kscarbel2

Car & Driver / November 2016 Overview: If the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and the Ford F-150 are the two mainstream consumer candidates in the full-size pickup-truck race, then consider the 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 a viable third-party alternative. Sure, the GMC technically espouses the same values as the mechanically identical Chevy, but the Sierra does so without the bow-tie badge and with a slightly more white-collar image. Three cab configurations and bed lengths, four trim levels, and five powertrain choices are available for this GMC. All two-door standard-cab Sierra 1500s come equipped with seating for three, while the double cab adds a rear bench seat and two small rear doors. A 6.5-foot box is standard for both cabs, although an 8.0-foot box is offered on single-cab models. With an available 5.8-foot bed, the bigger crew cab trades cargo space for additional rear-seat room. But you don’t have to make any sacrifices if you opt for a four-by-four crew cab, which also is available with the 6.5-foot bed. Both four-door Sierra 1500s offer the option to trade the standard three-across front-row bench seat for a pair of bucket seats and a large center console. While all cab configurations are available in base and SLE trims, the higher-end SLT trim is offered only with the double-cab or crew-cab body styles, and the top-of-the-line Denali comes only with the latter. Most base and SLE Sierra 1500s come standard with a 285-hp 4.3-liter V-6 engine and a six-speed automatic transmission; a 355-hp 5.3-liter V-8 that’s also connected to a six-speed automatic is optional, but it’s standard on base and SLE Sierra 1500 double-cab models with the 6.5-foot bed. Stepping up to the Sierra 1500 SLT and the top-of-the-line Denali moves the V-8 to the standard-features list. An eight-speed automatic transmission pairs with the V-8 in the Sierra 1500 Denali as well as in SLT crew-cab models equipped with either the Premium Plus package, the tow-friendly Max Trailering package, or the four-wheel-drive-only All Terrain or All Terrain X packages. The All Terrain X package is available exclusively with the 5.8-foot bed; it includes a performance exhaust system that ups the small-block’s output to 365 horsepower. Additionally, Californians can opt for the mild-hybrid eAssist package. Limited to Sierra 1500 SLT crew-cab models equipped with the 5.8-foot box, the package includes the V-8/eight-speed combo along with a 13-hp electric motor and a small battery pack mounted under the center console or the front bench seat. Those looking for a truck that can hustle, however, will want to check the box for the 420-hp 6.2-liter V-8 engine. Coupled with the eight-speed automatic transmission, the Sierra 1500’s biggest mill can be had on four-door SLT models as well as the Denali. For this review, we drove a GMC Sierra 1500 Denali with four-wheel drive and the $7450 Denali Ultimate package, which includes the 6.2-liter engine, a set of 22-inch wheels on all-terrain tires, trick power side steps, a sunroof, and a trailer-brake controller. Add a $395 coat of Mineral Metallic paint, and the truck’s price totaled a hefty $63,795. What’s New: After an extensive refresh for 2016, the Sierra 1500 enters 2017 with only a handful of minor changes. Automatic shutters behind the grille are standard, a capless fuel filler is introduced, and a low-speed automated braking system has been added to the truck’s available Enhanced Driver Alert package (which includes lane-keeping assist, automatic headlights, front and rear parking sensors, forward-collision alert, and a Safety Alert Seat that vibrates if the vehicle senses a potential collision). Additionally, crew-cab models can tow as much as 12,500 pounds—500 more than last year—and all 2017 Sierras come equipped with General Motors’ Teen Driver technology, a feature that gives helicopter parents a window into their young driver’s habits behind the wheel. What We Like: The Sierra 1500 is a handsome machine, especially when decked out in the ultraluxurious Denali trim or the sinister-looking All Terrain X package. Inside, the Sierra 1500 features a number of spacious storage pockets and bins, while logical controls make navigating the HVAC and multimedia systems a breeze. The interior is quiet, and the crew cab’s massive rear quarters provide plenty of space for passengers to stretch out. Like the Chevy Silverado, the Sierra is relatively light and responsive on the road for a big truck. Although they’re limited to the option sheets of pricier models, the 6.2-liter V-8 and smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission make a powerful pair, able to launch these big trucks to 60 mph in less than six seconds. What We Don’t Like: As with most full-size pickups, don’t let the Sierra 1500’s $29,400 base price fool you—this is an expensive tool. Feature-laden SLT models start at $43,275 and can quickly inflate with the addition of a few simple options such as a bigger cab or four-wheel drive. Oddly, some items, such as a proximity key with push-button start and adaptive cruise control, aren’t on the options menu, while crew-cab models lack high-level HVAC vents for rear-seat occupants. Also, like its bow-tie sibling, the Sierra’s ride quality suffers considerably on its available 22-inch wheels, and to the detail-oriented, its slightly off-center driving position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument cluster can be an irritating design flaw. Verdict: A Chevy truck with a more highbrow badge. Photo gallery - http://www.caranddriver.com/photo-gallery/2017-gmc-sierra-1500-quick-take-review Specifications VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear- or rear-/4-wheel-drive, 3-, 5-, or 6-passenger, 2- or 4-door pickup PRICING: Base, $29,400; Base 5.3, $30,695; Base 4WD, $33,340; Base 5.3 4WD, $34,635; SLE, $36,150; SLE 5.3, $37,445; SLE 4WD, $40,055; SLE 5.3 4WD, $41,250; SLT, $43,275; SLT 6.2, $45,970; SLT 4WD, $46,525; SLT 6.2 4WD, $51,580; SLT eAssist, $52,125; Denali, $53,350; All Terrain X 6.2 4WD, $54,960; Denali 6.2, $55,845; Denali 4WD, $56,500; Denali 6.2 4WD, $58,995 ENGINE TYPES: Pushrod 12-valve 4.3-liter V-6, 285 hp, 305 lb-ft Pushrod 16-valve 5.3-liter V-8, 355 or 365 hp, 383 lb-ft Pushrod 16-valve 5.3-liter V-8, 355 hp, 383 lb-ft + AC motor, 13 hp, 44 lb-ft (combined output, 355 hp, 0.5-kWh lithium-ion battery pack) Pushrod 16-valve 6.2-liter V-8, 420 hp, 460 lb-ft TRANSMISSIONS: 6-speed automatic with manual shifting mode 8-speed automatic with manual shifting mode DIMENSIONS: Wheelbase: 119.0-153.0 in Length: 205.0-239.0 in Width: 80.0 in Height: 73.7-74.1 in Passenger volume: 73-136 cu ft Curb weight (C/D est): 4700-5700 lb FUEL ECONOMY: EPA city/highway driving: 15-18/20-24 mpg C/D TEST RESULTS FOR: 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali 6.2L V-8 4x4 Zero to 60 mph: 5.6 sec Zero to 90 mph: 11.4 sec Rolling start, 5-60 mph: 6.3 sec Top gear, 30-50 mph: 3.0 sec Top gear, 50-70 mph: 3.7 sec Standing ¼-mile: 14.0 sec @ 99 mph Top speed (governor limited): 99 mph Braking, 70-0 mph: 179 ft C/D observed fuel economy: 15 mpg

