G. David Felt

Based on this release of info, that would negate by common sense standards people who rave about BMW and MB having top line auto's that are special and unique in not using common parts across the product line. But I still think we will hear SMK complain about this car.

G. David Felt Alternative Fuels & Propulsion writer www.CheersandGears.com Reviewing other green sites, I came across this story by Green Car Reporters about their experience with a Chevy Volt and Tesla in the same household. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1094260_life-with-chevy-volt-3-years-35000-miles-later-its-over To quote the story: "After three years of ownership, I've concluded that the Volt is a splendid vehicle. It's the only electric car I recommend to virtually everyone who asks." The writers story about never wanting to own an American auto and trying to buy a Nissan Leaf and ending up with a Volt is good reading. His first year of ownership ends with his Volt giving 200MPG in driving. He goes on to say when his Tesla arrived, his 16 year old daughter got the VOLT and the only time he used it was for Long Road trips, which the Tesla was useless for. Yet with using the VOLT for long distance trips, his Life Time Fuel Economy had fallen to only a Paltry 106MPG. To Quote the Write up again, the reporter listed the following "Five Best Things About The Volt" 1) No Range Anxiety 2) Peppy Acceleration 3) Peppy deceleration 4) Snoothness 5) Efficiency 6) Cargo room Course he apologizes but could not leave out the 6th. His reasoning in the write up are all very valid. He does have his pet peeves with the car but they are minor by his Bottom Line closing. Quote: "The Volt is great car--smooth, efficient, nice riding, versatile, and in my case, virtually trouble-free. It's in a class by itself: a full-performance electric car without range anxiety or compromised performance. I heartily recommend it to anyone--and I mean anyone, not just early adapters willing to make the usual e-car compromises--contemplating a compact hatchback or sedan. If the second-generation Volt, due out next year, can put three people in the back seat, hit 50 miles electric range, and 50 mpg in gas mode, its long-term future as the Electric Car For Everybody will be assured." I found reading this reporters write up on his 3yr experience with the VOLT validates my own limited experience with the car in that GM started off right with what they have done and in the next generation we should see even brighter and better things.

Either way, bad Karma is what this is all about. Plus China is always super cheap and so I would NOT want to be a supplier to them as I would not expect to be able to make money.

GM did it in '78.. Yup, and if we can believe the spy shots, Malibu is next to fall in line... sigh... long, low roof six window fastback sedans. I blame the Audi A7, it started the trend. Benz CLS was before the A7, but it was just a melted E-class... the A7 is the template for all that followed, imo. The CLS may have been on E-class mechanicals, but looks nothing like the E-class..the CLS design is my favorite of modern Benzes....I like the A7, esp. that it's a hatchback. Of course, 6-window midsize sedans are nothing new...GM did it with the A-bodies in the '70s (RWD) and 80s (FWD), Audi going back to the '70s, Ford w/ the Taurus, etc.. Today there are so many w/ similar greenhouses...Fusion, Avalon, 200, Sonata, etc... You hit the nail on the Head, with so many similar greenhouses, but just follow a trend, why not bring something new and better to the table. If I was GM, I would pull the Areo Look back onto the Malibu as was found on a limited production run of Monte Carlos from the mid 80's. Have a decent trunk and you have a winner, call it Chicken Dinner!

The whole fastback look of 4 door sedans is so yesterday.

Agreed, king cab version for GMC with the TT 3.6L as the New Syclone would be AWESOME!

Was that wheel spin on that truck trying to get up the ramp?

Z71 while a cool underpinning package, should be a more aggressive looking package also. Z71 should be the best bits from the Hummer world in a package that allows for a competitor to the Raptor from Ford. IMHO

I will totally disagree with you, I wished I had taken a picture and if possible when the coworker gets in get one. He bought a E series MB and talks like you how superior they are and yet the fit and finish is a joke. The space between the drivers door and dash is a good 1/2 inch wide compared to the passenger side and dash which is about a 1/4 inch wide at most. You can clearly see that spacing is off, plenty of OK material from plastic to leather but I would not say it is superior or even better than the CTS or ATS. You have me looking more and more to compare and the more I look the More I question your judgement as BMW and MB have select usually the M series or AMG series where you find a very nice auto but the rest of the line up is just OK and competitive. Even their SUV/CUVs leave a lot to be questioned about.

Bummer for Ocn, but exciting for Sept. 30th.

My ATS hit 56K, About what I expected for a fully loaded car. Extremely competitive with BMW and MB.

BUT BUT BUT, If GM had really looked at the market, they should have built a Mini Pickup instead that started in the teens and ended in the low to mid 30's for a Mini Pickup Crew Cab Fully loaded. This would have given a nice family line of trucks for people to buy. Instead they almost just extended the full size truck line with these. I really think Marketing and GM Mgmt missed the boat big time. If Ford ignores the stupid mid size truck market, brings back the Ranger Mini Pickup in Regular, King and Crew cab configurations starting off around 15-18K and topping out at 32-35K they will have a much better spread to address customer needs and especially those living in cities where a mid size or full size is way too big to own and park.

Any and all new auto pics and info is greatly appreciated. Have fun Drew!

Wow talk about a joke of a report. Yes they highlight a couple things but it does seem to just give lip service to the real lack of this department being current and modern and doing their job. Course everyone in DC wants a scapegoat but protect everyone's job without really serving the public. Such a shame.

Just gives more luxury to more people!

I agree with you here that it is a good blue print for GM to have used. Hopefully Ford will think this better and bring back the Ranger to compliment the F series pickups.

GMC to me is the better looking of the twin trucks, but I still think GM missed the gold mine by not building these new trucks as Mini Pickups with a starting price of 16 to 18K for a Standard cab model and topping out around 32K.

You need to read the fine print, this is 376 models covering 2011 to 2013 model years, that is more than a few hundred cars.

The steel town of yesterday, stay safe Drew!

Positive progress and good news for GM getting this behind them.

If it was old GM, the stop sales would have been never even issued. Come on, don't contradict yourself in one post. The good thing is they are being caught before reaching the public and even more before having an accident. Mistakes happen, on one is perfect. Oh nevermind, Mercedes S-Class is more perfect than GOD. WOW, 376 different Vehicles being recalled. 218 different recalls on SUV's due to failing to conform to the FMVSS #108. Second recall is for 158 different recalls for failing to FVMSS #138. So this is what perfection is under GOD!

Z I am surprised as I find Honda Stick totally lacking in any excitement or driving pleasure. They are just bland nothing there. This could also be due to me always driving manual trucks.

Nice Truck, they should have pumped up the rear tire before taking the pictures.