VenSeattle

Cadillac, HUMMER, and Chevrolet are now one dealership in Bellevue, WA. Bellevue's BPG dealership needs to be torn down/rebuilt or put out of its misery. The Dealership is an eyesore across from Downtown Bellevue and within eyesight of The Bravern where the new Neiman Marcus store is being built. To make matters worse, all dealerships in Bellevue are put to shame when compared to the new ultra-luxury Bellevue Lexus dealership just built a few blocks down from the Bellevue BPG dealer. If they closed the BPG store, I'd just go up to Kirkland. Even then, that's not ideal. It's a Pontiac-GMC store (by design) and acts as if it sells Buicks on the side. The dealership could also use some updating, but it's no where near as bad as Bellevue's.

hehe... one I try to remember when 'initiating' or 'responding to' questions or emails at work... Explicitness prevents flexibility.

And, as for w-body dimensions... The LaCrosse is right on par with the 2008 Honda Accord. There's less than 4 inches between them and the LaCrosse matches or beats several Accord measurements. I'm not arguing powertrain, options, etc... I'm strictly talking about packaging. People here have complained for YEARS about the LaCrosse being "cramped" and "uncomfortable" in proportion to its exterior dimensions. I'm 6'2" and have been in the LaCrosse dozens of times and can not see how the interior dimensions are out of place with competitors. If you add in the suspension improvements for the Super, the LaCrosse is hard to beat. Honda Accord V6 Exterior (inches) Length 194.3 Height 58.1 Width 72.7 Wheelbase 110.2 Interior (inches) Front Headroom 39.0 Rear Headroom 37.2 Front Legroom 42.5 Rear Legroom 37.2 Front Shoulder Room 58.2 Rear Shoulder Room 56.4 Front Hip Room 56.6 Rear Hip Room 54.3 Cargo Volume 14 cu ft Passenger Volume 101 cu ft Approx curb weight - 3567 lbs Buick LaCrosse V6 Exterior (inches) Length 198.1 Height 57.4 Width 73.0 Wheelbase 110.5 Interior (inches) Front Headroom 39.4 Rear Headroom 37.2 Front Legroom 42.3 Rear Legroom 37.6 Front Shoulder Room 57.2 Rear Shoulder Room 57.0 Front Hip Room 55.3 Rear Hip Room 54.6 Cargo Volume 16.0 cu ft Passenger Volume 99.4 cu ft Approx curb weight - 3,568 lbs.

Sorry I'm late also... Happy B-Day FOG!

They had no choice with the badge... a front license plate would have covered up the one on the concept.

Oops! sorry about that comment. Does the global mini-car platform have a name yet? Besides the Aveo replacement, what Gamma vehicles are planned for the US?

More than Scion... even based on current sales volume... and Pontiac isn't a division... but neither is Scion apparently. Maybe GM should start reporting Pontiac sales grouped in with GMC & Buick? Sorry about the Scion comparison, but I still see tons of Scions rolling around with painted business graphics and vinyl stickers with hub-caps advertising the local gizmo or service. This includes the new xB & xD. Scion is relegated to 'outlet' & 'business tax write-off' hell here in the PacNW. The fleeted Pontiacs at least survive with a mild scanbar on the back side window and look somewhat respectable. After giving this some serious thought... what if Pontiac was to debut the Chevy Gamma triplets instead? Pontiac Beat, Groove, Trax with an Alpha 'Mix' coupe to round out the line-up? Chevrolet could continue with an Aveo 2-dr, 3-dr, 4-dr, 5-dr line-up and new Cobalt for the compact coupe/sedan?

