Flybrian

It would make its own drive-thru!

2008 Buick Lucerne CXL AT A GLANCE Link to Original Article @ AutoWeek | Published 07/06/07, 9:03 am et AS-TESTED PRICE: $37,950 DRIVETRAIN: 3.8-liter V6; fwd, four-speed automatic OUTPUT: 197 hp @ 5200 rpm, 227 lb-ft @ 3800 rpm CURB WEIGHT: 3969 lb FUEL ECONOMY (EPA): 20 mpg OPTIONS: Audio system, including CD and MP3 playback, DVD-based touch-screen navigation ($1,945); luxury package, including power and heated front seats with memory, heated steering wheel ($995); driver-confidence package, including remote start, rear park assist, heated washer fluid, StabiliTrak, RainSense wipers ($995); sunroof ($900); heated and cooled seats ($895); 17-inch chrome wheels ($750); Harmon/Kardon premium audio ($495); crystal red tint premium paint ($495); side blind-zone alert ($395); lane-departure warning system ($295); chrome grille ($195) ---------------------- OUR TAKE: The Lucerne is a big car in today’s world, a smooth, quiet and comfortable big car. Settle into its soft, flat bucket seat, flip on the XM satellite radio and just cruise. The standard six-cylinder is nicely matched with the chassis; if driven like an enthusiast, the 3.8 definitely feels underpowered. But the majority of Lucerne buyers are likely not in as big a hurry as most auto journalists. Hot-rod grandpas can always opt for the V8—or wait for the even more powerful Super trim that bows next year. The Lucerne rides exactly as you’d expect of a Buick. Bumps and potholes are easily soaked up by the car’s soft suspension and, as expected, body roll is plentiful. Again, most buyers probably wouldn’t have it any other way. As for the Lucerne’s lane-departure warning and blind-spot detection systems, we found them mildly useful. Unlike the lane-departure system offered by Infiniti, the one Buick uses is not nearly as intrusive. Fun to drive? Not necessarily. Near perfect at the end of a grueling day? Absolutely.

G6 hardtop or Mustang. CPO Jag is sexy, though.

I met her! She's spunky. Congratualtions, Yellowjacket! Isn't this like the fourth AURA on C&G now? Keep buying those Saturns, guys...maybe I'll get to go to Detroit again next year!

VIDEO: 2008 CTS on the Nurburgring Cadillac Driver's Log

My father would absolutely agree with that statement.

2 GM Wilmington DE quality pins, one with a misprint Clicky "I'm the BES!"

Any other entires?

