Flybrian

Another aspect to keep in mind regarding the Rendezvous trade-in figure is that the market is now flooded with affordable used Rendezvous, which for all its alleged pitfalls is still an above-average second-hand family hauler. I don't think its too much of a stretch to assume those younger-than-average owners will have a better image of Buick after experiencing one.

God, even the G8's cargo area looks better than the Dodge.

Thanks for the complement and we're glad to have ya with us!

Satin chrome grille?

Camry is about 15-18%, Accord is about 7-9%. Also, as another piece stated, the vast majority of those Malibus up for rent will be well-equipped with alloys, sunroofs, and midlevel equipment. No strippers like Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, and Toyota are so fond of dumping.

GM's Unprecedented Launch of 6spd Transmissions Shifts into High Gear PONTIAC, Mich. - Transmission engineers at General Motors Corp. have given new meaning to the term "overdrive." By using high-tech computerized tools, they launched nine new fuel-saving six-speed transmission models - the industry's largest lineup - in just four short years. Furthermore, their use of this technology has shaved as much as six months and $15 million from the typical transmission development process. GM transmission engineers use sophisticated math modeling, among other advanced tools, to not only design the transmission components, but also to predict and test their reliability, analyzing functions such as oil pressure and flow, lubrication distribution and shift quality. "We are using computer-based tools in powertrain development for our global engine and transmission programs and seeing terrific results," said Tom Stephens, group vice president, GM Powertrain and Quality. "On our six-speed transmissions alone, we launched nine models in four years whereas we previously averaged three or four transmissions every decade." Stephens said this pace of product development and first-time quality is having an impact in GM's gasoline and diesel engines, where analytical models also are used early in the process to improve design and functional performance. "On our new 4.5L V-8 diesel, for example, analytical models were used to design and evaluate nearly 500 different piston shape designs during a 10-day period before we picked the best one. To evaluate this many designs without computer tools would have been unrealistic in terms of timing and cost to do with actual parts," said Stephens. GM's computer modeling and use of common parts on the four rear-wheel-drive (RWD) transmission models reduced development time as much as 50 percent. In fact, 47 percent of the parts are shared among all of the RWD models; and the 6L90 transmission (used in GM's full-size pickups) shares 75 percent of its components with the 6L80 transmission (used in GM's full-size sport utility vehicles, the Chevrolet Corvette, Cadillac XLR-V and STS-V, among other models). GM engineers use the high-tech tools early in the development process to identify whether the computer analysis is sufficient and if physical parts still need to be fabricated and tested. In some areas, simulated tests took only 48 hours versus several weeks, helping to eliminate, in some cases, the need for costly and time-consuming prototypes. Development of the six-speeds began in 2003, with the first of the RWD models being launched in 2006. GM's extensive use of computer math modeling tools has enabled the company to develop the various six-speed models in parallel. "Our use of computer tools has improved the first-time quality of our transmission prototypes by five times over past programs," said Jim Lanzon, executive director of GM Powertrain's Transmission Engineering. "We've eliminated one of three pre-production hardware builds - essentially a complete set of prototype transmissions - and the associated physical tests." Lanzon said the new 6T40 front-wheel-drive six-speed model launching in GM Daewoo's Tosca facility this month was developed by GM Powertrain's Transmission Engineering in Ypsilanti, Mich., and the math model was sent to GM Daewoo in Korea for final development and manufacturing. "The 6T40 transmission was built in Korea from our math models, placed in the first vehicle and performed beautifully," said Lanzon. Among GM's first six-speed models were RWD transmissions introduced in 2006 in the Chevrolet Corvette, Cadillac XLR-V and STS-V. All of the six-speed automatics for RWD and FWD/AWD were designed for maximum application flexibility, allowing them to be used in the greatest number of vehicles in GM's vehicle portfolio. Shared traits among the new six-speed automatics reduce complexity, size and mass, including clutch-to-clutch operation that enables the six-speed to be packaged into approximately the same space of a four-speed automatic. The transmissions also share an overall 6.04:1 gear ratio, which contributes to their signature balance of performance and fuel economy.

