2014 Chevrolet Impala 2lz on 2040-cars

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Driven: 2020 BMW X7 M50i, M760i and M340i | Autoblog Podcast #623

In this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by West Coast Editor James Riswick and Road Test Editor Zac Palmer. They discuss news about the Cadillac V Blackwing, as well as some interesting auction listings that we spied. They also talk about cars from the fleet including the BMW M760i, X7 M50i and M340i. Autoblog Podcast #623 Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown Cars we're driving 2020 BMW M760i xDrive 2020 BMW X7 M50i 2020 BMW M340i Impala auction listing Cadillac V Blackwing news Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on iTunes Related Video: Nissan Frontier and a mid-engine Mustang | Autoblog Podcast #622

Foreign automakers pay from $38 to $65 per hour to non-union workers

As leaders for the United Auto Workers gather in Detroit for their Special Convention on Collective Bargaining to work out the negotiating stance for this year's new labor agreements with the Detroit 3 automakers, what they most want to do is figure out how to eliminate the two-tier wage scale. However, the lower Tier 2 wage has allowed the domestic automakers to reduce their labor costs, hire more workers, and compete better with their import competition. As it stands, per-hour labor rates including benefits are $58 at General Motors, $57 at Ford, and $48 at Fiat-Chrysler – a reflection of FCA's much greater number of Tier 2 workers. The Center for Automotive Research released a study of labor rates (including benefits) that put numbers to what the imports pay: Mercedes-Benz pays the most, at an average of $65 per hour, Volkswagen pays the least, at $38 per hour, and BMW is just a hair above that at $39 per hour. Among the Detroit competitors, Honda workers earn an average of $49 per hour, at Toyota it's $48 per hour, Nissan is $42 per hour, and Hyundai-Kia pays $41 per hour. The lower import wages are aided by their greater use of temporary workers compared to the domestics. Automotive News says the ten-dollar gap between those foreign camakers and the domestics turns out to about an extra $250 per car in labor, which adds up quickly when you're pumping out many millions of cars. That $250-per-car number is one that, come negotiating time, the Detroit 3 will want to reduce, as the UAW is trying to raise both Tier 1 and Tier 2 wages. Another wrinkle is that the domestic carmakers are considering the wide adoption of a third wage level lower than Tier 2. Some workers who do minor tasks like assembling parts trays kits and battery packs already make less than Tier 2, but the UAW will be quite wary about cementing yet another wage scale at the bottom of the system while it's trying to fight a bigger battle at the top. News Source: Automotive News - sub. req., BloombergImage Credit: AP Photo/Erik Schelzig Earnings/Financials UAW/Unions BMW Chevrolet Fiat Ford GM Honda Hyundai Kia Mercedes-Benz Nissan Toyota Volkswagen labor wages collective bargaining labor costs

2023 Chevy Equinox price goes up a few hundred bucks

Chevrolet and GMC have uploaded the configurators for sibling crossovers the 2023 Chevy Equinox and 2023 GMC Terrain. Both get a few changes to improve performance, and new paints. GM jettisoned the turbocharged 1.5-liter gas engine making 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque in both vehicles. Replacing it is a different turbocharged 1.5-liter gas engine making 175 hp and 203 lb-ft. The Equinox sends its power through a six-speed transmission, the Terrain fits a nine-speed transmission. On the Equinox, fuel economy in standard front-wheel drive trims holds steady, but the AWD trims lose one mile per gallon in their city and combined EPA ratings. On the Terrain, FWD trims lose one mile per gallon across the board, the AWD trims lose one mile per gallon in the city only. Both models also upgrade to an electro-hydraulic brake system, leaving vacuum-assisted braking behind. The Equinox color palette drops Cherry Red Tintcoat, Seaglass Blue Metallic and Silver Ice Metallic for replaces with Harvest Bronze Metallic, Radiant Red Tintcoat, and Sterling Gray Metallic. Buyers who want the razzle dazzle of the Equinox's optional Blackout and Redline Edition Packages are out of luck at the moment, both appearance flourishes unavailable to order. The Terrain's paint menu drops Cayenne Red Tintcoat, Hunter Metallic, and Quicksilver Metallic for Deep Bronze Metallic, Sterling Metallic, and Volcanic Red Tintcoat. All-wheel drive can be added to any Equinox and Terrain trim for $1,600, save for the Terrain AT4 and Denali that come standard with AWD. Prices for the 2023 Chevy Equinox after the $1,395 destination charge, and their differences from 2022, are: Equinox LS: $27,995 ($300) Equinox LT: $29,095 ($300) Equinox RS: $32,095 ($100) Equinox Premier: $33,195 ($300) New pricing for the 2023 GMC Terrain can only be seen when you visit the configurator's Summary page. The initial Build & Price page shows MSRP before the $1,500 premium on every trim to that pays for the mandatory OnStar with Connected Services plan. After the $1,395 destination charge, the new prices are: Terrain SLE: $31,295 Terrain SLT: $35,295 Terrain AT4: $37,395 Terrain Denali: $39,995