Flybrian

What a joke!

1911 Baker Electric 1952 Sears Allstate 1978 Dodge Challenger

Exactly. Which explains why anyone bought even one of these...

I want to own a DeSoto just so I can tell people, "Its a DeSoto."

Apparently, this was obtained via Chrysler's English (meaning United Kingdom) site...? PRESS RELEASE: CHRYSLER REVEALS STUNNING SEBRING CABRIO AT LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW Link to Full Article @ Autoblog Chrysler Group has today revealed the new Chrysler Sebring Cabrio that will be launched in the UK at the end of 2007. All UK models will feature a retractable hard roof that folds into three sections and stows in less than 30 seconds. Standard roof system features include remote control operation from the key fob, standard powered tonneau cover and automatic latching. Right hand drive models will be available with a 2.7-litre V6 petrol engine with six-speed automatic gearbox offering 189 horsepower and 191 lb-ft of torque. A 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine with six-speed manual will also be available with140 horsepower and 229 lb-ft of torque. Peter Lambert, Managing Director of Chrysler Group, said: "Over the last decade the Sebring has been America's favourite convertible and this latest model is ideal for European markets with a folding hard roof and choice of petrol and diesel engines. "The new Sebring is a stunning four seat two-door Cabrio that will offer outstanding value for money compared to competitors like the Saab 9-3 and Audi A4 in the UK. The Cabrio offers more than enough room for four adults plus exceptional cargo space. It is three inches longer than the Sebring saloon and there is luggage space for four golf bags with the roof up and two golf bags when the roof is retracted."

Hope they have a non-stupid front end, too.

Well, if what Chrysler puts under the hoods of half their offerings is any indication...

DeVille/DTS wheels have always looked good, especially this turbine style they had on the DHS for a few years.

Here's my issue... Now, does it look better than that? Hell f@#k yes. What I posted looks like a Hyundai. But the DTS wood treatment looks like it had more thought put into it.

As in right now? Probably whatever is made in China. Recently, the last Rio was a bad car. The Echo was also a bad car. The Yugo was one of the last truly piss-poor cars.

Consumer Reports that 'fun' is one of the leading cause of automobile accidents. In fact, a recent CR article stated that cars that are 'fun,' 'powerful,' 'well-designed,' and 'passionate' scored the lowest. Fun, therefore, gets a half-shaded red circle with a dot in the center, which apparently means something.

