Flybrian

Better question...who would like to be a Volunteer Photographer for C&G? lol

11 12 - Cadillac Accolade 13 - Pontiac Arbelos 14 - Pontiac G6 coupe 15 - Chevrolet Chevelle SS 16 - Pontiac G8 VOTE----------------VOTE----VOTEVOTE----VOTEVOTEVOTE--VOTEVOTEVOTE-- -VOTE--------------VOTE---VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTEVOTEVOTE--- --VOTE------------VOTE----VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTE---------------- ---VOTE----------VOTE-----VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTE---------------- ----VOTE--------VOTE------VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTEVOTEVOTE---- -----VOTE------VOTE-------VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTEVOTEVOTE---- ------VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTE---------------- -------VOTE--VOTE---------VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTE---------------- --------VOTEVOTE----------VOTE----VOTE--------VOTE--------VOTEVOTEVOTE--- -----------VOTE----------------VOTEVOTE----------VOTE---------VOTEVOTEVOTE-- Good luck to all who entered!

Welcome to the Sketch Competition #12 Voting thread! Remember, artists who entered must vote for someone other than themselves. Those that do not vote or vote for themselves will be asessed a two (2) point penalty. Voters, please nominate four (4) entries in this format: 1st place 2nd place 3rd place 4th place Each first place vote earns 4 points, each second place vote 3 points, each third place vote 2 points, and each fourth place vote 1 point. Voting begins now and will end Friday, January 12, 2007 @ 11:59PM. Only those votes cast during that time will be counted. Remember, the 1st place winner will recieve a special GM-related prize from Cheers and Gears! 1 - Pontiac Catalina 2 - Cadillac DTS 3 - Chevrolet compact MPV 4 - Pontiac X3 competitor 5 - Pontiac Grand Prix 6 - Aerovette 7 - Pontiac G8 8 - Pontiac RWD sedan 9 - SAAB 9-10x 10 - SAAB 9-3

Absolutely. I think even the Chevy Metro had standard ABS sometime in the late-90s/early-00s. Decontenting is the worst thing Lutz ever did.

Well, after the 'minivans suck' torrent, check out the feature list. Seems nice. Rumor also says AWD may return even with Stow'n'Go.

I've reported it to our hosting company.

