Mule Bakersdozen LS

Sounds like some good engine specification-but I'm surprised-that's ahuge gap between a 3.6-liter V-6 (remember, Alloytec=High Feature) and a 6000 V-8! Nice model array (and consolidation of Acclaim/Executive into one trim)-even if it were a Chevy (styling is a bit bland, but we can work with that-and what isn't these days?).

Chevrolet Aveo Z02....has a nice ring to it (Z02 was the codename for the Turbo package for the 1987-88 Sprint and Spectrum, did you know?) Chevy could also import a diesel version, naming it Z90, which was the old Chevette Diesel-equipped codename. Personally I think Corsa is ugly like many Euro vehicles these days, suffering from TTS, or Too Tall Syndrome. The only vehicle I know of that has done right with tall vehicle styling both in photos and in person is the Ford Focus (Dodge Caliber and Honda Fit failed on the pictures part, but looked okay in person, ditto Toyota Yaris, though that looked bland in person).

There's no excuse as to why an Impala, Malibu, G6, Cobalt, or even the Aveo (or any GM vehicle) ABS is not standard. If a 1992-2002 Cavalier had it standard on every single model, its at least common sense that a Cobalt or Aveo should have it standard as well. I wouldn't buy any post-1992 vehicle if it did not have ABS. Same with front and rear side air bags or whatever else is standard on a cheaper, smaller car, a la Hyundai Sonata. I like the redesigned Impala a lot-I'd like it a lot more if it were better equipped.

I was thinking of naming the Chevy Lambda minivan Kingswood and styling it after the Nomad, more or less. I really hope GM reconsiders plans to give GMC a minivan-the Acadia is bad enough in turning a once-proud (if not shamelessly rebadged/regrilled from Chevy) truck-only marque into a diluted truck+FWD car-based crossovers and minivans one-big, big mistake-send the Acadia to Chevy, kill the Torrent, and send that minivan to Buick as a serious luxury rival; give Saturn Zafira and name the Opel/Vauxhall Galaxy rival the Relay, and thus kill the minivan there.

I'm a lot more worried about Pontiac than I am with Saturn or Buick-it'll take a little while, but I think Buick can get back on track-I mean, probably never again a near-volume leader like in the 1980's, but the styling needs to be right on LaCrosse and Lucerne the next time, and jack up those standard equipment lists, dump the CX trims.

GM needs to stop with the good paint being extra cost-I mean, on a Buick-you have to pay for the nice red (Crimson Tintcoat)-want a standard? You're stuck with Maroon (aka Dark Garnet Red). Chevy Cobalt? You're stuck with Victory Red-can't get a regular Sport Red Metallic, just this unnecessary Tintcoat. That, and for the LT trim-drop it to one! Its ridiculous-there should be no 0LT, 1LT, 2LT or a 3LT? And dump the LTZ-no one buys it! Just go back to Base, LS, maybe LT, and/or Z-24, with the 2.4-liter engine (give the SSS to Pontiac, dump the Chevy version-there needs to be air, here people!) Make aluminum wheels standard on all except Base (where they'd be optional, no PEGs to order), make those new fascia steel wheels standard or continue with wheel covers, base models only. There is no excuse why a deluxe-trim model (i.e. LS, now LT) should have wheel covers and/or steel wheels.

Woo-hoo! All of those features should be standard on every single GM vehicle-well, maybe stability control not just yet unless everyone else has it on subcompact, compact, and lower-trim mid-size cars, but no exceptions otherwise! Enclave better have a limited option list, and a vast standard equipment list-no more of this 'ABS and rear side airbags optional on 2 of 3 models' nonsense.

Both of those are still nice concepts-they look semi-modern today-I would've liked to see Eagle spread its wings and grow its beak, so to speak.

I'm confused-on the uspto.gov site, how do you search for Automobile names/trademarks? I was searching and it was all just very confusing and got me everywhere but where I wanted to be-you know, kind of like that teacher you ask a simple question but get anything but a direct answer from....I'd appreciate it, thanks!

