Flybrian

Studios duked it out in the design of the key car for Cadillac BY ALISA PRIDDLE, June 2007 | Link to Original Article @ Car & Driver Much ado was made of the fact General Motors Corporation had two design studios competing on the design of the Chevy Camaro. Ed Welburn, GM’s vice president of global design, was so pleased with the results of the exercise that he applied the same practice, and then some, to the development of the 2008 Cadillac CTS. Four teams participated in a “spirited design competition” for the important entry-level Cadillac. The contenders included the Advanced Design Center in California; the main design center in Warren, Michigan; a second advanced team in a separate building in Warren; and the unmarked, nondescript yellow bunker in an undisclosed industrial park near Birmingham, U.K. This secret lair also designed Cadillac’s exotic Cien, Sixteen, and Imaj concepts. Literally thousands of sketches were generated, Welburn says at an event organized by the automaker’s Affinity Group for Women in Pontiac, Michigan. From there, 20–25 scale models emerged from the various teams, and the process further winnowed to the creation of five full-size clay models. They were developed in the separate locations and sent to Warren for review. Interior Design Equally Critical Meanwhile, a similar exercise was going on in the interior design studios, Welburn says. Their mandate: take the cold interior of the first-generation CTS—with its strong, vertical, center stack; its hard, uninviting shapes; and its materials that were expensive but did not look it—and create a stylish, warmer environ with a richer look and feel courtesy of better materials, chrome accents, and better attention to detail. Moving the instrument panel forward about four inches and the center stack up about five inches also opened up the interior. Cadillac has seen a resurgence in design since the debut of its Art & Science language in 1999, with edgy lines sharpening a brand that had lost its way. Concepts such as the Cadillac Evoq, Imaj, Vizon, and Cien have set a pace for a series of reenergized production models including the XLR, first-gen CTS, and SRX. Further style refinement became evident with the Sixteen concept and now the second-generation CTS, which retains razor-hard edges but attempts to incorporate more sophistication with touches such as the front fender vent that also is on the Escalade and will be on all Cadillacs going forward. Welburn says he saw the competition tracing the vent when the new CTS was on display at this year’s Detroit auto show. The plastic appearance of the original CTS grille also has matured with the use of chrome and a layered look with light grays and charcoals. The egg-crate grille has been part of Cadillac’s heritage back to the ’40s and ’50s, he says. Asked if Cadillac will deviate from vertical taillamps anytime in the future, Welburn smiles and says “not as long as I’m running GM design. Each brand must stand for something. Cadillac must be bold. Vertical taillamps are part of our best efforts at Cadillac.” The signature lamps will continue to evolve, he says with a suggestive smile.

We've fractured another empire, this time in the European Forums. Go ahead and check out... Daimler AG for all your Mercedes, Maybach, and smart news. BMW Group for the latest in BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce. Volkswagen Group has VW, Audi, Porsche, SEAT, Skoda, Bentley, and Bugatti info. The French is home to...the French - Citroen, Renault, and Peugoet. The Italians contains the newest developments from Ferrari, Lambo (they're still Italian-ish), Fiat, Alfa-Romeo, and Maserati. The British showcase the remnants of the English automobile empire, including Morgan, Aston, and Lotus Everything else - Russian, Czech, Albanian? - will be found in the main European Forums. Thanks and if you have any other suggestions, let us know!