New Ram key for Chrysler Top designer will update Dodge pickup Link to Original Article @ Detroit Free Press Ralph Gilles, one of Chrysler's top designers, went down to Texas to find inspiration for the new Dodge Ram pickup, which will go on sale next year. The Ram, a supremely important part of the Chrysler lineup, is in need of an update and faces intense competition, especially from General Motors' new Chevrolet Silverado, Toyota's new full-size Tundra and Ford, which is gearing up to launch a new F-150 next year. In an interview with the Free Press this week, Gilles, 37, spoke carefully about the upcoming redesign of the Ram, not wanting to spill too many secrets about a project that will have an impact on the automaker for years to come. He bristled at the notion that Chrysler is frantically rushing to redesign the Ram to compete, noting the automaker has been working on this project for a while, going about it in a "logical" manner. Gilles, a Chrysler design vice president, said the buzz internally at Chrysler about the new Ram is similar to the feel prior to the launch of the Chrysler 300 -- one of the automaker's last smash hits, in no small part due to his design. "The vibe is really good. I remember when I was on the 300 team years ago -- there was a vibe about the team," he said. "There is that sense of purpose." For good reason: The Ram hasn't been redesigned since 2001, which kept much of the truck's brawnier appeal out of the previous design. "It will be very important for them to at least maintain their place in the pickup segment, which is something huge to say these days. ... To maintain market share is a huge feat," said Tina Jantzi, manager of North American forecasting for J.D. Power and Associates. So far, so good: Ram's sales are up a bit -- 1.1% -- for the first half of this year, and its share of the segment is holding steady at 17%. Much of that can be attributed to Chrysler's use of customer incentives. Chrysler's spending on cash rebates has jumped from an average of $3,787 in 2004 to $4,675 this year on Dodge Rams, according to the Power Information Network. The industry norm for pickups is $2,922 so far this year. "The fact that it hasn't been redesigned yet is definitely hurting them a lot," said Christopher Li of the Power Information Network. Even Gilles admits he had not been into pickups before his recent assignment. "I've never had one before. I've only had sports cars and minivans," said Gilles, who in recent years has been handed some of the most important design jobs at Chrysler, including the new minivans, which were unveiled at the Detroit auto show in January and go on sale this fall. Some will be trickling into showrooms by the end of next month. But after a year of driving a light-duty Ram 1500 Quad Cab around town with routine weekend trips to the hardware store for his home remodeling projects, Gilles states his impression simply: "I love it." He admits it is a cliché to make a pilgrimage to Texas, but Gilles even took a trip to Ft. Worth to visit Billy Bob's Texas -- the self-proclaimed world's largest honky-tonk -- to see how pickups fit into the culture. "I spent more time outside than in the bar," which features blaring country music and an indoor rodeo, Gilles said. "I've never seen so many trucks in my life." In particular, Gilles noticed that many of pickups were modified with items such as gun racks and extra lights. "Some guys would weld stuff to their trucks because they had a particular need," he said. In his Ram, which he has been driving on after-market 20-inch wheels, Gilles has been hauling sod, bathroom tile and other household goods. "I've learned that when I like to haul gravel, I still like to listen to my iPod and my tunes. When I am in the cabin, I am sitting in this air-conditioned cocoon; it's like any other passenger car. I feel like I am driving the 300. I look in the back, and I've got 1,500 pounds worth of stuff," Gilles said of his experience with the Ram. "There is this duality that the truck has to achieve. It has to be comfortable and luxurious yet very capable. You can't do anything that hurts its function, but you can still do things that bring it up. "That's the challenge -- to be able to find the sweet spot and exceed those expectations." Industry analyst Erich Merkle, director of forecasting for IRN Inc., said Gilles is a natural pick to usher in a new Ram. "The guy has got the Midas touch," he said. "He really understands ... that the new vehicle will have to be identifiable as the Dodge Ram but it also has to accentuate that it is all new."

Coming from someone who honestly cares not about resale value (I buy to keep), even I would be bothered to see my car have such a high rental proportion. An Impala or Taurus, well, is expected - affordable fullsize cars have been rental and government staples forever, but some of the others are frightening.

I was going to guess Gerald Ford.

I want the Prius to get bit by this simply because I'm sick of hearing and seeing that stupid wedge of crap that dares call itself an automobile.

SPY SHOTS! 2009 BMW X6 Link to Original Article @ Jalopnik According to the report from the wily spy shooters of KGP, they happened upon a group of BMW engineers out testing the new BMW X6 who'd run into a bit of trouble in the 128-degree heat of a "desolate California road." We'll let KGP take over from here: Despite the giveaways offered by the spy shots, it's still hard for us to determine the overall design of the X6, but the look we've now got due to these shots certainly makes it easier.

GM Tuner Rolls Out Production Version of Ironhide From Transformers Movie Date posted: 07-06-2007 | Link to Original Article @ Edmunds MONROE, Wis. — All Transformers fans know that Ironhide is the slowest Autobot, but also the least vulnerable to attack. He transforms into a GMC TopKick 6500 pickup — and now a GM tuner has rolled out a production version. Monroe Truck Equipment, in association with toymaker Hasbro, says the production version of Ironhide includes custom 20-inch aluminum painted black wheels fitted with monster 40-inch tires. The GMC TopKick normally comes equipped with dual rear wheels. Other details include two chrome big-rig smokestacks, horizontal stainless steel step tubes, custom front and rear bumpers with textured powder-coat finish, and a 16,000-pound winch mounted on the front bumper. As Ironhide would say, "High-tech circuitry is no replacement for guts." What this means to you: Now you can look and feel like Ironhide. Image Gallery

Optima still makes me laugh. What a great car.