I believe H, K, C, & G are all designations used for the different variants of the same architecture that debuted with the 1st gen Aurora. My Park Avenue is supposedly on the LWB Premium Version of the G-Platform but still carries a "C" platform designation in the VIN. If I understand correctly, the true versions of G breakdown like this regardless of platform designation: - 1st Gen Aurora & Buick Riviera - shared version - Buick Park Avenue & Cadillac Seville - shared version - Pontiac Bonneville, Buick LeSabre, 2nd Gen Aurora, Deville - shared version - DTS & Lucerne - upgraded version of the one used by Pontiac Bonneville, Buick LeSabre, 2nd Gen Aurora, Deville ----------------------------- Anyway... I love different W & G vehicles. The Supercharged Buick Regal GS w/Joseph Abboud trim is my favorite W platform vehicle. The Intrigue would win my vote but the Intrigue's lower front fascia looked too cheap and down-market while the interior materials, although nice, were not durable. Unfortunately, most of Oldsmobile's renaissance interior materials didn't wear very well. The Aurora was the exception. Not surprisingly, the Park Avenue is my favorite G-Platform vehicle, but closely followed by the 1st & 2nd gen-Auroras. The 2008 DTS Platinum should win, but it's just not worth the asking price.

There's no comparison... Buick is not a stand-alone sales channel. It's grouped in with GMC & Pontiac. Combined, they sell approx 1 million cars annually in the US. Even then BPG doesn't stand alone in the US because it is also supported by corporate, GM. Mitsubishi Motors is sitting on billions of dollars in loans and they play alone in the NA market now that ties are severed (or being severed) with Daimler and Chrysler LLC. We'll see what happens.

But it's still with 300hp! I'd pick the interior materials over the Camry. The transmission also shifts like butter and it beats out other $30k midsize sedans in performance. AND Sorry, but magnetic ride control on the Super appears to all but compensate for the dated platform in ride quality. If someone wants to bitch about length vs interior dimensions, it's only 3-4" longer than the Accord, but beats/matches it in many dimensions. Not really a supportable argument considering how long the w-platform has been around. The LaCrosse Super is worth the price. The other trim levels with the 3800... not so sure. When you're settled in Vegas, take the Super out for a spin... it might win you over as an over-achiever and perfect for a daily driver.

OC... just call the waterfront of Anchorage what it is... it's an inlet. Did you make it to Mad Myrna's while you were there? Fun place. I'd love to live in Anchorage for 2-4 years for the experience, and just to be able to say I earned their dividend check. LOL (I bet most of you didn't know Alaskans are practically paid to live there did you?) As you can tell... yes, I've been there also... If any of you go to Anchorage, I highly recommend booking your stay at Captain Cook Hotel. Fantastic place. Great breakfast and gym (athletic club) etc for the price. It's one of the nicer places you can stay in Anchorage. Service is great also. For those who have never seen a moose in the wild, you'll probably spot one between the airport and downtown. lol. -------- 1 ... Where is your favorite area in your HOME country (for most of us, the US)? HAWAI'I hands down.... Unbelievably beautiful and very gay friendly. Kauai isn't called the Paradise Island for nothing. Oh, and the only way to do Honolulu is Waikiki beach front. If you've never been, plan to go during Halloween. The holiday is HUGE in Hawai'i! 2 ... Where do you want to go in your HOME country (for most of us, the US) in your lifetime? It's a multiple-tie, but I'll probably combine them all into a single two-to-three week trip... I have a fascination with the "Gilded Age" of the US... back when US laws allowed visionaries and opportunists to become our country's equivalent to aristocracy. Start at the grandest of them all, Biltmore. Head up to Newport. Do the Gold Coast. Continue through the Hudson Valley. End up at Niagra Falls. I've read about the degradation of the Woolworth mansion (Winfield Hall), and the loss of White Marsh Hall breaks my heart. I think the entire tour would make an excellent vacation. I think it would be the USA's equivalent to a Loire Valley tour in France. Now, if I could only convince my partner to join me... lol. My above fascination is one of the reasons I enjoy visiting Craigdarroch Castle every time I'm in Victoria BC. Wonderful city and beautiful too. I'm sure the Canadians here would agree.

