VenSeattle

Even the Camry XLE V6 can be spec'd out over $30k but that doesn't prevent the Accord and Camry from being direct competitors. The point is, the Passat is nicer than the Accord at $24k & definitely at $30k. Most of the Accord's interior is vinyl also. It only has leather inserts. The Passat's leatherette looks just as good (if not better) as the Accord's leather/vinyl interior. If you want a full leather interior, I believe the Passat offers it (in a couple of varieties.) The Accord doesn't at any price.

My selection was based upon which Accord Northstar picked. Besides, The V6 Accord doesn't receive an upgraded interior. Compare a spec'd out V6 Accord and a Spec'd out Passat, and the Passat still comes out ahead with 6-spd auto, 280-hp V6, available memory seats, xenon headlights, real wood trim, front and rear distance censors, AWD, etc etc... a nicer environment all around. Yeah, the Passat will come out more expensive than the Accord, but just like people are saying the Accord is worth the extra cost over the new Malibu, the Passat proves the Accord could be better.

I think several of you missed my point. I am referring to a bigger picture than the "flagship vehicle" itself. The 300 was successful, but the Chrysler brand wasn't successful carrying that through to the rest of the brand as it remodeled each vehicle below it. The Aurora was generally considered a success, however all the showroom attention it brought in had little effect. Why? Someone attracted to an Aurora, but couldn't afford it, wasn't going to leave the dealership in an Achieva or Ciera. Nor were they going to consider an 88 or 98 as an option if the Aurora was just slightly "over the top." By the time Intrigue and Alero arrived to round out the line-up, the Aurora's mystique had worn off. What Oldsmobile was left with was two lower tiered sedans that had Aurora-inspired styling but nothing exceptional to draw the crowds back in. I feel Oldsmobile would have experienced a much different result if the Alero came out first, then Intrigue, and then finally... the Flagship Aurora. BMW rushed to give the bangled 7-Series an expensive face-lift one year after it came out, and has since given it another one. BMW made mistakes with the Bangled 7-Series and it's well documented. The Cadillac CTS was anything but cautious in its striking design, but the strategy still is. It allows you to test the waters with a new look without committing your entire line-up to it. If A&S would have dropped dead in the water like the Catera's styling, Cadillac still had the Deville and Seville formula to maintain the brand until Cadillac could refresh the CTS or come out with another entry level vehicle with better styling. Lexus would have been stupid to expose the LS buying crowd to the new look of Lexus until piloting L-Finesse on the IS. If L-Finesse had killed the IS, Lexus could have delayed any proceeding vehicle to make changes as necessary.

First thing, my comment wasn't comparing GM to Honda. I take it you ignored my reply to the "$24k best in class" comment by suggesting the Passat being a better choice (Just so you know... the Passat is not manufactured by GM.) Second thing, I also said both times that I wasn't referring to the design. The Lucerne's dash doesn't "look" like hard plastic, and neither does the Impala's for that matter. Both dashes have low-gloss textured finishes, yet they both get beat up here (especially by you) because they are actually hard plastic. You can't tell unless you touch the dash (none of us here on C&G could even tell from the initial press release pics.) So your "free pass" on the current Accord's interior material quality must be somewhat bias because just "looking nice" doesn't cut it for GM's selection in interior materials.

Throughout the 1990s Toyotas were more expensive than the domestic competiton but had less power and less features (Lexus didn't even get dual-zone climate control until 1997 let alone Toyota vehicles) with many of the available features requiring dealer installation. I remember reading several articles discussing mid 1990's Camries and Corollas in comparison tests that were technically "strippers" that just "felt" more expensive than they were.

There is no 4-cylinder LTZ. You can get a well-optioned 4-cylinder 2LT, although it won't have the climate control, accent lighting, leather (suede is better anyway), 8-way power driver seat, power passenger seat, fog lights, chrome door handles, heated auto-dimming mirror, silver grille, 18" wheels, LED tails, and TAPshift of the LTZ. The 4-cyl 6-spd auto LTZ won't arrive until next Spring. I'm sure pricing will be released closer to availability. Chevrolet Malibu Press Release:

2007 Volkswagen Passat 2.0T: $24,180 The VW Passat has better interior materials and a more upscale appearance inside and out.... plus you get VW's 2.0L I-4 200 HP compared to the Accord's 2.4L I-4 166 HP. However, I wasn't questioning the styling, but the interior material quality. The ones used in the current Accord are worse than the credit given to Honda. Hopefully, the new Accord has received upgraded interior materials. Unfortunately, I doubt the new Accord will match the Passat's interior quality considering the distance between the two at the moment.

You're joking right? The current Accord's interior, although well designed, is almost entirely made up of HARD PLASTIC.

Well you know... an unknown problem on a platform no longer produced by GM is equivalent to a potentially major problem with a 1-year young vehicle produced by bullet-proof Toyota.

Hmmm... Pricing looks correct IMO. The Malibu should be priced comparable to the competition... On a side note... not much cheaper than a Buick LaCrosse... and as pricey as an Aura. So expect significant price increases for the EPS II Aura and LaCrosse (especially the LaCrosse)... less than 2 years from introduction.

