PurdueGuy

what does HCCI stand for? High Compression something something?

Those are beautiful cars - looks great in silver. Probably second best color to black on these cars, IMO.

You say seperate companies... what about brands? Either way, looking at how VW, Mitsu, and others have marginal enough sales volume that sometimes it is wondered if they will stick around, I think it's safe to say it's a tough market that doesn't have much need for newbie brands.

The Fiero has a cult following. It doesn't command high prices because it's not rare. A Chevy Kappa wouldn't be rare either, and wouldn't be of any higher value than the Solstice and/or Sky will be. In fact, since there would have been 30k of them, compared with 20k and 10k, they would be worth LESS.

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Anyone know the ratio of sales of Solstice VS Sky? Seems like originally they were planning production of 3:1 IIRC.

On the bright side, I don't think this idea is as bad as the occasional "get rid of GMC" threads that pop up... Still not a good idea, though. On the flip side, I think it's only a matter of time before Opel badges become available aftermarket for the newer Saturns.

1, 2

For me, the crossover vs true SUV debate didn't last long. I kinda thought a Saturn Vue to go with our two Saturn coupes would be kinda cool, but dirt roads in mountains meant it needed to be a real truck. I can see crossovers being totally adequate for people who don't see off roads or major hauling. Then there was the debate of how big does it need to be. For someone who will drive their SUV regularly, I can see going with something smaller for some better fuel economy, but since this is an occasional use vehicle, we wanted it to fit practically every occasional use we might come across. The really rather small fuel economy differences stepping from a Blazer to a full size SUV, and from a Tahoe to a Suburban, just made it clear that we might as well get the big one and be sure we can do everything with it. Including hauling lots of people more comfortably than I've found in pretty much any vehicle short of a small bus. Minivans & crossovers I've been in aren't nearly as comfortable for adults in the back rows. There certainly are those who do NOT need a big SUV that have them, though.

ZZZZZZZZ... Looks like a Dodge Taurus X

So there is still a spark? The article talked like it was simply ignition from compression which causes heat. That's a diesel... Not that the article was particularly forthcoming with details.

Crossovers are fine. ...but I'll keep my Suburban.

I never like light blues on cars. A medium, bold blue, or a dark blue can look good, but lighter blues always just look too pastel and make me think of easter eggs & baby cribs.

GM Takes New Combustion Technology Out of the Lab and Onto the Road PONTIAC, Mich – Engine experts have dreamt about it, talked about it and lectured about it, and today – for the first time – General Motors is letting outside parties drive the “most awaited advanced combustion technology” of the past 30 years. GM demonstrated the combustion process, known formally as homogeneous charge compression ignition, or HCCI, for the first time in two driveable concept vehicles, a 2007 Saturn Aura and Opel Vectra. When combined with the enabling advanced technologies such as direct injection, electric cam phasing, variable valve lift and cylinder pressure sensing, HCCI provides up to a 15-percent fuel savings, while meeting current emissions standards. “I remember debating the limits of combustion capability when I was in college,” said Tom Stephens, group vice president, GM Powertrain and Quality. “HCCI was just a dream then. Today, using math-based predictive analysis and other tools, we are beginning to see how we can make this technology real. By combining HCCI with other advanced gasoline engine and control technologies we can deliver a good fuel savings value for consumers. In an integrated engine concept, HCCI, along with other enabling advanced technologies, approaches the engine efficiency benefit of a diesel, but without the need for expensive lean NOx after-treatment systems. Its efficiency comes from burning fuel at lower temperatures and reducing the heat energy lost during the combustion process. Consequently, less carbon dioxide is released because the vehicle’s operation in HCCI mode is more efficient. The HCCI-powered concept vehicles – a production-based Saturn Aura and the Opel Vectra, both with a modified 2.2L Ecotec four-cylinder engine – drive like conventionally powered vehicles, but offer up to 15 percent improved fuel efficiency relative to a comparable port fuel-injected engine. (This fuel efficiency improvement will vary depending on the vehicle application and the customer driving cycle.) The driveable concept vehicles represent some of the first tangible demonstrations of HCCI technology outside of the laboratory. “I am pleased with our engineering team’s progress,” said Stephens. “It is another initiative in GM’s advanced propulsion technology strategy to lessen our dependence on oil. HCCI, direct-injection and variable valve timing and lift all help improve the fuel economy and performance of our internal combustion engines. I am confident that HCCI will one day have a place within our portfolio of future fuel-saving technologies.” Highlights of HCCI technology include: Diesel-like engine efficiency with substantially reduced after-treatment cost Builds off proven gasoline direct-injection and variable valve actuation technologies Adaptable to conventional gasoline engine architectures Requires only conventional automotive exhaust after-treatment Compatible with all commercially available gasoline and E85 ethanol fuels. How HCCI works An HCCI engine ignites a mixture of fuel and air by compressing it in the cylinder. Unlike a spark ignition gas engine or diesel engine, HCCI produces a low-temperature, flameless release of energy throughout the entire combustion chamber. All of the fuel in the chamber is burned simultaneously. This produces power similar to today’s conventional gas engines, but uses less fuel to do it. Heat is a necessary enabler for the HCCI process, so a traditional spark ignition is used when the engine is started cold to generate heat within the cylinders and quickly heat up the exhaust catalyst and enableHCCI operation. During HCCI mode, the mixture’s dilution is comparatively lean, meaning there is a larger percentage of air in the mixture. The lean operation of HCCI helps the engine approach the efficiency of a diesel, but it requires only a conventional automotive exhaust after-treatment. Diesel engines require more elaborate and more expensive after-treatment to reduce emissions. HCCI builds on the integration of other advanced engine technologies – some of which are already in production and can be adapted to existing gas engines. The cylinder compression ratio is similar to a conventional direct-injected gas engine and is compatible with all commercially available gasoline and E85 fuels. The prototype vehicles GM demonstrated the adaptation of the HCCI technology in driveable concept vehicles based on conventional, production-based products like the Saturn Aura and Opel Vectra. The Aura features an automatic transmission; the Vectra, which is aimed at the European market, has a manual transmission. Both vehicles are powered by a 2.2-liter Ecotec engine (180 horsepower [134 kW] and 170 lb.-ft [230 Nm] of torque) that features a central direct-injection system, with variable valve lift on both the intake and exhaust sides, dual electric camshaft phasers and individual cylinder pressure transducers to control the combustion as well as deliver a smooth transition between combustion modes.A sophisticated controller, using cylinder pressure sensors and GM-developed control algorithms, manages the HCCI combustion process, as well as the transition between HCCI combustion and conventional spark-ignition combustion. The transition between the combustion processes is notable in the demonstration prototypes, but production versions are intended to deliver an imperceptible transition while driving, similar to the deactivation performance of GM’s Active Fuel Management system. Currently, the GM demonstration prototypes can operate on HCCI up to approximately 55 mph, transitioning to spark ignition at higher vehicle speeds and during heavy engine load. An extended range for HCCI operation is intended as further refinements to the control system and engine hardware are made. “Perhaps the biggest challenge of HCCI is controlling the combustion process,” said Prof. Dr. Uwe Grebe, executive director for GM Powertrain Advanced Engineering. “With spark ignition, you can adjust the timing and intensity of the spark, but with HCCI’s flameless combustion, you need to change the mixture composition and temperature in a complex and timely manner to achieve comparable performance.” GM’s global HCCI team will continue to refine the technology in the wide range of driving conditions experienced around the globe, from extreme heat and cold to the thin air effects of driving at high altitude. “Although our development costs for HCCI have been substantial, we have made tremendous strides in bringing this most awaited combustion technology out of the lab and onto the test track with the Saturn Aura and Opel Vectra vehicles. Additional development costs, including research and testing programs, are required to make the technology ready for the great variety of driving conditions that customers experience,” said Prof. Grebe. ----------------------- GM testing engine that could up fuel savings by 15 percent Reuters link Maybe I'm missing something... but it sounds like this is just a diesel engine made to run on regular unleaded fuel?