Thanks for this topic! I'm thinking Lincoln MKV is the edition of the Fairlane-but who knows-sounds like Lincoln's getting new product and Mercury nothing. Also to note for DaimlerChrysler-if it says 'AG' at the end-it is for Mercedes-Benz; if it says 'Corporation' at the end, its for The Chrysler Group/Mopar (Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep). Great River Road is probably a limited-edition Jeep package, you know-like Rocky Mountain and Columbia Editions.

Looks just like the current, tiring (but still pleasant with that good old American feel-which may be a detriment in some cases) LaCrosse. Wasn't Super supposed to get a different grille?

I've hardly seen any Mercury's or new Lincolns, but maybe that's because the closest L-M dealer to me is in Henrietta. The Focus and Escape are aging fast-new platforms/major redesigns can't come soon enough. I've said it before, I'll say it again-Mercury's only hope from breaking away from Ford stylistically (or having any reason to exist at all) is to look to the 2003 Messenger and 2005 Ford of Europe Iosis concept cars. Lincoln-see the 2001 Mark IX, 2002 Continental, and 2003 Navicross concepts. Otherwise, Ford should just pull the plug on both those divisions-they're a waste of time and money. As for Ford, I don't know why it even has to think of what price class a subcompact car should be. Hmmm....let's think here...Aveo, Yaris, Fit-all in the $11,000-14,000 range, right? Bring the Fiesta over already and price/pitch it against those cars! NOW! Do something right for once that's not Fusion, Mustang, or the F-Series! And adapt the F-Series platform to fit a redesigned Econoline, use Explorer's for a new Ranger-its a year younger than the Grand Marquis, it needs a full redesign NOW! Ford's going to continue to see significant sales drops until they actually do something right and start making good decisions! The Fusion, Mustang, and F-Series can't pull all the weight....

I've seen a light green picture of the sedan in the latest Motor Trend-not ugly like the current model (or dumpy-looking as they better described it), but its still a bland car if those are the real deal. Hopefully the next Yaris will have some style to it-it continues the "too-tall" philosophy that plagues almost every single minicompact, subcompact, and compact cars these days-surprised it hasn't spread to the mid-size class yet. But Corolla should be better than it is now-there's little to recommend it other than passenger room and reliability.

Good news that those boring, plain looking wheel covers are relegated to the "shouldn't-even-exist" Value Leader G6. I don't understand why GM ditched aluminum for steel wheels on models such as the ex-LS Malibu LT. Oh well...at least its not as mind-boggling like trying to understand the ways of Ford Motor Company.

Good trunk space, i.e. 15 cubic feet minimum and leather seating upholstery that looks more convincing as leather and not the pedestrian vinyl-looking junk in GM luxury models these days. And kill one of the grey colors, either Thunder Blue or that other new grey color-keep the fake silver, but kill one of the other two. How about bringing orange back? Or an actually convincing gold?

I don't know why White Diamond is offered on Outlook-beautiful color, but for a luxury car (i.e. Buick, Cadillac), ditto possibly Red Jewel. Here's what I think would be better: Black Cream White (or Polar White, doesn't matter) Cool Grey-67U (Silver Pearl) Cosmic Quartz 14U Coastal Grey 46U Polar Blue 35U Deep Blue 37U (ditch that Navy Blue on all vehicles!!!!) Berry Red 63U Golden Cashmere 15U Bronzed Pewter 53U Forest Green 38U Ocean Mist 78U-still trying to figure out if its an Ice Blue like in the pictures or if its some Dark Slate Grey or such like on Malibu-its a very confusing color with many different swatches, it seems. Not sure what else, but that sounds good for now I think.

Looks great-but they should ditch the Navy Blue (on all vehicles, especially Aura, Solstice and Sky)-replace it with that new Deep/Midnight 37U Blue or such. Can't wait to get info on and see the Aura!