No immigration bill needed Chinese automaker looks to come to U.S. through Mexico By Todd Lassa | Link to Original Article @ Motor Trend Chinese pickup trucks and SUVs built in Mexico? Chamco Automotive, the company set up to import ZX Auto's products into the U.S. next June, plans to announce on Thursday that it will open a factory in Tijuana in 2009. That factory will supplement production of four-cylinder, $13,250 base-price SUVs and pickups from China. Chamco, which recently hired Steve Saleen to help with the homologation process and with development, plans to sell the ZX models, probably under the name Jhong or Jhong Auto, beginning in June 2008. Chamco has more than 30 of its necessary 150 initial investor/dealers signed up, and has just about signed all the dealers it needs in Mexico and Canada. Despite GM Chairman Rick Wagoner's solid argument that Chinese automakers won't come very soon to the U.S., Chamco's chances look pretty good. The Mexican plant is a smart move in that it establishes ZX Auto as a global automaker, one that happens to be based in China, rather than one that relies on China for cheap labor and relies on China to buy its products. Of course, that means it's still controlled under the Chinese government. If Chamco can pull this Mexican factory off -- note that it's still a rather big "if" -- it will answer Wagoner's first point as outlined in Angus MacKenzie's blog. If it works, ZX can use the still-huge American auto market as a way to grow its Chinese business. So where's the advantage in building ZXes in Mexico? Chamco Chairman and CEO Bill Pollack, a candid guy as car company execs go, says that workers in Mexico will earn about $6,000 to $8,000 per year. Slave wages here for sure, but well above the $1,300 annual average in the Chinese factories. That adds $600 to $800 in cost per car, he says, but much of that can be made up in transportation and logistics costs. ZX Auto is in the right place to open a Mexican factory because it's still a rather nascent automaker. It built just 32,000 cars and trucks last year, Pollack says, and has since bought a second Chinese factory. As far as Pollack and I know, ZX's Mexican plant will be the first joint venture with a Chinese producer, at least in the auto biz. Chamco's position as 50/50 partner in that Mexican plant mirrors the way China does business with Western or Japanese and South Korean automakers. SAIC, for example, owns half of the factory with GM that builds Buicks for the Chinese market. The name "Jhong" is a kind of spelling out of the first name in "ZX." (Chinese characters don't directly correlate to our alphabet, so the translations are largely phonetic.) The SUV and pickup won't use their Chinese model names, either. Too bad for the pickup, which is called "Grandtiger" there. Its SUV, "Landmark," is also the name of a motion picture theater chain in the U.S. Send in your suggestions for model names, and we'll pass the best of them on to Chamco. In Mexico, they will be called "Toreador" and "Matador" (no fears of AMC lawyers knocking on Chamco's door), although Chamco hasn't determined which will be which. The trucks already are certified in Mexico, and Pollack expects them to be on sale there in about four months. Before U.S. sales commence, they'll get a quality upgrade, he says, and a new Chinese-built engine with a 25 more horses. The current 2.2-liter engine makes 141 horsepower and apparently is Mitsubishi-based. ZX can quickly adapt such changes, Pollack says, because its factories are low-volume. The truck and SUV are -- how does one say it? -- inspired by old Japanese models. In the U.S., ZX/Chamco/Jhong will emphasize value, of course, priced about 20 percent below the competition. Pollack expects the two models to launch with at least average quality levels. He's determined not to replicate Hyundai's early mistakes in this market. Volume of 75,000 vehicles seems reasonable for the first full year of sales here, although a boost in dealers from 150 for the first two years to 400 in years three, four and five sounds highly ambitious. That initial volume is well above Isuzu here, yes, but still only 75 percent of Suzuki's volume and 65 percent of Mitsubishi's. Chamco plans to import a sedan and a crossover in 2009, and expects Hyundai-like growth. So place your bets. Chamco wants to sign up the remaining 115 or so of its initial dealers next week in Las Vegas, and then it has 11 months to get trucks and SUVs to those dealers. It seems the most rational Chinese auto import plan so far. Will ZX really be the first one here?

I think that's the point with this. Make a big splash, intimidate, hope it works.

The Last Chevrolet Monte Carlo comes off the line Wednesday, June 20th at 11:00am Car Plant Auto News There are special plans for the last two Monte Carlo models. The last model will be placed in the General Motors Heritage Centre, a contemporary meeting facility filled with 100 years of automotive history, located in Sterling Heights, Michigan. The second to last Monte Carlo production unit will be sent to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to appear at the Brickyard 400 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race on July 29. All Chevrolet race drivers will sign the car and it will be sent to Charlotte, North Carolina for auction. --------------- Monte Carlo - A Photo History 1st row (l-r): 1970 Monte Carlo | 1972 Monte Carlo | 1974 Monte Carlo | 1976 Monte Carlo | 1979 Monte Carlo 2nd row (l-r): 1983 Monte Carlo SS | 1987 Monte Carlo Aeroback | 1998 Monte Carlo Z34 | 2000 Monte Carlo lineup | 2006 Monte Carlo SS

