Mule Bakersdozen LS

A few things-what's an OEM? Great suggestion Oldsmoboi-that's one of those jobs I wouldn't mind doing for free anyway-suggesting (serious, legitimate) ideas to my favorite automotive companies to make their vehicles better. They could pay me/us if they wanted to, but $0 paychecks are worth it in this case too! Any chance of the High Value engines being eschewed for the High Feature V-6's this time? And how about Chevy cutting back on the trim lines? I mean there is no sense in a 2LT, 3LT, etc. Let's make it simpler with CS, LS, LT, and LTZ! (Note, no SS-that would be RWD V-8 cars and trucks ONLY!)

Ascender's been around since the 2003 model year-they just aren't commonly seen, and they're just rebadged, regrilled (nicely, might I add) GMC Envoy and (now dead) Envoy XL's.

Maybe it'll warm on me....still waiting-and those cabs still look way too small when compared to the competition, not to mention stale before on sale. Thanks for more pics though!

For some reason, it also reminds me of the beautiful Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class-now if you can get a retail Base model with a (good) V-6 engine...

I'll take a Ram-the Fords don't have enough power, but I agree, these trucks' dashboards continue to look dated (the only one that never did IMO, was the 1995-98 models'). The exteriors look so boring and non-descript, and its too bad there's no Sandstone or Gold Mist colors, according to the Dealerworld Site which lists the following:Black, Summit White, Silver Birch Metallic, Blue Granite (Chevy)/Stealth Grey (GMC) Metallic, Dark/Deep [Navy] Blue Metallic, Sport Red Metallic, Victory/Fire Red, Graystone/Steel Grey Metallic, and Desert/Medium Brown Metallic.

Sounds good, but a couple questions: will it be stylish (unlike the current Vectra, as boring as a European, American, or Asian vehicle can be)? And what's the seats-down cargo capacity of the current LWB Vectra wagon? I think Chevy Malibu should also have a station wagon-a real wagon-the Maxx is a 5-door hatchback sedan.

ION's have always been pretty popular-ditto Impala, PT Cruiser, G6 too. I've seen at least a couple Fit's in person, Lucerne's are very popular, HHR and Torrent so-so, but Equinox's are far more common sights.

I thought LaCrosse and Grand Prix were to die after the 2008 model year? Or would they stop production in 2008 as early '09 models? I hope Statesman in platform and powertrain only comes here as Impala and Lucerne-the exterior is bland and doesn't remotely match Buick's in style (though right now it does, considering how unBuick-like the current model looks). And remember, the Chi architecture got cancelled, so there probably (thankfully) won't be any more FWD large sedans.

Great pencil shading and technique! What kind of pencils do you use (HB, 2B, etc.)? Nice renderings everyone!

I agree-I mean I always liked Park Avenue for its elegant styling, but two FWD large cars was unnecessary in this day and age-all the next Lucerne truly needs is to look like a Buick, unlike the current car.

I know this might sound odd, but I would love to see SSR's exterior styling and design surface on Silverado and other Chevy trucks-it would make it look unique, the fenders wouldn't look tacked on here like they are now, and it would give the trucks a desperately-needed presence on the roads-I drew a new LUV extended cab the other day using SSR for a basis, and I thought it looked great. If I ever learn how to use a scanner and post a picture online....

I was in an HHR today-a nice Silverstone Metallic 2LT, to be exact, as my friend drives cars/trucks back and forth to dealers from Hoselton here in East Rochester, went to lunch in one today. Nice exterior, didn't catch the MSRP for once, great dashboard, ice-cold air conditioning-for a top-line tall, small wagon I was disappointed though that there were no illuminated visor mirrors and the rear seat was kind of small, not the best visibility (even out of the windshield), on the narrow side too, but the front leather/fake cloth seats were chair-high and as long as you weren't tall or wide or such, you'll have decent knee room, even if its having your left leg rest comfortably on the side of the center of the dashboard on the passenger's side. Equinox and Torrent are mid-size, not compact crossover SUV's (hopefully I'll get to check those out next). Mazda 5 is an act to follow-the microvan returns, and it is the first good microvan (the 1992-94/96 Plymouth Colt Vista/Mitsubishi Expo LRV/Eagle Summit Wagon were rubbish in my opinion, especially with a low-backrest rear seat and terrible interior, and terrible exterior on non-topline models).

