quote:

GM kinda beat them to the punch with the name “Thunder”.

Except Holden is history. They stopped making cars three years ago and turned themselves into a import-only operation, and yet the brand couldn't make that business model work. It's closing for good later this year. Unless GM trademarked the 'Thunder' name in other markets, it's likely open for anyone to use. But I doubt that Ford would want it anyway; 'Thunder' conjures up an image of a rumbling big displacement V-something, chugging down plenty of brontosaurus juice to make power.

My idea: I doubt Edison at any point trademarked 'Alva', his middle name, though there's some sort of company in Asia that goes by that name. Ford might've been able to skate that by as a counterpoint to Tesla. If they wanted that is. The actual Lightning name makes sense; arguably it's better than taking the old 'Maverick' name and putting it on a pickup truck, which Ford is also about to do.

quote:

Nope, This electric stuff ain't for me. They can push it till the cows come home. But screw them and their agenda. Sorry fella's. Just ain't happen for me.

I'm guessing that you're an older fellow. If so the automakers are frankly not interested in you or me or what we think. As it's been for decades, they want the business of the younger generations in order to keep their businesses alive. It's those generations and how THEY look at the world is the thing that matters for an automaker's financial future. Ford, GM, Benz and all of the rest must stay relevant to the majority of the 18-45ish group; they don't give a rat's ass about boomers or even Xers anymore; as a group we don't buy enough to matter anymore. We're not where the bulk of their cash flow is going to be coming from.

Personally I don't have any problem with electric vehicles, underlying nefarious political agenda or otherwise. These EV cars are NOT zero emissions period, not when nearly 2/3rd of the U.S. power grid is dependent upon fossil fuel to keep the electricity in the lines. Just the transmission inefficiencies alone of getting that so-called "dirty" power out to where these EVs need it should make any of those greenies cringe.

I hear all of the whining about range and limitations on charging stations. If that drags on as an ongoing problem, I still can keep one or two of my gas cars if need be. Shit, half of our existing cars require a fill up at 300 miles or less even on the highway, a range that a number of these electric vehicle can now best by a decent margin. Frankly half hour pit stops don't bother me; my bladder and kidneys will be thankful for the break (plus I already take those lengthy kinds of rests from driving anyways with my petrolhead vehicles).

I am enamored with the idea of not having to go down to the local Costco and waste another 30 to 45 minutes of my ever dwindling life for privilege of paying $3 to 4 per gallon and dealing with the occasional impatient hothead when I can just plug the damn car in off of the local hydro-powered electrical service coming into the house. No more oil changes, no more routine major tuneups (based on what my friends with Teslas have been crowing), no more pulling the engine requirements for fixing what used to be the simplest of repairs; all of that would indeed be nice for me to get used to. And to me the Lightning offers some pretty nifty stuff at (in theory) is a very acceptable MSRP, though price gouging is probably going to be in this truck's future.

I like it better than E-Mustang thingy. That's a name transplant that I can't hang with.

Hence why I wrote the Aussies have/had a modern el Camino. I think it’s a damn shame Holden closed up shop. The only thing worse is that GM never imported the Maloo to the USA.

If I won the powerball one of the first things I would do is buy and ship to the states a supercharged manual HSV Maloo in that obnoxious green color.

Seems consumers for EV products are interested in Fords products, sales for May are up 184%, the Lightning will drive more people to look as does the Mustang Mach-E.

Link

Interesting times...

quote:

Originally posted by bdylan:
Ford is well positioned to sell some electric vehicles...the stock has behaved accordingly.

Yes, happy to see that go up.

quote:

Originally posted by JohnCourage:

quote:

Originally posted by bdylan:
Ford is well positioned to sell some electric vehicles...the stock has behaved accordingly.

Yes, happy to see that go up.

So is GM's, don't let some fake news about Ford not taking bailout money keep you away