Shanghai GM Signs Agreement to Build Proving Ground Anhui Province, China Hefei, China – Shanghai General Motors signed a letter of intent today with the People’s Government of Guangde County in eastern China’s Anhui province to establish China’s largest and most comprehensive vehicle proving ground. The Shanghai GM Guangde Vehicle Proving Ground, which represents total investment of approximately RMB 1.6 billion, will cover an area of 5.6 square kilometers. It will satisfy the long-term product development and testing needs of Shanghai GM, GM’s flagship manufacturing joint venture in China, as well as GM’s Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) automotive engineering and design joint venture. The multifunctional facility will have 60 kilometers of testing roads that will be built according to local and global industry standards. It will include a high-speed bowl, a durability road system, a dynamics pad, low-coefficient straightaways, and a ride and handling track. The proving ground will be capable of testing up to 140 vehicles simultaneously under a full range of real-world situations, and have an estimated annual testing distance of 20 million kilometers. Additional facilities at the proving ground, including testing labs and maintenance workshops, will cover an area of 20,000 square meters. “With the Shanghai GM Guangde Vehicle Proving Ground, we will be able to continue developing products that are world class in every way – but faster and more cost-effectively than ever before,” said Kevin Wale, President and Managing Director of the GM China Group. “This will help ensure that the GM family in China remains a leader in meeting the rapidly changing needs of vehicle buyers nationwide.” GM has a set of standards for its professional proving grounds. The automaker requires proving grounds to be built on level land in locations with suitable weather conditions for vehicle testing. There must be adequate infrastructure and sound drainage and flood control systems in place. GM also seeks venues that require minimal relocation. The Shanghai GM Guangde Vehicle Proving Ground, in Anhui’s Guangde County, will be located about three and a half hours away from Shanghai by road. Shanghai GM and PATAC are both 50-50 joint ventures between GM and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. Group (SAIC), one of China’s leading passenger car manufacturers. Shanghai GM produces, imports, sells and services vehicles under the Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and Saab brands. Last year, it sold 413,367 vehicles. It has been China’s leader in passenger car sales for the past two years. PATAC, which is based in Shanghai, provides automotive engineering services, including design, development, testing and validation of components and vehicles to GM, SAIC and their joint ventures.