Car & Driver / November 1, 2016 For ages, automakers have been searching for a practical means of varying an engine’s compression ratio on the fly. How hard the air—and sometimes the fuel—is squeezed before ignition plays a crucial role in overall efficiency: Compressing the mixture as much as possible without detonation yields a longer expansion ratio and more power for every increment of fuel consumed. Since the compression ratio is determined by basic engine geometry (the cylinder volume with the piston at the bottom of its travel versus the top), that isn’t easily changed. One expedient now in wide use is combining the Atkinson cycle with variable valve timing. But Infiniti (Nissan) has made a ­significant stride with its Variable Compression-Turbo (VC-T). This boosted 2.0-liter four-cylinder, the product of two decades of research and 300 patents, will power unspecified Infiniti models beginning in 2018. Here’s how it works (see below): The key enabler is a piece Infiniti calls the “multi-link,” (001) a diamond-shaped component that replaces the connecting rod’s big end and allows computer control over each cylinder’s compression ratio. When the electronically controlled harmonic drive mechanism (002) rotates, the actuator arm (003), eccentric control shaft (004), lower link (005), and, finally, the multi-link all move to vary the piston’s stroke. Infiniti claims VC-T is capable of providing any desired compression ratio between 8:1 and 14:1. Bumping the ratio to 14:1 during light-throttle cruising maximizes fuel efficiency. Then, when the driver dips into the throttle, the compression ratio can drop as turbo boost rises, avoiding detonation. Infiniti hasn’t yet revealed any power, torque, or mileage ratings but claims that VC-T will combine the power of a 2.0-liter turbo gasoline engine with the torque and efficiency of a similarly sized diesel. Many auto­makers have experimented with compound-connecting-­rod and moving-cylinder mechanisms, but Infiniti appears to be the first to solve the durability issues of a crankcase stuffed with links and levers. Stroker Ace Honda has filed a patent in Japan for an engine in which each cylinder has a different stroke, their altering displacements translating to varied power potential and fuel consumption. The goal is to take fuller advantage of cylinder deactivation. When, for the purposes of saving fuel, the engine-control computer deactivates cylinders, it will be able to pick and choose which cylinders to drop to best match power and efficiency with the demands placed on the engine. If it moves beyond the developmental phase, it will still be years out. But probably not the 20 years Infiniti has into its VC-T. .

