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Facility revved up for ethanol future Flex-fuel version now accounts for 15% of output but E85 remains difficult to obtain in state By MATT GLYNN News Business Reporter 5/10/2006 With gasoline prices holding at about $3 per gallon, vehicles that run on alternative fuels are looking more attractive to drivers. That's good news for the General Motors Powertrain plant in the Town of Tonawanda. The engine plant has churned out 170,000 engines during the last year capable of running on E85 ethanol, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Building the "flex-fuel" engine is a tribute to the productivity ratings of the plant, which employs about 2,500 people. And with interest in alternative fuels growing, being one of the GM plants that makes the new engines adds to the Tonawanda site's stability. "Our competitive situation enabled us to get this engine," said John Crabtree, general manager of the plant, during a Tuesday event highlighting the plant's role in E85 vehicles. continue reading article...

Dubai is in the UAE: United Arab Emirates. It's a country bordering Saudi Arabia but much more capitalist in nature and it's one of the most valuable allies in the Middle East that the US currently has. The palm island is still in construction mode. I saw a show called "Globe Treker" that was discussing it. Rich people from all over the world are buying up plots of land on this secluded island community. Overall, Dubai is a very beautiful country and is the jewel of the middle east.

It will probably look just like it since most of the interior is production ready. Take a look at the Saturn Outlook. Same center console as the Enclave. Different upper dash, vents, and materials used but still very similar. Outlook: Enclave: What I'm interested about is the logo modification for Saturn. I wonder if they're getting rid of the red background. Could someone chop the saturn logo without the red and post it? It's probably what they're going to do.

It doesn't really have to stand out too much to make an impact on the segment. It's a mid-lux SUV with decent build quality and a proven platform. I think it will sell well when it comes here. Crossovers, especially one of this size are becoming more popular every year. Remember, this SUV isn't very big and it offers more style then it's would-be competitors such as the new Rav4, CRV, Tribute, etc. I do believe Opel/Saturn/Vauxhall will recieve a vehicle closer to the Antara concept if GMDaewoo decides to build the T2X concept, since both are essentially the same vehicle if I'm not mistaken.

Not yet, but I doubt GM would really can the car. It still has another generation left to grab some customers before GM would be forced to phase it out due to poor sales. I would be surprised if GM didn't do something to it before the decade is out.

I think it looks good. It would allow GMNA to have a legitimate sub-compact vehicle other then the Aveo. Of course, it would sell in limited numbers but if it were built as is in the states, I'm sure people would buy it. Especially those who are looking for excellent fuel-economy and good looks. Something that the sub-compact category is lacking in North America.

Looks to be a cross between a mazda, a renault, and a volvo.

If the can bring the car to look more like the concept G6, there shouldn't be a problem. The interior definately needs an upgrade in look and in feel. It can't look like a malibu interior with round pontiac vents like the current one. It needs to be original and worth the money GM is spending on it or it will fade into oblivion like so many GM cars have done in the past.

You have to remember that the Astra is a premium compact sedan.. well, compared to the Cobalt anyway. They could produce a sedan for the American market if they wanted to and probably will on the NG model to meet our tastes. I prefer the hatchbacks because they offer more space and storage and they tend to be more attractive. Oh.. and 91z4me, I'm not wrong.. but I have moved on.

Yes... let us all get back to normal. Hopefully, the immature children who don't know any better and the smug adults who think they are better then everyone else will stop bickering.

I think you took my post a little too seriously. Of course they wouldn't waste money on a new car if they were phasing out the brand. I'm not that dumb to actually believe that. I was just throwing a little Pontiac conspiracy theory around that I have seen on other websites.. seriously. In regards to my comment on style for the brand: Though, take a look at the Solstice. One of the best looking Pontiacs in a long time. Very stylish, which is what Pontiac desperately needs. Not some "me-too" styling that is seen on the G6 and now this.

I'm so going to buy it. I don't care that it's smaller then my current car. I must have the ASTRA!!

Thank God this vehicle came out! For a second there, I could've sworn GM was actually giving the brand it's own style and some unique products. I got a little worried. They need to go back and continue building Chevys with kidney grills again.... kind of like this. WOO HOO!!!! ...end sarcasm.. well, I guess GM is just preparing us for the inevitable demise of the Pontiac brand by building vehicles that only differ in badge from the rest of GM's products. It will make the transition easier.

I have to admit, I'm not extremely impressed with that interior shot.. if that is, in fact, the final look for it. It looks good but like other people have said, it needs to feel like a quality interior. I'll still wait to see the final product but lets use a different radio GM! I have a feeling that I'll be complaining about that for most of the new GM vehicles.

You have to really get into it and watch it from the very beginning to understand what the show is all about.

Then you and I were in entirely different vehicles.. because that car did not feel like an expensive interior. It may have looked nice, but that ugly black center consule just ruined it. My Grand Am interior feels better. Honest!

NOBODY GIVE AWAY what happened. I totally expected that one thing to happen, but not the second and third thing.. if you viewers know what I'm talking about.

I can't believe what I've just seen. The writers on that show are so balsy for doing what they just did! For those of you Lost fans on the West Coast, you can't miss tonight's episode. Especially the last 5 minutes. You'll go nuts! If not, you have no soul!

There's only so much you can improve on such an old platform. Moving to the Epsilon platform will give it a clean slate. From there, Lutz can take care of the rest. Look at what he's done so far. The current Lacrosse is in no way competitive with the other cars in it's segment other then having a quiet interior. I sat in one and I couldn't get over how cheap everything felt. Though, I wasn't too surprised. It is a pre-Lutz GM vehicle.

I think people should also remember that the next Aura will be even closer to the next Opel vectra then the current models are. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the Aura/Vectra are going to be exactly the same. Something I think we can all look forward to.

My fog lamps, on/off switch for traction control, the stealth nob that can dim the gauges to where you can barely see them at night.

This should be the new slogan. The new ES 350: A vehicle that only a passionless robot with no soul can love.

I didn't know GM was using Ford trucks for GMC. From the brief view of the headlights and grill, I could've sworn that was the F-150.

It's so sad to see what this nation has come to. ILLEGAL aliens, people who purposely dodged the laws that were set in place to protect this country and it's citizens (including LEGAL immigrants) are demanding rights that they do not deserve at all because they are not even citizens! No, I'm not a bigot. My Father, Grandmother, and Aunt were all born in France and all became LEGAL citizens. My best friend's mother is from Mexico and she is a LEGAL citizen now. My neighbors are Canadian and they are all legal citizens. I can go on, but I won't bore you. Declaring amnesty to these protesting criminals is a slap in the face to all those who legally entered the country and to our system of government. They should not be allowed guest worker programs or amnesty at all. If they want civil rights, government assistance, social security, then they can apply for legal citizenship. If they don't want to do that, then they can leave. We should also severely punish companies who take advantage of the ILLEGALS by hiring them for well under minimum wage. Not only does it hurt them, but it hurts American citizens who look for the same job, but aren't hired because they must be paid at or above minimum wage. By punishing these companies, it would make it impossible for an ILLEGAL alien to get a job and they would have to leave. My opinion may not be popular, but it's an opinion that a lot of hard working LEGAL Americans of all races, creeds, and countries of orgin share with me. Those people need to stand up and demand that the government take action against these invaders. REMEMBER THIS: I'm NOT against Immigration at all. I'm against ILLEGAL immigration. These illegal immigrants need to either become citizens LEGALLY or leave. It's as simple as that.

Why isn't this in the Saturn section?