Oracle of Delphi

Jamie LaReau Automotive News April 22, 2008 - 4:37 pm ET DETROIT -- Chevrolet will offer the new 2008 Malibu LTZ variant with a four-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. The new powertrain will improve fuel economy and cost $1,200 less than the V-6 LTZ. General Motors plans to ship the new version of the cars to dealers starting Thursday, April 24. The new six-speed transmission will boost fuel economy by 2 mpg in highway driving, Chevy Vice President Ed Peper said at a media briefing here today. That brings the LTZ's fuel economy to 22 mpg city/32 highway. " With this new model, the Malibu lineup offers an unmatched range of powertrains, technology and amenities," Peper said in a statement. Asked whether customers were demanding the new powertrain, GM's chief engineer for midsized vehicles, Mike Meloeny, said, " Obviously, people want better fuel economy." Meloeny said that among current customers, 60 percent want a four-cylinder engine and 40 percent the V-6. Once this powertrain is available, he expects that to shift to a 70/30 mix. The new LTZ version has a sticker price of $26,545. The LTZ V-6 starts at $27,745. Both prices include shipping. The 2008 LTZ trim comes with a V-6 engine, but on the 2009 model, the four-cylinder six-speed transmission will be standard on the LTZ and 2LT models. The new powertrain will be optional on the 1LT and unavailable on the LS. There is also a Malibu hybrid. The new transmission " keeps the buzz going," said Mike Weidman, marketing manager for the Malibu. Weidman said the combination of improved fuel economy, better acceleration, refined driving and a softer downshift gives Chevrolet " a great attribute to talk about out there." GM will start advertising the new Malibu LTZ transmission in some print ads now. Weidman said heavier advertising on the Web and TV and in print will begin when Chevrolet rolls out the 2009 models beginning in June. Link: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...paign_id=alerts

Harry Stoffer Automotive News April 22, 2008 - 12:01 am ET UPDATED: 04/22/08 3:51 p.m. EDT McLEAN, Va. -- The Bush administration wants automakers to get a running start on a congressionally mandated 40 percent increase in fuel economy standards by 2020. In proposed rules unveiled today, the administration is asking car companies to achieve a 25 percent improvement during the 2011-15 model years -- in effect, a 4.5 percent compounded annual increase. The expected result by 2015 would be cars that must average 35.7 mpg and light trucks that must average 28.6 mpg, for a combined 31.6 mpg. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters called the proposal " an aggressive but achievable standard." She announced the plan during an Earth Day event at a Department of Transportation research center here. Peters toured a display of vehicles with fuel-saving technology produced by seven automakers: the Detroit 3, Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Hyundai. Automakers say they accept higher standards but may dispute some details of achieving them. Honda has said it is prepared to meet whatever the government requires. The company considers a 4.5 percent annual increase " quite aggressive," said Ed Cohen, vice president for government and industry relations at Honda North America Inc. Various fleet averages Some automakers must meet higher fleet averages than others, depending on their vehicle offerings. Peters confirmed there will be different fuel economy targets for vehicles of different sizes -- measured by vehicle footprint, the area bounded by four wheels. Such a system will require some improvement in all vehicles. An automaker cannot comply with tougher standards simply by building more small vehicles. As a result, Peters said, safety will not be compromised. Federal officials said the rules include language aimed at pre-empting state efforts to regulate fuel economy. The rules do not alter the legal definition of light truck, which critics have said invites game-playing by automakers. A new federal energy law mandates the rise in fuel economy standards to a combined 35 mpg by 2020 for cars and trucks -- about 40 percent higher than today. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, part of the Transportation Department, had to spell out the details with regulations. Peters said the administration wants to set an aggressive pace in the early years covered by the law, to start saving fuel faster. Compliance will be easier because many automakers -- including the Detroit 3 -- have accumulated credits for exceeding previous standards, particularly with their cars, a top NHTSA official told Automotive News. The car standard of 27.5 mpg has been unchanged since 1990. The truck standard, at 22.5 mpg, is up slightly more than 10 percent since 1992. Giving credit The new energy law allows automakers to carry credits forward for five model years and to trade credits between their car and truck fleets and among companies. There is no indication that any automaker is interested in the latter feature. Industry executives attribute government's aggressive approach to fuel economy to a convergence of concerns about climate change, fears about oil supplies and anxiety over high gasoline prices. Last December, Congress passed and President Bush signed into law an energy bill that included the first mandated increase in the corporate average fuel economy program, or CAFE, since it began in 1975. The rules unveiled today must be made final by next April 1 so that the industry has 18 months of lead time for the official start of the 2011 model year. Peters said her department's goal is to complete the new rules by year end. Automakers and dealers are lobbying hard to maintain the administration's ban on state-by-state rules governing greenhouse gas emissions. The industry says such rules in effect would create a unique fuel economy standard for each state. Warning: Steep hill ahead Year - Car standard - Truck standard - Combined (all in mpgs) 2008 - 27.5 - 22.5 - 24.8 2011 - 31.2 - 25 - 27.8 2012 - 32.8 - 26.4 - 29.2 2013 - 34 - 27.8 - 30.5 2014 - 34.8 - 28.2 - 31 2015 - 35.7 - 28.6 - 31.6 SOURCE: Bush administration proposed fuel economy rule Link - http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...paign_id=alerts

