One Hell of a Ride -- "The Passenger,” 2023

 

Currently a serious question exists about the relatively poor performance in higher education  and professional careers of young American males. Their apathy, lack of ambition, and social isolation have resulted in more females than males enrolled in colleges and universities and in the pursuit of valued careers. The main character in this film, Randolph Bradley (Johnny Berchold), is outwardly competent, but inwardly weak of character. That is, until a fateful day when he is forced to confront his past and assert himself.  What does constitute a remarkable life? Can an ordinary person like a black waitress have a remarkable life? 

The film, shot in New Orleans and surroundings, is not special in terms of scenery or architecture despite the location. What transpired could have taken place anywhere. So too the car is 1970s Detroit iron of little or no interest. However, the driver and passenger are the focus of this psychological drama.  The plot and narrative are simply powerful, with little fluff.

At the start, Randy Bradley wakes up to get to the fast food restaurant where he begins work with a disinterested manager, two yahoos, a male and female who don’t mind displaying public affection, and a rather mysterious co-worker who is cleaning up before opening. Randy is told by his manager that he is different from the others and has a future, although one wonders what that might be in this burger joint or another store. Randy is quiet, possessing a rather fearful visage and mannerisms, not surprising when we learn of his inner turmoil. But that inner world is about be be challenged as never before, when after being bullied, Benson snaps and kills the two coworkers and porn-watching manager. The bloodied bodies are moved to the walk-in freezer with Randy’s reluctant help, and the short road trip begins! 

The drive takes us through flat land  and fields, as one might expect in rural Louisiana. After a quickstep at Benson’s home to get cigarettes, The pair first visit Randy’s former girlfriend at her work, where we learn that he was dropped because of his apathy. Then the scene moves to the high school, where after getting the address of Randy’s 2nd grade teacher in a rage, Benson beats to near death the vice principal . The teacher, Miss Beard (Liza Weil)  has one eye, the consequence of a fit of anger on Randy’s past years ago when he threw an eraser at her.  A very attractive womnan wearing an eye patch, her life was ruined (although after seeing Randy again she will alter that interpretation), as was Randy’s. That traumatic event  is why Randy is so fearful, insecure, and internal frozen to confront life as it is. Finally Benson, is about to shoot this teacher in her living room  when Randy steps in, asserts himself against the evil that is Benson, and becomes a strong human being. It is that moment of decision that changes everything. 

One decision can change your world. Our character is the sum of our decisions, but there is always time to focus on God, the universal Redeemer inside each of us, and transform yourself in a most positive way. Thus a rather dark film can illuminate a troubled soul -- perhaps that is you!

Impressions from Watching "Fast X:” Or Why Cars and Drivers No Longer Matter

 I finally caught “Fast X” after it was made available on Prime the other day. I loved the early to mid-Fast and Furious Franchise releases, but this one didn’t sit well with me. Maybe I am just getting too old.

That said, I am very interested in themes central to "Fast X” beyond automobile culture and history -- family, honor, legacy, loyalty. It’s these Biblical notions that have drawn me to these films -- although the speed can cars were a part of my fascination as well. There is a touching moment with a cross, but it is just a moment, and the meaning can be easily lost.

This film was the fifth highest grossing film of 2023, and over $350 million was spent on making it. It is star studded -- with Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriquez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris ‘Ludicrous” Bridges, John Cena, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jordana Brewster, Sung Kang, Scott Eastwood, Daniella Melchior, Alan Richardson, Helen Mirren, Brie Larson, Rita Moreno, Jason Stathem, Jason Momoa (the bad guy who might as well be a clown at times), and Charlize Theron.

The car featured electric Dodge Chargers, along with a 1970 Dodge Charger R/T, Lamborghini Gallardo, Alfa Romeo 159, and a Porsche 911 997 GT3 RS. And then there is the bad guy’s Chevrolet Impala. 

The scenes were exotic -- Rome, Turn, Portugal and more. But the settings are so blurred with high-powered action. Is this what life is all about now -- a quick rush, but not an introspective sensitivity?

The line that stuck with me was that in our own time cars and drivers no long matter -- how true that might be with autonomous vehicles on the horizon and being introduced currently. But the real problem I had was that the themes of honor, family, etc. were diluted to a large degree by the silliness, distractions, pace so fast that it was seen as frenetic for this old man. 

There can be too much of a good thing, and I believe this movie demonstrates that point.    Vin, as you bring this series to an end, slow down some. 