Cars Crushed in Street Racing Crackdown By GREG RISLING, Associated Press Writer Link to Original Artcle @ FoxNews RIALTO, Calif. — Charles Hoang winced when the whoosh went out of the tires. Daniel Maldonado took pictures with a digital camera as glass exploded and rained down to the ground. The cars the teens had so meticulously souped up and tricked out were crushed Wednesday as part of a crackdown on illegal street racing in Southern California. "That's my heart, my dream," said Hoang, 18, of Chino, who was surrounded by friends as his 1998 Acura Integra was put into a compactor. "That's my girlfriend, the love of my life. The cops can crush my car, but they can't crush my memories." Authorities destroyed six vehicles Wednesday at an auto graveyard, hoping would-be racers think again after looking at the mashed machines. Illegal street racing is responsible for or suspected in 13 deaths in Southern California since March. The thrill-seeking, adrenaline-pumping activity is rampant in Riverside and San Bernardino counties east of Los Angeles where rows of tract homes line wide streets that attract racers. Nearly 1,000 people - drivers and spectators - have been arrested for investigation of street racing activities over the past two years in San Bernardino County alone. Police need a court order to destroy the cars. They must prove that the serial or identification numbers on a vehicle or its parts are removed, altered or destroyed. Police said they have managed to reduce illegal racing and related fatal collisions, but know the underground hobby still thrives. "We are making a dent," said Ontario police Cpl. Jeff Higbee. "But it's summertime and ... we expect to see more activity." Hoang said he was caught late last year racing his prized car, on which he spent at least $10,000 to get into top shape. The 350-horsepower engine topped out at 160 mph, Hoang said, swearing it could beat a Corvette or even a Ferrari. When police popped open the hood, Hoang said, they found a stolen transmission. Hoang flashed a receipt for the transmission he bought from his father who runs an auto shop and doubted the item was hot. "Everything on that car was practically brand new," Hoang said as he watched his car get moved to auto death row. "They should take out the stuff that matters, auction it off, and give the money to charity." Because racers put heavy stress on their vehicles, they often burn out or blow up parts. Higbee said the need for the expensive parts has created a "theft mill" where additional cars - usually Hondas or Acuras - are stolen and stripped of the necessary replacements. Most of the cars police examine are illegally modified. Sergio Zavala, 18, was pulled over in his 1993 yellow Honda Civic for a broken tail light in December. He had purchased a B-20 Vtech engine with a double-overhead cam a couple months before, and after a police investigation, was told it was stolen. Zavala, who admits he's been involved in street racing, estimates he and his mother spent about $10,000 on improvements to his car. After watching his Civic demolished, Zavala is left without a car as he plans to attend a fire academy in the fall. "It's heartbreaking to see this," said Zavala, who graduated from high school last week. "This is where all my time and money went." Maldonado also said he put plenty of time and effort working on his 1992 black Honda Civic. He was stopped in November by police in what Higbee described as an area where racers gather. The 18-year-old mechanic said a vehicle identification sticker apparently fell off and without it, police suspected some of the parts were stolen. Maldonado stood several feet away from his car as it was pounded into a heap of metal. Maldonado said he has taken the advice of police by racing legally on one of several race courses around Southern California. For the money spent in fines and other penalties - on average about $5,000 for illegally modified cars - Higbee said street racers could compete about 250 times a year at a legitimate track. "If you have to race, take it to a legal venue," Higbee said. "But as long as they keep racing illegally, we keep crushing their cars." All three men who saw their vehicles destroyed said they believe illegal street racing will continue to prosper across the region. "It will never go away," Maldonado said. "If it's in your heart, you will continue to do it until you can't anymore."

Shaun, We'll keep you (and everyone) updated with the lastest. Do you mind sharing what dealer you're working with?

I hate it too, but that was a rather fair quick-take review.

Oh, for a good while. Certainly long enough to voice it all.

