Flybrian

Welcome to Overhang City. Population - You. P.S. Its not a 4-door coupe; its a sedan. Period. This nomenclature B.S. is growing beyond ridiculous. Know what? By this logic, my Olds is also a 4-door coupe and beats them all by a decade at least.

That actually does clear up some confusion. Thanks for posting that.

You're promoting discount alcohol for C&G members. How could anything be wrong with that? Not a problem at all, and congrats on the new job!

Car and Driver names Astra one of ten Safest under $25k It’s tough to contain our excitement about a car that’s actually “Euro tuned.” The only difference between Europe’s best-selling car, the Opel Astra, and what will shortly turn up on Saturn lots are Gulpinator-sized cup holders, inevitably crappy all-season tires, and a piece of plastic on the hatch marking it a Saturn. It would be tough for the Astra to do worse than the Ion it replaces, but we think it will instead do much, much better, offering a premium product, with premium safety equipment, at a solidly ‘Merican price. Compact-car renters rejoice. Stability control is standard on the sportier three-door, optional on the five at an undisclosed price. NHTSA hasn’t thrown one into a wall yet, but the European NCAP crowned the Astra the safest compact sedan in Europe, earning a score better than even the BMW 1-series. Again assuming parity with the European hardware, the stability control system even features “Understeer Control Logic,” which knows to increase brake pressure on the inner rear wheel. Neat. Other vehicles: Scion xB Hyundai Sonata Volkswagen Rabbit Mini Cooper Toyota Camry Volvo C30 Dodge Charger Honda Accord Mazda CX-7

Indeedy! Thanks! But I've got Dark Cherry '08 STS pics coming today (hopefully) Does it bother you that we take photos that are better than 80% of what GM takes?

Uh...what?

Never doubt the capabilites of the American aerospace industry. Naturally, manuvering capabilities, not supercruise. But keep in mind this demo was done with a full weapons and fuel load. Check out the little backflip at 2:40. Maybe they should call it the OutFlanker. To quote Cutis LeMay, "If we maintain our faith in God, love of freedom, and superior global air power, the future [of the US] looks good."

Anyone else? contest ends tonight otherwise!

Great entries! Anyone else almost done? let me know, otherwise we close tonight!

Sounds like someone's going to involuntarily donate an organ...

Look forward no longer. LaCrosse CXS Sadly seen on the dash... LaCrosse CXL

No. 1976 Buick LeSabre Customino

Good idea. Volunteers?

I'm waiting for them to show a silver Malibu Maxx pull up...

Given the average ES buyer - seniors or real estate women - this doesn't surprise me.

They are. 26-30 for the Bonnie, 24-28 for the Aurora. Makes me wonder why people deal with the embarassment of a Corolla to get, what, 6mpg more?

New 2008 Chevy Malibu Images Malibu at Milford Malibu LT Malibu LTZ Malibu Hybrid

Yeah, not so much. The nuances add up and make them incredibly dissimilar. I also appreciated the last M. Sure, it was old and cramped, but it made more of a statement than today's.

Look at my signature...do I seem like I care?

Ditto above for why I appreciate Buicks. A LaCrosse Super or Lucerne CXS is my idea car, especially since Olds is dead and Pontiac formally exited the comfortable performance car market several years ago. By the way, my local dealer lists three 2008 LaCrosses (2 CXs, 1 CXS) in stock. I plan to check them out/take pics tomorrow.

I don't dislike Ford; I'm just thoroughly unimpressed with the Focus. Its a European car that's lauded for its 'dynamics,' but a poor American compact. I know three Focus owners ('01, '05, '05) whose cars are just horrible. Granted, one of them drives about 200 miles a day five or six days a week on the interstate, but these cars just don't seem built to last. I would actually trust a J-body more because it may rattle, squeak, and not corner well, but it'll run longer. I agree the 1.8's horsepower seems on the threshold of being acceptable for the 3-door, especially because its looks belie a bigger engine - my God, how yummy would a 2.0l DI Turbo'd Ecotec be? - but we'll see when the time comes. Astra hatch also has so many more features vis a vis the Focus, plus keep in mind the Focus hatch is DOA, replaced by a sad-looking Escort coupe. This generation isn't the volume car; its the 'hey-look-at-me-I'm-an-entry-Saturn-worth-giving-a-damn-about' car. It'll sell every unit imported.

Really want a US spec Focus? Yeah, I see how those things last. Or rather, don't.