Well enzl, now that you’re penniless and homeless (j/k), look at the upside It's all about the Camaro... but seriously... None of the divisions are plagued with "tacky" styling. All divisions have consistent identifiable (subjective - attractive) looks. Every division has a vehicle that offers AWD; Most with multiple offerings of AWD. Chevrolet, Pontiac, Saturn (Sky), & Cadillac now offer RWD vehicles for enthusiasts. GM's initial and long term vehicle reliability trumps the best in the world from just a few years ago and continues to climb. Interiors are unmistakably improved and world class in many of GM's new car offerings. None of those things could have been said in the 1990’s. The areas in which most demanded improvement have been addressed. Consumer Reports even thinks GM's vehicles are greatly improved and recommends many of them. You can't ask for a better critic to praise your vehicles considering their historical position about domestics. You've stated several times it takes time for the public to catch on. Well, we're now in the sit-and-wait period. In truth, GM isn't late to the game with small fuel efficient cars... GM has just never made small fuel efficient cars very well. Large cars were great, but small ones were awful. As much as "Daewoo quality" still incites jokes and criticisms, GM has recently invested billions to bring Daewoo up to world class standards. Their next batch of vehicles, which should make their way to several American GM Brands, will determine if that money was well spent. No amount of product is going to solve the gluttony of dealerships for GM. Sales will never be able to sustain the network again. In the Seattle area, we now only have 3 Cadillac dealerships. That’s the same amount as Lexus. One BPG franchise was recently closed and not replaced. It’s taking time, but the dealer issue is improving… albeit slowly. The downturn in sales will continue to work in GM’s favor consolidating dealerships. It’s sad that several long-standing businesses will declare bankruptcy, but it’s good for GM (and those that survive)in the long term. Be glad you’re with a bullet-proof and well-managed dealer group and that you’re not actually going to lose everything because of GM.

I've been seeing them regularly for awhile. They don't really look awkward on city roads... It's on the highway when they look odd.

Their dealerships are dropping like flies and so are sales. I firmly believe Mitsubishi will be the next manufacturer to pull out of the US market. I'm just waiting for the announcement.

This rumor article was interesting... Thank you PCS! http://cadillacenthusiastmagazine.com/cadi...-rumors-031308/

Just came from an eye appointment and saw a brand new (still had dealer plates) Black Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG coupe. Yumm!

Outlook tanked. Aura sales are up but still disappointing overall. The next gen-Aura can't come soon enough for Saturn. The only thing keeping Saturn afloat right now is the VUE. I can't help but wonder how the VUE would sell at B-P-G dealers if there was an upmarket Buick version with Enclave interior/exterior influences. I have absolutely no need for an 8-passenger CUV, regardless of how beautiful, well-built, and quiet the Enclave is.

Audi of America Reports Increased Sedan Sales in April AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 1 /PRNewswire/ Link to Press Release A4 and A6 sales outpace expectations AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Audi of America, Inc. announced today sales for the month of April totaling 7,730, a decrease of 4.6% from last year's record figures. Audi Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) sales continued their record-setting trend; compared with last year's April figures, CPO sales rose to 3,175 units, an increase of 56.4%. "Nearly 11,000 consumers chose to buy an Audi in April," said Johan de Nysschen, executive vice president, Audi of America. "Combined new vehicle and pre-owned sales point to a powerful endorsement of our brand in a tough market." Luxury car buyers considered the tightening economy and rising gas prices as they shopped, choosing the style and fuel economy offered by Audi's suite of sedans and CPO vehicles. Nationwide, sales of the A4 grew 9.7% over last year, sales of the A6 jumped by 33.7%, and the new TT drew a 12.1% uptick. Certain areas reported even stronger figures; Los Angeles area dealers reported a 6.2% rise in total sales, boosted by a 35% increase in sales of the A6. Dealers in several big markets, including Atlanta, Chicago and New York, also recorded year-over-year gains. To date, Audi has sold 28,286 vehicles in 2008, a 2.9% decrease over the previous year; CPO sales for 2008 total 12,084, an increase of 46.4% over 2007. ABOUT AUDI OF AMERICA Audi of America, Inc. offers a line of luxury vehicles that include the Audi A3 sport compact; the sporty A4 sedan, Avant and Cabriolet models; the high performance S4 sedan, Avant and Cabriolet models, the high-revving RS 4 sport sedan and Cabriolet; the all new A5 Coupe with FSI direct injection technology; the S5 Coupe with 354 hp; the design-leading A6 sedan and Avant; the V-10 powered high performance S6 sedan; the Audi Q7 performance SUV; the new all-aluminum Audi A8 and A8L; the new S8 with V10 power; the all-new 2008 TT Coupe and Roadster models; and the all-new, all-aluminum R8, one of the most exclusive mid-engine sports cars in the world. For more information, please visit http://www.audiusa.com. AUDI US SNAPSHOT -----YEAR TO DATE----- Apr-08 Apr-07 Apr-08 Apr-07 Yr/Yr % YTD YTD Yr/Yr % Actual Actual change actual actual change A3 398 662 -39.9% 1,514 2,150 -29.6% A4/S4/RS 4 3,130 2,852 9.7% 11,670 10,934 6.7% A4/S4 Cabriolet 552 1,054 -47.6% 1,761 2,994 -41.2% A5/S5 484 n/a n/a 1,674 n/a n/a A6/S6 1,201 898 33.7% 3,929 3,730 5.3% A8/S8 284 355 -20.0% 1,036 1,287 -19.5% TT 435 388 12.1% 1,560 684 128.1% R8 43 n/a n/a 210 n/a n/a Audi Q7 1,203 1,897 -36.6% 4,932 7,355 -32.9% Total 7,730 8,106 -4.6% 28,286 29,134 -2.9%