Hopefully they just mean a slightly smaller mouth, non-LED headlights, less blingy wheels, and probably a toned down interior. If they tone down the exterior lines much, it's gonna push into boring land. That blue oval in the slotted grill really looks like a chrysler crest & wings at that angle...

*shakes head* One of Toyota's claims to fame is it's Toyota Production System, which is supposed to keep the company focused on lean manufacturing, etc. Deciding two years ahead of time that they're going to make/sell a certain number of vehicles is an affront to lean manufacturing. They're not even doing what they supposedly do right, right! GM, keep focusing on design, quality, proper marketing, and let the stupid "biggest" title go if it goes. Pick your fights - that one isn't worth it. Just keep giving people reasons to come back.

now if only it looked good...

Cheater's reply: Caddy XLR-V, then sell it & buy something more normal (like a used car) and half pay for a house with the rest... Car-to-keep reply: Have they announced a new gen CTS-V yet? 2nd choice, probably Z06.

this is a 4 door coupe That thing has 4 full doors and doesn't even look like a coupe. It's a sedan.

They can only make so many, and how much bigger of a fit would you throw if the Astra had a 6 speed auto and the Malibu still had a 4? They'll probably all be 6 speeds someday. In the meantime, take comfort in the fact that probably 95% of drivers couldn't tell the difference between a 4 and 6 speed anyway - they just want a 6 speed due to a general "bigger is better" attitude. Care about performance? Buy a manual.

For this generation, probably.

That car needs an aftermarket exhaust system. There's no growl!

The first picture in black looks very, very nice! The rest look pretty good, and I'm even getting used to the back & don't hate it anymore (though it could still probably have been done better...)

You call the MINI excellent, yet it's as much as or more expensive than the Astra, and smaller... why? Because it's a PREMIUM compact. Why is it so hard to believe that the Astra is a premium compact, if slightly less so than the MINI? If the shopper is looking for most car for the money in terms of interior or engine size, then yes, they should move up to a midsize for the price. There will be more than enough people who want the Astra for the driving dynamic, the semi-rarity, the hot looks, etc. Different shoppers have different values, and at the low numbers that they're importing the Astra, it's a pretty safe bet that enough shoppers will value it & buy, even pushing toward premium compact pricing.

Oh boy, let's start a GAS SCARE! EVERYONE PANIC!!! Sure, prices could go up with a natural disaster, but I don't recall speculation like this ever helping...