The Ad Campaign You Can't Ignore: Chevy Malibu Sharon Terlep | Link to Original Article @ The Detroit News WARREN -- So much is riding on the new Chevrolet Malibu that General Motors Corp. will back it up with an ad blitz as big as last year's $300 million launch of the top-selling Silverado pickup. The pickup launch went down as one of GM's biggest ad campaigns in history, and now the automaker is vowing similar treatment for its redesigned midsize sedan -- a segment long neglected by Detroit's Big Three. The stakes couldn't be higher for GM and the Malibu, which hits showrooms Nov. 1. The sedan is the automaker's most critical launch in years at a time when more fuel-efficient cars are becoming more important to automakers' viability in North America. But to have any measure of success, GM must begin to reverse a deep-seated perception that the Malibu is a dowdy family hauler destined for rental fleets. "We're not on their radar screen right now, and we need to be," Kim Kosak, Chevrolet director of advertising, said of a younger, more affluent demographic. "We've got to make this consumer believe that the Malibu can challenge a (Toyota) Camry or (Honda) Accord." GM is prepared to spend truck-size proportions to attract more women, singles and urban dwellers to the sedan. The Silverado "Our Country" campaign racked up $295 million in ad spending, according to Nielsen Monitor-Plus. Chevy officials on Thursday said the Malibu launch will be as costly. Some Malibu ads also will play off the Silverado's popularity. Kosak said market studies show many Camry and Accord owners also have a Chevy truck. With that in mind, one ad shows an automotive designer sculpting a clay model of a Silverado into a Malibu. Ads go on skyscrapers But that's where the similarities end between car and truck. Where the Silverado launch relied on Americana-themed TV ads and a John Mellencamp tune, GM is trying to embrace new strategies with the Malibu. Ads will be plastered on skyscrapers in the nation's biggest metropolises, from Times Square to Hollywood Boulevard. And GM will team up with the nation's largest publisher of women's fashion magazines -- Conde Nast, the publisher of Vogue and Glamour -- for a tour of upscale malls and a host of interactive activities. A massive online presence -- what GM calls "unprecedented digital domination" -- also will be a key element of the campaign. On Wednesday, Malibu ads will be so plentiful on the nation's top home pages that an estimated 80 percent of online users that day will see one. The tone will be edgy and honest, Kosak said, and won't shy from the reality that Toyota and Honda rule the market for midsize cars. One print magazine ad says: "We're tired of being a foreign car in our own country." The catchphrase for the campaign is: "The car you can't ignore," a play on perception of midsize sedans as forgettable. Fighting for the market GM has been making a concerted effort to win back some of the midsize market, dominated for years by the Camry and Accord. Toyota spent about $270 million to roll out its new Camry last year, according to Nielsen. Toyota has sold more than 360,000 Camrys this year and Honda 302,000 Accords, but Malibu sales barely surpassed 90,000 through September. The carmaker's other midsize offering, the Saturn Aura, has garnered high praise from critics, but struggled to gain much traction in the showroom. The 2008 Malibu will start at $19,995, more than $2,000 higher than this year's model and about $285 less than the base price of the Toyota Camry. The Malibu will come with more standard equipment than the old models, Chevy says. A gasoline-electric hybrid version will start at $22,790. GM's key challenge will be to get on the shopping lists of consumers who long ago wrote off domestic nameplates. Even Kosak acknowledged that the first converts to the new Malibu will more likely come from other domestic brands or foreign nameplates such as Kia and Nissan, not from Camry and Accord buyers. Chevy will have to work hard to rise above the noise and become credible, said Alexander Edwards, a marketing expert with Strategic Vision in San Diego. For one thing, the brand is going up against companies that already have mastered nontraditional media. Toyota's Scion nameplate, for example, managed to crack the elusive youth culture, while Hyundai is making headway in minority communities. Both are using one-on-one time with consumers. "With the media blitz that every person gets each day, it can make such things less effective," Edwards said. "But the main purpose of these blanket ads it to generate interest in the product -- if people get interested, they may try the vehicle." GM Press Release Marketing Effort Will Prove All-New Malibu Competes With Accord, Camry; Features Biggest One-Day Digital Takeover Ever by a Marketer DETROIT – When the all-new 2008 Chevrolet Malibu begins rolling into dealer showrooms on Nov. 1, Americans should already be aware that Chevy is back in the car business with a serious competitor in the mid-size segment, thanks to a massive advertising and promotional campaign that kicks off Oct. 17. This integrated marketing push -- the latest in Chevrolet’s “American Revolution” campaign -- will launch with an unprecedented one-day digital takeover of the leading online portals and automotive, sports and lifestyle Web sites. Malibu advertising will dominate broadcast and online coverage of the Major League Baseball 2007 League Championships and World Series, as well as other programming on primetime network and cable television. It will also feature prominently in out-of-home and print media, including USA Today and automotive enthusiast magazines. “We are introducing the all-new Malibu to America with a ‘no stone left unturned’ marketing effort. We want the entire country to know that this car, which is designed to be the best in the mid-size segment, is coming, and that it has bulletproof quality, coupled with beautiful interior and exterior design,” said Ed Peper, Chevrolet General Manager. “ Malibu has the look, feel and content of a $40,000 car but it costs less than half that amount. It truly will be the car you can’t ignore.” The Malibu campaign will launch in three sequential phases. The first phase will involve an intense, unavoidable burst of activity aimed to get the all-new Malibu on consumers’ radar screens and begin to open their minds to the fact that the Malibu is a true contender. The second phase will take a methodical approach to build credibility about the Malibu’s competitiveness using third-party endorsements. The third phase will emotionally engage consumers and deliver the proof of why Malibu is the car Americans can’t ignore. “The Malibu campaign is not a one-day wonder. It will be a sustained, disciplined marketing effort to tell America about the all-new Malibu,” said Kim Kosak, general director, Chevrolet advertising and sales promotion. “We know we face a big challenge because Malibu is going up against strong competitors like Accord and Camry. But we know we have a great product, a strong media plan, and a creative advertising and promotional campaign to tell our story. We’re confident we can get the new Malibu on people’s shopping lists.” Kosak noted that although the marketing campaign for the all-new Malibu is massive, it’s not a mass-market approach. She also revealed that there will be specific efforts to communicate with women, Hispanics and African Americans about the all-new Malibu, as well as to consumers in targeted geographic markets around the country. “The all-new Malibu is the most-researched car in Chevy’s history, and our marketing campaign is also the most-researched plan we’ve ever developed,” Kosak said. “We know who the Malibu’s target buyers are, and we have designed customized media plans for all of them to connect with them in a targeted way.” Created by Campbell-Ewald, the campaign will include messages about the Malibu’s quality, reliability and durability; the highly designed interior and exterior; its quietness and safety features; and the hybrid version, which will be the most-affordable in the midsize segment. “The Malibu target audience is deeply entrenched in their beliefs. They are highly skeptical of anyone’s ability to compete with Camry and Accord,” said Bill Ludwig, vice chairman, chief creative officer at Campbell-Ewald. “This campaign is designed to shock their systems, attack their beliefs and debunk myths. We want them to start out skeptical and end up wowed. The great thing is, we have the product to do that.”