**UPDATED** New equipment info from Allpar in the first post.

New GM Crossovers On An Odyssey of Their Own By Scott Anderson Dec 28, 2006 1:08 PM Link to Original Article @ WardsAuto PALO ALTO, CA – It’s just not cool to make minivans anymore. It’s debatable if minivans ever were cool – just ask any 30-something who grew up sandwiched between a cooler of Capri Sun and mesh bag of soccer balls. But minivans are even less cool if you’re an auto maker on the wrong end of the segment, as General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. demonstrated this year. Both domestic auto makers have shut down their minivan programs, leaving the sliding-doors wide open for the leaders: The Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Group’s Dodge Caravan. By no means does that mean GM and Ford have surrendered the market, however. With the all-new Saturn Outlook and GMC Acadia cross/utility vehicles, GM is trying to change the rules of the game as Generation Xers look to buy family haulers of their own. Both new CUVs are well-executed people movers that are distinct enough to avoid the criticism of homogenous rebadging. The Acadia brings the “professional grade” appearance GMC customers expect, even though the Acadia is the brand’s first model not built on a truck frame. Meanwhile, the Outlook’s pluckiness conveys Saturn’s conversion to European styling, even though this model is engineered in the U.S. Found in front- or all-wheel-drive layouts, both contain GM’s upgraded 3.6L DOHC V-6 with variable valve timing. The 275 hp and 251 lb.-ft. (340 Nm) of torque combine with Environmental Protection Agency fuel-economy ratings of 18 mpg (13 L/100 km) city and 26 mpg (9 L/100 km) highway for FWD variants. The mileage improvement beats the likes of the Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer and the new Acura MDX. The CUVs’ new dedicated platform hovers relatively low to the ground, aiding ride and handling that is fluid compared with some truck-platform SUVs or CUVs derived from existing passenger-car architectures. Inside, the Acadia and Outlook carry just about everything. There is space behind the third-row seats for groceries and soccer balls. All seats fold flat, and the third row is fitted with Velcro straps – easily reached and yanked from the tailgate – to erect and lock the third row into place. The third row headrests fold down with a push of a button, instead of requiring disassembly. Handles attached to the headliner near the rear side doors make entry and exit trouble free. The three rows of seats can be configured for seven or eight passengers, with two bucket seats up front and a standard third-row 60/40-split bench seat. The second row offers the choice of a 3-occupant split bench or two captain’s chairs. Both the Acadia and Outlook feature “smart slide,” a new seating innovation that also arrives on the upcoming Buick Enclave, the CUVs’ platform mate. A 1-pull lever pushes the second-row seat cushion up while the seatback slides forward. The entire unit slides as one, allowing for easier access to the third row. The feature also means seating can be adjusted for both tall and short passengers. Other little features on both models give away GM’s target audience. For instance, the angle of the driver’s dead pedal – no minivan needs a dead pedal! – was crafted with a groove for the comfort of women in high heels. Another plus is the 6-speed automatic transmission’s manual-mode button. That feature – perhaps not the most ergonomically placed, on the shifter in the center console – is nonetheless a nice option for engine braking and more spirited backroad cruising. The Acadia’s steering wheel could stand to be a bit more robust, especially for the typical GMC buyer. Uplevel interiors are plush, and the ride for all trims is nicely hushed. The CUVs were sealed with a new type of expanding foam that helps keeps out noise. A pair of optional sunroofs gives the Acadia and Outlook an open and airy feel, as opposed to cavernous minivans of old. GM presents the Acadia alongside would-be competitors in the Acura MDX and Honda Pilot. Both GM CUV models are down on horsepower compared with the MDX’s new 300-hp 3.7L V-6 mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission. However, GM’s 3.6L V-6 spreads more torque through a wider range. And along with the 6-speed automatic, it just plain sounds better. Neither rival vehicle is particularly pleasing for passengers getting in or out, especially the MDX, which allows third-row entry only from the curbside. GM’s point here is well taken: If a third row is necessary, it should be accessible without having to contort into a pretzel. The Acadia (named for the national park in Maine) continues GMC’s penchant for namesake national parks, such as Yukon, Denali and Sierra. An Acadia Denali version with a V-8 is expected later in 2007. The Acadia starts at $30,000 but can loft to nearly $50,000 fully loaded. The Outlook isn’t named for anything in particular, and GM product engineers bristle at any comparisons to the Microsoft software that has been known to crash from time to time. Outlook starts at $27,255 and tops out at about $38,000 nicely equipped. Why will these CUVs succeed when similarly pitched domestic “breakout” CUVs Chrysler Pacifica and Ford Freestyle haven’t lived up to expectations? GM says its CUVs offer low step-in height, yet still are more roomy than either of the aforementioned competitors, among other reasons. Fair enough. But how will GM market these to the minivan buyer without uttering the “M” word? “You don’t,” says GM product chief Bob Lutz, as he tears the Acadia around a corner here. “You just show them what they can get.” If Generation X gets it, GM may be able to take back some of its mislaid minivan market.

The rear end of the Dodge is clunky for sure. I have a feeling its going to be the ugly one. The T&C - once again - looks rather stately.

Well, the CTS took a dump.

Yes they are. Slightly.

I'm closing this today...