Eleven World and European Premieres, Extensive Environmental Initiative New HydroGen4 fuel cell vehicle, Volt electric car More than 700 million euros for new engines and transmissions until 2012 Opel/Vauxhall: Electric car concept, ecoFLEX initiative, new Agila Chevrolet: New Aveo generation, distinctively designed HHR Saab: New 9-3 generation with top-of-the-line Turbo X model Cadillac: BLS Wagon, new generation of Cadillac CTS luxury sedan Corvette: More power for Coupé and Cabrio HUMMER: H2 is film star in "Transformers" In essence, the environmental strategy of General Motors Europe is to reduce CO2 emissions in the short term and introduce new propulsion technologies in the long term. The goal is to offer customers vehicles that can operate on many different energy sources. "The multi-tiered approach includes accelerating the development of electrically powered vehicles, stepping up efforts to replace fossil fuels and increasing the efficiency of gasoline and diesel engines," explains Carl-Peter Forster, GME President. GM Europe will invest 700 million euros in new engines and transmissions in the next five years alone, with the first models already at the IAA. Carl-Peter Forster continues: "Opel's surprise for this year's IAA also symbolizes the versatility of our extensive environmental initiative. A concept car which combines electric propulsion and a turbo diesel engine in a way that is fundamentally different to previous hybrid propulsion designs." Highlights of General Motors' environmental strategy include two vehicles that are making their European premieres in Frankfurt: the HydroGen4 fuel cell vehicle and the Volt electric car. GM HydroGen4: Heading toward long-term goal of "Zero Emissions" The GM HydroGen4 is the European version of the Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell. In fall 2007, the first of these fuel cell cars – a global fleet of more than 100 vehicles is planned – will be on the roads in the USA. The HydroGen4's fuel cell stack consists of 440 series-connected cells. The entire system produces an electrical output of up to 93 kW. With help from a 73 kW/100 hp synchronous electric motor, acceleration from zero to 100 km/h takes around 12 seconds. The front-wheel drive vehicle's top speed is around 160 km/h. GM Volt: Purely electrical propulsion in the mid-term The GM Volt is a good indication of what low-emission mobility could look like in the mid-term. This concept vehicle is based on General Motors' electric vehicle architecture E-Flex and is always electrically powered. A second engine is only on board to produce additional energy and thereby extend the operating range. The E-Flex strategy is based on combining various propulsion systems in the same vehicle architecture, depending on what energy source is readily available in the driver's area. The concept has already been presented in two further versions: at the Detroit Motor Show in January 2007, it debuted with a 1.0-liter, three-cylinder turbo gasoline engine designed for operation with gasoline or E85, a mixture of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. And at the Shanghai Motor Show in April 2007, GM presented the electric concept car with hydrogen fuel cell propulsion. Opel at the IAA: ecoFLEX initiative and new Agila ecoFLEX versions spotlight new environmental strategy World premiere in Frankfurt: New Opel Agila Model year 2008: Vectra and Signum greatly enhanced Part of Opel's environmental strategy includes the introduction of low-emission ecoFLEX versions in Opel/Vauxhall's high-volume model lines. These cars combine economy and driving fun with low consumption and reduced CO2 emissions. The premiere model in the Opel/Vauxhall ecoFLEX range is a Corsa 1.3 CDTI, which produces just 119 g/CO2 per kilometer. The Corsa ecoFLEX debuts at the IAA 2007 and is available from 2008. Natural gas is another alternative fuel. Opel currently offers two models ex works with this especially environmentally friendly and economical form of propulsion: the Zafira CNG and Combo CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) consume just 5.0/4.9 kg of natural gas per 100 km (138/133 g CO2/km respectively). The seven-seat Zafira CNG emits just under 20 g CO2 per kilometer and seat. New Agila: Friendly, dynamic, flexible Format: Five doors, five fully fledged seats Function: Versatile thanks to practical details Design: Balanced proportions, distinctive lines Powertrain: Two gasoline engines, one turbo-diesel, automatic transmission With five doors and five seats, the new Opel Agila is not only as practical as its predecessor, which sold around 440,000 units across Europe, but is now also much more dynamically designed. The smallest Opel makes its market debut in spring 2008 and boasts Opel-typical balanced proportions, soft curves and a distinctive side graphic. Passengers still sit high and upright, but the roofline has been dynamically lowered and now blends into a smooth arc toward the rear. This helps create the Agila's aerodynamic drag coefficient of 0.35 – a relatively low figure for a vehicle of this size. The urban car is now 20 centimeters longer, six centimeters wider, but seven centimeters lower than its predecessor. The entry-level engine is an almost one-liter, four-valve, three-cylinder unit that produces 48 kW/65 hp. The 1.2-liter four-cylinder unit produces 63 kW/86 hp and is available with an automatic transmission for the first time. The most economical engine in the Agila range is the 1.3-liter common-rail turbo-diesel, which produces 55 kW/75 hp. Model year 2008: Greater selection and more extensive equipment Opel goes into model year 2008 with a lot of innovations and presents a fresh, cutting-edge product portfolio. The most important enhancements include the considerably higher level of equipment for the Vectra, Vectra station wagon and Signum. The 206 kW/280 hp top performers Vectra OPC and Vectra station wagon OPC are available with a six-speed automatic transmission for the first time. In the Corsa range, the 110 kW/150 hp Corsa GSi fills the gap between the Corsa Sport and the Corsa OPC. Other additions include: Corsa 1.3 CDTI now also with Easytronic transmission Antara 2.0 CDTI with 127 hp and diesel particulate filter New special edition Astra TwinTop model "Endless Summer" New light alloy wheels, more versatile infotainment systems, fresh colors

Convertibles command a higher price tag. Can a pillarless hardtop? No. Engineering such a vehicle from the get-go to have something that has a purely cosmetic effect has zero value and is something no manufacturer would do aside from pure fancy, and an innovative imagination is something sorely lacking outside of probably two or three major automakers...one has a hardtop coupe and you're on the site dedicated to the other one. Specious reasoning. 'Looking' doesn't prevent the other motorist from not looking, nor does merely observing a dangerous situation extricate you from it. Again, its not as much a structural issue for hardtops as a class as it is a return of investment issue to make X-mobile a structurally-sound hardtop in the first place.