Lexus' LF-A Spied NSX? What NSX? Link to Original Article @ AutoWeek | Published 06/20/07, 7:59 am et Lexus will reveal the production LF-A supercar either at Frankfurt in September or on its home field at Tokyo in October. This prototype, spied turning test laps at the Nürburgring, is likely powered by a 5.0-liter, 500-hp V10, similar to what’s in the next-generation NSX that the competition from Acura is finalizing for a Tokyo debut. While the LF-A’s debut is up in the air, it’s clear the $100,000-plus flagship sports car is well on its way to going on sale in late 2008 as a 2009 model. Styling closely follows that of the concept design shown at both the 2005 and 2007 Detroit shows.

Chrysler puts '06 vehicles in used lots Automaker allows dealers to add deep discounts in effort to unload cars and trucks Josee Valcourt / The Detroit News In a last-ditch effort to unload 2006 cars and trucks, Chrysler allowed its dealers to designate the new vehicles as "loaners" for as little as one day before selling them as used for steep discounts. The unusual sales tactic came at the end of May as the Auburn Hills-based division of DaimlerChrysler AG was trying to finish the month on a strong note. Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep dealers can use new vehicles as loaners for test-drives or for customers who need a car while theirs is in service. In the past, dealers have had to use a vehicle as a loaner for three months before selling it as used. Slicing that requirement to one day allowed Chrysler to count the vehicles as retail sales while dealers were able to move the outdated cars and trucks out of their new car lots, where they might dampen interest in newer models. The program, outlined to dealers in a memo obtained by The Detroit News, offers a glimpse into the lengths Chrysler and other automakers will go to sell aging inventory in a competitive market. A glut of '06 models Chrysler overbuilt 2006 model year vehicles last year rather then cut production. The excess vehicles -- often parked in lots around Metro Detroit -- were a major source of friction between Chrysler and its dealers, who balked at ordering extra inventory they feared they could not sell. Chrysler used huge discounts to get rid of most of the excess 2006 models late last year and continuing this year. The loaner program provided a way to get rid of some of the last models languishing on dealer lots. "It's a good way to dispose of some things that we needed to get rid of," said Ken Zangara of Zangara Dodge in Albuquerque, N.M. Chrysler offered dealers $2,000 on top of existing discounts to encourage dealers to use the loaner program. Zangara moved three 2006 Dodge Ram pickups that had been sitting on his new car lot for about nine months into the loaner program. The pickups, each valued at about $33,000, were used as loaner trucks for one day last month before they were transferred to the retailer's used-car business and tacked with a $26,000 invoice. "It was like a no-brainer," Zangara said. Under the program, a 2006 model-year Dodge Durango SUV with a sticker price of $30,000 as a new vehicle could be discounted by as much as $11,500 on the used-car lot after being used as a demo for a day, according to dealers. Chrysler's sales rose 4.3 percent in May, according to Autodata Corp., a New Jersey company that tracks auto sales. Dealers asked for program Steve Beahm, director of field operations at Chrysler, acknowledged the need to move 2006 models as a reason for relaxing the loaner rules, but said dealers asked for more generous terms. Chrysler's loaner program has some of the most stringent rules in the industry, he said. "It's not as if we got this glut of '06s out in the dealerships," Beahm said, noting that older models account for 2 percent of Chrysler's inventory, or about 9,600 vehicles at the end of May. Once the vehicles were transferred, along with titles and registration forms, to the used-car business, Chrysler counted them as sales, Beahm said. Analysts say the arrangement may appear to unfairly inflate sales, but there is nothing unethical about it."It seems almost shady -- like move cars over here to sell -- but in reality, it's nothing more than rearrangement of your inventory," said Jesse Toprak, executive director of industry analysis for Edmunds.com, a research Web site for car buyers. "The only thing one can argue is if it's fair or not for the automaker to count that move as an actual sale that month. That's probably the only thing I would say is a gray area. But there's nothing suspicious. It's just the way the business is done." Cliff Banks, an editor at Ward's Dealer Business, said automakers offer dealers all kinds of incentives at any given time -- "things we never hear about" -- to help sell vehicles. In 2005, Honda Motor Co. paid dealers extra incentives to sell additional vehicles when it looked like the Japanese automaker wasn't going to reach its sales target that year, he said. As for Chrysler's effort, Banks said it shows Chrysler is trying to help its dealers and "create a more favorable environment in light of last year." Inventory riled dealers In 2006, Chrysler riled many of its dealers when it misjudged the U.S. marketplace and built too many big trucks and SUVs that consumers shunned because of high gas prices. As the excess inventory piled up, Chrysler pushed dealers to take more vehicles. Around this time last year, Chrysler's stockpile was at 592,486 units, compared to its May 2007 inventory of 479,501 cars and trucks. Chrysler began offering steeper incentives on 2006 and 2007 model-year cars and trucks in January. When the program's May 31 deadline neared, the automaker decided to roll out the new loaner rules for 2006 models. The arrangement gives dealers some financial wiggle room, allowing them to make some profit on cars and trucks that may be harder to sell as newer choices hit the market, Banks said. It also helps cut costs because the expense of keeping aging vehicles grows the longer they sit there. "The dealerships have to pay the finance reserve on these cars and sometimes manufacturers have to subsidize some of that reserve," Toprak said. "It costs everyone money." Having older vehicles around can also cost sales. "Ideally, they do not want a 2006 new car next to a 2007 model-year new car," Toprak said. Deep discounts on older models may sway a buyer to overlook newer cars and trucks particularly if the updated vehicle doesn't have any new features or a new design. "That's going to potentially cannibalize your 2007 sales," Toprak said. "You don't really want that happening."