If I can get some additional info.

Chevy Volt on Tour General Motors is taking the much-acclaimed and anticipated Chevrolet Volt on tour to four cities across the US. So far, Boston and Miami have been announced, but stay tuned and we'll let you know where the other two stops are as soon as we find out. In the meantime, if you're in the Boston area this weekend, why not check out the Volt in person and tell us what you think of it? Share your photos, too! Thursday, 10-11: 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. Quincy Market/Faneuil Hall Friday, 10-12: 6 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. South Station (Financial District) Friday, 10-12: 3:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. MIT Museum Saturday, 10-13: 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Faneuil Hall Saturday, 10-13: 2:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Fenway Park Sunday, 10-14: 10 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Faneuil Hall Monday, 10-15: 6 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Banknorth Garden/North Station Monday, 10-15: 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Government Center Monday, 10-15: 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. Maroon 5 Concert - Bank North Garden/North Station Miami Dates Thursday 10/18: 7am to 10am: Raleigh Hotel in Miami Beach (1775 Collins Ave.) Thursday 10/18: 5pm to 11pm: CocoWalk in Coconut Grove (30115 Grand Ave., in front of the Gap Store) Friday 10/19: 7am to 3pm: Government Center in Downtown Miami (111 NW First St., outside under metro rail) Friday 10/19: 6pm to 11pm: Sunset Place (South Miami, 5701 Sunset Dr. in front of Dan Marino restaurant) Saturday 10/20: 9am to 10pm: Sawgrass Outlet (Sunrise, Oasis Location 2608 Sawgrass Mills Cir.- in front of Gameworks) Monday 10/22: 8am to 5pm: Florida International University (South Miami, 11200 SW 8th St -- front of Graham University Center) Tuesday 10/23: 10am to 9pm: Dolphin Mall (Doral, 11401 NW 12th Street, in front of the Texas de Brazil restaurant) – this location is as of now unconfirmed.

Chrysler will cut 4Q production Press says automaker to purge vehicles, invest in new products David Shepardson | The Detroit News LAS VEGAS -- Chrysler LLC's top product strategist on Wednesday said the automaker will deepen production cuts in the fourth quarter while pumping $3 billion into developing new products. In a candid assessment of Chrysler's product woes, Vice Chairman Jim Press outlined plans to turn around the automaker's lagging sales during a dealer event to showcase new vehicles. The company's market share outside of North America "rounds to zero," he said. "It can't go down. It will go up." Press said Chrysler has been building vehicles customers don't want. To begin to remedy the situation, he said, the carmaker will cut 82,000 vehicles out of fourth-quarter production. The move will cut revenue by $1 billion. The cuts should reduce inventory by 100,000 units by this time next year, Press said. At the same time, Chrysler's new owner Cerberus Capital Management LP will spend $3 billion in capital expenditures this year to improve the company's product portfolio. Press said the company needed to "broaden the product portfolio" in some areas and kill overlap in others. He praised Chrysler's Jeep nameplate, calling it a "bullet-proof brand." "You have to be relentless in trying to stay not with but ahead of the competition," he said, adding automakers must be "paranoid" to be successful. "It never stops." Press also confirmed that the company will end its dealer allowance program that's been in place for six years, replacing it with a no-strings $400 allowance. He said the company was looking at simplifying option packages and being more efficient. In the long-term, Press said, Chrysler will continue to study its product lineup. "We're still going through the process of studying the long-term strategic vision of what the company's product portfolio should look like in five, six, 10 years," he said. "We have a lot of products customers want that we can't build. We need to match these two things up." Outside North America, Chrysler is on track to bolster its market share in fast-growing international markets, he said. "Chrysler will be the proof that an American automobile company can and will compete very successfully on the global stage with the world's best," he said. Press said the production cut was approved by Cerberus during a seven-minute conference call.