2008 Chrysler Town & Country | Dodge Caravan Press Release Fifth generation of industry-leading Chrysler Group minivans to arrive this fall All-new exterior and interior design for a more contemporary appearance Thirty-five new or improved features make the 2008 Chrysler Group minivans "family rooms on wheels" Five models, three distinct seating and storage systems and three powertrains, including a minivan-first six-speed transaxle, offer the right ingredients for any active lifestyle The all-new 2008 Dodge and Chrysler minivans once again prove they have the right ingredients to be the best vehicles to move people and cargo. With 35 new and improved features, the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country aren't just practical vehicles, they also have the right mix to be "family rooms on wheels," with something for everyone to enjoy. "The all-new 2008 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan spice up the minivan recipe by offering an all-new contemporary appearance, five different models, three distinct seating and storage systems, unmatched entertainment systems and the safety you expect and deserve," said George Murphy, Senior Vice President – Chrysler Group Marketing. "Add in three powertrain options, clever interior features and industry-leading functionality, and you have a recipe that will be a favorite with any family." The newest ingredient for functional family seating is the all-new Swivel 'n Go™ seating system. Swivel 'n Go offers second row seats that swivel 180 degrees to face the third row with a removable table that installs between the two rows, covered storage bins in the floor of the second row, third-row uncovered storage and fold-in-the-floor third-row seating. Swivel 'n Go also offers an available industry-first integrated child booster seat in the second-row quad chair and an available minivan-exclusive one-touch power-folding third-row 60/40 bench seat. "Chrysler Group engineers turned the tables on traditional seat systems to come up with a technology that lets families have more choices of how to spend their time while traveling," said Larry Lyons, Vice President – Chrysler Group Front-wheel-drive Product Team. "With Swivel 'n Go, second- and third-row passengers can face each other to have a conversation, play games or have a meal on the go." Safety is a key part of any minivan recipe, and that continues to be true with the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country. All-row supplemental side-curtain air bags, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with traction control and brake assist, LATCH child seat anchor system and a patented, energy-absorbing steering column are among the standard safety features included in the 2008 Dodge and Chrysler minivans. Innovations like an industry-first integrated child booster seat, ParkView™ rear back-up camera, a rearview interior conversation mirror, integrated child safety seat and ParkSense® rear back-up system also ensure peace of mind while traveling. MINIVAN INNOVATION LEADERSHIP The modern minivan was invented by the former Chrysler Corporation in 1983. Since then, the Chrysler Group has sold more than 11 million minivans and invented more than 60 minivan firsts that not only have revolutionized the minivan segment, but made their way into other vehicle segments as well. "Chrysler Group is the leader in bringing innovations to the minivan segment, and those innovations seem to have an uncanny way of ending up in other products," said Lyons. "Integrated child safety seats, dual-zone temperature controls, a power liftgate and DVD entertainment are just some of the features that started in a minivan, but are now available in other vehicle segments." For 2008, the Chrysler Town & Country (sold as the Chrysler Grand Voyager in most markets outside North America) and Dodge Grand Caravan offer value, functionality, safety and a package of innovative features that no other manufacturer can match. With 35 new or improved features, the all-new 2008 Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan offer consumers a home away from home. "The 2008 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan offer the best amenities for today's busy families," said Murphy. "With a dual DVD system that plays different media at the same time, pinpoint LED lighting to read by, a table to play games or finish homework, a voice-activated navigation system with real-time traffic, power sliding doors and liftgate and YES Essentials® cloth seats, every member of the family will enjoy their journey." UNMATCHED FUNCTIONALITY AND ENTERTAINMENT The 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country have spiced up the recipe for minivan success to include a place for everything. A premium, multi-function, front-row sliding console, dual glove boxes, second-row covered storage bins, third-row storage area and clever storage bins and pockets offer more places to store things than ever before. Three distinct seating configurations are available for 2008 in North America. They include a second-row bench seat with second-row covered storage bins and third-row fold-in-the-floor seating, a Stow 'n Go® seating and storage system that offers the only second- and third-row fold-in-the-floor seats in the industry and the new Swivel 'n Go seating that allows the second row seats to swivel 180 degrees to face rearward. Swivel 'n Go also includes a removable table that fits between the second and third rows with a fold-in-the-floor third-row seat. A one-touch power-folding third-row seat also is available. Available comfort and convenience features include a new, removable sliding front console that is large enough to store a purse; remote start; heated first- and second-row leather or cloth seats; rearview interior conversation mirror; YES Essentials stain-resistant, odor-resistant, anti-static cloth fabric; a removable flashlight in the rear quarter panel; first- and second-row power windows; second- and third-row retractable sun shades; power sliding doors; power liftgate with power button on the key fob and rear-pillar, ambient halo lighting; movable, pinpoint Light Emitting Diode (LED) reading lamps; map lights; and a dual- or tri-zone heating and cooling system. "To get the best recipe of comfort, security and flexibility that fits any lifestyle, we added comfort features like remote start, heated first- and second-row cloth or leather seats and ambient lighting, then mixed in standard safety features like all-row supplemental side-curtain air bags and ESP," said Ann Fandozzi, Director – Chrysler Group Front-wheel-drive Product Marketing. "Clever features found in the 2008 Chrysler Group minivans include a 'Swiss-army-knife-like' sliding front console and a removable flashlight in the rear quarter panel." Entertainment features include a dual DVD, multimedia entertainment system that can play different media at the same time, MyGIG™ CD/DVD/HDD/MP3/satellite radio with voice-activated capability, touch screen and real-time traffic and navigation, UConnect hands-free communication system with Bluetooth® technology, mesh side pockets on the second-row seats that can hold iPods, hand-held gaming systems or beverages, 110V inverter, two second-row output/input jacks with a 12-volt power outlet and an overhead console with bins large enough to store headphones. MODEL LINEUP Five models and three powertrains are available for the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country. Dodge offers two models: the Dodge Grand Caravan SE and Dodge Grand Caravan SXT. Chrysler offers three models: the Chrysler Town & Country LX, the Chrysler Town & Country Touring and the Chrysler Town & Country Limited. Powertrain choices for North America include a new 4.0-liter V-6 aluminum engine mated to a new six-speed transaxle that produces 240 hp (179 kW) and 253 lb.-ft. (343 N•m) of torque, a 3.8-liter V-6 aluminum engine mated to a new six-speed transaxle that produces 198 hp (148 kW) and 230 lb.-ft. (312 N•m) of torque or a 3.3-liter flex-fuel-capable (FFV) V-6 aluminum engine mated to a four-speed transaxle that produces 170 hp (127 kW) and 205 lb.-ft. (278 N•m) of torque. The varied powertrain options provide a pleasant driving experience in a variety of conditions. "Chrysler Group has been a leader in flex-fuel-capable vehicles," said Lyons. "We sold our first minivan capable of running on E85 in 1998, and since then, Chrysler Group has sold more than 1,330,000 flex-fuel minivans." Full model details and feature availability for markets outside the United States will be released ahead of the vehicles' launch in each respective market. MANUFACTURING INFORMATION The 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans will be built at Windsor Assembly Plant in Windsor, Ontario, Canada and St. Louis South Assembly Plant in Fenton, Missouri. The 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country are expected to be in dealerships in the United States in the fall of 2007. Photo Gallery Dodge Grand Caravan Chrysler Town & Country Interiors

