evok

Getting back on topic, here is the answer to the original question. http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2003-1...orsepower_x.htm Auto group studies horsepower testing By James R. Healey, USA TODAY Enough automakers are cheating on horsepower claims that the standard-setting Society of Automotive Engineers is working on stricter test procedures. "You see a huge variation" between advertised and actual horsepower in some cases, says David Landcaster, chairman of the committee working on eliminating loopholes from SAE's standard. "There are some (vehicles) way underpowered" compared with advertised numbers. (Related: Hyundai calls horsepower tests 'experimental') SAE's standard, widely used but voluntary, dictates how an engine should be tested to determine the power it will generate in a vehicle. "There are plenty of honest companies out there," emphasizes Landcaster, an engineering manager at General Motors. But "We've noticed some trends, and the trends have convinced us that it's necessary to go back and look at the standard." The SAE moves weren't triggered by any specific case of abuse, Landcaster says. Neither he nor others in the industry would identify cheaters. But Landcaster indicated that some claims are more than 7% optimistic. In Europe, engines are required by law to be within 2% of advertised horsepower. There's no such law in the USA, although 2% is considered the acceptable limit. European engines are certified by a witness, something SAE is mulling. One plan would use Underwriters Laboratories witnesses. A decision on a revised standard could come early next year. Talks with UL are preliminary, so witness certification could take longer. Horsepower often is a key criterion for shoppers. More powerful vehicles more easily haul people and cargo, more easily pass and merge, and give owners bragging rights. "We're in a horsepower race right now," says Gordon Wangers at Automotive Marketing Consultants Inc. AMCI tests vehicles to help automakers substantiate ad claims, but it seldom tests power because it's expensive and complicated. "A magic number at the $20,000 price is 200 hp, especially if the model's available with a V-6. And in luxury sedans, 300 hp has come and gone. It's 400 hp now that's the magic number," he says. To be illegal false advertising, the phony numbers would have to influence a purchasing decision. "Not whether it tipped the balance, necessarily, but whether it was important," says Michael Ostheimer, an attorney at the Federal Trade Commission. "If, hypothetically, a driver couldn't tell the difference, I don't know if it would be material."

Because some of us have an objective, working knowledge of the auto industry, and can point out the errors in GMs ways. Or we can think for ourselves.

The way I see it, it is not even worth mentioning the V8 engine at 06 NAIAS. And the hybrid, don't know where they got that one from.

I think Edmunds engine source has dyslexia! Don't believe what you read. And the V8 will not be available at launch.

Your welcome and I agree.

Hudson, I see this circle jerk Ridgline truck/not a truck discussion is still going on. Here is the data to support all the points you have made. http://dmses.dot.gov/docimages/pdf94/371928_web.pdf But I am sure the ignorant rabble on this thread will say it is wrong. Hell I am sure most if not all will dispute the study without even opening the link and looking at the data for themselves. Suffice it to say, the Ridgline meets the needs of the significant majority of truck buyers in the real world, no matter what the ill informed objectors say in this thread. Ill informed because they will not read the study.

Admittedly I do not know the game as you, but it is most likely that the shares he sold were part of the original June purchase. Priced at app. $31. I believe he has 4 years of tax write off for the loss. Also, I may be wrong but the IRS tax period ends Dec. 31., I think from my understanding that it may not be an issue for the Wash Rule. Correct me if wrong. To me this all appears to be meaningless, in the long term. And GM options? To volatile. Good old Kerkorian, hurt the hedge funds, and shorts first time around!

To those that took the time to listen to the reports, it is interesting to hear those key points The O.C., Croc and Haypops wrote about above from the source. You caught onto the same statements in the NPR interviews that I found very interesting. You will not hear those statements in the Detroit News or Free Press.

It is like having a pointless discussion with BM. You go around and around and it is not based upon the information at hand. It would be one thing if you listened, but neither of you did, for whatever reason. Therefor your thoughts are meaningless and take up bandwidth.