GM's new Chevy Malibu will be scarcer in rental fleets Sharon Terlep | Link to Original Article @ The Detroit News WARREN -- General Motors Corp. said that it will cut by half the number of Chevy Malibu sedans it sells to daily rental car fleets with the madeover 2008 model. The Malibu had been GM's most fleeted car but going forward the company intends that only 20 percent of its production output will be sold to rental car companies, compared to 40 percent of current Malibus. Those that are sold as rentals will feature amenities such as sunroofs and more luxurious interiors. Over the last couple of years, the Detroit Three have been trying to withdraw from sales to rental-car companies. Rental fleets can drive down the value of vehicles by saturating the market and undermining a vehicle's image. Production of the Chevy Malibu will begin Monday at the GM Fairfax plant in Kansas City, Kan. GM has said it will pump more than $100 million into a marketing campaign for the redesigned sporty sedan, considered one of the automaker's most key launches in years. The first new 2008 Malibu had been scheduled to hit showrooms Nov. 1 as part of GM's effort to reduce its reliance on truck sales and make a splash in the passenger car market.

General Motors stock soars as UAW accepts labor pact Sharon Terlep | Link to Original Article @ The Detroit News General Motors Corp. shares hit a more than two-year high today on news that United Auto Workers ratified a new, four-year labor pact with the automaker. GM stock was trading at $40 a share shortly before noon, up about 5 percent for the day and nearly 30 percent since Jan. 1. Shares are at their highest since the week of Jan. 3, 2005. Wall Street has been watching labor talks in Detroit closely. GM got from the union what investors wanted most: a landmark deal that shifts $50 billion in retiree obligations to the union in the form of a company-financed trust. Ratification of the deal, which was reached Sept. 26 following a two-day strike, was expected but not certain until Wednesday. The deal was approved by 66 percent of GM production workers and 64 percent of skilled trades workers, according to the union said. The contract takes effect on Monday. GM still must get federal regulatory approval to create the trust, called a voluntary employees' beneficiary association, or VEBA. GM must file a report with the Securities and Exchange Commission outlining its plan for the trust within four business days. It will explain the deal to Wall Street analysts and the media in a telephone conference on Monday.

OnStar Stays Factory-Installed Only Date posted: 10-11-2007 | Link to Original Article @ Edmunds WASHINGTON, D.C. — After contemplating offering aftermarket OnStar receivers to owners of cars that didn't come with the service built in, the company has decided to limit its product to original-equipment-use only, said OnStar President Chet Huber. With a flattening membership growth curve, the notion of pursuing customers whose cars didn't come with OnStar certainly looks attractive, but the idea of marketing a version of OnStar for such customers just doesn't make sense to the company, Huber explained. "We can't be confident that it can really be OnStar as an aftermarket item," he said. The company has considered this possibility on several different occasions and recently again reached the same conclusion that the service must be built in to cars. An add-on system might not have the ability to survive a crash in working condition, which would be a worst-case scenario for a service that promises to send help after a crash. We talked to Huber while he was unveiling yet another new technical capability, the ability to remotely slow down stolen OnStar cars, and it is features like this that require thorough integration into the car's electronics systems. While plugging into the On Board Diagnostic II port would provide an OnStar receiver access to some of the car's vital signs, such add-on systems would not be able to offer all of OnStar's increasing array of integrated services, said Huber. However, because the cars with built-in OnStar are becoming increasingly affordable (Chevrolet will roll it out across its 2008 product line) 3 or 4 million new cars will take to the road each year that can use OnStar, Huber said.