No Sir, as much as that would appeal to me, we are taking the Southern route, so I can stop and see my mom (yes I have one), who lives in Plano, TexAss. Maybe next time I will take a Northern route, but that would put me in Yankee Land! :AH-HA_wink:

I do believe it's California, the Northeastern states and a few Southern states, about 20 in all.

Exactly, Saturn produces nothing on it's own. :AH-HA_wink:

Or you could sell it to your very favorite fellow Delawarean.

Jesus I'd pay for Vauxhall's unemployment myself if that helps kill it. It's easier to kill off a subsidiary, than a GM division. Saturn and Vauxhall are subsidiaries on paper and nothing more, just a quaint legal way to leave them holding the bag and not GM if something should ever go wrong. Saturn is already dead, how do I know? Because I helped kill it. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/05...company-indeed/

http://www.cheersandgears.com/forums/index...c=23624&hl=

Hmmm, after tomorrow my monies on Ted. :AH-HA_wink:

I am taking a month off, going to Lake Tahoe for a week, then driving through, Sacramento, Fremont (visiting the NUMMI Plant), Fresno, Bakersfield, Palm Springs, ending in San Diego where I will spend another week, before heading back east for home.

Now how can you say that, you love our EP II's!

The family and I are taking the 1969 Pontiac Custom-S on a cross country road trip to California and back. I also am in my niece's wedding in Scotland in September, where her soon to be husband's family is from. I am being forced against my will to wear a kilt, in traditional Scottish style.

Harry Stoffer Automotive News April 21, 2008 - 4:25 pm ET WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration apparently will try to spruce up its battered environmental image with an Earth Day announcement of higher fuel economy standards. Although there was no confirmation as of this afternoon, administration officials on Tuesday, April 22, are expected to reveal proposed fuel economy standards for cars and trucks in the 2011-15 model years. The Department of Transportation said Secretary Mary Peters will make an announcement on " protecting the environment." Federal law dictates that standards must rise to a combined 35 mpg by 2020, about 40 percent higher than today. But the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration must spell out the details with regulations. The proposed rules are expected to feature different fuel economy targets for vehicles of different sizes. By 2015, cars and trucks together would have to average nearly 30 mpg to be on a path to reach the 35-mpg standard by 2020. Today the standard for cars is 27.5 mpg and for trucks is 22.5 mpg. Last December, Congress passed and President Bush signed an energy bill with the first mandated increase in the corporate average fuel economy program, or CAFE, since it began in 1975. Automakers say they accept the higher standards but may disagree over the details of carrying them out. Automakers, dealers and others are lobbying hard to keep the administration's ban on state-by-state rules on greenhouse gas emissions. The industry says such rules in effect would create a fuel economy standard for each state. Link: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/arti...261661168/1128/

I am 100% with you on that, only I would use the word cheap rather than inexpensive.

Orange Juice

You need what I have. http://www.humanedgetech.com/news.php?id=14951

Odd, I thought you had to be alive and actually remember the thing in question, to have nostalgia for it?