Nissan North America Announces April Sales NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 1 /PRNewswire/ Link to Press Release NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today reported sales of 75,855 units in April, an increase of 4,731 vehicle sales compared with April 2007. NISSAN HIGHLIGHTS - Nissan-brand vehicles saw sales of 66,318 units in April, compared with 61,179 during April 2007. Adjusted for a difference in the number of in selling days, this represents a 0.1 percent increase. - Versa posted its best April with sales of 6,865, up 26.4 percent on a daily sales rate basis from April 2007. - Nissan passenger car sales showed a 16.7 percent sales increase in April to 41,943 units sold versus 33,166 units sold in April 2007. On a daily sales rate basis, Altima sales were up 28.1 percent and Sentra sales increased 25.5 percent in April 2008 compared with last year. INFINITI HIGHLIGHTS - Infiniti sales reached 9,537 units in April, 408 units less than in April 2007. Adjusted for the number of selling days, this represented an 11.5 percent decline. - The G37 Coupe posted a 50.4 percent gain in April over a year ago with sales of 1,928 units in 2008 compared with 1,183 sales in April 2007. - The Infiniti EX, the brand's newest entry in the luxury crossover segment, was the Division's best-selling truck in April with 949 units sold. NNA INFORMATION - Combined sales for Nissan and Infiniti of 75,855, compared with last April's sales of 71,124 units, marked a decrease of 1.6 percent on a daily sales rate basis In North America, NNA's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. More information on NNA and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at http://www.nissannews.com. NISSAN DIVISION SALES April April Monthly DSR CYTD CYTD CYTD DSR 2008 2007 % Change 2008 2007 % Change Nissan Division Total 66,318 61,179 0.1 303,530 307,615 -2.3 Versa 6,865 5,013 26.4 26,374 21,208 23.1 Sentra 8,842 6,502 25.5 34,206 32,325 4.8 Altima 22,630 16,309 28.1 99,037 90,338 8.6 Maxima 2,398 3,504 -36.8 15,394 17,101 -10.9 350Z 1,208 1,838 -39.3 4,479 7,096 -37.5 Total Car 41,943 33,166 16.7 179,490 168,068 5.7 Frontier 3,527 5,230 -37.7 17,054 22,440 -24.7 Titan 2,407 4,922 -54.9 13,762 23,769 -42.7 Xterra 1,916 3,045 -41.9 12,119 18,653 -35.7 Pathfinder 2,418 4,089 -45.4 13,248 20,240 -35.2 Armada 1,082 2,344 -57.4 6,551 11,186 -42.0 Rogue 5,814 NA NA 23,345 NA NA Murano 5,737 6,316 -16.2 31,210 32,733 -5.6 Quest 1,474 2,067 -34.2 6,751 10,525 -36.5 Total Truck 24,375 28,013 -19.7 124,040 139,547 -12.0 North American Produced 53,559 53,025 -6.8 244,496 267,786 -9.6 Car 40,735 31,328 20.0 175,011 160,972 7.7 Truck 12,824 21,697 -45.4 69,485 106,814 -35.6 Import 12,759 8,154 44.4 59,034 39,829 46.8 Car 1,208 1,838 -39.3 4,479 7,096 -37.5 Truck 11,551 6,316 68.8 54,555 32,733 65.0 INFINITI DIVISION SALES April April Monthly DSR CYTD CYTD CYTD DSR 2008 2007 % Change 2008 2007 % Change Infiniti Division Total 9,537 9,945 -11.5 42,070 42,490 -2.0 G Sedan 3,692 4,491 -24.1 16,952 19,813 -15.3 G Coupe 1,928 1,183 50.4 7,600 4,174 80.3 M 1,427 1,872 -29.6 6,184 8,136 -24.7 Q45 0 2 NA 0 17 NA QX56 741 823 -16.9 3,506 3,322 4.5 EX 949 NA NA 4,010 NA NA FX 800 1,574 -53.1 3,818 7,027 -46.2 Total Car 7,047 7,548 -13.8 30,736 32,141 -5.3 Total Truck 2,490 2,397 -4.1 11,334 10,349 8.4 COMBINED NISSAN AND INFINITI SALES April April Monthly DSR CYTD CYTD CYTD DSR 2008 2007 % Change 2008 2007 % Change TOTAL VEHICLE 75,855 71,124 -1.6 345,600 350,105 -2.3 Total Car 48,990 40,714 11.1 210,226 200,209 -3.1 Total Truck 26,865 30,410 -18.5 135,374 149,896 -16.6 Selling Days 26 24 102 101

