Dodge Charger Daytona EV, Tesla Diner, and Auto Tariffs | Bloomberg Hot Pursuit!

Dodge Charger Daytona EV Review

• ⚡ Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack is an electric muscle car that surprised reviewers with its performance and design, evoking early '70s muscle car evolution.
• 🚗 Despite initial skepticism, both hosts found the EV to be a thrilling drive, with instantaneous acceleration and impressive handling, though it's aimed at a demographic not typically drawn to EVs.
• 📉 Major drawbacks include a limited range of approximately 167 miles when charged to 88% and a high price point, with the top-of-the-line model costing around $78,000.
• 💰 While expensive to buy, lease deals offer a more affordable entry point, making it a more accessible proposition for consumers.
• 💨 The car features an optional loud exhaust system that can be turned off via stealth mode, which was found to be too obnoxious for constant use.
• 🤯 Driving the EV made a V8 Challenger feel dangerously slow due to the accustomed instant torque of electric powertrains.

Tesla Diner Experience

• 🍔 The Tesla Diner in Hollywood is a drive-in restaurant featuring 80 superchargers, potentially serving as a distraction from Tesla's recent negative news.
• 💡 It's seen as a positive move by an automaker to invest in customer experiences and build a sense of community, despite the products themselves feeling a bit tired.
• 😋 The menu, developed by LA chef Eric Greenspan, includes items like Wagu beef chili cheese fries, which were described as pretty good and reminiscent of a high school cheat day meal.
• 🔌 The diner's location near amenities is a smart strategy compared to other charging stations in isolated locations, providing a place to spend time and money while charging.

Auto Tariffs and Manufacturing Costs

• 📈 Blanket tariffs on imported vehicles (15% for EU, South Korea, Japan) are contrasted with significantly higher tariffs on raw materials and parts for US-built vehicles (e.g., 50% on steel, 25% on foreign parts).
• 💸 This creates a situation where it can be $5,000 to $10,000 more expensive for Ford to build cars in America compared to manufacturing them in Japan.
• 📉 The policy, intended to bring manufacturing back to the US, is having the opposite effect, potentially encouraging companies like GM to shift more production overseas.
• 🗣️ Ford CEO Jim Farley expressed that tariffs need to be much higher (30-40%) to incentivize reshoring, and there's a lack of domestic supply for key components like aluminum.
• 🔄 The volatility and shifting targets of tariff policies create chaos and make long-term planning extremely difficult for automakers with multi-year production cycles.
• 💰 This situation contributes to rising car prices, making vintage and used cars increasingly attractive alternatives for consumers.

Weekend Plans

• 🏍️ Matt Miller will be test-driving a Cadillac Lyriq and working on his Harley-Davidson.
• 🚗 Hannah Elliot will attend an auction preview for Monterey Car Week.