Great idea I totally agree with-pattern after previous concepts (also the 2003 GT Coupe concept), and revive the Airflow on its own, Sebring-based, a cross between Buick Enclave, the Pacifica, and the Lincoln MKX, closer to the latter in layout, but with more Pacifica-like in being a crossover tall hatch-wagon and not a crossover SUV.

Great article Bimmer325! I should look at these more often-I'm very excited for Saturn's future-the Aura looks by far and large like the best GM mid-size sedan yet-of course, given its relatives are Chevy Malibu and Pontiac G6 (and Saab 9-3), it wouldn't be very hard to do it even slightly better than those lackluster vehicles, right? But they did better, and I bet Aura will do very well-superb pricing, good engine selection-it isn't perfect-it has a dated base engine, I/most of us haven't seen the interiors in person, that Navy Blue needs to go, and the trunk space is less than even the long-forgotten L-Series (but still commendable at 15.7, but down from a class leading 17.5 cubic feet), but still-as that Taco Bell guy would say, It's Good to Go! And I can't wait to see the Outlook on the road!

I remember AH-HA saying that Reserve and Super would become future trim level designations for Buick-what's your bets? Mine are that the 3800 V-6 dies; CXS becomes the Reserve (and hopefully adds cloth upholstery and a front split-bench seat standard with leather and/or buckets no-charge), that would quickly boost Buick's upscale credibility-and also, cut the price on the existing CXS when that happens, add 15 (minimum) hp for 255hp to that 3.6-liter DOHC HF V-6 engine, maybe a 6-speed OD automatic transmission once that 2010 redesign rolls around. The Super sounds interesting, but a rear end tweak should also be in order-see Rendezvous and Signia concept for ideal taillamps. But alas, the redesign probably can't come soon enough.

The only thing that's worse than Malibu and G6 is the Kia Optima-everything else is better in almost every way! I'm digging the dashboard, and like the steering wheel overall, but its not as good as on the Airflite, 300, Crossfire, or PT Cruiser-the wide upper/narrow lower spokes and a relatively small steering hub, of course with metal trim would make it look more upscale. I think the black C-pillar overlap molding/plug works well here-otherwise it would look like an Infiniti G35, which is no bad thing, but it adds to originality here and makes us remember where this car was derived from, even if the Airflite's what we are truly longing for. And why was 15hp cut from the 3.5-liter V-6? Bring it back to 250hp at least! And ditch the Base model and 2.7-liter V-6-or at least bring the latter up to 220hp if its going to have any purpose at all.

I agree the headlights and taillamps aren't great-are the Chrysler guys SURE they were looking at the Airflite concept car when designing? Technical specs, more pictures, and a press release are on AutoWeek now. This lost trunk space-from a respectable 16.2 to a ghastly 13.6 cubic feet-who were they imitating when it comes to trunk space, the Mitsubishi Galant? The side looks nice, but content/trunk space/oddball taillamp/headlamp rounding shape disappoints.

That color is probably Blue Granite Metallic, which is essentially a Slate Grey better known as Stealth Grey Metallic over at Pontiac/GMC/Cadillac; Coastal Grey at Saturn; Slatestone at Buick; and Blue Slate over at Hummer.

The only three good things I can think about any of the GM minivans are the aluminum wheels on Uplander and Relay; the Grand Prix steering wheel, the color selection (but no black? WHY? How could you not offer BLACK on a vehicle?), and the Uplander grille. Otherwise, they're the worst or 2nd worst (behind or just above Ford, depends) minivan around. At least the 3900 V-6 engine is standard across the board for 2007, but those are the only positive things I can think of. And why would you put fake cloth AND VINYL on a 2005-07 vehicle that isn't a cargo van or base pickup truck?

Grand Cherokee, like all non-Wrangler-related Jeeps, is unibody, but truck-based and off-road capable, not based on a FWD car like Patriot/Compass.