The Wonderful World of Oz By Bob Lutz, GM Vice Chairman | Link to Original Post @ GM Fastlane Blogs I just completed one of my better business trips! It was to Australia, always a favorite destination. Beautiful country and nice people… and also, happily, home of Holden and the internationally sourced product development team working on our global rear-wheel-drive cars. I have never experienced an automotive company, including my three years at BMW, that has so much passion for excellence and dedication to the product. It’s contagious. Oz is a nation where the “car-guys” (both genders) rule, at least at Holden. I just love the palpable air of the "we want to win" spirit that this team exudes. We drove cars on their ride road which, strangely, bears a lot of resemblance to a racing circuit. We sampled G8s in various states of tune, and they were fabulous. We drove the Daewoo Veritas and the Chinese Buick Park Avenue, both large, ultra-lux executive transports created by the global rear wheel drive team. And we also drove..."other things in the rear drive hopper." One I can sort of talk about is the Camaro. We had the first fully representative prototype with close to final surfaces standing at track side. It looked as awesome as the concept, and the blotchy black/white camo scheme could not destroy the great stance and proportion. The body fits were already better than what came off the line a few years ago. The interior had some hand-made plastic parts and showed some gaps, but was remarkable for the first car. I got to drive it first, not only because “rank has its privileges,” but because I didn't want anyone stuffing it into a barrier before I got to drive. Twisting the key produced a muted rumble from the big V8. We pulled away smoothly in the first cog of the new, slick, six-speed manual. Depressing the accelerator shifted the world into fast forward, with three or four more quick upshifts. The car had just been completed and had had no tuning or finessing. But I loved the response, the sound, the steering and the brakes. There's more work to be done, for sure, and the group knows it. They still have time for further development. The goal of the team led by Gene Stefanyshyn is to produce the finest car in its class, ever. Do I think they will get there? I wouldn't bet against that team! On a side note, Vice President for Global Design Ed Welburn was on the drive, too. Seeing his beloved Camaro as a real car… in near-final metal, glass, rubber and plastic… transformed from a visionary dream into a highly drivable reality… well, it was almost too much for him. He broke ranks, ran over to it, and hugged it! I have the photo to prove it — but of course we can’t show it to you just yet! More to come soon from the Land of Oz. The G8s are already on the way...

Large FWD Impala, Large RWD Caprice? Vice-versa?

Ha. That actually was not me!

Did you take the QEII into Fairfax?

2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Link to Original Article @ Autoblog

Daihatsu Mud Master-Concept This small, tough transporter leverages compactness and light weight for special off-road agility and adopts body-on-frame construction for outstanding durability and cargo capability. This mountain bike support model was designed in collaboration with the leading professional cyclist, Raita Suzuki. A hub reduction system, which transfers driving power via gears mounted between the drive shaft and wheel hub, together with large-diameter 16-inch off-road tires, achieves 370mm ride height and generous angles of approach, departure and breakover for outstanding off-road drivability and stream-fording capability. The body uses highly durable, lightweight and compact body-on-frame construction. A range of attachments can be combined for a variety of applications, from outdoor sports to work in rough terrain. Large gullwing doors on three sides give the MUD MASTER-C great convenience, ideal for loading and unloading bicycles in the "mountain bike support" model. Full-cabin styling creates a strong presence. The interior features a simple instrument panel with large-screen LCD multi-display and the water-repellent seats, reflecting the car's rugged image.

Nissan NV200 Concept A Smart Business Tool of New Generation - for Active Professionals A substantial, rugged-looking exterior, combining a dramatic front cab with a traditional box-like storage space, creates an emotional looking body form never before seen in the LCV class. An interior created to combine efficiency and a human touch, mentally refreshing its occupants when traveling to or from a job site. The customizable cargo area houses a unique pod that can smartly accommodate a variety of business needs. The pod is divided into customizable trays and boxes for efficient storage of profession-specific equipment, materials, work gear and apparel. The displayed NV200 has been outfitted specifically for use by a professional ocean photographer. The work area is equipped with a remote control panel for a spider camera, as well as equipment for organizing and editing photographs and images while on assignment.