If you're me and carefully choose a new vehicle that you're absolutely thrilled with, a vehicle you can and will drive for 10 to 20 years, I suggest you ignore the settlement AND recall notices, and continue with the car you have and enjoy for many years to come. Over the next several years, changes are going to rapidly come to the light vehicle industry. If you don't "need" a new car, there's a strong argument for you to sit tight. Battery pricing, size and weight is falling quickly, and battery capacity is rapidly rising. And, don't give up on the gasoline and diesel engines just yet.

Ferdinand Piëch, the immensely powerful former chief of Volkswagen's supervisory board, is more than likely the root cause of the VW diesel-emissions scandal. Whether he specifically asked for, tacitly approved, or was even aware of the company's use of software to deliberately fudge EPA emissions testing is immaterial. I sat next to him at an industry dinner in the Nineties, just after the fourth-generation Golf had debuted at the Frankfurt show. I told him, "I'd like to congratulate you on the new Golf. First of all, it's a nice-looking car, but God, those body fits!" "Ah, you like those?" "Yeah. I wish we could get close to that at Chrysler." "I'll give you the recipe. I called all the body engineers, stamping people, manufacturing, and executives into my conference room. And I said, 'I am tired of all these lousy body fits. You have six weeks to achieve world-class body fits. I have all your names. If we do not have good body fits in six weeks, I will replace all of you. Thank you for your time today.' " "That's how you did it?" "Yes. And it worked." That's the way he [Piech] ran everything. It's what I call a reign of terror and a culture where performance was driven by fear and intimidation. He just says, "You will sell diesels in the U.S., and you will not fail. Do it, or I'll find somebody who will." The guy was absolutely brutal. I imagine that at some point, the VW engineering team said to Piëch, "We don't know how to pass the emissions test with the hardware we have." The reply, in that culture, most likely was, "You will pass! I demand it! Or I'll find someone who can do it!" In these situations, your choice was immediate dismissal or find a way to pass the test and pay the consequences later. Human nature being what it is—if it's lose your job today for sure or lose your job maybe a year from now, we always pick maybe a year from now. That management style gets short-term results, but it's a culture that's extremely dangerous. Look at dictators. Dictators invariably wind up destroying the very countries they thought their omniscience and omnipotence would make great. It's fast and it's efficient, but at huge risk. This diesel fiasco is immeasurable in terms of damages—so much worse than Toyota acceleration, Ford Firestone tires, or GM ignition switches. In all those cases, tragically, people died, but it wasn't premeditated. You settle with the victims' families, pay the fine, put in the new parts, and for $1.5 billion, it can all be contained. But this Volkswagen mess is like the disaster that keeps on giving. To make the cars legal in the U.S., VW will need to program them with the software that passes the test, in which case, performance is down and fuel consumption is up, and every VW TDI owner is part of a class-action suit against Volkswagen. To retrofit a urea system is basically a nonstarter, as it would require far too much change. There is no easy fix. But you can probably rely on the German government to do what is necessary to pull Volkswagen out of this crisis. In terms of marketing cars in the U.S., Volkswagen will need a radically new array of products that are much closer to mainstream American tastes than what it has. The whole "Clean Diesel" campaign, as the foundation of the VW brand, cannot be resurrected. It's history. Robert "Bob" Lutz