I caveated in the first post, listen and do not read. Yet the two of you just spew opinion from out of nowhere. I suggest you take the time and hear what people have to say instead of shooting from the hip. It might make for some interesting discussion.

It is from the perspective of the employees and that is why it is so interesting. The summary on the first link only gives an overview. It is an intersting perpective from UAW emplyees that are not in the UAW stronghold. I am not going to comment further and try to sway peoples opinions without them first listening to some of the interviews. The interviews tell a story from the people that are affected by the turn in manufacturing at GM. There has been thousands of words written on these boards on this topic by people that are biased in either direction. Listen to what the real people are saying, that do not come from the UAW stronghold. Listen to the words that do not come out of my mouth or yours or anybody that really does not have a direct vested interest in the layoffs. People might be surprised by what they hear.

I see this thread has not sparked much discussion. What I did find of interest, it the perspective of those interviewed. The people that were interviewed were not from the traditional UAW base but in SH, Dorville and OK City. It was interesting to see what they thought of the product they built and their thoughts on the compensation they receive.

But let us say GM only sells 50k Merivas or Zaphiras combined. What does it really cost them? I makes Saturn more viable and fills a niche. Much like Scion does for Toyota and it increases the utlization of the Euro plants. Even if the Euro/Dollar exchange forces the MSRP to be a premium. GM needs the flexibility to take advantage of their global manufacturing much like Scion does for Toyota. Seat/Skoda could do the same for VW's problems.

How many Korean built Chevy's are sole in Europe?

I have a better idea, why not build some SOAPS (Saturn/Opels) in NA where appropriate and export those overseas, and when appropriate import SOAPS from Europe into the US. The same with Holden. ie Meriva, Zaphira to US, Sky and a product to be named later to Europe.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5058950 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5058950 Listen do not read the transcript because of lost detail. Links at the bottom were good as well. Avg age of worker 49yo 30years senority. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5021604

Curtains are the wave of the future for different reasons but it has little to do with glass. The curtain and or seat bag with head protection will be up and deployed prior to significant intrusion. Assuming there is a relevant "delta v" or change in velocity, the side bags should deploy on average about 10-15ms into the event. This assumes a b pillar impact. The side bags deploy, nearside, or on the side of impact.

The seat mounted side airbags offer head protection.

At this time it would not be smart and there are many road blocks and other priorities. 1) Where do you build it? 2) Where do you price it? 3) What is the real volume? 4) Would you rather have a 4 door to replace Lucerne?

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?A...358/1148/AUTO01 Alaska's crude oil output hits new low, raises fiscal concerns Decline exceeds energy politics for state residents who get a hefty dividend from the oil tax revenues. Tarek El-Tablawy / Associated Press Advertisement Al Grillo / Associated Press The drop in Alaska is led by a slump in output from the once-mammoth Prudhoe Bay field, which has been producing oil since 1969. See full image NEW YORK-- Alaskan North Slope crude oil production, once heralded as a domestic mother lode, has hit a new output low -- embodying the precarious balance confronting the United States as it struggles for energy security in an era of volatility in the international oil market. The decline in Alaska is led by a slump in output from the once-mammoth Prudhoe Bay field, which has been producing since 1969. At its height in fiscal 1988, the field produced an average of 1.6 million barrels per day; but in fiscal 2005, it was down to 381,000 barrels per day. Overall production in the North Slope has dropped to an average of 916,000 barrels per day from 2.01 million barrels in the same period.

The insinuation of another longer wb EPII is unconfirmed and I believe speculation.

There will be more of a compromise, and I agree with that.

I have spoken to someone a week ago Friday, that is familiar with the situation and that appears to be what will come about.

Don't forget all the new transplants in the south. They got Hyundai, Benx, BMW, Nissan, Toyota for a reason.

See what you can do when you are in the jobs bank.