GM @ Sydney International Motor Show Holden Special Vehicles Celebrates 20th Anniversary With Limited Edition ClubSport R8 Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) has unveiled two new models, including a special commemorative ClubSport R8 as part of its 20th Anniversary celebrations at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney today. Managing Director Scott Grant said the release of a 20th Anniversary ClubSport R8 celebrated the heritage of the luxury and performance car company. “The birth of HSV and the reveal of the very first VL Group A SS Commodore – commonly referred to as the ‘Walkinshaw’ – took place at the 1987 Sydney Motor Show. From those humble beginnings, HSV has gone on to produce over 55,000 vehicles and dominate the world of Motorsport,” Scott Grant said. “It is only fitting that today we unveil a limited edition model to commemorate the company’s 20th Anniversary,” he said. The 20th Anniversary ClubSport R8 is limited to a run of just 100, with a number of unique features including; Unique sandstorm colour scheme, Unique 20th Anniversary sill plates, GTS black accenting, Leather performance seats featuring the 20th Anniversary logo and; Chrome shadow wheels and brake callipers finished in black and gold. The model retains the 307kW LS2 V8 engine, performance brake package and aggressive HSV styling that has contributed to the company recording twelve consecutive months of unsurpassed sales success in the company’s 20 year history. “The company has had an outstanding 12 months, but in typical HSV style we’re looking to the future and making sure we continue to produce products that Australians and the world love to drive,” Scott Grant said. The 20th Anniversary ClubSport R8 goes on sale from October at HSV Dealerships across Australia and is priced from $65,990 (m). Image Gallery

GM @ Sydney International Motor Show Holden Special Vehicles launch new Maloo Ute Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) has unveiled the hottest HSV Maloo R8 Ute ever as part of its 20th birthday celebrations at the 2007 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney today. Part of the HSV line-up for more than ten years, the Maloo (an aboriginal word for thunder or storm) takes the concept of the sports utility to the next level, with a range of 'unique-to-HSV' features including; Distinct sheet moulded compound (SMC) rear tailgate, 307kW LS2 V8 engine, AP Racing four piston brake package, Group A Walkinshaw inspired side skirt, New gore and suede HSV 'performance' seats, Remote release hard tonneau with release button on main key, Reverse parking sensors and A 'performance pack' option consisting of full leather 'performance' seats and 20 inch wheels. Managing Director of HSV, Mr Scott Grant, said the Maloo R8 Ute had redefined the Australian Ute market. "Our team have done an outstanding job on producing a Maloo Ute like no other," Scott Grant said. "Maloos striking visual appearance, performance characteristics and range of luxury appointments will make this Ute just as comfortable and distinctive on a dirt track out the 'back of Bourke' or cruising around the inner city streets of Sydney, Melbourne or any number of provincial cities across Australia where the Maloo nameplate has taken the iconic Ute to the next level." Chief Engineer John Clark said the HSV Maloo R8 truly was a 'coupe with a damn big boot!' "We began working on the all new Maloo Ute at about the same stage as the E series sedan, with the aim of building on the dynamics of the sedan," John Clark said. "This Ute is HSV's most responsive ever and the comprehensive testing program we undertook around Australia and in New Zealand and Sweden, has resulted in the complete driving package." The HSV Maloo R8 will make a dramatic visual impact on the road with its sleek sail plane and tough curves. Design Manager Julian Quincey and his team spent over two years working toward the end result. "The HSV product group continually pushed the design of our E Series Maloo Ute to the limits and I am extremely pleased with the end result. It really does look like a showcar for the road and it must rate as the sportiest production Ute the world has ever seen," Julian Quincey said. "As an English born and bred designer it is an honour to work on such an 'Aussie icon' as the HSV Maloo and I believe the end result reflects my team's passion for the product." The Maloo R8 will retail from $59,990 (m). Options include automatic transmission for an extra $2,000 and a 'performance pack' which consists of 20 inch wheels and GTS inspired performance seats. This pack will retail for an additional $3,750. The HSV Maloo R8 goes on sale from October at HSV Dealerships across Australia. Image Gallery