France 24 / November 1, 2016 Veteran US director Oliver Stone takes aim at state-sponsored citizen surveillance in his new film "Snowden". Having met with Edward Snowden himself in Russia to prepare the film, he traces the NSA recruit’s journey from patriot to whistleblower. The Academy Award-winning filmmaker talks to Olivia Salazar-Winspear about cyber warfare, policing the digital space and how the war in Vietnam was a turning point in his personal and political life. Stone believes US President Barack Obama should pardon Snowden, who is considered a traitor by US authorities. It would be "a wonderful act of grace if the president did that", he told FRANCE 24. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “The government has the ability to repeat and control the commercial airwaves. In a sense, they repeat every so often: terrorism – fear – terrorism – fear. Repeat, repeat, repeat, that works – propaganda.” “What Washington seems to want to do is lock up and only give the leaks they want, the leaks that favor the U.S., like the Panama Papers. They control those leaks, but not the ones that are critical of the government. We're living in a closed news environment. It's an information war in a bad way." Oliver Stone At the same conference actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who plays Snowden in Stone’s biopic, echoed the director’s sentiments on mass surveillance but pointed out that at least it was being put to the vote in Switzerland. “It’s wonderful it’s being voted on. That is exactly what didn’t happen in the United States. Whether mass surveillance is right or wrong, that’s a complicated issue… but if people vote on it and feel it’s right, that’s at least is following democracy. That is what should have happened in the United States,” Gordon-Levitt said. .

VW is getting off the hook FAR too easy, and culprit Ferdinand Piech isn't even being investigated, much less going to jail.

You could fabricate that yourself.

The part number, 6MF519P2, is correct. But there seems to be serious quality issues with the aftermarket units. When you contacted Watt's Mack at 1-888-304-6225, did they say it no longer available thru Volvo ?

Automotive News / November 1, 2016 Encouraged by the success of the Ford Transit and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Volkswagen Group is weighing whether to enter the U.S. commercial van market with its all-new Crafter. Volkswagen has invested 800 million euros (about $871 million) in a plant in Poland with capacity for 100,000 vehicles annually in 2018. It shouldered the development cost for an exclusive platform. Previously, the Crafter was developed with and built by Mercedes-Benz Vans, which supplied VW with only 50,000 of the vehicles per year. Ford began building its European Transit van for U.S. customers in Kansas City, Missouri, in mid-2014, while Mercedes is expanding its Charleston, South Carolina, site at the cost of $500 million after record sales of 194,000 large vans globally last year. Fiat's Ducato was reborn as a Ram ProMaster equipped with a 3.6-liter Penta-star gasoline engine. "No decision has been made but the option is being analyzed," said a VW source. "The problem is the chicken tax [a 25 percent tariff on light trucks imported into the U.S.], so whether a [complete knockdown] assembly or full production is the most sensible depends on the volume." Another problem is distribution, but the acquisition of a stake in U.S. heavy-truck maker Navistar in September may give VW access to a sales network. New (2017) VW Crafter - http://the-new-crafter.com/com/en/ .

House Republicans question VW settlement The Hill / November 1, 2016 Two Republicans are probing the settlement agreement between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Volkswagen in the wake of the automaker’s emissions scandal. In two Tuesday letters to the EPA, Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Penn.), the chairman of the committee’s investigative subpanel, requested more information about the $14.7 billion settlement approved by a federal judge last month. The Republicans said they are concerned about the $2 billion VW is set to invest in zero-emission vehicle technologies. Upton and Murphy worry those investments could give VW a competitive edge in the zero-emission vehicle market. “It appears that, just as the company plans to enter the EV market, it will be consenting to a court-required $2 billion investment – potentially into its own infrastructure and to support its own newly entered market,” they wrote. “This is a curious outcome for the settlement of a cheating scandal." The members also requested more data from the EPA about the exact amount of emissions Volkswagen released due to improper software on vehicles that allowed excess pollution. Regulators have estimated VW vehicles equipped with the software emitted up to 40 times the legal limit of nitrogen oxide. The company is paying $2.7 billion for environmental mitigation efforts under the settlement, but the congressmen want more information on the real-world impacts of those emissions. VW and federal officials agreed this summer to a $14.7 billion settlement following revelations of technology installed on some Volkswagen vehicles that turned off pollution controls. More than $10 billion of that will go toward repairing or replacing 2-liter diesel VW and Audi vehicles equipped with the software. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOP lawmakers question VW settlement with U.S. Automotive News / November 1, 2016 Republican lawmakers today pressed the EPA for answers about aspects of Volkswagen’s deal with the Department of Justice and the agency to settle aspects of the company’s diesel emissions violations, saying the settlement could give VW an advantage as it readies a major electric-vehicle push. Part of the settlement, approved last week by U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer, requires VW to invest $2 billion in zero-emission vehicles over the next decade. In a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, U.S. Reps. Fred Upton, D-Mich., and Tim Murphy, R-Pa., said the structure of the required spending may enable VW to “obtain substantial competitive benefits, if not a monopoly” on the burgeoning electric-vehicle charging market. VW’s allocation of the $2 billion also appears to be subject to “limited” federal oversight, the GOP lawmakers said. With VW Group readying plans to launch 30 electric vehicles globally by 2025, the duo called the $2 billion zero-emission vehicle fund a “curious outcome for the settlement of a cheating scandal.” Under the settlement, VW must also set aside $2.7 billion to fund environmental remediation projects to make up for the excess nitrogen oxide emissions spewed by its roughly 475,000 2.0-liter diesel vehicles with rigged emissions software. In a second letter to McCarthy, Upton and Murphy also asked the agency to describe how it determined that $2.7 billion was the appropriate amount to fund those projects. An EPA spokesperson said the agency would review the letters and respond.