Yup. Owned by SAIC, which is heavily-partnered with GM interestingly.

Touareg Troubles Porsche, VW clash over product plans By HENNING KROGH | Link to Original Article @ AutoWeek | Updated: 06/19/07, 9:57 am et WOLFSBURG, Germany -- After taking its major stake in Volkswagen AG, sports car manufacturer Porsche AG is pushing to speed up the companies' joint projects. That confirms many VW shareholders' fears that Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking wants to increase Porsche's influence over VW product planning. He has been a member of the VW supervisory board since 2006. A dispute is looming over the introduction of the next-generation Porsche Cayenne and VW Touareg. The two companies again are developing the large SUVs in close cooperation. According to information from both companies, Porsche wants to launch the next Cayenne during the first half of 2010. Meanwhile, the startup for the Touareg II is planned for late 2010. As VW sees it, that puts VW at a disadvantage. "We aren't at all pleased with a significantly longer model life for the current Touareg compared to the Cayenne," a high-ranking VW executive told Automobilwoche, a German publication of Crain Communications. "After all, the vehicles are in competition with one another." At Porsche, one executive says, this doesn't bode well: "If we can't come to an agreement at the level of the working teams, the CEOs will have to hammer this out." VW and Porsche introduced the first generations of the SUVs almost simultaneously in late 2002. They are built in Leipzig, Germany, and Bratislava, Slovakia.

As some of you may have noticed, we've gone ahead and split the Asian Marques Forum into five seperate categories Toyota Motor Corporation will obviously contain all Toyota news, including Lexus, Scion, Daihatsu, Hino, etc. Honda Motor Company now has all Honda/Acura news. Nissan Motor Company rounds out the Japanese 'Big 3' with Nissan/Infiniti developments. Other Japanese Marques is home to Mitsubishi, Subaru, and anything else Japanese. Chinese Automakers covers all those cute lil' upstarts who make the funny cars we love to laugh at - Chery, BYD, Geely, etc. The main Asian Marques forum will now be used for the miscellaneous Asian manufacturers from the Phillippines, Malaysia, and wherever else. It seems like alot to go through for the competition news - and moving the old posts was superfun! - but we feel that this will aid you in keeping up-to-date with the latest in every automotive sector you're interested in, plus eliminate in inundation of Toyota news in the old forum, which - like in life - got to be a bit too much 'yota. Thanks and if you have any other suggestions, let us know!

You can right click/copy URL of the pic and paste it here. New or used?

