CaddyXLR-V

It would be expensive. The Cobalt and Aveo are not $28,000 cars like the SKY RL and Solstice GXP. The Cobalt needs to stay in the price range of $10,000-$20,000, which it can't do with a DI turbo engine. I think the question comes down to: How do you get 130-150hp, with the best fuel economy as possible, as cheaply as possible?

Trailblazer SS with an LSA swap?

Good points. But what if we compare it to the Armada or Expedition which get 12 miles per gallon? Over 100k city miles you will save about $11,000 between them and the Tahoe.

he knows his stuff. I have no argument against it. IMO GM cars did suck in the 80s and most of the 90s. It is also true that GM can not compete on cost with most other automakers except maybe the germans.

I love it. you can tell it is based off the saturn vue but it looks a lot better and more expensive. with rear hub motors its rwd too. its better than the x3 or the rx.

I actually like the Mini, but starting at $17,000, I wouldn't buy one. Sadly, that's where all small cars will be headed, and larger cars will become more expensive as well.

But the Vue has no sacrifices. Yes, it doesn't get 50 mpg. But, there are people who do not want a hybrid, and their 11 sec 0-60 times, me included. To increase CAFE, GM needs to offer alternatives to truck and SUV buyers, who will not settle for a 130hp econobox. As people move out of Tahoes and Trailblazers(GM's profit centers) they will need a place to go. They could move into the Lambda and Theta hybrids.

I won't, thanks. The Torana will not be replacing the Malibu anytime soon will it? G8 replacing the Impala?

The Cadillac is still compromised. It is not priced in the meat of the market. It is priced like a luxury car, like a Cadillac should be. Pontiac could be so much more. The Holden Torana could be made as the next G6. A Cadillac Alpha will start at the price of a G8 GT.

Cadillac is great, for people who want to spend $40,000+ on a 304hp car. Pontiac is great for the people who want to spend $29,995 on a 362hp car, or for the GTO, 400hp for $32,000. There are some people out there, that don't want to pay a $10,000 premium just to get a premium name. That's why when I had a choice between a 330Ci and a GTO, I picked the GTO.

Exactly. I don't want Cadillac to be Lexus. Just like Ferrari buyers take pride in how their engines sound. They are definitely not refined when driving around town. I'm all for advanced technology, but not when it is to make our cars silent. My main concern is that all this technology is taking the emotional aspect out of the cars. I like to hear the spooling of turbos, the whine of superchargers, and the rumble V8s. If you take that away, I might as well just drive an appliance.

I've heard nothing but compliments on how my GTO sounds

How about, NO. POS pushrodders, like the 436hp 6.2L in the Corvette, which is physically smaller than a 4.4 SC Northstar yet almost equals its power, even without a supercharger?

I see a problem with that also. The 2.8L turbo in the Saab 9-3, is rated the same in fuel economy as the STS with the Northstar, despite having 60 less hp, and weighing nearly 800lbs less than the Cadillac.

Hummer? Saab?

I believe it is about 16 million per year for the US.

The Grand Prix is only sold to fleets(above 60%), and they sell for lower prices than the G6. That is not good for GM, and should have been killed a long time ago. The G8 will probably match the retail sales of the Grand Prix, at much higher prices. Pontiac's image is not in a good place, and the Grand Prix is only dragging it lower. The G8 will start to reverse Pontiac's bad image.

What in the modern world is really done out of necessity?

Go buy other cars, because if GM catered to you, Pontiac would be dead in 2 years because they would all be hideous and no one would buy them.

Lexus is also playing catchup on styling too. The IS is the only Lexus that looks good, and it still can't compare to the CTS. I can't think of any Lexus that looks best in it's class. Why is having hybrids the only qualifying factor? Lexus has been down on performance and styling. Isn't that 2 of the most important factors in luxury cars? But since they have hybrids everything is ok? Cadillac focused their effort on areas they feel are more important. Reviews are saying about the 3 series, that while the interior is nice, it is no Cadillac, referring to the CTS. I agree with some things you say, like Cadillac needing a non-V series 350+hp V8 option, but alot of the rest is pure BS. The current Cadillac is a new company also. There's pre-CTS, and post-CTS. The way I see it, Cadillac in it's current form, is only about 6 years old. Cadillac went from being compared to Lincolns, to being a serious threat to BMW/Mercedes/Lexus in 6 years. Give them credit where credit is due.

Just like Lexus playing catch up with the IS-F? Correct me if I'm wrong, wasn't Lexus late to that party?

All I'm saying, is that the Corvette is reaching the limits of what can be done with a front engine rear wheel drive car. They are running out of "tricks" they can do to improve the performance of the Corvette. Oh well, who cares about improvement. And yes, look at what Lotus can do, except, they are mid engine cars too.

You can also save weight. There would be no need for a rear end. The transmission could be connected directly to the rear wheels. There would also be less drivetrain losses because there would be no rear end, and no drive shaft. And how much lighter could they possibly make the current corvette? The ZR1 gained weight despite most of the car being made out of aluminum and carbon fibre.

Hopefully the weight is wrong. I was expecting this car to be lighter than a Z06, not heavier.

I would need to experience it before I pass judgment on it. I've never lived with a fuel cell/electric powered car, so I don't know if I would like it or not. My initial reaction would be HELL NO! just because I live with a V8 powered car, and I love the rumble from it, but I'm willing to give fuel cells/electric cars a chance, as long as improvements are made to them to where they don't kill the performance aspects of cars.