Mule Bakersdozen LS

I know-who knows what the Camaro would be like if it went front-drive (and Ford really thought the Probe was a Mustang replacement-HA!)

Yes-combine the style of the Mercedes-Benz CLS and the 1997-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix (plus a far better interior, high standard/optional equipment, decent passenger and cargo room, etc.) BUT DO NOT CALL IT GTO! I agree Sixty8Panther-GTO must remain rear-wheel-drive, V-8-engine, 6-speed OD manual (or 5-6-speed OD electronic automatic and/or TAPShift II transmissions), along with 2-door hardtop coupe and 2-door soft-top convertible body styles-name sedans and sports wagons LeMans. Keep it separate from G6, keep it front or all-wheel-drive, but with different engines.

Exciting! I can't wait to see and hear about new concepts and production models! When's that Lincoln large or mid-size sedan concept going to be unveiled?

Buick Aztek...now that would've given the brand a style infusion! Seriously, we need some styling masterpieces!

Looks nice, hopefully no passenger and cargo room was sacrificed, but why does the XLE not have certain features standard like they should be? Such as oh...the V-6, leather upholstery (its standard on the V-6, optional on the I-4-should be standard on both-this is a luxury model), and 17" aluminum wheels. Its 2007, get with it. Unless its a base model, full wheel covers are out, and so are 16" wheels. But the styling isn't too bad so far, the dimensions are on target, and the Malibu andG6 are going to have a heckuva lot of harder catching up to do than they do now. And if GM screwed up the Aura with a cheap interior (I like the Aura, but I can see them easily screwing something up), then they've shot temselves again. I don't think Camry will have a problem continuing as #1.

According to that 1973 Bob Dylan original and circa 1989 Guns N' Roses remake of Knock, Knock, Knockin' on Heaven's Door, I think evok is saying things are getting dark and Evok's not happy about it-its really taking a toll-AH-HA's said something similar in the past week, and after seeing those Cobalt, G6, Lucerne, etc. turkeys, I haven't been fully encouraged about GM since the Impala and Equinox.

As long as Malibu offers substantial passenger and cargo room over the competition and equipment, comfort, etc. per dollar value (all things the current model cannot claim), then I will be happy. If it is narrow, bland, and too small for its own good like the current Vectra or Malibu, then that will be bad. For a dynamite mid-size, front-drive car stylistically, the Malibu should look like the 2003 SS concept car. It needs the most variety, and while they may be long shots to many GM management and others, I;d like to see available 6-passenger seating and coupe (partially to replace current Monte Carlo) and station wagon body styles to return, and redesign and separate the Malibu Maxx-call it Traverse or something. GM needs to get its stuff together, and after college, I'd like to help them do that.

The whole thing reminds me of the Lumina! And the 1988 Venture concept in particular that kind of previewed the original 1990-94 models. I would've liked to see something more 2003 SS concept, not just for Malibu, but all Chevy's, right down to Aveo or a minicompact.

They used to be many steps ahead-it seems now they're many steps behind-I mean the technology's there (i.e. Phatnoise, Bluetooth, OnStar, etc.), but the products are massively behind (i.e. the minivans, GMT900's, Malibu, Cobalt, most anything that's not Equinox, Aveo, Impala, and a select few here and there others).

I was in a Lucerne CX interior on Saturday-very Lucerne-basic-just power windows and door locks, only a stereo with CD player, air conditioning, not even a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Looked subpar even for a Chevy Impala LS, let alone a full-size Buick with luxury aspirations. The upholstery sucked and it was too narrow, just like every other car these days. The center seats were flat and had some back support, but not terrible, but still....I'd taken an Impala anytime over this pile.

Chevy Impala LS?

I don't see why the TrailBlazer and Envoy would be dropped-they're mainstays, they still seem very popular, and I hope the distinction between them continues that didn't with Tahoe/Yukon/Escalade. Those are the only mid-size truck-based SUV's needed, IMO. The EXT, Envoy XL, and also-stylish but forgotten/forgettable Envoy XL (not TB EXT) rebadge Ascender will be missed-the EXT/XL sold well around here, and as long as the GMC Acadia had as much passenger and cargo room as the 370's, then I bit it will be fine.

That's not a bad idea! Biscayne, Bel Rey (trademarked), Impala and Caprice should be left to rear-drive cars, as well as any SS level.