2007 GMC Acadia Road Test A notch above the rest—including some big names by Eric Peters | (2007-07-05) | Link to Original Article @ TCC GMC is GM's upscale SUV and truck division, up a notch from Chevy, not quite as high-end as Cadillac. And until now, it has only sold trucks and truck-based SUVs. Of course, not everyone needs or wants a truck - or even truck-based SUV, for that matter. Realizing this, GM decided to broaden GMC's product portfolio by adding the new Acadia to the lineup. Though it has the hunky looks of a large, truck-based SUV, the eight-passenger Acadia is in fact the first-ever GMC model to be built on what is essentially a front-wheel-drive, integral frame/body passenger car chassis (with an all-wheel-drive system available optionally). That makes it a "crossover," as such vehicles are now called. You'll notice it rides closer to the ground, for one thing - and unlike a truck-based SUV, its interior isn't crimped up by a huge driveshaft tunnel rising up like a mountain range between the seats, eating up the available real estate. You'll also notice there's no truck-style solid rear axle, no two-speed transfer case or 4WD Low range and as a result, not much in the way of off-road ability. But that's okay because the Acadia's not meant to tackle rutted backwoods fire roads or to ford mighty rivers. There are Land Rovers (and Yukons) for that. And of course, the price for that kind of capability is usually an evil-handling, over-heavy ride that maybe gets 20 mpg on a good day. Or which is huge on the outside but doesn't offer all that much usable space on the inside, mainly because of the way a truck-based SUV is laid out, including that space-hogging driveshaft tunnel. Instead of unused off-road capability, the Acadia offers everyday drivability to buyers (especially those with large families) caught between the ungainliness and civility-compromised nature of a traditional truck-based large SUV and the dreadful prospect of a gelding by minivan. Roulez, Acadia What makes the Acadia particularly swell is the plus-size accommodations. It's huge inside, with a standard third row and room for 7-8 people (depending on the configuration). That's as much or more interior space/people-carrying capacity as a full-size SUV like the GMC Yukon. But it's much more accessible space, thanks to wide-opening rear doors and GMC's clever "Smart Slide" system that lets passengers get into and out of the third row without a Yoga certificate. That third row's a real third row, too, not there only for advertising purposes. It is every bit the equal, road trip-wise, of a full-size minivan like the Toyota Sienna or Chrysler Town & Country, sans the diaper-duty stigmata. Buyers can choose second-row captain's chairs or a second-row bench (and three across seating). There's almost 20 cubic feet of additional storage space behind the third row, too. With the second and third rows out or folded down, the Acadia is fully capable of carting home a load of 2x4s, even a dozen bags of cement mix. Maximum towing capacity is 4500 pounds. That's considerably better than the typical mid-size car or minivan and most any mid-size crossover, too. For example, the Toyota Highlander maxes out at 3500 lb (and its third row is optional and useable only by kids). The Honda Pilot, meanwhile, can seat eight but can't tow more than 3500 lb. And its standard 3.5-liter, 244-horsepower V-6 is much less powerful than the Acadia's standard 275-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6. Mazda's CX-9, on the other hand, is sporty, good-looking and comparably powerful (with a standard 3.5-liter, 263-hp V-6). But it only pulls 3500 lb and can't handle more than seven people. If you cross-shop specs, you'll discover the Acadia's actually not too far off the pace of what a mid-size, truck-based SUV can haul. But no mid-size SUV can carry eight people. In fact, few full-size SUVs can outdo the Acadia when it comes to people (or cargo) carrying. For example, the enormous (on the outside) Yukon isn't significantly bigger on the inside than the Acadia. It can theoretically seat up to nine people, but unlike the Acadia, its third row is difficult to access, uncomfortable to use (for adults) and doesn't fold flat. In the real world, the Yukon's comfortable for 5-6 adults and maybe a kid or two. And you'll likely agree the second and third row accommodations in the Acadia are more pleasant once you're seated - and much less hassle to get into and out of, too. The Acadia wins easily on total interior cargo volume, too, with 117 cubic feet of space available vs. the Yukon's 108.9 cubic feet. Less thirsty, just as roomy And as far as gas mileage goes, there's a similar gap in the Acadia 's favor. A FWD Acadia carries an EPA rating of 18 city/26 highway; the V-8 Yukon, meanwhile, is a thirsty doggie at 16 mpg city/22 mpg highway. In real-world driving, feeding the Yukon (or any large, V-8 SUV) can be an expensive proposition. While the Acadia's numbers don't seem all that much better, keep in mind its super-sized interior and super-sized cargo capacity. To get appreciably more of either, you'd need a super-sized SUV - something even larger than the standard-issue Yukon , like a Caddy Escalade ESV or maybe a long-wheelbase Lincoln Navigator. And you'd also get the super-sized fuel bills that would come with it. Other compelling Acadia attributes include its healthy 275-hp V-6 (stronger than any competitor in its segment) and its standard six-speed automatic transmission (most competitors have five speeds; a few still have four-speeds). The six-speed comes with a manual sportshift function and an aggressive first gear to aid off-the-line acceleration. It can scuttle to 60 mph in just over eight seconds, which is enough to feel quick and plenty to pull into traffic with confidence instead of gritted teeth. Ride and handling are both much improved over even GM's truck-based SUV, which are the current handling champs. And the Acadia's optional AWD system (which can transmit as much as 65 percent of engine power to the rear wheels as necessary) is more than sufficient for dealing with the handful of snow days most of us face each year. Base models (starting price $29,110) come with 18-inch rims, front and rear A/C, stability control, full-row curtain airbags, and GM's OnStar concierge system with "turn-by-turn" navigation assistance. Higher-end models offer or can be ordered with all the niceties, from a ten-speaker Bose surround-sound stereo to three-zone climate control, a power rear liftgate, a head-up Display (HUD), GPS, a two-panel sunroof, and backseat DVD entertainment system. A 19-inch wheel/tire package is available and looks sharp, but be sure you test-drive a model so equipped before you buy as the ride quality suffers a bit. GM (and GMC) has come off its 20-year-bender at long last. Vehicles like the Acadia bode well for the future of both. This one's not just practical - it's appealing, too. It won't kill you on gas and it won't wilt your will to live, either. If you think you need a big SUV but are desperate to avoid a minivan at all costs, the Acadia's a must-see.

