Power Unit

Mark
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Automotive

Covering automotive icons, the stories behind the machines and great drives. Direct automotive analysis & market reporting. pwrunit.substack.com

Episodes

  1. Sep 17

    The $3,500 Screen Scam: Why Car Touchscreens Are Built to Fail

    In-car infotainment systems are now responsible for one out of every four problems reported in new vehicles. While mechanical reliability, engines, and suspensions improve every year, dashboard touchscreens are the only major component getting worse right off the lot. In this episode, we break down the hard manufacturing numbers behind the “Software-Defined Vehicle” (SDV) trend. We cover how automakers use off-the-shelf supplier displays to slash interior Bill of Materials (BOM) costs—replacing expensive switchgear, precision knobs, and complex wiring harnesses with a single panel—only to mark it back up as a $2,000 to $3,500 “Technology Package.” We also trace the 40-year failure cycle of digital dashboards: why GM had to scrap the 1986 Buick Riviera’s touchscreen CRT, how Ford’s 2011 MyFord Touch resulted in a $7 million class-action lawsuit, and why Euro NCAP regulations and brands like Volkswagen and Porsche are finally forcing physical controls back into the cockpit. Inside the breakdown: * The BOM Trick: Why swapping physical switches for glass saves automakers millions while adversely impacting the driving experience * The 5-Year Hardware Lag: Why brand-new cars run on sluggish, obsolete mobile chips * The 40-Year Cycle: The recurring failures of 1986, 2011, and today’s all-touchscreen trend * The 2-Second Test: A simple rule to evaluate any new car interior before you buy Are you ready to see real buttons and knobs return to the dashboard, or do you prefer the clean look of all-screen interiors? Share your take in the comments. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pwrunit.substack.com

  2. Sep 5

    Forgotten Icons: The Menacing 1990s Nissan You Weren't Supposed to Have

    When most enthusiasts think of 1990s Japanese icons, the R32 Skyline GT-R and Mark IV Supra get all the glory. But hidden on a quiet residential street in Japan sits a very different kind of legend: the Y32 Nissan Gloria Gran Turismo. With its quad round headlights, British tourer stance, and a twin-turbo V6 pushing power through a Z32-derived chassis, the Y32 captures peak Bubble Era engineering. Beneath the sheet metal, it also carries one of Nissan’s sharpest internal rivalries: the conservative, chauffeur-driven Cedric versus the Prince-bred, performance-focused Gloria. In this first episode of Forgotten Icons, we unpack why Nissan built two identical flagships for competing dealer networks, how structural engineering preserved the pillarless hardtop look, and why aging highway racers transformed this executive cruiser into underground VIP royalty on the Hanshin Expressway. In this episode: The dealership divide: Prince Motors DNA vs. Bluebird conservatism Bubble Economy over-engineering: VG30DET power, multi-link suspension, and hidden B-pillars The rise of bippu (VIP) culture: How Kansai street racers claimed the Y32 Which side of the showroom floor are you taking: the sinister, quad-round Gloria or the formal chrome of the Cedric? Join the discussion in the comments. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pwrunit.substack.com

  • 2 Episodes

About

Covering automotive icons, the stories behind the machines and great drives. Direct automotive analysis & market reporting. pwrunit.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Mark
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    2
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Mark
  • Show Website
    Power Unit