Paul, as far as China buying into Australian dairy and cattle farms, it takes a seller in order to have a buyer. Yes, China's government is pushing their companies to make worthwhile global investments. But they can't do it unless someone is selling. All the seller has to do is say......no. As for that free trade agreement between Australia and China, they got the better half of that deal. Who signed that???

Rear cab mounts, at least on the early ones (what the rear of the cab sat on). The Mack N and Ford C had the same rear cab mounting arrangement.

CNN / October 31, 2016 Libertarian presidential nominee and former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson says Hillary Clinton could face impeachment over the continued FBI investigation into her private email server if she is elected president. "I think unquestionably if [Clinton] takes office she is going to be under criminal investigation, unquestionably this is going to be the nation's agenda for the entire time she is office and it may well end up in impeachment," Johnson said. "This is Watergate kind of stuff. This is really, really deep, real stuff and all you have to say, all you have to recognize is the FBI would not have done this -- this is not political, this is anything but political, because of the fact they dropped this investigation in July, saying, to clear the decks for the election. That was also clearly, I don't even want to call it a political move, as much as a move that would clear up the election, that people would feel like this was not overhanging. Well, now it's overhanging, and it's overhanging for a reason. There's so much smoke in the room that it will never, ever get ventilated over the next four years. Never." "Let me just point out the obvious: the FBI is not doing this lightly, they recognize just what a bombshell this is, especially having exonerated her in July," Johnson said. "To come back and say this with 11 days to go, knowing that there will be no resolution prior to election, but knowing if they don't release this, knowing how damnable all of this is, this is the horrible situation that the FBI has placed itself in it just points to the gravity of the situation."

The cowl-mounted rectangular rubber hood rest in the photo above, we sourced from Ford. They were stamped Fomoco. It was borrowed from the N-model, which shared it with the Ford C-Series.

