| Do people realize how little of a modern car's complexity is the powertrain? The eTron was built on a rework of the Audi platform that's in twelve ICEs before hosting it's first EV. I mean, there's a reason the manufacturers will give you a 100k mile powertrain warranty, but won't cover a broken cup holder past 40k. ICEs have been iterated to the point of boredom. Most engines today are 3rd or 4th generations of their original designs with emissions improvements and moderate power gains. Making flexible platforms, having a supply chain that isn't so starved they're actually able to provide parts post-sale (current global woes notwithstanding), things like that's... That's what make the notion that car manufacturers suddenly can't make cars just because the powertrain changed is what I find laughable. - Actually, funnily enough people don't realize this has actually happened before. 1970 Clean Air act and the 1970 oil crises might as well have been a "reset" in powertrain development. Many cars could no longer exist as they did, and manufacturers had to adjust to a completely new market, with new competition from efficient overseas competitors (who's efficient-focused powertrains previously had no place) Sound familiar? Some companies that were already floundering did fold. American Motors died off and Chrysler picked up the pieces. But for the most part the industry adjusted and moved on. Because at the end of the day the powertrain is just that, the powertrain. It's supposed to be boring for the manufacturers because people will put up with a infotainment system that can't play video games when you're parked, but they won't put up with an engine that works when it wants to. |