Mitsubishi Motors Reports April Sales CYPRESS, Calif., May 1 /PRNewswire/ Link to Press Release CYPRESS, Calif., May 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitsubishi Motors today announced total April 2008 sales of 8,878. -- Lancer was the volume leader at 2,598. This was the best month for Lancer sales in 7 months. -- Galant sales were 1,402 for the month. Galant sales year-to-date are up 16.8% compared to the first four months of 2007. -- Eclipse Spyder sales were 803 in April, an increase of 42.4% compared to April 2007. -- Lancer Evolution sales were 364, up 14.5% for the month compared to last April. -- Consistent with the overall U.S. market, total Mitsubishi sales were off 26.3% for April compared to April 2007 sales of 12,047. Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is responsible for all manufacturing, finance, sales, marketing, research and development operations for Mitsubishi Motors in the United States. MMNA sells coupes, convertibles, sedans, sport utility vehicles, and light trucks through a network of approximately 480 dealers. For more information, contact the Mitsubishi Motors News Bureau at (888) 560-6672 or visit media.mitsubishicars.com.

Chrysler LLC Reports April 2008 Sales Fuel-Efficient Compact Vehicle Sales Set New April Record /PRNewswire/ Link to Press Release - The fuel-efficient Dodge Caliber, Jeep® Compass and Jeep Patriot set new compact vehicle April sales record - Chrysler Sebring Convertible sales take off as spring 'top-down' driving season begins - All-new Dodge Journey launches new ad campaign 'If you can dream it, do it' - Best-selling 'New Day' Value Package models continue to attract customers AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Chrysler LLC today reported total April 2008 sales of 147,751 units, which is 23 percent below the same period last year. Overall sales were most affected by slowing truck and SUV demand and a dramatic cut in daily rental-fleet sales. All sales figures are reported as unadjusted. "The overall decrease in April sales, particularly of pickup trucks, demonstrates that the auto industry continues to be under pressure from the national economy," Vice Chairman and President Jim Press said. "Despite the economic challenges, and concern about rising fuel prices, we continue to hear from consumers that there is growing interest in vehicles that meet specific needs, such as the Dodge Journey seven-passenger crossover for families and the Dodge and Jeep fuel-efficient compact vehicles for young professionals. Our plan is to continue to focus on meeting customers' needs, and managing our overall inventory to best weather this slowdown." Chrysler's lineup of compact vehicles continued to connect well with consumers this month. Total compact vehicle sales of the fuel-efficient Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot, which each achieve 28 miles per gallon or better in highway driving, reached an April record 17,977 units last month, up 16 percent from April 2007. As the spring "top-down" driving season begins, the Chrysler Sebring Convertible finished the month with 2,827 units compared with April 2007 sales of 1,447 units, a 95 percent sales increase. Also enjoying a positive month was the Dodge Charger with sales of 13,021 units in April, a 29 percent increase over 2007 April sales. In April, the company launched its largest digital-advertising campaign in Chrysler