cyure]

It’s officially on the events page so if anyone is planning on going I would probably sign up sooner rather than later.