PRESS RELEASE FORD TO SHOWCASE RECORD BREAKING HYDROGEN FUEL CELL POWERED EXPLORER AT 2006 LA AUTO SHOW Ford's all-new fuel cell powered Explorer features a center-mounted hydrogen tank that delivers more miles on a single fill-up than any other fuel cell vehicle today, while maintaining ample space for six passengers and cargo. The fuel cell Explorer is the first of a series of prototype vehicles to be built for the United States Department of Energy to determine the feasibility of hydrogen propulsion. The Explorer has been driven 17,000 miles. It set a new record for the most miles traveled in a 24-hour period in a fuel cell vehicle. The fuel-cell-powered Explorer will be available Nov. 29 & 30. for media drives during the Los Angeles Auto Show media days. Los Angeles, Nov. 27 – Ford Motor Company [NYSE: F] will raise the bar in the hydrogen fuel cell race today at the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show when it unveils an all-new fuel cell powered Explorer that can travel 350 miles on a single fill-up, more than any fuel cell vehicle on the road.The six-passenger fuel cell Explorer is one of several vehicles with green technology that Ford will have at the show, including the new 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid, the PZEV emissions compliant Ford Fusion and Ford Focus and the 2008 Ford F-Series Super Duty with Ford Clean Diesel Technology ®. The fuel cell Explorer prototype is part of a series of vehicles partially funded by a contract with the United States Department of Energy. The goal of the Technology Demonstration Vehicle program is to find a pathway for a fuel alternative to petroleum that has less environmental impact than current powertrain technology. "We believe hydrogen may become a viable motor fuel in the long-term," said Gerhard Schmidt, vice president, Research & Advanced Engineering, Ford Motor Company. "With these technology demonstration vehicles, Ford continues to lead the way in the development of hydrogen technology." Research into hydrogen, including the hydrogen fuel-cell-powered Ford Explorer, is part of Ford's overall effort to address the challenges of climate change and energy independence. Ford is moving ahead with a range of technology solutions simultaneously, including vehicles such as the Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid, hydrogen fuel cells, hydrogen internal combustion engines, ethanol, clean diesel and refinements to gasoline fueled engines and advanced transmissions. Some of the technology, such as that seen in Ford's lineup of hybrid vehicles, represents near-term approaches. Other technology, including hydrogen cell, must be viewed as a long-term option. Fuel Cell Explorer The first vehicle to be publicly unveiled from the Ford and DoE demonstration program is the fuel-cell-powered Ford Explorer. While it comes equipped with advanced electric all-wheel-drive like the production model from which it is based, a center-mounted hydrogen storage tank now occupies the space typically used for the 6-speed automatic transmission found in production Explorer models. Locating the hydrogen storage tank in this area allowed engineers to design a larger tank and deliver a never-before-achieved 350-mile driving range for a fuel cell vehicle. This unique design maintains Explorer's six-passenger seating arrangement and the cargo capacity found in the production Ford Explorer. In less than one year, the fuel cell Explorer has accumulated more than 17,000 miles, including a world-record drive of 1556 miles in a single 24-hour period, the most of any fuel cell vehicle to date. The record was set by Ford engineers at the new Dearborn Development Center test facility in Dearborn, Mich. In January, at the 2007 North American International Auto Show, Ford will unveil the next vehicle in this series of demonstration vehicles. Hydrogen Part of a Broader Effort At Ford Ford first began working on hydrogen technology in the early 1990s. Ford's first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, released in 2001, was based on a lightweight aluminum sedan body, which also was used in the development of the company's first hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine. The company currently has a fleet of 30 hydrogen-powered Focus fuel cell vehicles on the road as part of a worldwide, seven-city program to conduct real-world testing of fuel cell technology. The fleet has accumulated more than 300,000 miles since its inception. With this fleet on the ground, a great deal of information that can be integrated into future fuel cell vehicle propulsion systems is being generated in different local environmental conditions. . Having the fleet outside the confines of Ford Motor Company also has allowed the team to gain valuable feedback on servicing vehicles in the field. As a hydrogen infrastructure is developed and implemented for the fleet at each location, lessons learned are being generated to insure that the customer and hydrogen fueling interface is seamless and customer friendly. Specifications Weight 2560 kg Seating 6-passenger Hydrogen Storage 10 kg at 700 bar Range 350 miles Fuel Economy 35 mpg M-H Power 60 kW Fuel Cell Motor 130 kW (Dual 65 kW) Electric Motors Batteries 50 kW hybrid battery

My complaints are limited to the one-color only (which is this meh shade) and the lack of touching up the buttons on the armrest, at least some chromed window switches. However, I do love this car and would love to pick one up in a few years.

Oh, okay, the "1952 Sears Allstate" Should've known that trademark Sears grille... Now, the Osceola I said for the first is the only ass-ugly turn-of-the-century box I know of, so this'll be fun...

I, for one, like the production gauges a whole lot more.