Not class competitive? Try class lagging! Okay, it beats Focus and a few others...face it, the Cobalt was never ever going to attract a clientele "premium" from the current Cavalier or the Honda Civic, or Toyota Corolla, or anything like that. The windshield on the coupe is so upright looking, I thought they were using my 1989 Buick Century as a preferred angle! And the rear window goes overhead of the rear seat-are you guys ever going to learn? Sporty is one thing-safety needs to be there too. And the coupe and sedan passenger volumes and rear legroom definitely lags well behind the rest of the class. 83 and 87 cubic feet? The Corolla and old Cavalier had 90 for sedans; the old Cavalier coupe had 87. And the rear seat legroom norm is 35-36"-Cobalt has like 33.7". Miserably sad for a car that's like 103" wheelbase and 180" overall length-pretty oversized for a compact by at least 2". GM needs to get its space and fuel efficiency groove back and now, or else it will continue to lose out until they get something fully right, and that's right down to actual full cloth upholstery, respectable interiors with vast passenger and cargo room, a lower-than-competition price, good price to equipment ratio, important safety features STANDARD (i.e. side airbags, ABS), and more. The Cobalt fails on every single one of those counts. Is it just me, or is it a pattern that GM's cars and trucks get good initial reviews, only to find out the products are far behind most of the rest of the class not too much later? I think I sense some buttering up, but that's just me.

Yeah I think the engines are to be the 2.4-liter DOHC (World) 170hp I-4, 3.5-liter SOHC H.O. 250hp V-6, and the 4.0-liter HEMI V-6 engine, with output ratings of 260hp and 275hp, according to the AllPar forums. CVT and manual transmissions are expected to be available on the 4-cylinder, with the V-6's likely to have the same 5-speed OD electronic automatic found on the Charger/300/Magnum.

Me too-awesome 2-seater! I like the Solstice, but I prefer the Sky.

Yeah Chevy's just getting the Uplander redesign or replacement-for now anyways-I'd like to see the GMC Acadia transferred to Chevy though-as it just doesn't fit GMC's professional grade truck image, since its a car.

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf...A2570CA0005E0A4 Looks like a Yaris from the front doors forward-I don't really see how it would slot below it other than the miniscule 1.0 and 1.3-liter engines. Looks like a generation II Echo, but nicer outside.

Yes, when GM introduced extended vans around 1991-92, they actually bothered to EXTEND THEIR WHEELBASES!!!!! Remember, Dodge (and still Ford) extend their length to the rear-I question their safety. The GM vans since their 1996 redesign and 2003 facelift, though they aren't differentiated at all, have drab cloth and vinyl interiors (I know they're mostly work vans, but in the deluxe trim level? Come on!), they are still better than any Econoline ever was or will be (at least right now) and are just as good as Dodge's quirky, but increasingly popular Sprinter. What else I would do if I were GM is extend the wheelbase more, particularly toward the front, so the front door opening was a full, wide opening, and so the engine compartment would be moved fully out of the way of the apssenger compartment. I would also lower the body height to the ground, probably for better stability. I don't know the first thing about engineering, but it just makes sense to me. And ditch that 4300 V-6 and make the 4800 V-8 standard-there is no purpose of it being there, and while the Econoline is lousy and dated, it was still a smart move when Ford made the 4.6-liter V-8 standard on the E-150 series.

Starting to see more Civics around here too-the coupejust looks strange, and the sedan looks well proportioned, but I just can't get over how compromised it is.

There's also a Versa 4-door notchback sedan-it and the 5-door hatchback sedan come in 1.8 and 1.8S (I think) trims, and they have a lot of equipment standard and optional, at pretty decent prices, and pretty lame interiors-at least when compared to Altima (nice) or Quest (futuristic).

The Aveo is definitely a step in the right direction-its the best subcompact car that I can tell of right now-the Kia Rio, redesigned or 2001-05, is no match for the well-valued, roomy Aveo. It could use of course, a few adjustments, but its pretty good as is. I do agree the Corolla-based Nova and 1988-93 Pontiac LeMans were absolute disgraces in name and product, but if Aveo is light years away from them (and the Rio and Accent and others save possibly Scion xA and others coming out), then I'm not horribly worried, as long as they have high fuel economy, roomy-for-the-size interiors, decent equipment for low prices and decent interiors, then I'll be happy, were I in the market.

Definitely a 1984-88 Century sedan (1982-83 had a different rear end)-I hope these guys are caught.

I fully support GM's subcompact (okay, lower compact now) cars being on a single architecture-makes sense-why not a world car like the 1976 Chevy Chevette?

I think that this is one of the best-styled full-size models ever-match this with the 2003 SS concept car and that's what I want to see-these cars I'll admit were a little long, especially in the rear however.