El Scorcho

Now I just don't know what to believe. According to Hogan, EpII Mali and G6 are both cancelled, and Aura has seen significant changes (new platform, on hold, drastically different from concept in size/features?), while the current Ion is dead. Regarding the Ion, I don't see the sense in canceling one of the only other cars on Delta this early before Delta II (it has to be at least a few years off, Delta is still fairly new). Without a small car, Saturn will be stuck to languish like Buick and Pontiac, which it does not appear the management wants. Can GM really survive with just the Aveo, Cobalt, and HHR as their only US compacts? On to the Aura. I could see GM waiting on EpII to release the Aura...if EpII was near ready. At this point, it's my understanding that it's at least 3-4 years off, meaning we would have to wait that many years for a Saturn midsizer...meaning Saturn would have to get by with the Vue, Outlook, and Relay. GMC part deux. What exactly does "scaled back" mean? Is it no longer meant to be a true competitor to cars like the Passat? The G6 and Mali are the most confusing parts in all this. What would cause GM to cancel their bread-and-butter midsize sedans on the new platform? I highly doubt it would be money, as streamlining the entire midsize line onto one main global platform would be much more cost effective and less expensive in the long term, and likely in the short term as well. If they really are cancelled on EpII, what would GM do in the interim? Allow these two to sit, nearly unchanged for God knows how long? Or could it be that the names will in fact be changed? Doesn't make much business sense for the G6, as it's still very new, and the Malibu, IMO, is a fine name. At any rate, none of this makes any sense, logically or otherwise. And with mightymouse saying that these things just aren't true, things are just getting more confusing. I just really can't see the GMX380s being cancelled in light of the new Camry, Altima, and (one day) Accord, and the new midsize products from Ford and Chrysler. The Aura can't seriously be expected to compete with all of these, especially after being "scaled back," can it?

I really have to know more. AH-HA, evok? Bob Lutz?

WMJ is truly wild as all hell. In other news... If what I think you think I think Ah-HA and evok are saying is true, I'm surely pissed. This whole cancellation thing is damn stupid, especially for the volume autos. Please, if anything is dead, let it just be the Malibu name and not the midsizer itself.

I sure hope so. It's about time for a redesign. IMO, the C-class is the oldest-looking Benz on the lots. I gotta say, I see some RL in the rear end, however much we can see. Not bad, though. Looks evolutionary.

Nah, it's a bad mock-up. A very bad mock-up.

What a name. I thought the IS was small enough as it was. I still don't understand the concept of a luxury subcompact "economy" car.

I searched a few translators and my high school Italian books and notes (three years, baby), and never found any mention of "belta," or anything like it. Bellezza does sound familiar, but according to my Italian teacher (born and raised in Italy, can't remember what part), the word is "bella."

Looks a lot like the BLS, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. They need to clean up that tick ass roof, though. Are Theta and Sub-Theta related in any way to Epsilon, or is it all in me head?

Has anyone seen the new Accord ad where an Accord is driving through a city of white? Nothing but white as far as the eye can see. [All throughout the ad, all I could think was how boring a sedan it is.] Then at the end it claims, "Restyled...the 2006 Honda Accord. There's nothing vanilla about it." Seriously.

I finally saw a couple XL-7s on the road and mistook them both for Equinoxes. Will the same happen here?

It's a scene from the Family Guy movie, a play on the diabetes commercials done by Wilford Brimley. I found it hilarious. RAW was awesome. Quite possibly the best show ever. reports say that Smackdown will be a tribute show as well, as they were both taped yesterday.

From the Celebrity Death toll Update: EDDIE GUERRERO!!! Famous for: <s>His storied professional wrestling career, with achievements including two ECW Television Championships, two United States Championships (in WCW and WWE), two WCW Cruiserweight Championships, two WWE Intercontinental Championships, two WWE European Championships, four WWE Tag Team Championships (two of them with his nephew Chavo Jr.), and one WWE Championship...and his long, seemingly triumphant battle with alcohol and drug abuse, as chronicled in the DVD "Stealing Life, Cheating Death."</s> For being one of the best ever. Cause of death: Not revealed as of yet. He was found dead this morning in his Minneapolis hotel room. Age: 38

From Wrestling-Edge.com: WWE.com is reporting that Eddie Guerrero has passed away. Guerrero was found dead this morning in his Minneapolis hotel room. We here at Wrestling Edge pass our condolences to the Guerrero family, his friends and World Wrestling Entertainment. More details on Eddie's tragic passing will be forthcoming. At only 38, this former multi-time and multi-federation champion was in the prime of his life. And my favorite of all time. Eddie, you'll be sorely missed.

It's Bill.

First, I have to say that this arguing back and forth by FOG and Croc is not only childish and immature, but unnecessary and has nothing to do with the Escalade. Please take it elsewhere if it has to be done. I'd rather it not happen at all, but if it must... Now, my rakings: Exterior: 1. (slab sides aside...) Escalade 2 (tie). Navigator 2 (tie). QX56 4. GX740 Interior (options and design): 1. Escalade 2. Navigator (mostly on design) 3. LX470 4. QX56 Powertrain: Escalade.

Finally up at Dodge.com: http://www.dodge.com/caliber/index.html They only have concept photos up at the moment, but as we all know, the final product won't differ much from the concept. Not bad, IMO.

How do you mean?

BTW, it's up at Cadillac.com if this hasn't been mentioned already.

Distinctive my ass. Lutz sucks. Someone PLEASE tell him to keep his hands OFF Cadillac!! :angry: And why the hell isn't the DVD nav offered at launch?! This isn't to say that this truck sucks at all. On the contrary, the enghine is awesome, offering so many different seating configurations is a good idea, and the grille and headlights are nice. I just wish A&S wasn't dying. The interior and A-pillar back aren't distinctive at all, and the rear looks like it came off a 2000 Tahoe. I wish I could comment more on the interior, but I've only seen a couple crappy pics that don't show much at all.

Especially the front end. I also see some Sentra SE-R and "L-Finesse" in it. Not very original...

The only things I don't like are the slab sides. I keep hoping these are only on preproduction models, otherwise Cadillac just isn't A&S anymore. Say it ain't so!!

Here you go:

I thought it debuted on the Cobalt... Isn't it also on the Corvette?

Probably to bring it in line with the Tahoe. I'll expect a change like this for the Equinox sometime soon as well. I have to find some more pictures to tell if I like it, though...

Sure, why not. (Off-topic) I just realized the front ends of the Cobalt SEMA concept, the SS concept, and the Sky are all very similar...And I like them all.