GM @ Sydney Intl Motor Show Holden's New Sportwagon Puts Excitement Back Into Practicality GM Holden's sleek new VE Commodore Sportwagon made its world debut today at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney. The new family vehicle takes VE Commodore's award-winning sporty design and engineering advances and integrates them into a stylish and practical wagon. The result is a desirable and functional addition to the VE range, offering a new level of comfort, safety and styling in a Holden wagon. GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director Chris Gubbey said, "The new VE Commodore Sportwagon puts the excitement back into practicality. This is a car for families with a 'get-up-and-go' attitude. "The generous interior space, combined with sleeker, sportier styling, makes this a wagon that people will want to own as a year-round family car, or for family and business use. "Holden's new VE Sportwagon turns practi-'cal' into practi-'cool'," said Gubbey. The VE Commodore Sportwagon unveiled in Sydney today is a production-based concept vehicle. It is the first glimpse of the planned production model scheduled to hit Holden showrooms in the first half of 2008. The vehicle draws on VE sedan at the front with a sleek and sporty silhouette at the back and is built on the same VE wheelbase. It is the third VE derivative after sedan and the newly released ute range. Features At the rear, Holden's designers have cleverly created a wider opening by positioning the tailgate hinge well forward into the roof line. This has created a more vertical opening movement for the tailgate and reduces opening space required around the car. The higher cargo floor makes loading easier and a flexible cargo cover provides extra security for items stored in the back. VE Sportwagon seats five adults in comfort and a 60:40 split in the rear seating row can be folded flat for storing larger items. The motor show display model includes a roof mounted DVD player, Bluetooth capability, multi-function driver information display system and zone-based front and rear park assist systems - all currently standard on the VE Calais V-Series sedan. Features on the vehicle unique to the motor show include 20-inch alloy wheels, chrome window trim and unique interior colour combination. VE Commodore Sportwagon's pricing, model line-up and powertrain combinations will be confirmed closer to the on-sale date, but expect to see a similar type of strategy to VE sedan, with entry level cars, sports models and luxury models ranging up to the luxurious VE Calais V-Series. Leading safety technology features such as ESP® will be standard across the range. Holden's Executive Director Sales, Marketing and Aftersales, Alan Batey, said, "Sportwagon breaks the mould for Holden wagons. It's got great style, performance and practicality for families, businesses or both. "Customers will get a car that's equally at home as a working tool or a desirable family car - with all the storage advantages that come with a wagon. "We've added important safety features such as ESP® as standard, and more luxury versions will be incorporated into the range to further increase its appeal to families. "This is a vehicle that people will desire for its looks as well as its convenience over a sedan or an SUV," he said. Technology The concept model on display at the Australian International Motor Show also incorporates a V8 engine featuring Active Fuel Management (AFM) and E85 flex fuel capability. Active Fuel Management allows cylinders to turn off under light load conditions to improve fuel economy. The engine on show runs the same spark ignition, with fuelling matched to the same equivalence ratio as Holden's current production V8 engine. It is designed to match the power and torque outputs of its petrol equivalent. The use of AFM and E85 technologies in this motor show vehicle aims to highlight General Motors' capabilities in new propulsion advances. Chris Gubbey explains, "Showcasing an E85 fuel system in this vehicle makes a powerful statement about Holden and GM's commitment to developing alternative energy sources that reduce our dependence on petroleum-based products. "It also demonstrates that drivers of alternative fuel vehicles don't have to sacrifice performance. "Our sister brand Saab has led the way in promoting bio fuel technology to advance the public, political and commercial debate in this area. We want to add our voice to that debate whilst simultaneously looking at ways to further reduce fuel consumption in our existing engines." The current VE sedan range of vehicles on sale in Australia are all E10 compatible with Holden's V6 engine built in Melbourne also converted to E24 in Commodores exported to Brazil. In 2007 Holden added two new diesel engines to its product line up with the new 3.0 litre VCDi common rail turbo diesel for the Rodeo and Captiva's 2.0 litre common rail turbo diesel. This adds to the diesel options already offered in the Astra range. Image Gallery

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