1906 Cadillac Model H 1951 (Kaiser) Henry J 1978ish Dodge Challenger

PRESS RELEASE: GM @ LAIAS ALL-NEW 2008 SATURN VUE SPORT UTILITY DELIVERS PREMIUM, EUROPEAN-INSPIRED LOOKS AND RIDE QUALITY LOS ANGELES - Saturn today introduced the all-new 2008 Saturn Vue, a compact five-door crossover vehicle with European design and sporty ride and handling. The vehicle was revealed at the Greater Los Angeles International Auto Show. The new Vue is the latest Saturn model to showcase the brand’s new design character and intensified focus on driving characteristics. When it becomes available in the second quarter of 2007, it will be the fourth all-new Saturn model since the beginning of 2006 calendar year. The other all-new models are the Sky roadster, Aura sedan and the larger Outlook crossover utility. “The 2008 Saturn continues the product revitalization at Saturn,” said Saturn General Manager Jill Lajdziak. “The all-new Vue is versatile, technologically advanced and loaded with safety equipment. Saturn customers will be as pleased with the vehicle as they are with the customer treatment they’ve always received at their Saturn retailer.” Saturn also confirmed that it will continue to offer the Green Line hybrid version of the Vue, beginning later in the 2008 model year. When it debuted in the 2007 lineup, the Vue hybrid was the first vehicle to use GM’s new affordable hybrid powertrain. In addition to the hybrid, the new Vue will be available in XE, XR and Red Line trim levels. These models will offer a wide range of powertrains, including a more powerful four-cylinder engine, and two V-6 choices mated to six-speed automatic transmissions. Later in the model year, a five-speed manual transmission will be available. All-wheel drive is available with both V-6 engines. Ride and handling At the core of the Vue’s European driving character is a stiff, steel body-frame integral structure. Ride and handling is augmented by model-specific tuning of spring rates and wheel travel. Front and rear stabilizer bars, MacPherson strut independent front suspension and independent multi-link rear suspension, along with a double-isolated engine cradle, add to the smooth ride. Hydraulic power-assisted steering on V-6 models, standard four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, standard traction control and standard GM StabiliTrak electronic stability control provide outstanding vehicle control. A towing package with hitch and wiring is available on all Vues. A towing stabilization system uses active braking to help control the vehicle in trailering situations. The Vue (except Red Line) can also be towed as an RV “dinghy vehicle” with all four wheels on the ground. Safety In addition to the handling features that help drivers avoid crashes, the all-new Vue helps protect occupants with a long list of standard crash protection safety features. Dual-stage front seat air bags, front seat side thorax air bags and head curtain air bags covering front and rear rows are standard on all models. Complementing the air bags is GM’s rollover sensing system, which uses sensors to proactively predict vehicle tip-up on a flat road surface and apply brake force to the outside front and rear wheels to reduce lateral force in the vehicle. It also activates the roof rail air bags if sensors determine an impending rollover. Other standard safety features include front-row dual safety belt pretensioners, disengaging collapsible pedals and active head restraints. Like all Saturn vehicles, the Vue comes standard with GM’s OnStar safety and security system, including a one-year subscription to the Safe & Sound plan. The OnStar service includes Advanced Automatic Crash Notification (AACN), making crash data available to emergency services to potentially dispatch the appropriate life-saving personnel and equipment to crash scenes faster. If the vehicle is in a crash that activates an air bag, the system automatically notifies an OnStar advisor, who will contact the occupants and summon emergency help if necessary. OnStar also provides remote door-unlocking service and can assist authorities in locating a vehicle if it is reported stolen. Exterior The new Vue’s exterior exhibits Saturn’s new European design cues, with a look that is clean, sculpted and distinctively sporty. Tight wheel-to-body relationships, large jeweled headlamps and a sweeping upper profile line contribute to the Vue’s striking design. The tapered roof line is one of the design cues drawn from the PreVue concept shown at the 2006 New York Auto Show. Another cue inspired by the PreVue concept is the fender accent molding located vertically along the forward front door line. The styling feature is molded in charcoal color and incorporates a side repeater turn signal. Bright accents surrounding the side glass add to the appeal of the vehicle’s profile. The grille proudly displays Saturn’s recognizable chrome brand bar with a large Saturn badge. Sixteen-inch alloy wheels are standard on XE models, while larger 17-inch alloy wheels come with the uplevel Vue XR. XE and XR models are further distinguished from each other with specific fascias, rockers and wheel opening trim. The Red Line model, to be unveiled later, will sport its own performance-inspired design cues. Interior Inside, the Vue continues the upscale theme with refined materials and precise fit and finish. Designers used lighter colors to bring a sense of spaciousness to the cabin, and incorporated an array of useful storage solutions. The interior offers a host of comfort and convenience features, many of which are uncommon in the segment. These include optional eight-way power driver’s seat; standard flip-down second-row armrest with storage; standard CD stereo with MP3 capability; standard driver information center in instrument cluster; available automatic climate control system with electronic controls; available navigation system; and an optional enhanced convenience package that includes an automatic rain-sensing wiper system, remote start, universal home remote and heated windshield washer system. Other cabin highlights include: * Rich materials including chrome accents on the air vents, center stack controls, instrument cluster and speakers * Bolstered seating upholstered with two levels of flat-woven fabric with specific inserts; leather seating is available on most models * Low-gloss, low-glare upper instrument panel with embossed grain * Amber backlighting in the instrument panel and center stack control faceplates * Ample covered, flocked and damped storage, including a locking glove box big enough for a medium-size purse * A sliding storage bin under the front passenger seat * Flat-folding 60/40 split rear seatback * A rear cargo management system that uses upper and lower rails and storage nets to accommodate storage nets for everything from beverage bottles to home-improvement accessories Powertrain No other vehicle in the segment will offer as wide a range of engine choices as the 2008 Vue. The XE FWD and Vue Green Line models are equipped with the 2.4L Ecotec with variable valve timing. It produces 164 horsepower (122 kW) at 6,300 rpm* and 160 lb.-ft. (221 Nm) of torque at 4,500 rpm.* It is mated to the Hydra-Matic 4T45, four-speed, electronically controlled transaxle. A five-speed manual will be available on four-cylinder Vue XE models in early 2008. All-wheel-drive Vue XE models come equipped with a 3.5L V-6 engine, delivering 215 horsepower (260 kW) at 5,900 rpm* and 220 lb.-ft. (304 Nm) of torque at 2,800 rpm,* with a broad torque curve and good low-end torque for quick acceleration. Vue XR and Vue Red Line, are powered by GM’s sophisticated, high-feature 60-degree dual overhead cam 3.6L V-6 VVT that delivers 250 horsepower (186 kW) at 6,500 rpm* and 243 lb.-ft. (329 Nm) of torque at 4,400 rpm.* All Vue models equipped with V-6 engines receive the new Hydra-Matic six-speed automatic transmissions, which helps maximize powertrain performance and economy. STAY TUNED FOR PICTURES!

