Ferrari 296, Chevrolet Blazer ICE and Electrified, In Passing Kia Stinger In This Month's Letter From Europe

From Andrew Frankl
European Bureau Chief
The Auto Channel

July 24, 2022; Seems like a century ago that I had tested Chevrolet’s excellent Blazer. The stylists had a go in Detroit consequently the Blazer looks really sharp and fresh. When colleagues describe a 2 liter engine as adequate they are being politically correct.

The word is gutless. With 5 people and ski gear the driver  would spend hours in the inside lane behind those huge trucks and overtaking would be most unlikely.

Enter the V6 in a sportier RS form and suddenly it becomes an entirely different kettle of fish.

The ride is fine, the finish is fine. The only problem in this day and age the fuel consumption at 19 miles per gallon. With prices hovering around 6 dollars a gallon filling up could be an expensive proposition.

The same applies of course to all gas driven cars and trucks. A recent and pretty awful event has been happening in the Bay Area and I dare say elsewhere as well. Activists have decided that SUVs are killing the planet so to make their point they let tires down and put a knife through them. Imagine if they had an accident but the doctor couldn’t reach them because the tires on his SUV were flat. Mindless is the only polite word that comes to mind. Luckily it did not happen to “my” Blazer.

I found the price a highly competitive 44 thousand dollars although cheaper versions are available just above 30 thou. Unlike most German cars where you need  a degree in engineering, controls are easy to find and use. Well done GM.70 thousand sold in 2021  is a pretty decent figure!

What is really interesting that GM have decided to take on Tesla with their new  Blazer EV. The most powerful version will have 550 horsepower and will be good for about 320 miles. I only have  one problem with the Blazer and it is probably to do with my age. The most powerful will be known as the Blazer SS which I find highly offensive. I know the Tik-Tok generation probably wouldn’t know that there was a WW2, never mind a WW1 but for those who lost relatives in the Battle of the Bulge-leading all other atrocities apart I find it very offensive indeed.

I took KIA’s Stinger to the highly successful Western Automotive Journalists’ test day in Half Moon Bay. A very successful and well organized event next door to an English pub which came in handy after the driving. The Stinger never really took off-unlike the rest of the KIA range and to make room for more brilliant EVs the Stinger will be discontinued in December 2022. Perfectly nice but I found it a little but too expensive at 53 thousand dollars. The chances are that there will be massive bargains as it ceases production so if you are in the market for the  3.3 liter turbo V6 I suggest you wait until November. 53 might be 40 by then.. And in all fairness to the Stinger it isn’t a car that will appreciate over the years. It sits low, bit like a sports  car and therefore  it is quite difficult to get  in and out of, If you are a KIA addict grab either the outstanding Telluride or one of their brilliant EV6. 

Having spent part of the Summer in Europe I had a chance to rent a Peugeot. Failed in the United States many times it is still going strong  over there.. I did drive over  a thousand miles and it never missed a beat.

Even more interesting was driving Ferrari’s new 296.

The plot is simple.. on the first of June I have been arriving at the gates for something like 25 years. The company’s hugely popular PR lady Joanne Marshall comes out and gives me the keys. See you  at 6 she says and that is the end of the formalities.

Getting in and not crashing into the huge gates is always a challenge but so far so good. Luckily I had a traveling companion and we headed for the mountains. The road to Abetone is quite exciting, lots of twists and turns but reaching the main square is always fun. There is an adorable and seriously antique restaurant at the top which is mostly frequented by hikers..A tough lot carrying huge backpacks.

What about the car I hear .  Well, for me the most exciting bit was the new hybrid engine. This means that for the first 20 or so miles you are traveling in total silence listening to the birds instead of chasing them away..Some people think this is heresy, others like me are coming round to the idea. Once you put pedal to the metal  the 296 is an entirely different proposition .

The company just launched  a convertible version, definitely the one to go for, you are looking at around  300 thou and of course there is a waiting list. Plus if this is your first Ferrari then you have problems. Yes, you can buy a Ferrari tomorrow morning but it will have to be a used one. To buy new ones from dealers you have to get on a ladder . Not going to bore you with the details, basically if you are looking for the latest 2 million special you have to show a track record of all previous purchases going back to a California or even earlier. Expensive Ferraris are seen as an alternative to buying a painting or cases of expensive French burgundies.

As I am only a humble reporter I can only point out that in an economy falling like a stone you may have to sell your crown jewel for a lot less than you’ve paid for it.