One Great Jaguar XK-E Film -- “52 Pick-Up"

This 1986 film was surprisingly good, and I am surprised that many of the critics rated this film rather low, RoySchneider (Harry Mitchell) and Ann-Margaret give us first rate performances, with a touching ending.  But from my perspective, the star of the film was a Jaguar 3.8 XK-E. The car is as sexy as the women in the film, and a symbol of 1980s SoCal wealth and white privilege. It is also symbolic of Harry Mitchell’s life -- a shining example of the self-made man. Mitchell had restored it to it’s present glory.  It goes where ever he goes. It exudes wealth and class. And it has one bad radio speaker, but a fabulous Alpine radio. And when the explosion destroys it and the end of the film, it is symbolic of a new life and renewed marriage in the wake of sheer terror. 

The vehicle is featured throughout the movie, is often mentioned, and parlayed into a blackmail payment. Also the ends the bad guy Alan’s extortion plan and life, with a lockdown of the evil protagonist before a fiery, final  explosion. The frontal nudity in this flick is tantalizing, Ann-Margaret is fetching, and Schneider’s character is believable. If there was one unbelievable moment it is the lockdown at the ending, as door locks, window controls and more are far more effective than I believe probable and possible. 

In sum, overall it is an entertaining and at times sexy movie with a great car at the center of the story. The moral of the story, however, is important. Any of us are one bad decision from living a hellish life, however, the consequences of a foolish and fleshly sin!

Plot summary from Wikipedia

Harry Mitchell is a successful construction magnate living LA, whose wife Barbara is running forcity council. One day, Harry is confronted by three hooded blackmailers who demand $105,000 per year for a videotape of him and his mistress, a young stripper named Cini. Because of his wife's political aspirations, he cannot go to the police; however, guilt eventually drives him to confess, and she kicks him out of their bedroom. 

Harry's stubborn inclination is to not surrender to the threats, and when his lawyer advises him that the blackmailers will never leave him alone, he refuses to pay. The lead blackmailer breaks into Harry's house and steals Harry's gun and some items of his clothing. Later, the trio kidnap Harry and force him to watch a video of Cini being murdered with Harry's own gun. They demand $105,000 a year for the rest of Harry's life in exchange for their silence. Harry, however, vows to get revenge.

Using deduction and his business contacts, Harry tracks down and confronts Alan Raimy, the leader of the blackmailers and an amateur adult filmmaker. Knowing he has a background in accounting, Harry shows Raimy his financial records, which indicate that the majority of his wealth is tied up and he can't afford $105,000. Raimy agrees to accept Harry's offer of $52,000 instead, at least as a first payment. 

Through Doreen, a stripper who was friends with Cini, Harry learns the names of the other blackmailers: the sociopathic Bobby Shy and the cowardly Leo. He first makes Raimy suspicious by suggesting Leo gave up his name; Bobby, realizing the truth, violently interrogates Doreen but believes her when she says she didn't give him away. That night he breaks into the Mitchell house and tries to kill Harry, but Harry and Barbara overpower him. Harry realizes Raimy kept the revised deal to himself and tells Bobby as much before letting him go.

Leo, cracking under the pressure, confesses everything to Harry, saying he never wanted to hurt Cini and that both her body and the videotape have been disposed of. He also warns him that Raimy and Bobby will kill him and Barbara after the payment is made, since he knows who they are. Bobby later confronts Leo, who is planning to leave town, and kills him. Meanwhile, Raimy kidnaps Barbara and sedates her with drugs, to ensure Harry delivers the $52,000. He lures Bobby and Doreen to a warehouse and kills both of them before going to meet Harry.

Harry exchanges the money for Barbara, telling Raimy that if anything happens to them, his lawyer will send Raimy's fingerprints (from the financial records) to the police. Raimy had previously expressed interest in Harry’s sports car, so Harry offers it as a getaway vehicle. When Raimy turns the ignition key the doors lock, trapping him inside; the car then explodes in a ball of fire

BYD -- Build Your Dream -- the Leader in Electric Car Sales Worldwide

2023 ВYD Seagull

  (Reuters) - China's BYD Company

The Shenzhen-based automaker said it sold about 1.6 million battery EVs as well as about 1.4 million plug-in hybrid EVs.

BYD said its battery and hybrid EV sales in December stood at 340,178 including 190,754 all-electric vehicles.

In the global market for electrified vehicles, Tesla and BYD are pulling away from the field. Both have highly vertically integrated operations – in contrast to legacy automakers that still outsource much of their manufacturing.