One HUMMER Of A Wedding! Couple to Marry in HUMMER-Themed Wedding "Like Nothing Else" in Reno, Nevada on June 22 Reno, NV - TEAM HUMMER captain Rod Hall will officiate a HUMMER of a wedding June 22 in Reno as couple Sonya Jefferson and Steve Spencer enjoy a wedding ceremony “like nothing else.” The couple will get married while standing in the beds of HUMMER trucks with Hall sporting his racesuit to oversee the “I Do’s.” The couple will then cut a custom 3-D shaped HUMMER wedding cake, unwrap a HUMMER of a present, and then hop into their H2 to go off-roading in full wedding attire. Their adventure will continue June 23-24 when they join more than 100 HUMMER owners for an off-roading trek that puts vehicles to the maximum use. The Washington natives who reside in Vancouver, Wash., are huge HUMMER fans, both owning HUMMER vehicles along with several family members, including the maid of honor and mother of the bride. Jefferson and Spencer planned their wedding around the HUMMER owner off-roading event, and chose to use a “HUMMER” theme to infuse “fun” into their big day and celebrate their joint affinity for the vehicles. The couple will actually hold two ceremonies – a small private one June 21, and a fun-filled HUMMER wedding with a close group of friends and family June 22. WHEN: Friday, June 22, 2007 (10:30 a.m. ceremony start) WHERE: Peavine Mountain (please call media contact for directions)

Holden in the Red Again VE launch, slow sales, exchange rates, VZ discounts and job cuts cost Holden $146.5m By JAMES STANFORD 15 June 2007 | Link to Original Article @ GoAuto GM Holden has posted a $146.56 million loss for the 2006 calendar year. It is the second consecutive red-ink result for the Australian car-maker, which lost $144.6 million in 2005. Holden said the 2006 result was affected by the launch costs associated with the VE Commodore and the WM Statesman and Caprice, while a substantial amount of the 2005 loss was attributed to development costs for the VE Commodore launched last August. It added that because the new Commodore and Statesman/Caprice were introduced late in the year, there was limited time to recoup investment. Holden listed a range of other factors that contributed to the loss in what the company deemed a "challenging environment". The factors included exchange rates that favoured imports and disadvantaged exports, which fell from record 2005 levels to 46,074 in 2006, and higher fuel prices that led to reduced domestic sales and market share. Company insiders also claim the prolonged VZ Commodore run-out and the associated discounting also affected its bottom line. Holden spent $20 million in termination benefits after cutting back the third-shift workforce at its Elizabeth plant. It also invested $307 million in research and development, and absorbed $69.7 million in revaluation costs. Total revenue was down 7.8 per cent to $6.149 billion in 2006, when Holden’s 146,511 domestic sales was 16.2 per cent down on 2005 - although the Commodore managed to maintain its spot as the best-selling car in Australia. The 2005 and 2006 losses come after several strong years at Holden. The company profits of $256.5 million in 2002, $285.6 million in 2003 and $300.8 million in 2004. On the bright side, engine exports rose 6.8 per cent to 212,266, taking total export revenue to $1.852 billion. Holden released the media notification of the 2006 result just before 6.00pm Friday, in a traditional tactic designed to minimise TV and newspaper coverage of bad news. Ford Australia did similar when it announced a $40.3 million loss for the 2006 calendar year in May - its largest since 1993.

Exactly. No, the inner mounting thingy cracked and broke off. Would you believe these things aren't interchangable between model years? '95s have an inner metal retention ring and '97s have holes too large.

I will only say that I've had a beautiful ad campaign in mind for Oldsmobile. But, clearly, that's useless at this stage.

You clearly have not rented an old Accent. But furthermore... WTF? I would've definitely bought you lunch at a great Thai place in downtown.

Whoa, guys...don't know what's uglier - the Sebring or this thread. There's no need for that language or hostility towards each other. Ya'll know what I mean. Let's keep it cool and friendly. Thanks.

And, surprisingly, I would agree that - within its class - its quite attractive except for the mirrors. And I know it sounds like I'm just being a douche, but they really, really, really don't mesh with the car. I swear an RX300 is missing theirs somewhere.

You also have to realize the untold story was that he likely bought that car for $500, so what can you expect? Its also for entertainment and it sure is fun to make fun of America. Anyway, it clearly wasn't an Ultra and wasn't even well-equipped, so whatever. Also, its obvious the other red one was a pile, too - look at the paint. I do like how he says it though. Buick Park Avenuemmmmmmmmm...nice!

Pussies.

I guess the rearviews give it extra stability.