PRESS RELEASE: GM @ LAIAS CHEVROLET SEQUEL IS A BETTER, CLEANER, PETROLEUM-FREE SOLUTION LOS ANGELES – The first driveable version of the world’s most technologically advanced automobile ever built, the Chevy Sequel, is being featured at the Greater Los Angeles International Auto Show. Sequel is GM’s solution to provide the world with a cleaner, petroleum-free vehicle that is better in nearly every way. “General Motors is proving that advanced technology can remove the automobile from the environmental debate and reduce our dependence on petroleum," said Larry Burns, GM vice president, research & development and strategic planning. “Chevy Sequel clearly shows that our vision for the future of the automobile is real and sustainable.” Sequel was introduced in 2005 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It is the first vehicle in the world to successfully integrate a hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system with a broad menu of advanced technologies such as steer-and brake-by-wire controls, wheel hub motors, lithium-ion batteries and a lightweight aluminum structure. It uses clean, renewable hydrogen as a fuel and emits only water vapor. “Sequel fundamentally changes the DNA of today’s automobiles … exchanging an internal combustion engine, petroleum and mechanical systems for fuel cell propulsion, hydrogen and electrical systems,” Burns said. “In Sequel, GM has created a real vehicle that promises to excite customers and lead to long-term, sustainable automotive transportation.” Compared to other fuel cell vehicles, Sequel has an unprecedented range of 300 miles between fill-ups and spirited acceleration, attaining 60 mph in just 10 seconds. Sequel also has all the amenities one would expect in a premium, five-passenger crossover SUV, including impressive styling, a spacious interior and an all-aluminum body and structure designed to meet all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. It has a low-profile, skateboard-like chassis that houses all of its main propulsion, braking and chassis components. “Sequel is a vehicle that is better in nearly every way – quicker, more sure-footed, easier to handle, easier to build and better looking, while being safe and emitting only water vapor,” said Burns. Other benefits include: Unequaled control on snow and ice, or uneven terrain 70-percent more torque for unparalleled acceleration Shorter braking distances Ability to “talk” to other vehicles about traffic congestion or road conditions “Four years ago, our chairman and CEO, Rick Wagoner, challenged us to completely rethink the automobile,” Burns said. “With the Chevy Sequel, we have now met Rick’s challenge by reinventing the automobile and making it real. We’ve proven a new DNA for vehicles that is viable for the future.”