Here's my theory... and it's just that... but I believe a manufacturer should introduce a new style on the entry-level model in the Premium/luxury market. It's a more cautious approach. This allows time for the look to become recognizable, build momentum/popularity, and be refined before the more expensive models adopt the styling. It's acceptable for entry level vehicles to carry half-baked styling or ideas as long as it evolves, matures, and manifests throughout the rest of the line-up. If you start with the flagship, everything is just downhill from there. If the look doesn't catch on, what do you do? You can't change it too much because the flagship would become alienated (while simultaneously admitting the design was a failure.) You can't add content with new models to bolster sales, because the flagship already has the latest technology and features over any other vehicle in the lineup. Your hands are tied for an entire generation of products as you spread a lack-luster look across the portfolio. Even if you do add similar content (to recoup the costs of development and/or to save face for the slow selling flagship) buyers may not want it... such as iDrive. Recent examples of 'starting at the top' that either failed or received a luke warm reception: Oldsmobile - Aurora BMW - Bangled 7-Series Chrysler - 300 Volvo - C70/S80 Saturn - Aura Recent examples of successfully reviving a brand from the bottom up: Audi - the original A4 Infiniti - G35 Lexus - IS250/350 Cadillac - CTS Acura - TSX/TL Even if a vehicle isn't universally accepted with the new look (Acura RL, Cadillac STS, 1st gen A8) - the brand's reinvigorated image remained untarished. This is one of the reasons why I'm very thankful for Buick's situation. The LaCrosse will be replaced prior to the Lucerne. This is also one reason why I'm not too optimistic for Pontiac. Pontiac is receiving the G8 before the G6 replacement. Making a false step at the top didn't destroy bulletproof BMW, but it did make BMW reevaluate its design strategy. What could a blunder like this do to a non-bulletproof brand? I doubt it would be as fortunate. Oldsmobile anyone? When you go all-in on a last ditch effort, I definitely recommend taking the more cautious route. Start at the bottom with the volume models and work your way up.

He has that song you know...

Happy B-Day siegen!

The third one says Cadillac BLS to me: retractable Navi above stack, symmetrical layout, satin finish surround (or chrome) air vents.

Isn't the corporate structure different now from when they were Daimler-Benz AG? Isn't Mercedes-Benz a division within DCX just like the Chrysler Group? Overall though, I think this is for the best. Under 'Daimler AG', they'll be able to make future acquisitions without "Benz" being directly mentioned or associated.

AH! There’s a dose of info not provided before... Hmmm... That makes things very interesting. (At least one caveat... what would happen to Saturn if Chevrolet was a single global line-up after absorbing Holden and Opel? Would Saturn end up being absorbed by Chevrolet as well?) Back to what you were saying though... Why didn't you include Cadillac's Escalade line? Or is it Okay for Cadillac to have versions of Chevrolet SUVs and not GMC? Or are you saying no more stand-alone truck brands when they're just rebadged from a full-line brand?

There's enough Buick DNA in the 2003-2005 Buick Park Avenue Ultras to make them classics. Going to the Buick shows, it could (and will) easily sit among the Buick classics and hold its own.

Hehe... ANY 2008 GM VEHICLE???? Easy... 1st choice: I'll take my 2008 Buick Park Avenue in Black, fully loaded, and US certified... It's more luxurious than any GM vehicle currently sold in the US. If unable to pull that off, I'd choose between a 2008 Buick Lucerne SUPER: or I'd take a 2008 Cadillac DTS Platinum:

A new Q in 2009/2010!!!??? However, I'm nervous about the "new" price that'll go with it. It'll probably climb to match the LS460's... Oh well, it's good for Infiniti... and bad for Lexus

I say produce both, but call the mid-engine something different. Turning Corvette into a Chevrolet sub-brand (or even into a brand of its own) has been an idea tossed around for years. I say keep Corvette under Chevrolet, but allow the name to extend pass the single model... An Idea for expanding the Corvette "brand": I6 Porsche Boxter fighter = Z06 HFV8 DI RWD coupe/convertible = Z08 HFV12 DI Mid-Engine = Z12 Cadillac could have versions of these cars as well. The Caddy Z06 could go after BMW Z4, SLK, SC4?0 The Caddy Z08 would continue as XLR and go after the SL The Caddy Z12 would be the Cien and take on exotics from Lamborghini & Ferrari Flame away...

1) Using the new Two-Mode hybrid system as an example, GM shares the costs of R&D for fuel cells and hybrids with other manufacturers (DCX & BMW.) 2) What is your source for Toyota's annual R&D budget? http://www.industryweek.com/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=12518

Done... x3: Pontiac Grand Prix: Saab 9-3: Cadillac CTS:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2985307

Yeah... Just like the Aura XE & XR? Oh yeah... that worked out great for Saturn.

Great pics! But was I the only one who immediately thought "Aluminum Overcast" would be a great name for a gun-metal metallic color for Saturn's paint competition?