Actually, you have Light Pewter Metallic as your lower color-Silver Birch didn't come until 2004! Actually, it is growing on me, but I prefer the 67U Silverstone/Liquid Silver Metallic.

The fender flares look kind of tacked on, but they make it look nicer-I take back a little of what I said earlier, but the cabs look tiny! If you want to recline the seat or put something behind it, forget it! Come on, this just isn't 1973 anymore! (Its 2007).

Yeah, but all they offered for the lower color was that unconvincing, bland "Silver" Birch Metallic-no Sandstone, not that boring Navy Blue, Victory Red, anything-so is it really a loss? If anyone can snag a 1996 GMC Yukon/Suburban brochure, check it out-they had vast two-tone combos-White and Dark Blue (or Navy Blue today), that would look good, I'd love to see two-tone come back, just as long as the automakers offer more than some not-even-remotely-convincing silver color.

I like GMC's attempt to finally distinguish its trucks from Chevy's-let's see if it can continue! Now if GMC can distinguish itself from a GOOD truck-that's another story-a tired theme stylistically-REAL TIRED! Boring, bland, the cabin looks absolutely cramped, and why would GM continue building the ancient 4300 V-6 (that should have died when the last generation was introduced for 1999), not to mention a 4-speed automatic transmission. Can't see the info part (or any but one fuzzy Victory or Sport Red Silverado photo), its too fuzzy. I don't like these trucks based on first official appearence-too small, too unstyled, too quarter-baked, wins only on powertrain and maybe model variety over the vastly roomier Dodge Ram and vastly higher-styled (even if controversial) Toyota Tacoma or Nissan Titan-or Ram, for that matter.

There's only two cars I think I could recommend with the least faults: Ford Fusion-and this one!

Way to go Lucerne! Still a blandly-styled, un-Buick-looking car however, yet stately in a sense. How does Impala compare? I see no reason for Mercury to exist in its form-it needs Messenger styling or it needs to die.

Also, I agree-Chrysler desperately needs to ditch the 2.7-liter V-6 engine (period) and any sub-Touring model. Chrysler needs to get back upscale, and so does Dodge. In other words, ditch boring wheel covers, black bodyside moldings or door handles (unless its an ST-trim Dodge truck), and make more options available.

Dodge Durango, for price-to-value and passenger/cargo room, is why if in the market, is what I would get if I were shopping for a large (truck-based) SUV-the Tahoe is just same-old (and its an old, stale formula, IMO), but Durango has some edge, is a better value than the mid-size TrailBlazer or Grand Cherokee, and of course, in most forms (unless you got suckered to buy the weaker V-6 or weak 4.7-liter V-, has a HEMI. That, is why Durango exists-because otherwise there would be no large SUV at the Chrysler Group. I've always thought a cramped, overpriced, understyled (less so now) BMW 3-Series has been one of the most overrated cars as well. I think the Chrysler 300 has a nice interior, otherwise its under-equipped in top forms (i.e. why does only the C get the HEMI or any V-8 in particular?) and it has very bland exterior styling, just like a Chevy Malibu.

When does the first Aura go on sale? I'd love to see some and get a brochure on it (a full one-I got an Aura/Outlook double-feature a couple weekends back), and it looks like a great car, but....its about as revolutionary as the Ford Fusion-a likewise nice car with decent styling but not as inspired as it could be, but hopefully come 2010, that'll change.

Oh okay-that's interesting to know-thanks for the info!

Well it looks pretty true to the concept car, which was very nice, though the steering wheel needs to go-it looks cheap and severely dated. I'm glad Enclave looks different from Acadia and Outlook-it desperately needs to because those two LARGE (these are NOT mid-size-check the specs!) crossovers look very similar, and so much that I can almost guarantee it that the public will notice! Enclave needs to make sure that it is a clear step ahead of Acadia/Outlook (and Chrysler Pacifica) that it offers more luxury and content features as standard.

That sucks because the new Commodore looks boring and bland, very uninspired. Nice stance though, but that's not much of a lineup. Then again, that's kind of like now, and its not like outside of Zeta-based models, Pontiac doesn't have much of a future anyway.

The exterior styling is boring and I hope it isn't exported anywhere as anything, but send the platform here with SS concept styling for the Chevy Impala; do 2000 LaCrosse styling for a Buick Lucerne, and cobble up something for a Pontiac Bonneville.