history for the all-new Dodge Journey, 'If you can dream it, do it.' The Journey, with best-in-class fuel economy (25-mpg hwy, 4-cylinder), delivers a unique combination of versatility and flexibility at less than $20,000. The Journey increased sales to 6,667 units in only its third month on the market. As a result of the success of its "New Day" packages, Chrysler will continue to offer the popular packages in May. The packages have struck a chord with buyers by combining the company's most sought-after features on a wide range of vehicles at reduced prices. The Company finished the month with 422,353 units of inventory, or a 74-day supply. As part of a planned reduction in manufacturing and capacity, inventory is down 13 percent compared with April 2007 when it totaled 482,786 units. Chrysler LLC U.S. Sales Summary Thru April 2008 Month Sales Vol % Sales CYTD Vol % Model Curr Yr Pr Yr Change Curr Yr Pr Yr Change Sebring 5,376 7,558 -29% 35,787 28,493 26% 300 5,771 9,136 -37% 30,723 39,512 -22% Crossfire 193 746 -74% 655 3,027 -78% PT Cruiser 5,807 7,753 -25% 21,411 33,086 -35% Aspen 2,135 1,964 9% 10,252 9,208 11% Pacifica 665 8,583 -92% 3,358 25,015 -87% Town & Country 10,723 15,701 -32% 45,104 52,572 -14% CHRYSLER BRAND 30,670 51,441 -40% 147,290 190,913 -23% Compass 2,804 3,239 -13% 13,204 15,077 -12% Patriot 6,348 2,904 119% 23,596 5,832 305% Wrangler 8,699 10,776 -19% 30,513 42,367 -28% Liberty 6,642 9,543 -30% 29,689 33,906 -12% Grand Cherokee 6,597 9,536 -31% 29,760 40,392 -26% Commander 2,643 5,202 -49% 12,291 22,098 -44% JEEP BRAND 33,733 41,200 -18% 139,053 159,672 -13% Caliber 8,825 9,306 -5% 40,156 36,512 10% Avenger 5,666 8,214 -31% 30,912 23,729 30% Charger 13,021 10,057 29% 40,039 40,980 -2% Viper 117 47 149% 389 200 95% Magnum 433 2,389 -82% 5,787 10,814 -46% Dakota 2,564 4,106 -38% 11,331 19,505 -42% Ram P/U 24,206 31,503 -23% 93,068 122,816 -24% Journey 6,667 0 0% 10,049 0 0% Caravan 14,665 23,095 -37% 47,936 75,984 -37% Durango 2,568 4,674 -45% 11,826 19,264 -39% Nitro 3,299 5,637 -41% 18,654 25,334 -26% Sprinter 1,317 1,208 9% 5,132 3,461 48% DODGE BRAND 83,348 100,463 -17% 315,279 379,768 -17% TOTAL CHRYSLER LLC 147,751 193,104 -23% 601,622 730,353 -18% TOTAL CAR 39,564 49,054 -19% 185,165 188,565 -2% TOTAL TRUCK 108,187 144,050 -25% 416,457 541,788 -23% Selling Days 26 24 102 101

Subaru Reports Record April Retail Sales CHERRY HILL, N.J., May 1 /PRNewswire/ Link to Press Release All model lines up significantly - 22% gain in Retail sales - CHERRY HILL, N.J., May 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Subaru of America, Inc. today reported April sales of 16,771 total units -- a record for the month of April. Retail sales were up 22% over the same month in 2007, driven by strong consumer demand. Both the Forester and Legacy model lines recorded substantial gains over the same period last year. The newly introduced 2009 model year Subaru Forester was up 49 percent while the Subaru Legacy was up 32 percent. Sales of all Subaru model lines were up while Forester and Impreza totals represent records for the month of April. Model 2008 April % v 2007 Total Legacy 1,890 +32% Total Outback 4,137 +1% (incl. Legacy Wagon) Total Impreza 4,010 +16% Total Forester 5,339 +49% Total Tribeca 1,395 +29% Total 16,771

If Chevrolet would build and bring over production versions of the triplet concepts Beat, Groove, and Trax then we'll have our Metro(s)...