To ban the lot of you. Just kidding. To ban Ven.

Just a few pics off the Media site to tide everyone over... ^Part of GM's Half-Off clearance event

Paint seemed a little iffy in some areas and the interior was okay. I made the comment I made based on the fact that for the money, I could drive away in the Cadillac. My father noticed that instantly since he grew up with these cars, namely that it didn't have that "Stupid French-looking $h!" as he remembered them.

Well...some Nursing Association tried to because the joint "reinforced the inaccurate stereotype of the naughty nurse."

GM @ NAIAS SHOW DIRECTORY Welcome to C&G's coverage of GM @ NAIAS 2007! Since the main show forum is going to fill up quickly with news from other manufacturers, we're putting together this directory of GM's product debuts and announcements to be held at NAIAS. The links listed below will take you to the respective thread in that vehicle's home forum. We hope this will provide you easy, unmitigated access to the GM news and information you seek. As a note, this format will return for the remainder of this season's large shows. Thanks and enjoy! Events North American Car/Truck of the Year Awards Press Release GM Style Gala Event Press Release Concepts Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Press Release | Image Gallery Chevrolet Volt Press Release | Image Gallery Pontiac GXP.R Racer Press Release & Image Gallery SAAB BioPower Hybrid Press Release & Image Gallery Production 2008 Cadillac CTS Image Gallery | Press Release 2008 Chevrolet Equinox Sport Press Release | Image Gallery 2008 Chevrolet HHR Premiere Edition Press Release & Image Gallery 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Press Release | Image Gallery 2008 Pontiac G6 GXP Press Release & Image Gallery 2008 Pontiac Torrent GXP Press Release & Image Gallery

The Malibu doesn't have to build the name for itself the Fusion had to; it has a solid reputation for itself and even the most jaded of us here can admit recent Malibus have been quite good cars, just not anything special. Also, Chevrolet has a very solid midsize sedan customer base unlike Ford who had pillars of Focus and Taurus buyers. The Malibu is also coming forth with its A-game, not watered-down so Mercury and Lincoln versions have a chance.