Chery's U.S. car likely to cost $10,000 Analysts call initial quote of $7,000 too low Link to Original Article @ Detroit Free Press Chrysler is unlikely to roll out a $7,000 car when it brings the first Chery-made American-brand small car to the U.S. market in 2009, U.S. industry analysts said Thursday. Rather than hit the streets with an extremely cheap set of wheels, Chrysler and Chery will more likely beef up the Chery A1 to about $10,000 with features and content expected by American consumers. Shortly after the Chinese government gave the OK to a deal between the two automakers, Chrysler CEO Tom LaSorda said his company would begin selling cars made by Chery Automobile Co. in South and Central America in 2008 and in North America by 2009. Chery's president, however, indicated that a version of his company's new A1 car will be sold in the United States at a price of $7,000 -- half the price of the cheapest Chrysler vehicle on the market today -- and that it would be on the road by next year, according to reports by Bloomberg News. Chrysler has not confirmed this and the statements appear to be at odds with what LaSorda said at the official event Wednesday. The A1 goes for the equivalent of $7,100 to $7,900 in China, but no official export price has been set yet by Chrysler. The automakers' messages are unified, however, on the most important matter of the week: Chrysler and Chery are raring to go with a partnership that will likely bring the first Chinese cars to U.S. dealerships. "This is a significant deal," said George Magliano, Global Insight's director of automotive research for the Americas. "I don't think Chrysler can wait around on this thing. Everyone is scrambling to get these programs out there." Magliano estimates the Chrysler-Chery vehicle will sell for around $10,000 in the U.S. market. "I don't think seven is going to work," he said. "First of all, what's going to sell is not a bare-bones vehicle. They can do what they want when they sell this thing in developing countries. ... In the U.S. this thing has got to be styled right, it's got to perform right, it's got to have quality, it's got to have safety. And you don't get that for $7,000." Erich Merkle, director of forecasting for IRN Inc., agreed. "If I were Chrysler I don't think I would sell it that cheap. I think you could sell it for more ... and make a profit off of it," he said. "Why create a price war if you don't have to?" Merkle estimated the Chrysler-Chery vehicle will have lots of features, such as glowing cupholders, a powerful stereo and other features "younger people expect" and suggested it should sell for as much as $15,000. "This vehicle probably will be targeted and marketed at the younger generation," he said. Competition in the U.S. small car market has been heating up as gasoline prices have skyrocketed. Ford has said it is working to develop a good small car by 2010 for the U.S. market, which already has entries from Chevrolet, Toyota, Honda and Nissan. Chrysler wants into the game, too, but officials have said it cannot produce a small car competitively in North America. Part of Chrysler's restructuring plan is to expand its global alliances so the company can bring vehicles to market quicker and cheaper. Last winter, Chery and Chrysler announced that they had agreed in principle to a deal that would allow Chrysler to sell Chery-made vehicles around the world under a Chrysler nameplate, expected to be Dodge. Chrysler parent company DaimlerChrysler AG approved the deal in February. DaimlerChrysler's decision to sell Chrysler threw the Chrysler-Chery partnership into question as the German parent company looked at potential buyers. In May it was announced that private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management would invest $7.4 billion to acquire 80.1% of Chrysler. The deal could be wrapped up as soon as this month. At a ceremony Wednesday in Beijing, the Chinese government gave its approval to the deal, clearing the way for Chery and Chrysler to craft other contracts over which specific vehicles will be part of the partnership.