PRESS RELEASE: GM @ LAIAS 2008 CADILLAC XLR PLATINUM The XLR roadster has taken a starring role in Cadillac’s new emphasis on dramatic styling and serious performance. Now the XLR Platinum maximizes the elegance of Cadillac’s entry into the elite club of luxury roadsters. XLR Platinum features exclusive 15-spoke, 18-inch wheels, with a brighter chrome finish for the grille and an exclusive Liquid Amethyst exterior color and exclusive Platinum badge. Inside, the XLR Platinum features appointments such as authentic olive ash burl wood and a Cashmere interior color. The instrument panel “upper,” and door trim feature hand cut, sewn and wrapped leather. Other cabin appointments include olive ash burl wood inserts on the steering wheel and luxurious Alcantara suede headliner, visors and pillars, and additional Platinum badging on the sill plate. The Cadillac XLR Platinum will be available in the first quarter of 2007.

PRESS RELEASE: GM @ LAIAS 2008 CADILLAC STS PLATINUM The STS Platinum sedan extends the luxurious look and feel of the STS with elements such as 18-inch chrome-finish wheels; a brighter chrome-finish grille; a Glacier Gold exterior finish; bright chrome inserts on the exterior door handles and Platinum badging. On the inside, STS Platinum features hand-cut, sewn and wrapped instrument panel, door trim and center console areas. The seats are fully leather, a semi-aniline variety called Tuscany. Luxury touches include chrome accents on the instrument panel and doors, a leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel, olive ash burl wood accents with a saddle-stained shade, premium floor mats and a Platinum badge of the door sill. STS Platinum comes in either a Cocoa over Cashmere or an Ebony interior color scheme. The Cadillac STS Platinum will be available in the first quarter of 2007, in either the V-6 or Northstar V-8-powered versions of the car.

PRESS RELEASE: GM @ LAIAS 2008 CADILLAC DTS PLATINUM The Cadillac DTS Platinum goes to dramatic new lengths with 18-inch wheels, bright chrome grille and chrome inserts on the exterior door handles, as well as a Platinum badge, all of which highlight the Ebony exterior finish. A unique Light Linen over Cocoa interior is distinguished by olive ash burl wood with decorative inlay; semi-aniline-dyed Tuscany leather upholstery and hand-cut-and-sewn leather on the instrument panel, console and door trim. A handcrafted, leather-wrapped heated steering wheel with authentic olive ash burl wood and chrome appointments; suede headliner and visors; and an illuminated Platinum badge on the door sill plate complete the package. The Cadillac DTS Platinum will be available in August of 2007.

More proof NO one can resist the pull of C&G. My way of welcoming you back...

Interior

Concept to Production Centieme (2003) | Enclave (2006) | Enclave (2008) Exterior

The interior is really beautiful. Something a Mustang LX should have.