Ongoing General Automotive Thread 2.0

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

The back look like someone photocopied daft punk with the wrong resolutions... The front looks like a stunned video game character with a breathing mask.

When you put it that way - the only thing that makes sense is that this was designed for the Chinese and Asian markets. They dig this look over there, they love their EV's, and most of all the rich don't drive themselves there.

This wasn't designed for us in North America.

[browna]

Originally Posted by Table 5

The Germans just can't seem to get out of their own way these days. ID Buzz being electric instead of hybrid, trying to make electric Caymans/Boxsters happen, MB's looking like melting bars of soap with a cheeseball middle-eastern nightclub inside, VW stripping their cars of all personality (and buttons), BMW's pushing the envelope on ugliness, Audi being lost in the weeds etc.

I think the very sudden pivot from all automakers to “EV or Bust” 4 years ago has messed all sorts of long time model and corporate planning and development. Now that EV has fallen flat and automakers (Europe and American) now have to slowly revert back to the previous way of developing models. But it’s now left product gaps and continuity gaps in design, development, themes for EV, Hybrid and ICE vehicles and how they all fit within each automakers hierarchy and product portfolio.

Some of the out of the box design and work that was allowed to be done by those developing EVs as a blank slate for design was good and is trying to get awkwardly integrated into ICE vehicles now with the pendulum swinging back that way. Some of it was bad, but because design teams are design teams, they plow forward with those out of the box ideas because there’s no one left doing it the previous way, as to the things you list.

In another similar vein, if GM sold the Hummer brand as ICE or Hybrid they would sell a lot more of those vehicles. That said, they would then compete directly with other GM ICE vehicles if they were to change over and they would annoy those Chevy and GMC dealers.

Cadillac was going to go all EV and that’s not the case anymore, but the product plans for the current ICE vehicles were basically abandoned a few years ago when they made that proclamation…but now they have to revive them years later after the stalled development curve and make some odd design and content decisions in trying to update those ICE vehicles now, and for the next generation, and how those ICE vehicles lineup with the EV ones (ie Escalade vs Escalade IQ).

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

When you put it that way - the only thing that makes sense is that this was designed for the Chinese and Asian markets. They dig this look over there, they love their EV's, and most of all the rich don't drive themselves there.

This wasn't designed for us in North America.

I was going to say I disagree and make fun of it... But I was surprised at the similarities to the example I was going to use which was the Eliica concept car from 2004. The sides of the Mercedes EV van does kinda look like the side of a train...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliica

[puffnstuff]

BYD, China’s largest car manufacturer, is actively considering building a plant in Canada while also keeping its options open to acquire a more established global automaker.

https://electrek.co/2026/03/13/byd-o...val-automaker/

[Fuzz]

If they don't need to be near the existing auto supply market, maybe it makes more sense for them to do this out west? BC or Alberta? Alberta is calling! I wonder how Smith would feel about that one...

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by puffnstuff

BYD, China’s largest car manufacturer, is actively considering building a plant in Canada while also keeping its options open to acquire a more established global automaker.

https://electrek.co/2026/03/13/byd-o...val-automaker/

Stellantis, perhaps? They're such a trainwreck as it is. Plus, it gets them access to the North American market and all the production facilities.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

Stellantis, perhaps? They're such a trainwreck as it is. Plus, it gets them access to the North American market and all the production facilities.

I thought about that, but can't imagine the US would allow China to purchase it without forcing them out of the US.

[aaronck]

Originally Posted by photon

I can't decide what's worse.. that van or the website for the van.

I waiting for what seems like 5 minutes and gave up- I just know it has lights and a Mercedes logo at this point

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by aaronck

I waiting for what seems like 5 minutes and gave up- I just know it has lights and a Mercedes logo at this point

And creaking interior finishes.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

And creaking interior finishes.

That's why I had to get rid of my CLS. I loved it so much, but couldn't handle the creaks and rattles. Once they start you're absolutely hooped. I became an expert at completely taking the entire dash and middle console apart. I'd put foam and double-sided tape everywhere. I was like a fkn doctor with a stethoscope to home in on a rattle and then like a surgeon as I'd get to work to solve it. Could get it squeak/rattle free for a few weeks and just as I would be patting myself on the back for solving the issue a new one would crop up somewhere else.

I also think my subwoofer didn't help. That's really when my problems started. It has made me gun shy about ever installing one again, but I do miss the bass almost as much as the car.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by Sliver

That's why I had to get rid of my CLS. I loved it so much, but couldn't handle the creaks and rattles. Once they start you're absolutely hooped. I became an expert at completely taking the entire dash and middle console apart. I'd put foam and double-sided tape everywhere. I was like a fkn doctor with a stethoscope to home in on a rattle and then like a surgeon as I'd get to work to solve it. Could get it squeak/rattle free for a few weeks and just as I would be patting myself on the back for solving the issue a new one would crop up somewhere else.

Really? What year was yours? My E550c was a 2014 model year and the interior was pretty solid -- almost (but not quite) reminiscent of my E39 M5-solid. No creaks or rattles. But the subsequent cars with the cutesy round air vents and piano black everywhere really were bad for it.

[woob]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

If they don't need to be near the existing auto supply market, maybe it makes more sense for them to do this out west? BC or Alberta? Alberta is calling! I wonder how Smith would feel about that one...

As long as they employed enough old stock Albertans and powered the plant with coal.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by torquedog

really? What year was yours? My e550c was a 2014 model year and the interior was pretty solid -- almost (but not quite) reminiscent of my e39 m5-solid. No creaks or rattles. But the subsequent cars with the cutesy round air vents and piano black everywhere really were bad for it.

2012

[TorqueDog]

Huh, mine was basically that generation of interior (2013 E-Class had the older style), so I'm surprised it was that much of a rattler for you. I must have gotten lucky that it hasn't started I suppose.

The current ones, though, it's the case with them as *new* vehicles. You press on the dash veneer and it creaks. It's just awful.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

Huh, mine was basically that generation of interior (2013 E-Class had the older style), so I'm surprised it was that much of a rattler for you. I must have gotten lucky that it hasn't started I suppose.

The current ones, though, it's the case with them as *new* vehicles. You press on the dash veneer and it creaks. It's just awful.

I'm not kidding when I say the subwoofer had to be part/all of the issue. Take my experience with a thumping grain of salt.