Two days left...any extensions needed?! Let's get those entires in!

I made your post fun-nay.

Interior

Exterior

And more pictures! Conceptual Renderings

Cadillac sits atop survey for luxury brand satisfaction Thursday, July 05, 2007 | Don Hammonds | Link to Original Article @ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Cadillac, once known as "The Standard of the World," may want to dust off that old title. When it comes to customer service, a Business Week survey put the company third in a group of 25 "luxury or specialty" brands or companies, including those not in an automotive-related business. When it comes to cars, Cadillac outranked stalwarts such as Lexus and Porsche. Business Week supplemented 2006 data from J.D.Power & Associates with a survey of about 3,000 Business Week readers who were asked to nominate three companies that offered the best customer service. In the end, Cadillac was outranked by only insurance company USAA and the Four Seasons hotel chain, beating firms such as Nordstrom, Starbucks, Ritz-Carlton and Southwest Airlines. "The fact is that most people in America wouldn't believe that an American car company would place that high. But these are people whose perceptions of our quality are based on 10, 20, 30 years ago, when frankly we weren't doing that great a job," Cadillac spokesman Kevin Smith said. Moreover, the Business Week study isn't the only feather in Cadillac's hat. In a survey done by the Luxury Institute, wealthy customers rated Cadillac, Lexus and Acura as the three luxury auto brands that delivered the best customer experience in 2007, with Cadillac topping the list. "It's significant to see American icon Cadillac rise solidly to achieve the No. 1 rating with highly discerning wealthy owners in our impartial surveys," said Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute. He said the brands that were rated in the survey included Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Infiniti, Jaguar, Lexus, Lincoln, Mercedes and Volvo. What's Cadillac doing right? Giving dealers lots of authority to get things done, and not being hidebound and rigid when it comes to pleasing customers, for one thing. "What Business Week found were a lot of good comments from dealers talking about how they now have what they need the most: lots of latitude to do whatever it takes to please customers no matter what," said Dave Caldwell, Cadillac communications manager. That even includes the ability to honor a warranty that has expired. "An important part of the luxury component is the experience part of it, it's not just about the business. The reason that brands like Ritz Carlton or Nordstrom did well on the survey is because those brands pay attention not just to the tangible elements, but to the intangibles, and so does Cadillac," Mr. Caldwell said.

Lutz Talks Back Part II "Hey Bob...what about Buick?" Some clarification - as evidenced by this clip, this is actually the first of a four-part series featuring one-on-one interviews with Mr. Lutz that will be released over the rest of the month. FastLane editors had some technical issues, so they threw the second one up first. However, the order doesn't really matter. In this segment, Mr. Lutz assures us that both he and Buick are indeed alive. Future Buicks both in the American and Chinese markets will follow a "softer, quieter, more traditional American" design. This contrasts with Cadillac, which was described again as being edgier and more geared towards the handling side of the luxury field. In the marketplace, its reiterated that Buick will be an American Lexus, but cheaper, driven by value. This concept is validated by the Enclave, whose design, materials, powertrain, and equipment are certainly Lexus-level, but at a lower price point. However, we will never see Buicks priced along the ranks of Chevrolet, so the days of heavy value-driven $19,000 Centuries and $22,000 LeSabres are gone forever. In regards to individual models, Mr. Lutz rebutts the claim that China is recieving better-looking cars than America with a somewhat cryptic response, indicating that they're not "they're simply the first market to get the new Park Avenue," and that vehicle or "a variant of it" is "always a possibility in the future." Also, that the something like the Riviera concept "may someday see the light of day." In the end, however, he assures us that the future of the Buick brand "looks very good." So there you have it. Sadly, not much more than we know or at least speculated on already. I know alot of you are hardcore Buick enthusiasts and I encourage all of you to let your feelings known on what you want American Buick to have here and when. Respond here... Bob Lutz Answere More FastLane Questions ...and make sure you mention where you're from...Cheers and Gears!

There was a similar ('96) Park Avenue at a lot when I ended up with my Aurora. However, it was nowhere near in nice of condition. Congratulations!