Can the New-Look Malibu Help Jump-Start Chevy? By JOSEPH B. WHITE January 2, 2007; Page B1 Link to Original Article @ WSJ Online Say "Chevy Malibu," and some Americans think of a 1960s muscle car. Unfortunately for General Motors Corp., many more think, "rent-a-car." Now, GM is unveiling a revamped look for the Malibu sedan, as part of a broad effort to convince people shopping for a car priced below $30,000 to pause on their march to Toyota Motor Corp. or Honda Motor Co. dealerships. Today, GM officially takes the wraps off the complete design for the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu -- almost a year before the first production models are scheduled to hit showrooms. (Part of the car has been seen in teaser photos) GM is trying to generate as much early buzz as possible for the redesigned car, in part to build investor confidence in its turnaround strategy. Chevrolet, GM's highest-volume division, plans a significant launch in early 2008 that GM officials say will compare to the image overhaul executed several years ago for Cadillac. The new Malibu "will be the beginning of a very big transformation for our car lineup," says Cheryl Catton, general director of marketing for Chevrolet cars. GM's Vice Chairman for product development Robert Lutz says the new Malibu's more refined looks, improved ride and quieter interior are a milestone in the company's multiyear effort to upgrade the look and feel of its sedans and coupes. Now Chevy is going for a more international feel -- a European look with an inside that borrows from 1960s American style. "It's a poster boy for what we are trying to do," says Mr. Lutz, who joined GM in 2001 with a mandate to lead a revitalization of its vehicle design. The Malibu faces a difficult assignment that has overwhelmed a series of new GM cars over the past decade. GM retired the Malibu name in the 1980s and then brought it back in 1997 and slapped it on a midsize, front-wheel drive sedan nothing like the brawny rear-drive muscle cars that bore that name during the 1960s and 1970s. Starting in the late 1990s, Chevrolet tried to position the car as an alternative to the conservatively styled Japanese sedans that dominate the midsize segment. GM engineers carefully tried to match the functions, features and specifications of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. As for styling, Mr. Lutz says, the thinking was "if the Camry is doing so well and it's bland, it means they like bland. Unfortunately, bland only works for the Camry." Although Chevrolet has thousands more dealers than Toyota, Malibu's retail sales volume of about 100,000 to 125,000 cars a year is less than a third the Camry's total annual sales. As of December, the Malibu sold for an average of $17,939, after an average customer cash rebate of $2,438, according to transaction data collected from dealers by the Power Information Network. The Accord and Camry had no customer cash rebates, and were selling for an average $22,402 and $23,441 respectively. Ford Motor Co.'s Fusion midsize sedan was selling for an average $20,081 with a customer rebate of $1,069. GM won't try to outsell the Camry with the new Malibu, in part because GM also positions its larger Impala sedan as a Camry fighter. But GM does want to close the pricing and profitability gap. Mr. Lutz says that's where better design comes in. On the outside, the 2008 Malibu looks German, with an exterior profile and proportions similar to a Volkswagen Passat. Mr. Lutz and GM vice president for design Ed Welburn point to what makes the 2008 Malibu different from the current car: Wheels that are pushed to the edges of the sheet metal, to avoid the look of a bulky car balanced on roller skates; a chrome molding around the side glass; European-style small turn signals, or "markers" on the fenders. The wheelbase -- the distance between the front and rear wheels -- is about 6 inches longer than the current sedan. The new Malibu's interior is a more dramatic departure. The new dashboard has a "dual cockpit" look. "It's almost a direct lift from the '58-59 Corvette interiors," says Mr. Lutz. John Mack, who led the Malibu's interior design team, says most versions of the Malibu will come with two-tone interiors, such as "cocoa and cashmere." Besides color, the Malibu will offer such features as a storage bin under the center arm rest big enough for a purse. All these touches cost money, as do the materials and engineering that will make the Malibu quieter inside and new standard safety equipment such as side curtain airbags and stability control. GM engineers have tried to offset the added costs by using more parts from the prior model, sharing parts with other cars such as the Saturn Aura, and redesigning the body to reduce the use of expensive steels. Mr. Lutz says if by putting $200 into features that make the car look better GM can cut a $4,000 rebate to $1,800 "you are $2,000 ahead." GM wants to sell fewer Malibus to one kind of customer: Rental car agencies. Those sales almost always return lower profits than sales to individuals. Instead of selling about 34% of Malibus to fleets, GM hopes to sell only about a quarter of the redesigned Malibus that way. Mr. Lutz says done right, rental sales could help GM. By selling better looking cars -- without "gray rat's fur upholstery and dark gray plastic parts" -- renting a GM car "becomes a national demonstration program where people actually pay to drive a GM car, and they say, 'Holy smokes, it's fabulous.' "

I found the perfect restaurant for Reg. Heart Attack Grill

1955 Olds Eighty-Eight Holiday - $8900 (a bit too much, IMO) 1963 Imperial Crown Coupe - $2450 1965 Fleetwood w/35,000 - $7995 1967 Buick LeSabre - $2450 The Buick was the value of the group it seemed. You could tell the Imperial was a Chrysler (bad weatherstripping) and all the awesome electronic gizmos like the push-button transmission scare me on a car this old. In contrast, the Buick had a regular bench, manual windows, manual locks, but air conditioning. Even had the little tissue box holder. I really, really love the LeSabre and the price is quite nice. Just wanted to share.

I got'cha cure...right 'ere! * *Money cannot be exchanged for goods or services

So, you disembowled your cat. Big whoop. Wanna fight about it?

Seriously.