Feel free to be as pessimistic as you want with this one. I'm not going to disagree.

Mazda Reports Best April Since 1995 With 12.8 Percent Sales Increase IRVINE, Calif., May 1 /PRNewswire/ Link to Press Release IRVINE, Calif., May 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported a double-digit increase in sales for April with 23,760 units sold in the U.S., a 12.8 percent increase over last year. Year-to-date sales are up 1.3 percent with 101,391 vehicles sold. MAZDA3, fresh off being named one of the "2008 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000" by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com, reported sales of 9,234 units, up 14.8 percent. Redesigned for 2008, the MAZDA5 multi-activity vehicle reported its best-ever April with 2,011 units sold, accounting for a 65.7 percent increase, while MAZDA6 reported a 15.9 percent increase with sales of 4,856 units. Mazda's crossover SUV lineup continues its strong sales momentum. The winner of the 2008 North American Truck of the Year and 2008 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year, CX-9, reported sales of 2,216 units, up 24.8 percent versus last year. CX-7 recorded 2,334 units sold while Tribute sold 1,192 units in April, up 58.1 percent. Combined, the Mazda crossover SUV lineup reported year-to-dates sales of 25,703 units, up nearly 25 percent versus last year. "Having the right vehicles at the right price, at the right time, is driving our sales success this month and this year," said Jim O'Sullivan, President and CEO, MNAO. "We anticipated the possibility of rising gas prices with a very strong lineup of fuel efficient vehicles which appeal to consumers' dramatically changing lifestyles." Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) celebrated its best-ever April with sales of 1,627 vehicles, up 41 percent versus last year. On a year-to-date basis, MMdM reported 6,656 total sales, accounting for a 40 percent increase. Mazda Canada, Inc. reported sales of 9,115 units, down 11.9 percent, while its year-to-date sales are up 2.2 percent with 28,712 vehicles sold. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mazda North American Operations oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario; in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City; and in Puerto Rico by Mazda de Puerto Rico in San Juan. Mazda North American Operations - April 2008 Month-To-Date Year-To-Date April April % April April % 2008 2007 Change 2008 2007 Change Mazda3 9,234 8,046 14.8% 36,310 39,973 (9.2)% Mazda5 2,011 1,214 65.7% 8,490 5,762 47.3% Mazda6 4,856 4,189 15.9% 24,450 24,362 0.4% MX-5 Miata 1,441 1,663 (13.3)% 4,685 6,036 (22.4)% RX-8 327 474 (31.0)% 1,238 2,205 (43.9)% Protege - - N/A - - N/A CX-7 2,334 2,740 (14.8)% 11,461 12,680 (9.6)% CX-9 2,216 1,776 24.8% 8,939 5,470 63.4% Tribute 1,192 754 58.1% 5,303 2,457 115.8% B-Series Truck 149 203 (26.6)% 515 1,070 (51.9)% MPV - 1 (100.0)% - 121 (100.0)% Total Vehicles CARS 17,869 15,586 14.6% 75,173 78,338 (4.0)% TRUCKS 5,891 5,474 7.6% 26,218 21,798 20.3% TOTAL 23,760 21,060 12.8% 101,391 100,136 1.3% MEMO: IMPORT CAR 13,013 11,397 14.2% 50,723 53,976 (6.0)% IMPORT TRUCK 4,550 4,517 0.7% 20,400 18,271 11.7% IMPORT TOTAL 17,563 15,914 10.4% 71,123 72,247 (1.6)% DOMESTIC CAR 4,856 4,189 15.9% 24,450 24,362 0.4% DOMESTIC TRUCK 1,341 957 40.1% 5,818 3,527 65.0% DOMESTIC TOTALS 6,197 5,146 20.4% 30,268 27,889 8.5% Note: MPV & Protege are discontinued vehicles.