Not really, the Opels sold there wear Chevy badges. :AH-HA_wink:

I think you can pretty much count on that in the Latin American market.

* GM Europe Q1 volume of 572,137 is the highest ever Q1 volume * Chevrolet Europe Q1 sales up 30 percent to a record market share of 2.2 percent * GM Russia sales up 78 percent * Cadillac’s European sales up 13 percent in the first three months * HUMMER sales in Europe increase by 59 percent compared to Q1 2007 Zurich. In the first quarter of 2008, General Motors (GM) Europe sales reached an all-time record of 572,137 vehicles*, an increase of 18,111 units compared to Q1 2007. The company market share was 9.6 percent. “The Chevrolet brand’s strong growth – especially in Eastern and Central Europe – continued in the first quarter of 2008. As the new Aveo, Chevrolet’s European best-seller, is just being launched in many markets, we are confident to see this trend continue throughout the year,” said Jonathan Browning, GM Europe Vice President for Sales, Marketing and Aftersales. “Market share increase of three percentage points for the GM group in Russia and volume growth of 78 percent compared to the same period last year are remarkable results,” Browning said. “Chevrolet in Russia grew sales by 60 percent, Opel by 150 percent and Saab by 75 percent. With our multibrand strategy, we were able to grow twice as fast in Russia in the first quarter than the industry.” Opel growing sales in Central and Eastern Europe Accounting for 73 percent of GM’s European sales, Opel/Vauxhall sold 418,496 vehicles in the first quarter of 2008. Market share was at 7 percent. Strong results in Russia and several Central European markets like Poland, Bulgaria and Romania somewhat offset a considerable weakening in the markets of Spain and Italy. Meriva was again the leading model in the small monocab segment, Zafira and Meriva led the total monocab segment. In the month of March, Astra was the leader in the compact segment. Chevrolet reaches all-time records for sales volume and market share Chevrolet maintained its strong sales momentum in Europe, reaching an all-time record in the first quarter, beating last year’s first quarter record by 30,248 units, and bringing total sales for the quarter up to 131,568 vehicles. Market share also grew 0.4 point, to 2.2 percent, the highest-ever first-quarter market share for the brand. Chevrolet experienced its highest volume growth in Russia and Ukraine. In Ukraine, Chevrolet doubled its volume by 7,919 cars to first quarter registrations of 15,853 cars. GM Russia sales up 78 percent GM brands in Russia maintained their fast growth rate, with sales increasing 78 percent, up to 82,725 units, in the first quarter of 2008, significantly outpacing the industry’s 37 percent growth. Market share grew 2.8 points to 12.1 percent, proving the success of GM’s aggressive Eastern Europe strategy. Opel and Chevrolet both performed well in Russia and the Central and Eastern European markets. At 23,479 vehicles Opel sales in Russia were up 14,099 units compared to Q1 2007, with market share growing from 1.9 to 3.4 percent. Chevrolet Q1 sales in Russia grew by 60 percent. The brand’s share in Russia grew from 7.5 to 8.5 percent, with sales of 58,498 vehicles that accounted for 44 percent of Chevrolet sales in Europe. Saab, Cadillac and HUMMER Sales Saab sold 19,653 cars in Europe. Cadillac grew sales by 13 percent compared to the first three months of last year, HUMMER grew sales by 59 percent. Total Europe Sales click link: http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet...amp;docid=44916

Even Opel wouldn't take ownership of the ION, that was GMNA's brainchild. However by 2014 the only difference between what Opel sells in Europe, and what Saturn sells in North America will be the badge, other than that, the vehicles will be identical. This was confirmed by Ed Welburn.

Control of the Epsilon platform was given to GM Europe in 2005. GM Europe is responsible for all future Epsilon product decisions other than Saab and Cadillac models. GM Europe was made the "homeroom" of Epsilon development, because of slight differences in the platform worldwide in the past. I think GM Europe has made good decisions where EP II is concerned.

GMNA needs to get their act together or GME will do it for them! :AH-HA_wink:

Not a fan of this.

Damn I finally saw those women, they are a bunch of homely looking women. They make Amish women look hot!