Car & Driver / November 1, 2016 The Jeep CJ66 is just the latest in a long and storied line of Jeep concept vehicles to emerge from the creative minds at Jeep and Mopar. Built with a variety of Jeep components including bits from the TJ-, CJ-, and JK-series Jeeps, the Moab-inspired CJ66 makes its debut at the 2016 SEMA show in Las Vegas. Starting with a Jeep Wrangler TJ frame, the team dug deep into the brand’s legacy and came up with a 1966 Jeep CJ Universal Tuxedo Park body. While the specific details regarding the low-volume Tuxedo Park Jeeps are highly contested, most experts agreed it debuted as an option package in 1961 to imbue the rugged Jeep with more upscale appeal for the general consumers. It achieved this by adding chrome bumpers, hood hinges, and badging, plus whitewall tires and other minor trim upgrades. In 1964, Kaiser introduced the Tuxedo Park Mark IV as a new model of sorts. Rare in any configuration, the rarest is the long-wheelbase Universal model, which is what Mopar used for the CJ66 concept. Jeep called this one Universal because it let buyers outfit their Jeep to fit their needs with numerous hard- and soft-top options and even the opportunity to specify a PTO to run a post-hole digger or other agricultural equipment. Whatever the backstory, it’s hard to ignore this rig’s Copper Canyon finish, the 35-inch BFGoodrich all-terrain tires, and the Jeep Performance Parts 17-inch beadlock wheels with color-matched beadlock rings. A two-way air system takes the hassle out of airing the tires up and down for conditions at hand, and a two-inch lift kit keeps some daylight between the rubber and metal. A new, as-yet-unspecified Mopar crate V-8 mates with a six-speed manual transmission, which sends torque to a pair of Mopar Dana 44 axles. Mopar also supplies the engine cover, the cold air intake, and the cat-back exhaust. Oversize concept fender flares team with front and rear Mopar 10th Anniversary Wrangler JK Rubicon bumper kits; the skid plates, front bumper plates, and concept rock rails come from Jeep Performance Parts. Matte-black accents contrast with the Copper Canyon paint on the hood, the seven-slot Jeep grille, the bezels of the Wrangler JK headlamps, the hood hinges, and the latches. The LED amber fog lamps and a Warn winch with fairlead come from Mopar. As a finishing touch, the race-inspired fuel filler cap is shifted to the inside fender wheel well. A custom-built roll cage, mandrel bent to match the two-inch chop of the windshield, surrounds the seats, which are sourced from the Viper. The center console and shifter were swiped from a JK, and Mopar provides the instrument-panel gauges and the all-weather mats. Finally, the steering wheel center features the special 50th Anniversary Moab Easter Jeep Safari logo, unveiled earlier this year. Image gallery - http://www.caranddriver.com/photo-gallery/get-your-kicks-cj66-concept-melds-generations-of-jeeps-with-modern-mopar-hardware#1

I agree that North America (excluding Mexico) are mature markets that are no longer growing. Asia is still booming. China and india are completely different from each other. India is 20 years behind China, with different metrics. Great place to invest though. Car sales in China are booming (world's largest new car market). Aside from the tier one cities, driving (and parking) a car is no problem. Ford does need a medium-duty COE. I'd certainly like to see one. Perhaps, with the launch of the MY2018 Cargo (H62X Global Cargo Modular Cab - GCMC), we'll see a new medium-duty Cargo for the US market.

Dagens Industri / October 31, 2016 Cevian Capital's Christer Gardell believes that Volvo needs to focus on trucks alone and do away with Volvo Construction Equipment (VCE). According to Christer Gardell, Volvo has made progress toward a less complex structure and construction machinery is now the last large part to deal with. Volvo's management and board have Cevian’s confidence and "we trust that they will handle this in a smart way," says Christer Gardell. Cevian Capital owns an 8 percent stake in Volvo Group, and over 14 percent of the voting rights, as of September 30. .

Hungarian PM Accuses Soros of Stoking Refugee Wave to Weaken Europe Bloomberg / October 30, 2015 Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban accused billionaire investor George Soros of being a prominent member of a circle of "activists" trying to undermine European nations by supporting refugees [economic migrants] heading to the continent from the Middle East and beyond. "His name is perhaps the strongest example of those who support anything that weakens nation states, they support everything that changes the traditional European lifestyle," "These activists who support immigrants inadvertently become part of this international human-smuggling network," said Orban. Rights groups have criticized Orban for building a razor-wire fence on the border, tightening asylum laws and boosting his support among voters with anti-immigrant rhetoric. Soros, who was born in Hungary and is one of the biggest philanthropists in eastern Europe via his foundations and university, gives grants to organizations that provide legal assistance to asylum seekers [economic migrants]. Soros said in a statement that a six-point plan published by his foundation helps “uphold European values” while Orban’s actions “undermine those values.” “His plan treats the protection of national borders as the objective and the refugees [economic migrants] as an obstacle,” Soros said in the statement. “Our plan treats the protection of refugees as the objective and national borders as the obstacle.”

Ford Press Release - https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2016/10/31/ford-returns-to-baja-1000-with-all-new-2017-f-150-raptor.html .

Outside the US, I'm constantly told by people that the email scandal is a secondary issue. The global audience feels the actual issue that Americans should be focusing on is Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros, i.e. his massive contributions to the Clinton Foundation and Hillary Clinton. They feel that Soros is at the heart of it all, which is interesting, given that he's not on the radar in U.S. news (and there may be a reason for that, the "closed news" environment that Oliver Stone mentions*). * http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/47524-oliver-stone-obama-pardoning-snowden-would-be-a-wonderful-act-of-grace/

The Australian Value-Liner and the U.S. market Value-Liner were two completely different trucks. They're not comparable. E8 ?