 

Both are moving aggressively to expand capacity, sales, and technical capability. BYD said last week it plans a production base in Hungary – the better to circumvent potential EU tariffs. BYD also got approval last week to start testing an advanced assisted driving system – aka, an Autopilot fighter.

Tesla Gigapress Diecasting Machine for Model Y

Tesla Die Casting Machine #2 (DCM2) for producing the Tesla Model Y single-piece rear chassis megacasting. OL 6100 CS Giga Press made in Italy by Idra Group

There is a revolution in manufacturing and I have been in a coma! From Reuters, always a great source.

 By replacing around 60 welded components with a single module, gigantic aluminium die casting machines made by the likes of Tesla supplier IDRA Group are helping carmakers to simplify manufacturing and cut costs by up to 40% in some areas.

Tesla (TSLA.O) has pioneered the use of massive casting machines, also known as gigapresses, to make large single pieces of vehicle underbodies, streamline production and reduce the work of even robots.

This has helped it become the most profitable battery electric vehicle (BEV) maker.

Critics say the process poses quality and flexibility risks, as a single flaw can compromise a whole module, and make fixing more difficult if something goes wrong.

But with the industry struggling to preserve profit margins amid surging raw materials prices, carmakers including Toyota (7203.T), General Motors (GM.N), Hyundai (005380.KS), Volvo Cars and Chinese electric vehicle startup Nio (9866.HK) are turning to companies like IDRA for help.

"The basic idea was to provide a technology that could simplify the car production process," IDRA general manager Riccardo Ferrario told Reuters in an interview at the company's headquarters in Travagliato, northern Italy.

Battery packs currently make up 25%-40% of the total cost of BEVs.

"You need to make the rest cost less," Ferrario said.

Automakers using aluminium casting machines claim they can reduce investments needed to build chassis - a vehicle's second most expensive component after the engine - by 40%, and the average cost of their parts by 30%, Ferrario said.

"It's a way to eventually make BEVs something for all pockets," he said.

IDRA, which was taken over by Chinese group LK Industries in 2008, has been developing gigapresses since 2016. Competitors of IDRA and LK include Buhler Group in Europe, Ube Corp. (4208.T) and Shibaura Machine (6104.T) in Japan, as well as Yizumi (300415.SZ) and Haitian (1882.HK) in China.

GIGAPRESS 9,000

Metal and plastic die casting has been largely used in manufacturing, but its application to large aluminium underbodies in carmaking is relatively new.

The global aluminium die casting market was worth almost $73 billion last year and is projected to top $126 billion by 2032, according to an AlixPartners analysis based on Apollo Reports data.

Aluminium is prized for its light weight, and is also used for other car parts including engines. The average content of the metal in European produced cars rose 20% to 179 kilograms in the three years to 2019, and is expected to increase to almost 200 kilograms by 2025, a study commissioned by lobby group European Aluminium shows.

IDRA's newest and biggest gigapress - the 9,000 - is the size of a small house and produces a clamping force of over 9,000 tons.

The company, which made 100 million euros ($108 million) in revenues in 2021, does not disclose its customers. But after it posted a video of the first Gigapress 9,000 ready for shipping, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said it was for his company's new cybertruck.

Tesla already operates gigapresses in all its facilities, including in Gruenheide, near Berlin, where it says it can churn out a Model Y in 10 hours - about three times faster than electric cars built by competitors.

Ferrario said IDRA had contracts with three automakers and as many 'Tier 1' parts makers. South Korea's Hyundai Motor is among them, sources familiar with the matter said.

Ralf Bechmann of manufacturing consultant EFESO said the benefits of die casting would push it "to be applied to an increasing number of new models of BEV vehicles, also by other manufacturers".

Front and rear underbodies cast by gigapresses are now combined with battery packs to form a three-piece chassis for BEVs.

"I bet 80% of automakers will use gigapresses by 2035, at least for BEV cars based on new platforms," Ferrario said. "But the real question is: will we need even bigger gigapresses?"

Yet not all automakers are convinced, and EFESO's Bechmann cautioned that large module die casting required product design to be "super solid".

"Fixing design flaws is much easier with a body made up of several small parts rather than a single module," he said.

After initially considering die casting for its upcoming Trinity model, Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) has backtracked, while BMW (BMWG.DE) has never expressed an interest.

Ferrario said the auto industry tended to be conservative and that no one liked upending established processes, but he rejected idea that die casting posed a risk to jobs at carmakers, noting body-making was already highly automated.

"The real issue will be with businesses supplying those little parts replaced by our modules," he said.

($1 = 0.9272 euros)