Designed specifically for the US market but also with the China market in mind (where VW has virtually been a non-participant in their red hot SUV market over the last 3-4 years), the new SUV is terrible. VW has never been able to design an attractive and competitive SUV. .

No surprise that the global Ford Ranger, particularly with the optional 3.2L diesel, was the star performer. Designed by Ford Australia, the Ranger is simply the best mid-sized pickup in the world.

Obama appears to be distancing himself from Clinton without actually saying so. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 10/31/2016 James S. Brady Press Briefing Room / 1:07 P.M. EDT I'll neither defend nor criticize what Director Comey has decided to communicate to the public about this investigation. What I will say is that the Department of Justice and our democracy has given the expansive authority to conduct investigations. The Department of Justice has given subpoena power. They're allowed to compel witnesses to testify. They are able to collect evidence that's not readily available necessarily. They're even allowed to impanel a grand jury. Those are substantial authorities. It's important, in the mind of the President, that those authorities are tempered by an adherence to longstanding tradition and practice and norms that limit public discussion of facts that are collected in the context of those investigations. And there are a variety of good reasons for that. And the President believes that it's important for those norms and traditions and guidelines to be followed. The President believes that Director Comey is a man of integrity, he's a man of principle, and he's a man of good character. That, presumably, is the reason that President Bush chose him to serve in a senior position at the Bush administration's Department of Justice. These same character traits are what led a strong majority of Democratic and Republican senators to confirm him to this job. These are the traits that led the President to select him to be the Director of the FBI. And these are tough questions. And so it’s a good thing that he’s a man of integrity and character to take them on. What I have observed in the past is that Director Comey is a man of integrity. He’s a man of principle. He’s a man who is well regarded by senior officials in both parties. He’s somebody who’s served in a senior position in the Bush administration. And he’s somebody who got strong bipartisan support when his nomination to be the Director of the FBI was considered by the United States Senate. So all those things are true. They speak to his good character. And the President’s assessment of his integrity and his character has not changed. For example, the President doesn’t believe that Director Comey is intentionally trying to influence the outcome of an election. The President doesn’t believe that he’s secretly strategizing to benefit one candidate or one political party. He’s in a tough spot, and he’s the one who will be in a position to defend his actions in the face of significant criticism from a variety of legal experts, including individuals who served in senior Department of Justice positions in administrations that were led by presidents in both parties. But that kind of -- but I’m just not going to be in a position to, frankly, either defend or criticize the decisions that he’s made with what regard -- with regard to what to communicate in public. That is separate from the kind of prosecutorial and investigative decisions that are made by the FBI and the Department of Justice. That is their institutional responsibility -- to make those decisions about investigations and prosecutions independent of any sort of political interference, and I will defend their right to do that. In fact, it’s their responsibility. The President is somebody who, three years ago, nominated Director Comey because he’s a man of character, he’s a man of integrity, he’s a man of principle. He is somebody who’s had a distinguished legal career that’s been rooted in making sure that his own political views don’t interfere with his responsibilities as an attorney or as a law enforcement officer. The President thinks very highly of Director Comey. And, yes, you can assert that he continues to have confidence in his ability to do his job. The President is completely confident that Director Comey has not taken any steps to try to intentionally influence the outcome of the election or to advantage one candidate or one political party. Question: Josh, has the President spoken with Attorney General Lynch about this issue and her apparent disagreement with the FBI Director? Mr. Earnest: He has not. Question: And when exactly did the White House find out about the FBI letter? Mr. Earnest: Well, as my colleague, Eric, in answering this question last week told you all, the White House was not given advance knowledge of the decision by the FBI Director to submit this letter to Congress. So we learned about this letter the same time all of you did. Question: Through the media? Mr. Earnest: That's correct. Question: So just to confirm and clarify, everything the White House has learned to date about the latest probe by the FBI on Hillary Clinton’s -- these newly discovered emails has been through media reports? There hasn’t been a letter? There hasn’t been any type of call? This has all been through media reports? Mr. Earnest: So, Kenneth, let me just be as precise as I possibly can here. The White House was not given advance notice of the fact that the Department of Justice was sending a letter to Capitol Hill. The White House became aware of that letter through media reports when individuals in Congress presumably made the decision to make that letter public. And since then, the Department of Justice has not provided any sort of briefing or consultation -- or sought any consultation with the White House about this matter moving forward. .